Q&As

Nearly 120 years ago, W.S. Gilbert penned the line “When everyone is somebody, no one’s anybody.”

Facebook Ads, a new scheme from online community Facebook, could potentially create an entire community of somebodies.

“Somebodies” play a role in a marketing truism: A word-of-mouth endorsement from a trusted friend, family member or other valued source is the most effective form of advertising.

Footwear cataloger Zappos.com’s fall book is title “Life,” and features artistic photos women’s shoes from Stuart Weitzman, Kate Spade, and Charles David. Figure magazine has mailed two different creative packages, both of which offer a “free year” (two years for the price of one). And discount chain Target is trumpeting its gift cards as business gifts.

(Promo XTRA) Papa John’s is out with a new way to take phone orders — text messaging.

Kraft Foods’ Maxwell House is promoting its coffee with a major sampling effort targeting malls, retail outlets and even tollbooths.

(Multichannel Merchant) Catalogers can breathe a sigh of relief: It’s official that postal rate increases will follow the Postal Reform bill passed 11 months ago.

RedEnvelope Inc. reported a net loss of $10.3 million for catalog and Web sales for the second quarter that ended on Sept. 30, compared to a $3.7 million loss in the second quarter of 2006.

Diamond Foods’ Emerald Nuts brand will sit on the sidelines when it comes to TV advertising for the Super Bowl next year, the company said.

T-Mobile is helping to push National Basketball Association All-Star balloting as primary sponsor with ballots at its retail stores, and a sweepstakes to win a trip to the game.

Today we meet Doug von Hassel, senior account executive at List Strategies Inc. Von Hassel brokers business-to-business data in various markets and consumer files for pharmaceutical firms.

New York State is preparing to collect taxes on e-commerce sales, according to the New York Sun newspaper. The move would add an 8.375% surcharge — the state’s tax rate — to purchases made online.