Mobile technology is revolutionizing the way we do marketing.  Research shows that e-mail marketing will reach close to $30 million in spending in 2009 alone.  That sum is expected to nearly double by 2014.  Briefly said, mobile marketing is the new era.  To get the most out of your mobile marketing campaign, make sure you are following some basic yet essential rules.  The first thing to keep in mind is that the attention span of your readers is extremely limited.  Your message will be seen in a screen of no more than 4 inches, limiting your message to just a few ...

As email continues to grow as a primary method of communication in modern society, many of today's marketers are taking advantage of this medium as a cost-effective and highly useful marketing tool.  Among the many concerns email marketers face, email deliverability is predominant.  According to the 2008 Email Marketing Buyer's Guide, email deliverability is the primary consideration for online marketing professionals.  Because of the many complications involved in increasing email deliverability, many business owners allot a portion of their advertising budget to purchase access to an email service provider (ESP) specializing in email marketing.  ESPs are valuable because they provide a ...

If you talk to any business owner, a common concern is how to bring in new business or new customers. We are wired to believe that increased revenue comes from our ability to constantly draw in more clients. This is true to an extent. What many businesses fail to see, however, is the importance of maintaining their current customer base. A common pitfall is the notion of once a customer, always a customer. Just because a customer used your service or bought your product once, doesn't mean that they will continue to do so in the future. A steady revenue ...

While having a website is a step in validating the credibility of your business, a badly laid out website can cause your visitors to wonder about the credibility of your overall operation.  Creating a website is no longer something that only large companies can afford to do.  "Home-made" websites are popping up all over the place.  While being online increases your reach, a bad website can chase customers away.  The key is to design your website in a way that gives your business credibility.  What is credibility?  Credibility is the trust that you inspire based on factors like usability, accessibility, security, ...

Everyone knows that bragging isn't nice.  Most importantly, it may create unnecessary animosity.  Just like you hated the one kid back in school who would always announce his grade to the entire class, the same is true when you are marketing your business.   While tooting your horn works in certain industries, resting on your accolades may not always get you the prize.  Being proud of your achievements is not a fault, it's a right, but don't go bragging about it.  When creating a marketing campaign, the most important question to answer is: Why do your customers care and what can you ...

While most businesses experience a slump in the summer months, giving up and going into hibernation can be detrimental.  A limited amount of industries fare well during the vacation months.  For the rest us, the summer months present a great opportunity to reassess marketing techniques and plan for the future.  Here are a few things you can do in the slow months that will keep you afloat: Revisit Old Leads What may have been dead leads in the past may now be worth resurrecting.  As times change, the needs of potential clients change too.  Contact old leads and have something new to ...

Variable Data Printing (VDP) allows marketers to target a highly specified customer base with the use of specialty data and mailing lists.  Business owners can actually imagine "the perfect customer," the one most likely in need of their goods and services, and then systematically target individuals who fall into the target market category according to an almost infinite number of specifications, including income bracket, interests, geographic area, marital status, gender, and many other types of data.  The beauty of VDP is this:  the more data you collect about an individual, by tracking purchasing habits, collecting survey information, email marketing and ...

Summer provides a change of pace and scenery for many customers, as children take a break from school and professionals schedule vacation time to travel or spend with family.  The changes of the season can be a challenge for marketing professionals who strive to make connections with clients through the routines and rhythms of daily life.  This summer, take advantage of the unique marketing opportunities of the season and connect with your clients as they enjoy a time of leisure and entertainment. #1 - Get Ahead of the Competition Because of the slow summer season, many marketers take a break from actively ...

OneIMS, a full service marketing company in Chicago, IL, provides a comprehensive web-based email marketing suite that can easily be tailored to meet the needs of marketing professionals from many industries.  Today's online business owners require comprehensive, user-friendly email marketing solutions with the wide range of services and flexibility to target their unique goals.  eDirectMail, the web-based email marketing suite offered by OneIMS, was designed specifically for online marketers by seasoned marketing professionals.  eDirectMail tools allow business owners to effortlessly send compelling, high-quality HTML/text emails, e-newsletters, event invitations, online surveys, and email marketing promotions.  The web-based software is easy to use and ...

Telemarketers have, over the years, replaced the un-invited door-to-door salesmen. Back in the day, a door in the face was enough to tell any salesperson that the average household had no desire to entertain or be entertained by a stranger who shows up at the door, let alone a stranger with something to sell. Nowadays, that door is replaced by the "clicks" of hundreds of phones that are hung up, and almost automatic responses of, "We're not interested" (Click). Maybe you've been on the initiating and receiving ends of those phone calls, either way, it isn't fun. So how does one ...

Variable data printing (VDP) and digital printing technology allows business owners to target customers more specifically with the aid of specialty data and mailing lists.  With VDP, business owners can define a target market based on income, lifestyle choices, interests, marital status, gender, and an almost infinite number of categories.  Business owners are able to actually imagine the "perfect client," the customer most likely in need of their goods and services, and then systematically and specifically target individuals who fit that description in their direct mail marketing campaigns. These highly targeted direct mail marketing campaigns are even more effective when they ...

Have you ever noticed that when you open your email inbox, some emails catch your attention instantly, while others go relatively unnoticed?  Email marketing messages must contend with so many other competing messages in the inbox.  Creating split-second interest with a compelling subject line is the key to attracting readers to click and read more. How To Write Subject Lines that Jump off the Page The fact is, most people spend an average of about two seconds reading an email's subject line.  During those two seconds, reading the first two or three words will allow the reader to choose between the options ...