Companies Treat Prospects Better Than Their Customers
Today I received a 0% interest on all transfers for the next 12 months from my own bank. I have a small balance that I wanted to transfer from my existing account to a new one if I could get the 0% offer. Ah, but wait. Only new customers can get this deal.
Direct Marketing Sells by Disrupting
Some of the blog participants believe that branders seek the consumer’s trust above all. Direct marketers, on the other hand, have no such motivation. They are not interested in people, but numbers.
When Testing --- Focus on the Opportunity, Not Immediate Profitability
Have you ever wondered why some great, new products and ideas never go anywhere? There are probably a multitude of reasons. But one may be that management focuses on immediate profitability instead of the opportunity.
Clients Don’t Really Want Performance Contracts
I can’t begin to tell you how many prospective clients asked me if I was willing to guarantee the ROI on my proposed direct marketing projects. My answer has always been an eager “Absolutely!”
Legal Copy Hurting Response
I have observed that the balance of power between marketers and the legal department has changed in favor of the lawyers.
"Dear customer, you are not allowed to contact us by phone."
I am constantly amazed at the profit killing decisions some companies make by not remaining hyper sensitive to their customers’ buying behavior.
Best Time to Test
There is another compelling reason to test during your rollout periods. It makes sense to test during the same time of the year that you expect to rollout the program should it prove successful.
Abandon the Past to Embrace the New
One of my favorite business thinkers, Peter Drucker believed that to lead into the future, you must first abandon the past. He essentially defined this skill as “abandonment.”
Talent Dilemmas in Watered-Down DM
Knowledgeable direct marketers understand the critical importance of the brand and product positioning in generating short and long-term profits. But now, more than ever, direct marketers are routinely relegated to tactical rather than strategic roles.