Variable Data Printing, also known as VDP, is a marketing approach that has shown significant results for direct marketers and businesses of varying industries. This method of printing allows the sender to customize each and every document within a single run of digital printing. Customization of these print pieces can fall into various levels; such as static, personalized, versioned, and fully customized. Essentially, the sender can target their messaging to include the specific customer’s name on the document, print different versions of messaging to reach specific groups of people, or print messaging that is very personal and specific to each recipient. The concept ...

Conversions on paid search advertisements for small businesses have increased over the past year, according to the “State of Small Business Online Advertising Q2 2010” report from WebVisible. In the second quarter of 2010, small businesses were seeing 43.3% of clicks resulting in website conversion and 6.9% in a phone call, a significant increase over the same time last year. [caption id="attachment_1849" align="alignnone" width="536" caption="Source: WebVisible, "State of Small Business Online Advertising Q2 2010," provided to eMarketer"][/caption] Also, search ad spending slightly increased from the first quarter, but has more than doubled from 2009. Search ad spending in quarter 2 of 2009 was ...

While many marketers may worry about direct mail marketing dying away, there are still plenty of people who are investing in it - specifically, in politics. As it gets closer to November elections, you can see plenty of local, state, and national politicians choosing direct mail campaigns as part of their overall marketing tactics. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour sent out a direct mail piece to Iowa Republicans earlier this month. The mail piece talks about Barbour's political past and encourages people to sign up for updates on his website. Since Iowa is one of the early primary states, people speculate this direct ...

Last week, Delta Airlines launched a new feature on their Facebook page that allows fans to book flights without leaving the fan page. The new feature, which will also be coming to Delta's display ads on various news and publisher sites, has an arrow consumers can click and then it will expand a window on the website they are currently on. On the Facebook page, there is a "Book a Flight" tab that will asks users to allow the app to have access to their basic information, like most other Facebook apps. Then, the fan will see a ticket window directly on ...

Global Director of Digital and Social Media for PepsiCo Bonin Bough talked with BigThink.com about Pepsi's social media strategy. One idea that he discusses is how everyone's social media strategy needs to be unique to their company and resources. Being true to your company and its brand in the end will be what helps increase your social media presence. "Have Follow Fridays were you spend two hours talking to the community if that's all you have to work with. There really are no set rules." Watch the full interview below and let us know what you think about his ...

One of the best ways to get the attention of current or prospective clients is by using Personalized URLs. Personalized URLs, or PURLs, allow companies to give out individual URLs that includes the recipient's name. This will direct them to a landing page that is filled with information specific to that person. These personalized websites help boost response rates for direct mail marketing and email campaigns. In an article from Graphic Arts magazine, two personalized URL campaigns are highlighted for their success. One was for the Zeiterion Theatre and the other for Taser International. These direct mail pieces worked so well because ...

Lead nuturing is a very important part of the sales process. It can use up a lot of your time and resources nuturing a lead into a sale, so you don't want to make any mistakes. Treating a lead properly can help encourage them, but treating them poorly can also send them away quickly. Make sure you avoid these 10 lead nuturing mistakes with your qualified sales leads. Repeated Phone Calls - While it is important to contact your leads quickly, you also want ot make sure you aren't harassing them. Repeatedly calling leads will only turn them off. Instead, try to ...

Launching a new website or a website redesign takes a lot of time, energy, and money. It is important that you have a clear plan from the beginning to make sure that you aren't wasting your resources on a website that will end up not meeting your goals. Look through these reasons why many websites fail to perform and see if your website is making any of the same mistakes. Undefined Objectives - Maybe your website is trying to do too much at one time. Or maybe there is no clear objective. Either option will only hurt your website's performance. Creating clear ...

When re-branding or coming up with a new marketing strategy, some companies may come up with more abstract ways to promote their product or brand. However, re-branding can turn out to hurt your company or product more than help. Some products have an identity so deeply ingrained that when they re-brand, they can lose their entire identity or people will negatively react to the new identity. For example, look at the marketing efforts made in the photographs below. What is your reaction to the billboards and sculpture? Do you recognize the company or product? These advertisements are for... Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. According to an ...

Variable Data Printing allows you to adjust your direct mail marketing campaign so it is more customized and personalized. Using VDP means you can create more attention-grabbing direct mail pieces that appeal to your target market. There are many benefits to using variable data printing with your direct mail marketing campaign. Increase Your ROI By Using Mailing List Data - Variable data printing allows you to create custom copy and information to grab people's attention. Adjust the information on your direct mail campaign based on where people live, if they are single or married, or any other piece of information you ...