QR Codes Part 1 - What are QR Codes? QR Codes Part 2 – 4 Ways To Use QR Codes In Your Direct Mail Pieces In this final post on QR codes, here are 9 real life examples of QR codes being used by a variety of companies. QR codes are becoming more common marketing tool because of its ability to combine the best features of print marketing with the best features of online marketing. Ralph Lauren By leveraging QR code technology back in 2008, Ralph Lauren offered consumers the opportunity to shop via their smartphones by scanning the QR code appearing in print ...

Cross channel marketing using one marketing channel, like direct mail, to support or promote another channel, like your website. Focusing all of your efforts on a single marketing campaign on a single channel may seem like your best bet, but it may not help increase your brand awareness. Creating an integrated cross channel campaign creates an opportunity for multiple touch points and a greater boost for your message. Cross channel marketing allows you to synchronize all of your marketing efforts into a single campaign. It puts reliable information into the hands of the consumer by delivering the same message across different ...

Incorporating social media channels as part of cross-promotional marketing is an easy way to increase the effectiveness of any marketing campaign. Essentially, social media channels provide businesses access to large numbers of their market base using popular platforms such as Facebook or Twitter. Strategic use of these channels gives businesses the opportunity to expand their reach and engage the public in an efficient and cost effective manner. Below are 10 marketing strategies to maximize the use of social media in your cross-promotional marketing mix: 1. Announce your new LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter accounts in your email newsletters to create followers from your ...

The vast majority of U.S. Internet users prefer to use more than one channel [computer, mobile device, in-store, etc.] to research and purchase products and services, according to a survey from ATG and MarketTools. Almost half of the people said they use two channels when shopping for products and services and 24% said they use three or more. One of the main points from this survey showed that the Internet was used as a research tool. The Internet accounts for only 7.7% of total retail sales, but online research was used in 42% of sales, according to the new study "U.S. Online ...

As a full service marketing agency, it’s kind of hard not to notice the marketing efforts utilized by the businesses around us. It’s great to see campaigns being launched and creativity being stretched. So we thought it would be interesting to make this a regular thing and see what companies are doing to help grow their business and increase their exposure. Today’s featured business: Express I received this ad from Express awhile back, and recently decided to check on their website to see how the promotion was going.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that Express.com had updated their website to be ...

According to a recent article published in DMNews by Dianna Dilworth, FedEx is getting ready to execute a multichannel marketing campaign in 2010 as part of the company’s new strategy to integrate its brand messaging and creative across channels. The marketing efforts include both online and offline channels with a unified message directing consumers to a microsite designed to engage them. Steve Pacheco, director of advertising at FedEx, stated that, it is the first truly integrated marketing campaign launched by the company. He firmly believes that it is crucial to integrate as many channels of communications as possible since consumers are ...

Make Strategic Marketing a Priority for 2010 Another decade has passed, I’m not sure how 2009 was for you, but I’m guessing if you are the average person, you have much to consider for the New Year. What resolutions did you make this year? Were any of the ones made last year successful? What about your business resolutions? Do those even exist, apart from the fact that you want to make more money? The great thing about a new year is that you have 12 fresh months to make things happen. Learn from the past and push forward to the future. Maybe ...

New Year’s Day – Friday, January 1st Birthday of Martin Luther King – Monday, January 18th George Washington’s Birthday (commonly known as President’s Day) – Monday, February 15th Memorial Day – Monday, May 31st Independence Day – Monday, July 5th Labor Day – Monday, September 6th Columbus Day – Monday, October 11th Veterans Day – Thursday, November 11th Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 25th Christmas Day – Friday, December 24th Are you planing your 2010 direct mail marketing calendar? Looking for new ways to improve the effectiveness of your direct mail marketing? OneIMS can assist you with creating a powerful and effective cross-media marketing campaign coupled with direct mail. We ...

"The lack of proper advertising and marketing is one of the top seven reasons cited by the SBA that lead businesses to failure."    - Alan Jackson, Global Cash Flow Network With the emergence of web and social media, mass advertising and marketing is no longer something only the fortune 500 companies can afford. With the power of online marketing, small and mid-size companies can reach to millions of people around the world cost-effectively. Not only can you reach them with powerful message and strategy, you also have the ability to track how people are responding to your marketing efforts and make ...

By now, you’ve become accustomed to a variety of e-mail marketing tactics.  Small and large companies alike are using  e-mail marketing to engage their audience and to grow their sales.  The truth is that blasting an e-mail to everyone on your compiled client/prospect lists is not necessarily going to yield any results. The key to maximizing your conversions and improving the effectiveness of your e-mail campaigns is to have a strategic plan.  First, analyze the data you collected from previous campaigns.  By using behavior-based targeting, the likelihood of having better conversions is much greater.  Instead of sending your e-mail offers to ...

It seems that everyone’s talking about landing pages these days.  So you already have a website, why create a landing page?  Isn’t that just like having a one-page website in addition to your current website?  Not exactly. A landing page is a page that directly contains the content your visitor/customer is looking for.  This may mean that it’s a direct link to a promotion off your e-mail marketing campaign or newsletter, search engine advertisement or even a direct link from a directory or other related website.  The great advantage of landing pages is ...

Myth: Direct Mail is less effective than it used to be. Fact: Direct mail remains one of the most targeted forms of business communication. With an estimated 99% delivered to the right person at the right place at the right time, direct mail gets through the clutter (Source: "Deliverability: Print's Strong Suit" by Dr. Joe Webb). More than 8 out of 10 households read or scan the advertising mail they receive, (Source: Mail Moves America) and 55% look forward to their mail (Source: "The Mail Movement" - USPS). Besides, with the power of intelligent bar-code, you are able to track the exact location ...