Direct Marketing Archives - Page 2 of 14

09Dec 2016 by Bob Cargill

Six Reasons Why Direct Marketers Should be Swooning Over Social Media

Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media

I’m not going to lie. I get it. I really do get it. As someone who earned a livelihood for many years writing copy almost exclusively for direct mail and email, I totally understand why some dyed-in-the-wool direct marketers are still on the fence about using social media. Tweeting, blogging and sharing selfies on Instagram just doesn’t have the same appeal to them as launching one of their own targeted, timely campaigns with a strong offer geared toward a qualified audience to which quantifiable metrics can be applied. They’re concerned about ROI and reputation. They’re afraid of the risk. I understand. I feel their pain. After all, I had the same questions and doubts myself when I began blogging in 2004. I wondered how social media was going to blend…

06May 2013 by Bob Cargill

My Upcoming Panel Discussion on Social Media at the NEDMA Conference

Blogging, Business, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be speaking at the New England Direct Marketing Association conference next week (May 15 at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts). After all, I get a kick out of being in front of an audience, sharing what I know about a particular topic or issue with people who are genuinely interested in what I have to say. It’s a big thrill for me, an extremely rewarding experience that I always enjoy. [caption id="attachment_4690" align="alignright" width="145"] Craig Blake[/caption] This time around, I’ll be moderating a panel discussion on social media. In addition to the short presentation I’ll be giving on how and why to create lists on Twitter, those in the audience will hear from Craig Blake (Director of Business Development at SourceLink), Myles Bristowe…

25Feb 2013 by Bob Cargill

A Few Words with Jamie Bradley about Printing, Marketing, Social Media and More

Business, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media

[caption id="attachment_4295" align="alignright" width="138"] Jamie Bradley[/caption] Jamie Bradley is a marketing, sales and printing professional with a great deal of experience and expertise. He is also a really nice guy blessed with a gregarious, easygoing personality. I’ve known Jamie for some 20 years or so, mainly through the many New England Direct Marketing Association (NEDMA) and other industry-related functions we both attend, and I've always enjoyed his company. Not only does he know print production inside and out, he’s also a smart, seasoned businessman, someone who’s been there, done that so often that you just know you can count on him for a good answer or the right solution. Jamie and I had lunch recently at Panera Bread on Waltham Street in Lexington, during which time we talked about all…

26Dec 2012 by Bob Cargill

Do You Guarantee Your Performance on the Job?

Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media

What’s not to like about a guarantee? Anyone in marketing knows how good a guarantee can be for business. A strong guarantee goes a long way toward removing any skepticism among your constituency and helps convert leads to sales. From a consumer's point of view, it’s reassuring to know that a company believes so highly in its products and services that it’s willing to stand behind them, even if it means having to dole out a refund to anyone who claims dissatisfaction. A guarantee not only shows confidence in what you have to offer, it’s a powerful demonstration of good faith, a great way of telling those on the other side of the table that there's no way you'll be happy unless they're more than happy with their purchase. Do…

26Oct 2012 by Bob Cargill

Presentation: 10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter

Advertising, Blogging, Branding, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media

10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter from Bob Cargill My first job out of graduate school many years ago was as a copywriter for RCA Direct Marketing in New York City. And the rest, as they say, has been history. Since that first gig writing about popular records (yes, vinyl) and tapes (cassettes and eight-tracks, to be specific), I've written about an incalculable number of other products and services, from business cards to books, healthcare to software, magazines to music, travel to tuxedos and more. I've also written direct response fundraising copy for dozens of charitable organizations -- which, by the way, has been some of the most satisfying work I've done over the course of my career so far. I may have worked for a number of different companies, developed new…

22Apr 2012 by Bob Cargill

My Blog Post on Video Series: 10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter

Advertising, Blogging, Branding, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube

If you're a content creator like me, someone who goes to great lengths to share your own knowledge and opinions via social media, you know how important it is to get the most mileage out of your original work. Frankly, I’m always thinking of new ways to leverage and repurpose my efforts. So as I was writing the posts in my “10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter" series, I’ll admit that I was thinking all along that they might lend themselves quite well to video. After all, I had already turned a number of blog posts into short clips that I had uploaded to YouTube, each of which featured me talking straight into the camera from a variety of different locations. I envisioned this series to be no different. What…

27Mar 2012 by Bob Cargill

Hashtags in Advertising and Marketing

Advertising, Business, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter

This post was initially published on BostInno on March 21, 2012. To read the original post there, click here. Advertising and marketing pros know how important it is to engage their constituents and entice them to take action. One way or another, it’s up to them to convince those on the receiving end of their messages to pick up the phone, mail in an order form, cut out a coupon, click on a link, visit a website, download an offer, attend an event or respond in some other way, shape or form… such as saying something on Twitter about their products and services. That’s right. Many brands are now going out of their way to get people to talk about them in 140 characters or less. And one way they’re doing…

29Jan 2012 by Bob Cargill

Twitter for Business in Five Easy Steps

Business, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter

When Phil Hollows and I met for the first time over a cup of coffee in June of last year, little did we know that it would be just one of many conversations about social media that we'd be having on a regular basis. The difference between that initial meeting between us and every other since is that many others who share an interest in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs and the like have joined us for what we call the Sudbury Social Tweetup. At our most recent Tweetup last Thursday night at Bistro 20 in Sudbury, I had the opportunity to speak to the group about "Twitter for Business in Five Easy Steps," including... 1. Find and Be Found 2. Use a Good Dashboard like TweetDeck 3. Engage Your…

15Jan 2012 by Bob Cargill

A Few Words with Vistaprint’s Jeff Esposito (@jeffespo)

Blogging, Business, Direct Marketing, Facebook, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter

When I was asked to host a Tweetup at the New England Direct Marketing Association’s annual holiday party last month at Tavern in the Square in Porter Square (Cambridge, MA), I knew right away who I wanted to have on the program. [caption id="attachment_2152" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Victoria Smith"][/caption] For entertainment, I turned to Victoria Smith, a very talented singer and songwriter, who put on a fabulous show for us. As for the educational piece, I asked my friend and former colleague, Jeff Esposito, to permit me to interview him about his experience with social media as a public relations manager at Vistaprint. Jeff is one the most prolific people I know in social media, having tweeted over 48,500 times to date, not to mention all the blog posts he writes and videos he records.…