Author Archive

Trust in financial institutions rises among consumers

December 14, 2012

A higher number of consumers expressed more optimism in the financial services industry as the economy shows signs of stabilization. A reported 23 percent of survey respondents say they trust the nation’s financial systems, up two percentage points from the same study conducted in June, according to the most recent Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust […]

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Data mining without the privacy baggage

December 11, 2012

Many a marketer has turned a wistful if not greedy eye upon bank databases. Therein lies untold potential to learn who buys what in order to tempt people with relevant offers. The problem, of course, is privacy. Even if conscience permitted—conscience having proven, historically, to be remarkably plastic where profits are concerned—the United States Government […]

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Privacy, Paranoia, Pragmatism

December 5, 2012

Some privacy concerns are legit. I don’t want to be in a Nigerian money scammer’s database any more than you do. Yet not all privacy paranoia is legitimate. Many people simply misunderstand how database marketing works. They imagine Peeping Tom-like marketers poring over their individual information. They are unaware that what ethical marketers (unethical ones […]

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How to create the next “Will It Blend?” viral video

November 30, 2012

Making promotional videos that go viral is a cinch. You need do only three things: 1. Create a visual presentation so compelling that people WANT to watch it. It can be funny, dramatic, enigmatic or what-have-you. If you’re lucky enough to have a product with a visibly demonstrative advantage, make that your compelling visual. That […]

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The Value of Showmanship

November 27, 2012

We’re taught never to judge by appearances. We all do it anyway. Our all-too-human tendency to judge a book by its cover surely is unfortunate from a social justice standpoint, but from a marketing standpoint it offers an opportunity not to be missed. Namely, the opportunity to dress up your product or service to look […]

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