Mar 08

Response February: Building, Engaging, and Maintaining Responsibility

It’s been a little more than two weeks since the February issue of Response hit the web and began delivering to mailboxes. With a cover story on house-and-home e-tailer Build.com, part two of our four-part series on the consumer journey, and feature on the digital goods market, this compact issue packs a serious informational punch. For more on how we pulled it together, read on:

  • I was first introduced to Marshal Downey, our cover guy and interviewee for this feature on Build.com, during the run-up to Response Expo 2016. The first connection came from Hawthorne’s Karla Crawford Kerr — a valued ally in the business and now member of our DRMA Education Committee. Though we haven’t been able to nail Marshal down as a speaker for the Expo, we eventually locked him in for this interesting look at how the now-17-year-old e-tailer has grown its customer base via online and offline outreach — as well as impeccable customer service. One of the youngest cover subjects in years (all of 13 years old in 2001 — when I took the editorial helm of Response), Downey is wise beyond his years when it comes to omnichannel marketing. If you missed the link to the story above, here it is once again: Not Your Average Home Expansion
  • The second of our four-part “Consumer Journey” series leading into April’s Response Expo — which will feature a six-session track on the topic — focuses on engagement. My belief in the consumer journey as the centerpiece of the Expo was further confirmed last week when I attended the annual eTail West show in Palm Desert, Calif. Various facets of the consumer journey were the focus of nearly every conversation on the show floor, at the parties, and on the educational stage. Key freelancer Nicole Urso Reed is handling the series. In this issue, she caught up with representatives of 2016 DRMA Marketer of the Year finalists Nutrisystem and Vistaprint, Response Advisory Board member Peter Koeppel, and PR/social media expert (and DRMA Education Committee member) Lindsey Carnett. In case you skipped the link above: The Power of Attraction
  • Our annual look at the digital goods space explores the depth and the breadth of what “digital goods” can be: movies, gambling, eCards, meditation, books, Wi-Fi, web design, music, dating — and more. Our Pat Cauley spoke to leaders from JibJab, Wix, Boingo (all past Response cover subjects) and more for this in-depth piece on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s new in marketing in this young but exploding vertical. Here’s that story link again: The Digital Boomtown
  • Our monthly direct response TV and radio media billings return to the short-form DRTV sector for third-quarter 2016 results. After seven consecutive quarterly losses, short-form DRTV finally bounced back — if only slightly. A $4.3 million increase (less than 1 percent higher than 3Q 2015 results)  The network and spot TV markets continued to shine in short-form, helping make up for Hispanic’s continuing struggles. For a full look at 3Q 2016 short-form DRTV media billings, click here: A Ray of Light for Short-Form DR Billings
  • Other key items in this month’s issue include:
  • Finally, in my Editor’s Note column, two moments inspired some thoughts on the ongoing — and perhaps growing — controversy surrounding consumer privacy and data security. One phone call and one intriguing article helped prompt this piece — one that includes references to Voltaire, Spider-Man, and the Bible (all in a single sentence)! If you missed the link above, here it is: Data and Targeting, and Power and Responsibility

Thanks again for reading and interacting with Response!

Dec 23

Photo-A-Day 2013: Week 52

I’m happy to report that this post (finally) wraps up my Photo-A-Day project from 2013! It only took me almost an entire year after 2013’s completion to get it done — but done it is. Week 52 is actually a nine-day stretch from Dec. 23-31. If you’ve traveled this long pictorial road with me, thank you. Hopefully it was enjoyable — I know I enjoyed living it! Finally — and for the last time — to see any of the images here (or in any of the Photo-A-Day posts) at full size, simply click right on it.

23-DEC-2013: Portsmouth, N.H., has this holiday thing figured out.

23-DEC-2013: Portsmouth, N.H., has this holiday thing figured out.

24-DEC-2013: The Boston Pops on Christmas Eve. As good as it gets for holiday spirit.

24-DEC-2013: The Boston Pops. Christmas Eve. Talk about holiday spirit.

25-DEC-2013: Merry Christmas, baby.

25-DEC-2013: Merry Christmas, baby.

26-DEC-2013: A little post-Christmas dusting in Newburyport.

26-DEC-2013: A little post-Christmas dusting in Newburyport.

27-DEC-2013: Cooper cousins reunion in Maine. Great fun!

27-DEC-2013: Cooper cousins reunion in Maine. Great fun!

28-DEC-2013: Celtics-Cavs from high above the TD Garden floor. Top row, as a matter of fact.

28-DEC-2013: Celtics-Cavs from the top row of TD Garden.

29-DEC-2013: Back at the scene of the crime, one week later, before heading back to L.A.

29-DEC-2013: Back at the scene, one week later, before heading back to L.A.

30-DEC-2013: Our first chance to celebrate the engagement at home. Perfect weather for some champagne on the roof!

30-DEC-2013: Our first chance to celebrate the engagement at home. Perfect weather for some champagne on the roof!

31-DEC-2013: One last night on the town in DTLA. What a wonderful year!

31-DEC-2013: One last night on the town in DTLA. What a wonderful year!

Dec 21

Photo-A-Day 2013: Week 51

By the end of the week of Dec. 16-22, not only would I have arrived in Boston for the holidays, but I’d also be engaged. So, for a week that started out relatively quietly around the house, things got pretty exciting. Let’s take a look at the images (and remember, to see any image at full size, simply click on it)!

16-DEC-2013: She seems to be holding up pretty well after a couple weeks.

16-DEC-2013: She seems to be holding up pretty well after a couple of weeks.

17-DEC-2013: The Kings dropped Edmonton, 3-0, in this one.

17-DEC-2013: The Kings dropped Edmonton, 3-0, in this one.

18-DEC-2013: Whiskey. Ice. Glass. Perfect.

18-DEC-2013: Whiskey. Ice. Glass. Perfect.

19-DEC-2013: The last day before the holiday with our L.A. tree.

19-DEC-2013: The last day before the holiday with our L.A. tree.

20-DEC-2013: After a red-eye to Boston, a snow-filled sunrise over the city from a Charlestown rooftop.

20-DEC-2013: After a red-eye to Boston, a snow-filled sunrise over the city from a Charlestown rooftop.

21-DEC-2013: Ready to root on the Trojans in the Las Vegas bowl from snowy Massachusetts.

21-DEC-2013: Ready to root on USC in the Vegas Bowl from Massachusetts.

22-DEC-2013: About 45 minutes before this, she said yes.

22-DEC-2013: About 45 minutes before this, she said yes.