Traditional Direct Marketing vs. Permission Based Marketing by Sarah Manners

When Seth Godin, acclaimed author of “Permission Marketing” declared that traditional advertising, in which he included direct marketing, just isn’t as effective as it used to be he set a train of thought in motion that was to rock the direct marketing landscape forever.

Then and Now
Before we take a look at what has come out of this school of thought let’s take a closer look at the concept of traditional direct marketing: Its characteristics include unsolicited offers, a disregard for privacy, low conversion rates and general consumer apathy. Sending messages directly to customers by employing methods like telemarketing, direct mail and email was just the way things were done but as time wore on consumers started to grow disillusioned with the enormous amounts of spam/junk mail they we receiving. It is for this reason that most, previously acceptable, direct marketing tactics are being made illegal across the globe. The move today is towards what has become termed, Permission Based Marketing. Built on features which include consumer commitment, one to one targeting, transparency and high conversion rates this opt-in form of marketing is definitely proving its worth.

Permission Based Marketing
Consumers are savvy, fiercely protective of their personal information, weary of the overload of information available to them and time starved to say the very least. So, how does permission based marketing fit into this fast changing landscape? Take a look at permission based marketing’s main features to gain a deeper insight into why this form of marketing is so much more relevant today that direct marketing can be.

Opting-In
In the times of traditional direct marketing the key phrase was “opt-out”. With permission based marketing it is all about opting-in. In direct marketing the communication is unsolicited and often unwelcome which is why response rates tend to be so low. The cornerstone to permission based marketing is that customers give their explicit consent to receive communication before it is sent to them. A customer that has requested to receive your information is far more valuable than one that has no interest in what you are marketing. “The first rule of permission marketing is that it’s based on selfishness,” Godin says.

“Consumers will grant a company permission to communicate only if they know what’s in it for them.” If a customer is going to give you access to their personal (and highly guarded information) you’d better be able to offer them something that another company can’t. Customers are most likely to participate because there is something highly desirable in it for them: ideal product match, perfect service solution, enhanced service, better price … a change for the better.

Committed Consumers
Consumer commitment is a key feature of permission based marketing, customers are not just simply being exposed to messages they are expected to engage. The time investment made by the consumer to provide information about themselves before they even receive any communication is exceptionally valuable as it allows personalised and relevant communication to be delivered to them as well as founds a relationship.

High Conversions
Where as conversion rates tend to be quite low in traditional direct marketing the converse is true for permission based marketing. As the consumer has already actively made the decision to receive information about a product the chance of a conversion is quite high. What’s really great about permission based marketing is that you will already know quite a bit about the customer which will enable you to tailor make offers.

Updated Databases
Thanks to the Internet consumer information can be easily gathered and updated. This allows marketers to personalise each and every offering to what their possible customers are looking for or are interested in at that very moment. If you want insurance you want it now – not in six months time.

Permission based marketing tactics are clearly the way forward in both the minds of consumers and companies across the globe.

The Cost of a Pair of Jeans by Mikahala

In today’s constantly colliding worlds of high fashion and street-chic, jeans have changed from shabby grunge to highbrow elegant. While making this journey, the cost of a pair of jeans has risen to outlandish heights.

It all started in 2000 with the company Seven for All Mankind. Since then, independent jeans companies, tailoring high-priced pants and jackets, have sprung up all over the world, and consumers have been grabbing them off the racks. Jeans finished their journey to high fashion when designers starting hand-making them to their owner’s size. When and why did this happen?

Peter Koral started his Seven for All Mankind jeans company with the simple idea of “offering women a luxury jean made from superior fabrics imported from Italy and Japan, processed with innovative treatments in new and advanced Los Angeles laundries, and fitted for an improved sexy and sophisticated fit.” In its first year, Seven exploded onto the fashion scene. It consistently rakes in far more than any other denim company. In 2005, the company grossed $250 million. The average pair of Seven jeans costs $125, and that isn’t an inconsiderable amount.

Acne Jeans started in 2003. Since then, these celebrity favorites–designed to be paired with high-fashion clothing-have become the most elusive and hard-to-get jeans. The company started as a branch of the company Acne, located in Sweden. Their signature jeans can be described as a pair of “math pants”: fitting tightly on top, hugging the leg, and tapering all the way to the ankle. While this is not flattering on most bodies, both Kirsten Dunst and Cameron Diaz have picked up a pair for at least $300.

Taking a cue from Seven and Acne, many small jeans companies have launched their version of the high-fashion blue jean, from Citizens of Humanity ($150 per pair) to True Religion ($250 per pair) to Blue Cult ($150 per pair).

I can remember back in the day when I bought a pair of Lee jeans to wear for about $20. Lee jeans are kiddie toys compared to the jean giants these days. So, why are we paying more for products that are still available for less? Could it be the signature stitching on the back pockets? Are the jeans made from better material? Do they fit our bodies better? Or are we just label whores?

It must be a combination of all these reasons. Personally, I am willing to pay for a higher-priced jean if it actually fits well–and a pair of jeans that fits well is hard to come by. The stitching on the back is a just a bonus that shows that I have blown my entire week’s paycheck to buy these suckers. What’s left to improve upon is the material and sizing. So what’s the next step?

Model Alek Wek believes that couture jeans are the next step in the maturity of jeans. This method abrogates the hassle of 10-hour searches for the perfect pair of jeans, and many companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Body Metrics at Selfridges and Co. offers a scanning device that measures the body and uses a database to match it with a suitable pair of jeans. Digital Couture takes this to the next level, by sending the results from the Body Scanner to a jeans manufacturer to tailor the perfect pair of jeans.

But, while couture and high-fashion jeans have taken over the market, the original Levi’s jean is still in use. Someday, we may all be using Body Metrics to size our jeans, but for now, we’ll settle for a nice Seven logo on the backs of our pockets.

Online Opportunities – The Best Way To Start A Home Business by Pasi Kaarakainen

Have you been searching for online opportunities? If so, there is a good chance that you are considering starting your own home business. This may sound like a large undertaking on the surface, but did you know that thousands of people start a home business every day? This is not to say that it is easy to do, but if they can get started, there is no reason that you can too. The first thing that you need to do is to consider between many online opportunities that are available to you and to decide what kind of home business you want. It is very important that you are interested in what ever you are doing, otherwise you are going to get bored and eventually you will give up.

One of the most popular online opportunities is starting a website. This is something that a lot of people pass by for their home business because they think that they need to have a lot of technical knowledge. And while you do need to know some about computers and the internet, anybody can take advantage of this online opportunity if they are willing to put their mind to it. In fact, there are teenagers who make a good bit of money with a great website. As you can imagine, if the younger generation can start a home business you should be able to work just as hard to reach the same plateau.

Another online opportunity to look into is setting up an online store. In other words, you will sell stuff online as opposed to setting up a land based store. This is a great way to control your costs while also getting into a line of work that interests you. The great thing about this online opportunity is that you can either sell your own products, or you can use a drop shipping service to sell somebody else’s. Either way, an ecommerce store is a great home business idea if you are interested in pushing products.

Finally, look into online opportunities that offer a service. This can be anything from a freelance writer to a web site or graphic designer. No matter what you like to do, there is a good chance that you can market your services online, and in turn, start a home business that already suits your needs. When your business is based around your current interests you will have a much better chance of succeeding from day one.

With so many online opportunities to choose from, it is up to you to find the one that you can make happen. A home business is not always easy to set up, but if you ask the thousands of people who have succeeded with this, they will tell you that it is well worth the time and effort. The bottom line is that there is an online opportunity waiting for you. Go out and grab it!

How to Get Cheap House Insurance Rates Online by Brian Stevens

Looking for cheap house insurance rates online? Here’s how to get the best rates with a top company.

House Insurance

House insurance consists of four distinct areas of coverage. They are …

1. Property coverage - pays to repair or rebuild your house if it’s been damaged by vandals, fire, burst water pipes, or storms and other acts of nature. Standard coverage does not pay for damages caused by hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes, so if you want to cover these disasters you’ll need to buy additional insurance.

2. Liability coverage – pays for another person’s medical bills and property damage repairs when you’re found to be at fault. This coverage also covers damages done by your family members living in your home.

3. Personal property coverage – pays to replace any personal possessions – clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics, tools, sports equipment, etc. – if they’re damaged by vandals, fire, burst water pipes, or storms and other acts of nature. Standard policies do not cover expensive items like jewelry, furs, or silver, so you may need additional insurance for these items.

4. Loss of use coverage – pays your hotel, motel, and restaurant bills if you have to move out of your home while it’s being repaired because of vandalism, fire, burst water pipes, or storms and other acts of nature.

Cheap House Insurance Rates Online

The first thing you need to do in order to get a cheap house insurance online is to comparison shop. You can spend half a day going from one single-company website to the next in order to get rates, or you can spend a few minutes at an insurance comparison website to get rates from a number of insurance companies.

At an insurance comparison site the process is simple. You fill out a short questionnaire with information about your house and the amount of insurance you want, then you wait for your quotes.

If you have any questions, the better insurance comparison sites let you talk with an insurance expert who can help you. They also offer an “Articles” section where you can get money-saving tips. (See link below.)

To save even more on your insurance make sure to get the highest deductible you can afford. Raising your homeowners deductible from $250 to $1,000 can save you up to 25% on your premium. Installing security and safety devices like deadbolts, burglar alarms, window locks, and smoke detectors can also save you money. Purchasing a monitored home security system can save you up to 20% on your insurance.

Last, but not least, ask your insurer about all the discounts that are available to you and take advantage of them all.

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/homeowners-insurance.html or click on the following link to get cheap house insurance rates online from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more insurance tips in their Articles section.

Traditional Direct Marketing vs. Permission Based Marketing by Sarah Manners

When Seth Godin, acclaimed author of “Permission Marketing” declared that traditional advertising, in which he included direct marketing, just isn’t as effective as it used to be he set a train of thought in motion that was to rock the direct marketing landscape forever.

Then and Now
Before we take a look at what has come out of this school of thought let’s take a closer look at the concept of traditional direct marketing: Its characteristics include unsolicited offers, a disregard for privacy, low conversion rates and general consumer apathy. Sending messages directly to customers by employing methods like telemarketing, direct mail and email was just the way things were done but as time wore on consumers started to grow disillusioned with the enormous amounts of spam/junk mail they we receiving. It is for this reason that most, previously acceptable, direct marketing tactics are being made illegal across the globe. The move today is towards what has become termed, Permission Based Marketing. Built on features which include consumer commitment, one to one targeting, transparency and high conversion rates this opt-in form of marketing is definitely proving its worth.

Permission Based Marketing
Consumers are savvy, fiercely protective of their personal information, weary of the overload of information available to them and time starved to say the very least. So, how does permission based marketing fit into this fast changing landscape? Take a look at permission based marketing’s main features to gain a deeper insight into why this form of marketing is so much more relevant today that direct marketing can be.

Opting-In
In the times of traditional direct marketing the key phrase was “opt-out”. With permission based marketing it is all about opting-in. In direct marketing the communication is unsolicited and often unwelcome which is why response rates tend to be so low. The cornerstone to permission based marketing is that customers give their explicit consent to receive communication before it is sent to them. A customer that has requested to receive your information is far more valuable than one that has no interest in what you are marketing. “The first rule of permission marketing is that it’s based on selfishness,” Godin says.

“Consumers will grant a company permission to communicate only if they know what’s in it for them.” If a customer is going to give you access to their personal (and highly guarded information) you’d better be able to offer them something that another company can’t. Customers are most likely to participate because there is something highly desirable in it for them: ideal product match, perfect service solution, enhanced service, better price … a change for the better.

Committed Consumers
Consumer commitment is a key feature of permission based marketing, customers are not just simply being exposed to messages they are expected to engage. The time investment made by the consumer to provide information about themselves before they even receive any communication is exceptionally valuable as it allows personalised and relevant communication to be delivered to them as well as founds a relationship.

High Conversions
Where as conversion rates tend to be quite low in traditional direct marketing the converse is true for permission based marketing. As the consumer has already actively made the decision to receive information about a product the chance of a conversion is quite high. What’s really great about permission based marketing is that you will already know quite a bit about the customer which will enable you to tailor make offers.

Updated Databases
Thanks to the Internet consumer information can be easily gathered and updated. This allows marketers to personalise each and every offering to what their possible customers are looking for or are interested in at that very moment. If you want insurance you want it now – not in six months time.

Permission based marketing tactics are clearly the way forward in both the minds of consumers and companies across the globe.

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