Cheapertising

Heard during an e-metrics webinar by longtime web marketer Jim Sterne: HIPPO – Highest Paid Opinion. HIPPOs can overwhelm any sensible advertising or marketing effort, online or off. Always be on the lookout for signs of them and take appropriate action.

As life shifts to the Internet, venerable institutions start losing their balance. Now, it’s the U.S. Postal Service. This Washington Post article highlights some of the trends taking place that could have a bigger impact on your mailbox than rain or snow or fear of anthrax. Web usage is helping citizens take control of their communication channels. Will “do not mail” become as popular as “do not call?”

[On Writing] Biz dev emails and first impressions

Used to be everybody knew the price of a first-class stamp? Do you? As a corollary, when’s the last time you heard about an actual post-office worker going postal? Maybe they’re not quite so busy anymore…. 

I serve on the board of directors for a national non-profit. The organization just sent out an end of the year appeal. At lunch the other day with four other men from my church, I did a quick count. I received two copies of the mailing, my priest received three, and another man received two. Seven pieces of mail to three men. Sigh…. Update: Found out my assistant priest received two, as well as two other board members. Aarrgghh! What donor would possibly feel good about making a donation to an organization that demonstrates such obvious waste?