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March 16, 2010

Direct Mail Marketing Direct Marketing Marketing Strategy Uncategorized

How to Create a Great Direct Marketing Offer, Part 1

After the list, the offer is the most important element of a direct marketing campaign. In the first part of a two-part post, here are the basics of creating a great offer for your next direct marketing campaign....

by jeangianfagna

March 11, 2010

Marketing Campaigns Uncategorized

Is It Time to Tune-Up Your Company’s Logo?

Your company's logo is the most visible element of your brand identity. But if your logo is more than five years old – or if there’s been a significant change in your mission, core services, customer base, or marketing strategy since your logo was developed – your logo may be due for a tune-up. Here’s how to evaluate and update your company logo to support a smart branding strategy. ...

by jeangianfagna

March 1, 2010

Uncategorized

A Branding Blunder Averted: Ohio Almost Makes a Classic Marketing Mistake

The state of Ohio missed an opportunity for effective branding by making a classic mistake on its new license plate design: Obscuring the name of the product. The plates were supposed to become the state's official new design, but the recession forced officials to limit distribution -- and that's good branding news. Here's why....

by jeangianfagna

February 16, 2010

CRM Direct Mail Marketing Marketing Campaigns Marketing Strategy Uncategorized

5 Ways to Use Data to Create Compelling Direct Mail

Savvy direct marketers are using data and digital printing technology to develop engagign creative approaches and compelling direct mail campaigns that are almost fully customized to the individual recipient. Here are five ways to use data to develop great direct mail creative....

by jeangianfagna

February 9, 2010

CRM Marketing Strategy Uncategorized

Where Branding Matters Most: At the Human Level

There are many elements that make up a successful branding strategy, but the most important is how the people of a company are trained to exemplify the brand when they interact with customers. It’s branding at the human level – and it’s the pivotal point where many brand promises fall apart. Here's an example of a company that does it right....

by jeangianfagna

February 4, 2010

CRM Direct Mail Marketing Marketing Campaigns Marketing Strategy

Why Customer Data is Essential for Effective Marketing – Especially to Your Customers

When marketing to current or lapsed customers, it's essential to use your knowledge of the customer -- gleaned from database analysis -- to deliver a direct mail package or email that acknowledges and capitalizes on the customer's relationship with your organization....

by jeangianfagna

January 29, 2010

Marketing Campaigns Marketing Strategy

Developing a Marketing Plan: 5 Key Planning Questions

Marketing is the process of delivering messages to influence peoples’ perceptions and behavior as they relate to a specific product or service. It’s all the activity that drives a customer to interact with your business. Successful marketing requires a strategy. But before you start writing your marketing plan, you need information and insight. Here are five basic factors every marketer should take the time to assess to create the foundation for a smart marketing strategy: Your customers: Who buys from you, and why? Chances are, your best prospects look just like your best customers....

by jeangianfagna

January 27, 2010

Marketing Strategy

A New Resource for Smarter Marketing

Welcome to Smart Marketing Strategy, a new resource to help you develop and execute more effective marketing plans and campaigns. I’m Jean Gianfagna, president of Gianfagna Strategic Marketing in Cleveland, Ohio. I’ve spent more than 30 years developing marketing strategies and creative marketing campaigns for some of the nation’s top business and consumer marketers. During that time, I’ve seen dramatic changes in the technology available to deliver marketing messages. But no matter how much the channels change, the fundamentals of great marketing are still the same. A great ad can’t sell a bad product. Flashy...

by jeangianfagna

How to Create a Great Direct Marketing Offer, Part 1

Is It Time to Tune-Up Your Company’s Logo?

A Branding Blunder Averted: Ohio Almost Makes a Classic Marketing Mistake

5 Ways to Use Data to Create Compelling Direct Mail

Where Branding Matters Most: At the Human Level

Why Customer Data is Essential for Effective Marketing – Especially to Your Customers

Developing a Marketing Plan: 5 Key Planning Questions

A New Resource for Smarter Marketing

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