barbara friedland

Really, the latest iPod for free?

Believing emails.

It has been a tough year.  Trying to launch a business and other things.  I am a fairly confident person, but sometimes the weight of circumstances affects one's perspectives. 

A healthy barometer of self-esteem can be measured in how easily one dismisses the spam in one's inbox.  A lot of these emails are claiming to be compliant with the federal legislation.  Many, I suspect, don't even try.  Those are the ones that even MSN can detect.

Subject lines trumpeting a much larger version of a highly regarded part of the male anatomy. 

Anyway, on most days I glance at the slag that has accumulated in the spam folder, click on all and delete forever.  Since I am involved with on-line marketing, I  often scan the emails.

I know heuristically that exploring any offer that is promising something free will just increase spam 10 fold.  At a minimum.  It is almost funny.  Of course I want a 42" Plasma screen television.  But it is not coming from  this ostensible Santa Claus.

Do I have bad credit?  Will I encounter difficulty securing a mortgage.?Should I lose weight?  Am I a black single?  Do I want .....(laptop, gift certificate) for free?  Would I want to enlarge certain body parts?  How about participating in a quick survey.

The answer to all the above is a qualified no.  Some garner more assured responses.  By and large, it is a numbers game.  Millions of emails go out addressing the most salient needs perceived by society.

Chopped pork shoulder meat

I know that the big boys of the Internet continue to jockey for position and prominence.

One time MSN dominated all that was personal computers.  Now, it appears as if the company is aways playing catch-up.

I do not worship at the altar of Google.  My browser, the incredible Firefox, defaults to Google as my search tool.

Is it so very much better?  I don't know.  After all, we are talking about people sitting at a desk, typing and then being taken to pages listing  sites that match their query.  Search is only that.  No panoptic solution for  world peace. No cure for cancer.

A nice service.

This market demands change and new product offerings.

Yahoo's Instant Messaging will soon include VOIP.  An innovative way to increase the functionality of this widely used tool. 

But in the race for the new, companies should not forget to fix the old.  Problems that is.

I have several email addresses.  Three to be exact.  One is with a company I consult for and I never get unwanted communications. 

The second is gmail and except the the bots constantly reading my email and then proffering relevant advertisements, it is a wonderful tool. Gmail is great about spam.  The occasional advertisement for enlarging body parts or  discount pricing on drugs is scooped up immediately and sent to the spam folder.

But hotmail.  What is the problem?

Email and exercise

Email, exercise and measurability.

New studies suggest that moderate excise can add a couple- as in 2, maybe 3, years to someone's life.  And most of us would be considered moderate.  Lance Armstrong and athletes,  you can stop reading.

I actually did the math- one day in spinning class.  I exercise about 5 hours each week.  Double the time and exertion to include getting (on foot) to the classes and the gym as well as walking around the city.  In 16 years- give or take- I will have devoted a year to exercise.  After three decades or so, I break even.  I have engaged in physical activity long enought to receive the additional 2 years I am slated to get.

So, some marketing departments or a CFO would eliminate this from their budget.

Ridiculous.  Absolutely.  On so many levels. Similar to the way that many people evaluate their email campaigns and strategy.

First of all, I don't know when I will actually pass on.  I could be hit by a car tomorrow and never recoup the time I have invested in exercise. 

Also, other factors play a role in longevity, including genetic make-up, habits, stress, and luck. 

On the other side of the ledger, exercise yields more than possible life extension.  It is critical in health, weight management, keeping organs fit, eliminating stress, just to name a few of the beneficial  side effects. 

People can measure email to the fraction of a cent.  That does not provide the entire picture. 

I don't know your name but I know what you drive

A few seasons back, a popular designer decided to put a series of single initials as decoration on a line of tops and purses.  There was some thought involved.  I didn't see any X's or Q's.

What were they thinking?  Was this label solely going to sell to Shannon, Lynn and Julia.  Only Mindy or Mandy could buy their shirts?

It is hard enough to present a fresh design with enough appeal to generate sufficient sales.  But this decision restricted purchase by a seemingly infinite degree.

First women have to even find and try on clothing.  It has to fit and meet all personal requirements; ranging from price to fabric back to color.  And if the piece of clothing meets all the criteria a woman has assigned - it must then anticipate the buyer's name?  Sorry Maria, but that blouse you like only comes with an S, L or J.

"I love this Liz Claiborne purse,"  signed Wendy, looking at the black J on the white leather.   "It's too small," said her friend Jennifer.

Insanity.  I am certain it seemed fresh and innovative at the time. 

Less is more

My father was a mathematical genius.  Besides his natural talent, I believe he felt safe in the absoluteness of numbers.  Black and white, right or wrong.

Marketing is an inexact science to say the least.  I once  worked with an innovator whose only trick was doing the opposite of the main stream.

He used to say that if everyone was standing up, it was time to sit down.

Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, once posted a roster in one of his books.  Facetiously, the listed jobs to avoid- sales and engineering- and urged people to take up marketing and re-engineering.

But the Internet is where marketing is sales.  Choices and decisions by the marketing department are directly reflected in the bottom line.

Often it is a matter of experimentation or trial and error.  My recommendation is whatever you plan to do regarding email, send less.

Stop emailing me

Hooray No Spam here.  That is what gmail proclaims when my spam folder is empty.    A quick question to MSN- what is wrong with your spam filter?  No matter how many times I put communications from eBay or Jennifer into the junk folder, they are back in my inbox within weeks, if not days.

Like Freddy Krueger, some email just won't die.  I receive a newsletter from an industry specific search engine.  I had been called by 5 different executive recruiters on behalf this company that runs a proprietary search engine, designed for specific jobs and disciplines.  The goal is to bring in advertisers and lure users, pulling them away from a Google or Yahoo.

Let's just say, that the job and I weren't a match, a  point I had to make clear for months as placement companies kept calling.  I also question the business plan.  Perhaps the tools and needs of this area can support its own engine but I am not certain. ( I am reluctant to predict what will be profitable on the Internet in the long term.  A few years ago, no one thought you could charge for search.)

Anyway, I went on the website to prepare for a series of interviews.  I also asked to receive the newsletter.  Soon after, I tried to unsubscribe.  No deal.  When I clicked on the link, my computer locked up.  Trying several times, I was never able to successful rid myself of this monthly email. 

Mail, mail

I appreciate the United States Postal System.  Of course email has its place, but the service offered by "snail mail" is impressive.

For 39 cents, as of January 8, 2006- they will deliver a letter from and to anywhere in the country. New York to Hawaii. Considering the price of gas and the competition for my limited time, it is worth the price of a stamp for every bill or letter that I need to send, including places near my home or office.

It is an almost involuntary reaction to denigrate our mail service.  Considering the millions of pieces that are processed in just a year's time, there is very little error.  From my experience, I only had one letter lost in the mail and a handful delayed but ultimately delivered.  (Note to Cingular, I kept telling you I mailed my payment and it was Christmas time.)

One time, the billing service for my health club once did not receive my monthly check.  In an Enron-like accounting maneuver, they then declared every payment subsequent as late, and assigned a charge.  By the end of the year, I owned hundreds in these fees.  Now I just pay the club directly.

The margin of error for the Post Office is minuscule.  People, without thinking fall into cliches and accepted truisms.  The same as serving on a jury.  (Note to citizens, the alternative is criminals roaming free.)  In my jurisdiction, it is one day or one trial obligation.  I am generally bounced from the selected jury pool by the defense.  (Note to future defendants, I am probably as fair and impartial as you will find.)

Spam- the email not the meat product

I just received some spam. Trust me, this was spam.

I don't know if through genius or amazing stupidity, someone deliberately put or forget to edit a misspelling in the From line.  favirote

I had a chance to win O's favirote things.  O is obviously Oprah, who, through the fine print we learn has nothing to do with this offer.

What are her favorite things?  I will never know since I will not give up my email, my address and take the time to complete a survey.  I am certain that purchasing something is involved as well.

Oprah might be surprised to learn that Netflix is one of the partners of this promotion.  Maybe this company is one of Oprah's, I mean O's, favorite, I  mean favirote, things.

I began using Netflix because of a similar promotion.  I was promised a $75 gift card if I completed a survey and made at least one purchase.

I did chose Netflix, and used the service for several months.  I finally stopped because of the pressure.  There were always DVD's coming in the mail, sitting by the TV.  At some point, I decided to rent movies when I had the time and inclination.  But first I saw all the John Garfield and Paul Robeson films that were available.  Blockbuster's idea of old movies is Ashton Kutchner's foray on the big screen.

Why email can send me to the store.

I love to garden.  I love to shop on-line.  One of my favorite stores is Smith and Hawken.  They have unique and interesting products and terrific sales. However, I rarely purchase from their website.

There is a store not more than 10 miles from my house.  With city traffic, I can easily make the trip under 30 minutes.

I do get emails from the company.  This drives me to the website, which in turn, propels me to the store.

Why don't I just shop on-line?  Many reasons. 

Bats, hanging upside down and email marketing

I have two fears.  Bats and being in a position where my head is lower than any other part of my body.  I live in a city, so bats are not a huge issue.  I avoid roller coasters and extreme sports, so the other phobia only comes into play during my pilates sessions. 

Email campaigns are like bats.  There is a lot of misinformation and prejudice.  When in actual fact, both perform necessary and vital functions.

Learning helps dispel myths. A little education can show the power of communicating with email.