ErinIs.com

I saw the above banner and was horrified, so obviously I clicked. Then I arrived at one of the most entertaining sites I’ve been to as a digital marketer in a while. I just wish I knew who did the site or what real company it was promoting…PointRoll is mentioned once but that’s it.

I’m not going to spoil the fun, go check it out here. Make sure you browse the site a bit for some awesome quotes like:

“We have 100% delivery. Sometimes you don’t even need a computer!”

“Our motto, “Keep it in the box,” (you know, the banner!) ensures our staff of talented clickologists never strays from what we know works: The highest standard for the lowest common denominator. It’s what we were founded on. It’s what works.”

“It’s not just a theory, it’s digital fact.”

Innovation is more than just the shiny new technology, its figuring out how to take the media we are accustomed to and finding new wyas to make it relevant. Office Max does it right with the below bag.

It was in the coupon section of the Sunday newspaper, making saure that it could be seen by all. Not only does it include the details of the sale, it is required to bring in store, ensuring a valid count of all bags utilized. The bag is then carried home for others to see and especially in SF probably reused somewhere in the household.

Simple, easy and smart.

If you don’t like this Old Spice spot you probably don’t have a soul.

Like most people in the mid-twenties, my first email address was through AOL and I have not actually used it since 2002.  I do occasionally check in on it either out of bordeom/curiosity or to open a password retrieving email in which case as soon as I find what I’m looking for I delete everything else. I have not provided that email to anyone in at least 6 maybe even 7 years which is why I am always so surpised at the volume of emails I receive. This is a snap shot of what I saw when I logged in tonight. Oy vey. Does no company actually clean this list?!

1.Some senders delivered mail to my stale inbox EVERY DAY. I’m looking at you Gregory Shoes and GOP US media.

2. Any list I actually signed up for was at least 5 years ago. FIVE YEARS. If a user has not opened, let alone clicked on your email in five years, purge them from your list. And Delias I don’t doubt I signed up for your emails, probably when I was a sophomore in high school because you make pre-teen clothes. A decade later I am not  a viable customer. You can remove me from your list.

3. When an email starts with gibberish such as “dedlekis” spells calls as “Clalls” and contains punctuation like a 13 yr old on Myspace “WEEkendSAleOnline”, 99% of the time its spam.

4. The little certified mail emblem (see blue circle) if an email from Carmax which I definitely did not sign up for. What is the point of a certified sender list if those certified senders still send spam emails?

5. My favorite of all emails is from unknownsender@unknowndomain. Hey AOL how did this one get past your spam filters as legitimate email? And while we are on the subject of spam, how is it you let 893 emails through and only caught one of them as spam? Are you even trying?

My top secvn 2010 superbowl ad favorites. Probably more automotive than other lists, but they were good spots and I have a soft spot in my heart for automotive accounts.

Kia

Intel

aww sad robot

Budlight

Dove Men

Read more »

I’ve said it many times before, I love behavioral targeting both as a media planner and as a consumer. Anything to show me less irrelevant ads and waste my time. You can track me, I’ll fill out a survey, infect my computer with your cookies (as long as you’re a reputable company). BT for a media planner is fabulous, the ability to push display only to those relevant segments who have demonstrated their interest of intent.

Last week the IAB announced the creation of a new logo (see below) to tell users they are seeing the ad because of behavioral targeting. As an act of self regulation and transparency the logo was decided on to avoid government interference on BT practices. For more information read this.

A warning label on behavioral targeting ads is totally and completely unnecessary. All media is purchased based on the consumers’ media habits, demographics, psychographics, previous purchases and other piles of research and life style stats. We place no warning labels on TV spots, informing the carefully selected audience that they are seeing the ad because they fite percisely into our media plan.  

As a media planner, I should hope that all ads would have this little logo on it – all the ads placed are done sone because of meticulous research and well thought out budget allocations based on the target demographic and client goals.