This is another survey on blogging that I've recently come across. This one is currently active, so feel free to... [Blog Logic]

RSS pushes old concept with new technology [BtoB]

The Holy Grail of electronic marketing is a way to deliver targeted messages directly to the desktop of a qualified, interested buyer. While e-mail has emerged as a crucial tool for marketers, so-called push technology—best exemplified by the ill-fated Pointcast network—failed miserably and faded into oblivion.

But push may be set for a comeback. Savvy marketers are beginning to tap a promising new one-to-one channel called RSS (Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, depending on whom you ask). RSS is beginning to draw the attention of the b-to-b marketing community.

Some RSS tools even integrate with applications like Microsoft Outlook, which portends a day when individuals may peruse RSS feeds right alongside their e-mail in-box.<more>

RSS is at the core of blogging technology and news aggregrators like Radio Userland. I predict that a combination of blogging and news aggregrators will largely replace B2B email marketing within 5 years. RSS has been around since the old Netscape's introduced MyNetscape in the mid-90s. In 1997 pundits were predicting the emise of email marketing due to the original push technologies like Pointcast but that didn't happen. While push didn't kill email marketing it would be ironic the evolution of push solved business marketers most vexing problem -- spam, spam and more spam.

John Lawlor - business blogging e-van-gel-ist - blogging from Boca Raton, FL 2003-05-05

A look back to 1997 FTC Spam Hearings

Reading about the recently concluded spam hearings prompted me to look back on my submitted written comments to the FTC in advance of the 1997 Spam Hearings (officially called Consumer Privacy 1997 - Comment P954807 & FTC Public Workshop on Consumer Information Privacy).

At that time I was CEO of EmailChannel, an early permission email services provider. Here are the principal points that I made and my feelings/comments today.

In 1997 I said that email was permissible when the mailing company had (point 1) a pre-existing business relationship with the recipient or (point 2) have obtained permission from the recipient to receive the material being emailed.

2003  - I would restrict it to (point 2) -- permission granted, but I'd emphasize the "material being emailed" part - I believed back in 1997 that permission was limited to the material originally signed up for. I no longer believe that (point 1) "pre-existing business relationship" is enough to place someone on a distribution list.

1997 (point 3) Consumers want to know: How they got on the list and How to get off

2003 This point is still valid but even more important than 6 years ago

1997 (point 4) Major Marketers are not the Spammers

2003 My experience as a consumer since 2001 and an industry observer indicates that too many branded marketers crossed the line and resorted to spamming techniques, either willingly or were duped by email vendors with "opt-in" lists of dubious origin and broad-based permission. However, I still believe that branded marketers have too much to loose and over the long-term are not willing spammers.

1997 (point 5) Fraudulent use of an Email address or domain should be a crime

2003 Sending a spammer to jail might help create prison-driven spam systems but I am still for sending habitual spammers to jail for fraudulent activity.

1997 (point 6) Legislation to ban unsolicited commercial Email will not stop the problem

2003 I still agree with this point but feel that it is time to prove me wrong.

1997 (point 7) Legislation to ban unsolicited commercial Email will only hurt legitimate marketers

2003 Legitimate email marketing is already deeply hurt and will probably never recover

1997 (point 8) An open market will prevail

2003 I guess that I underestimated the spammers. Back in 1997 the vast majority of spam was generated by a small number of individuals, today it is a cottage industry with tens of thousands of people brewing spam in their basements.

Is email marketing dead? No, it just isn't very healthy. The only way to succeed at email marketing is with respect, relevancy and retention.

• Respect your audience/subscribers
• Only sent them quality information that has clear relevancy to why they signed onto your list in the first place
• If you respect and send quality information that is relevant then your retainion of their permission and interest will generate positive results for your business

John Lawlor - business blogging evangelist - blogging frm Boca Raton, FL 2003-05-05

Blogging's on BillG's Radar Screen. Blogging's on BillG's Radar Screen Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates noted at yesterday's Newspaper Association of America Annual Convention that Microsoft is very interested in making sure blogging tools are there to support folks doing "bottom-up publishing." [via Microsoft Watch from... [tins ::: Rick Klau's weblog]

Survey: Email Users Favor Delete Key [MediaDaily News]

The Bigfoot Interactive OmniTel telephone survey, conducted across users with home Internet access by RoperASW, explores consumer perceptions, behaviors and interests in regard to receiving, unsubscribing and using email.

• "Report Spam" or "This is Spam" button/link is preferred method to eliminate unwanted email occurred with unsolicited pornography (6.2% women vs. 3.4% men)
• 79% say their ISP or email service provider should treat unsolicited email containing pornography differently than other types of unsolicited email.
• 57.7% of respondents agreed that attempting to unsubscribe from unwanted emails has resulted in receiving additional unwanted email
• 89.7% of respondents agreed that they would prefer that their ISP or email service provider include an unsubscribe option that would safely remove them from email lists.
• 38.2% have not received a requested email sent to them by a trusted source (such as a friend, family member or company with which they have a business relationship).
• 28.6% of respondents agreed that a requested communication from a trusted source was delivered to a junk mail folder
• 52.3% of respondents agreed that they would prefer to have billing alerts and critical service-oriented emails sent to a separate folder
• 50.4% of respondents agreed that they would subscribe to a free service that guaranteed the delivery of critical communications such as billing alerts. <more>
  

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