The Little Letters – The Art of Acronyms

As marketers, we make frequent use of three-letter acronyms (TLAs). Or, if we’re feeling particularly dangerous, we may slip in a four-letter acronym on occasion. However, while we may know exactly what we mean to say, our target audience may not. We need to be very careful not to overuse these handy devices lest we create confusion for our customers.

MarketingVox: Retailers Focus on ‘Green’ & Print amid Holiday Budget Cuts

One-third (32%) of chief marketing officers at leading US retailers say their holiday marketing and advertising budgets have been reduced this season, according to a new study conducted after the financial market meltdown by BDO Seidman, LLP, reports Retailer Daily.

Branding Strategy Insider: Direct Mail: Marketing’s Negative Tidal Wave

Direct marketing has become a profligate disaster of epic proportions. The relatively low cost of direct mail ensures that a campaign can prove profitable even if less than 2% of those targeted actually respond.

RIS Media: Nine Real Estate Trends for 2009

5. Online Toolboxes. According to the 2007 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84% of buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. Taking a cue from these findings, leading Chicagoland residential brokerage firms will be taking their services a step further by enhancing their sites with user-friendly Web tools that do much more than list homes for sale

Best Agent Business: How Does Your Marketing Look?

“On average, agents and brokers typically spend 10 percent of their gross commissionable income (GCI) a year on marketing – four percent of which is allocated to direct mail and six percent to online/web/email channels.” To read the entire survey press release, click here.