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	<title>multichannel &amp;laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed</title>
	<link>http://en.wordpress.com/tag/multichannel/</link>
	<description>Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "multichannel"</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:15:23 +0000</pubDate>

	<generator>http://en.wordpress.com/tags/</generator>
	<language>en</language>

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<title><![CDATA[Testing the VEP over a multichannel setup]]></title>
<link>http://vanderaalle.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/testing-the-vep-over-a-multichannel-setup/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:29:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>vanderaalle</dc:creator>
<guid>http://vanderaalle.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/testing-the-vep-over-a-multichannel-setup/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We have tested a multichannel rendering of our VEP application at the VRMMP. The new version will be]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>We have tested a multichannel rendering of our <a title="vep" href="http://edu.vrmmp.it/vep/" target="_blank">VEP</a> application at the VRMMP. The new version will be premiered in New York, at <a title="The Drawing Center" href="http://www.drawingcenter.org/" target="_blank">The Drawing Center</a>,  on Jan 15 2010, for an <a title="xenakis" href="http://www.drawingcenter.org/exh_upcoming.cfm?exh=662" target="_blank">exhibition</a> dedicated to Iannis Xenakis. Some photos on flickr <a title="testing at VRMMP" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanderaalle/sets/72157622857584757/" target="_blank">here</a></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 570px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanderaalle/sets/72157622857584757/"><img class=" " title="Testing at VRMMP" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4177619310_868ec9fe8d_o.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Testing at VRMMP</p></div>
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<title><![CDATA["Weapons Grade XMPie", right now, no kidding!]]></title>
<link>http://cbsales.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/weapons-grade-xmpie-right-now-no-kidding/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:48:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cbfodalo</dc:creator>
<guid>http://cbsales.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/weapons-grade-xmpie-right-now-no-kidding/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[database marketing, its time to target, stop throwing  out a net, and start hunting with a laser bea]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><h1>database marketing, its time to target, stop throwing</h1>
<h1> out a net, and start hunting with a laser beam.</h1>
<p>Database marketing professionals, you have all heard about one 2 one marketing, multi channel marketing, versioning, variable data, variable content, etc.<br />
ANRO is providing “Weapons Grade” XMPie web based multi channel marketing services right now. We can help you streamline the production process through digital workflow and creative collaboration tools while increasing the effectiveness of your direct mail marketing through the use of targeted one 2 one multi channel programs. We are offering “ Best in Class” web based marketing and collaboration tools. We change the conversation from cost to create, print and mail, to cost per conversion. We will provide the tools and reporting that will allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, real time, no more mystery mailers, lost in your clients overflowing inbox or mail box. You will begin to speak to your clients in their voice, about things they are interested in, things they want, the way they want to be communicated with.<br />
Call me or email me anytime to schedule a web demo.</p>
<p>charles.billings@anro.com<br />
609-513-3404</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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<title><![CDATA[2009.47 | Paper Free Offers Please]]></title>
<link>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/2009-47-paper-free-offers-please/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:05:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tim Dickey</dc:creator>
<guid>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/2009-47-paper-free-offers-please/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Given the state of the global economy, special offers have become the new normal in retail.  Retaile]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><a href="http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/img_1039.png"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-317" style="margin:10px;" title="IMG_1039" src="http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/img_1039.png?w=200" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>Given the state of the global economy, special offers have become the new normal in retail.  Retailers are increasingly able to offer relevant offers on products and services desired by individual consumers.  Consumers who are loyal in these fickle times are rewarded with great deals. </p>
<p>A technology decision such as requiring a barcoded coupon can have a heavy influence on the closure of a sale.  If a physical coupon is required and forgotten, there can be disasterous concequences.  The consumer may make a special trip to a location, spend sigificant time and energy to fill a basket, and then discover that the offer can not be redeemed. </p>
<p>The end result is an abandoned basket, at best.  At worst, a customer will feel cheated by the retailer for forgetting a slip of paper.  This sort of small annoyance finds its way to places like <a href="http://consumerist.com/">Consumerist</a>, or onto <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=forgot+my+coupon">Twitter</a>.  While these small annoyances were not worth addressing in the past - with no facility for consumers to vent such a small issue, these items could be ignored.  These new media provide instant response, and the <a href="http://mashable.com/2008/11/16/motrin-moms/">potential for massive backlashes</a> never before possible.</p>
<p>The opportunity to bring a consumer closer to a retailer &#8211; to make them more loyal &#8211; has been transformed into a pain point for the consumer.  And why the pain point?  Why is it necessary that we all kill trees and feed toner onto paper so that a barcode can be scanned?   The reasons are myriad, and include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Limiting the offer </strong>- Perhaps retailers don&#8217;t want to provide the offer to the general population, but to a select audience.  Perhaps they are limiting the stock for a BOGO or free item.  While this is sometimes the case, many offers generally encourage you to send them to friends and family and use them over and over again. </li>
<li><strong>Sweethearting</strong> &#8211; Retailers want to reign in associates who give discounts to people on their whim &#8211; they could give it to everyone.  Using a barcode provides an audit trail with the paper coupon and the scanning requirement that will minimize the impact of a dishonest cashier providing discounts to unqualified individuals.</li>
<li><strong>Tracking </strong>- Any campaign requires measurement, and some campaigns may want to track where the consumer found the offer, so they can understand their multi-channel mix.  There may be different barcodes for e-mail, flyers, newspaper ads, for whatever medium was used to validate the offer source.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:left;">There has to be some way to meet these very reasonable retailer needs in some manner without the handicap of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupon">a paper coupon &#8211; a 19th century innovation</a>.  Unfortunately, barcodes can&#8217;t be scanned directly from most mobile devices, so this problem may take some time to be resolved with technology.  While there are some amazing opportunities using <a href="http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/entry/32357/starbucks-texts-2d-bar-code-coupons-in-successful-loyalty-campaign/">2d barcodes</a> or coupon apps to bridge this divide that are wholeheartedly encouraged, an interim measure that works for all consumers &#8211; not just mobile users &#8211; is key to avoid the bad press on line that can sink brand capital &#8211; particularly in the online world where bad press spreads so quickly.</p>
<p>As always the best route is to make the technology as invisible to the consumer as possible.  Why not make the unique barcode something that can be entered manually if the client reads it off their device to the cashier?  If there are concerns about limiting or sweethearting, why not have a code that the cashiers can enter manually if a customer mentions the offer, and a different code if it is scanned?  If the coupon is fundamentally required, offer a lesser discount without it. </p>
<p>No matter the answer, it&#8217;s important to consider the desired end state, and not get caught in technology for it&#8217;s own sake &#8211; be it a barcode or a mobile device.  The solution has to be simple for the consumer.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Forget HDTV - UHDTV will be the next big thing]]></title>
<link>http://deems.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/forget-hdtv-uhdtv-will-be-the-next-big-thing/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:17:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Deems</dc:creator>
<guid>http://deems.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/forget-hdtv-uhdtv-will-be-the-next-big-thing/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[With Blu-Ray slowly taking it&#8217;s place in the digital video market as the preferred digital ver]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>With <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray" target="_blank"><strong>Blu-Ray</strong></a> slowly taking it&#8217;s place in the digital video market as the preferred <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD" target="_blank"><strong>digital versatile disc</strong></a> medium due to it&#8217;s superior storage capacity and audio and visual quality over run of the mill DVDs the current <em>&#8220;in&#8221;</em> technology are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdtv" target="_blank"><strong>HD television</strong></a> sets.</p>
<p>With more and more public and private broadcasters in various countries around the world switching off their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_TV" target="_blank"><strong>analogue signals</strong></a> and purely broadcasting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television" target="_blank"><strong>digital signals</strong></a> they&#8217;re fast becoming the norm. Never mind the on-going battle between technology experts about which HDTV display is better, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_tv" target="_blank"><strong>Plasma</strong></a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCD_TV" target="_blank"><strong>LCD</strong></a> (oh and let&#8217;s not forget <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED_TV" target="_blank"><strong>OLED displays</strong></a> too).</p>
<p>If that wasn&#8217;t enough to confuse most people &#8211; there&#8217;s something <em>&#8220;new&#8221;</em> on the horizon. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Hi-Vision" target="_blank"><strong>Ultra High Definition</strong></a> Televisions or UHDTV (also known as Super Hi-Vision). I say <em>&#8220;new&#8221;</em> since it&#8217;s not really new but just not very well known, yet. Japan Broadcast Corporation (NHK) <a href="http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=173402762" target="_blank"><strong>already demonstrated</strong></a> this technology back in 2005 at the <a href="http://www.expo2005.or.jp/en/" target="_blank"><strong>World Exposition</strong></a> in Aichi, Japan.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been into technology and it&#8217;s awesomeness as far back as I can remember but being a parent, having a mortgage and working as a software developer (who doesn&#8217;t work for the government) sometimes, okay <em>most</em> times, cost comes into the equation and usually overrides the wow factor. I have <a title="Home Entertainment Deluxe" href="http://deems.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/home-entertainment-deluxe/" target="_blank"><strong>some decent audio visual equipment</strong></a> but neither Blu-Ray players nor a HDTV (yet) or satellite television (yet).</p>
<p>Okay so give it up &#8211; more info on the UHDTV already!</p>
<p>Well, Ultra, it definitely is. To put it into perspective. Current HDTV is broadcast in a 1920&#215;1080 resolution whereas UHDTV will be broadcast in a resolution of 7680&#215;4320. What? Okay, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here goes. The turquoise rectangle is the current HDTV resolution and the big blue outer rectangle is the UHDTV resolution. <em>Click on the image for a higher resolution version.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://deems.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/udtvcomparison.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-2088 aligncenter" style="border:1px solid #fd5a1e;padding:4px;" title="UDTVComparison" src="http://deems.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/udtvcomparison.png" alt="UDTVComparison" width="405" height="228" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Get the picture? That&#8217;s seriously huge! But it&#8217;ll be a few years before this becomes commercially available and viable. Possibly in the next 7 to 12 years. Along with an amazing high resolution image you&#8217;ll also get superb <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22.2" target="_blank"><strong>22.2 multichannel surround sound</strong></a>. You read that correctly, 22 satellite speakers and 2 sub-woofers. Huh? Where do all those speakers go? Well in a configuration as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>9 speakers above ear level</li>
<li>10 speakers at ear level</li>
<li>5 speakers below ear level</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:left;">I guess we&#8217;ll need a bigger lounge then.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">You can find out more in the various links in the post above or <a href="http://www.ultrahdtv.net/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>. Thanks to <a title="Jon on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/juffs3" target="_blank"><strong><em>Jon</em></strong></a> for the heads-up of <a href="http://hothardware.com/News/Got-HDTV-Get-Ready-For-UHDTV/" target="_blank"><strong>this article</strong></a> on Hot Hardware.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Below is a short video about Super Hi-Vision/UHDTV from IBC Channel News.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/am_azZxTFOI&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/am_azZxTFOI&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[e-Retail: Multichannel retail integration - Aarkstore Enterprise]]></title>
<link>http://aarkstore.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/e-retail-multichannel-retail-integration-aarkstore-enterprise/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:13:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>aarkstore</dc:creator>
<guid>http://aarkstore.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/e-retail-multichannel-retail-integration-aarkstore-enterprise/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[An increasingly empowered consumer is now internet shopping savvy and has come to expect a consisten]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>An increasingly empowered consumer is now internet shopping savvy and has come to expect a consistent experience with whichever channel they choose to shop. With consumers&#8217; expectations and competitive pressures increasing, it is imperative that retailers develop long term multichannel strategies, investing in new technology and incorporating new services in their propositions.</p>
<p><strong>Scope<br />
</strong><br />
*Analysis of how the development of multichannel operations has impacted the way in which consumers shop.</p>
<p>*Overview of what the modern consumer has come to expect from their shopping experience.</p>
<p>*The difficulties that have arisen through the creation of multichannel retail operations.</p>
<p>*How retailers can respond to these difficulties and help foster the closer integration and experience consistency between channels.</p>
<p><strong>Highlights<br />
</strong><br />
A more empowered and demanding consumer expects a high level of shopping experience regardless of which channel is utilised. It is thus essential that retailers link channels as much as possible, creating a consistent cross-channel experience.</p>
<p>To attain a heightened level of integration across all channels it is essential to invest in unifying both front of house and backoffice operations. In turn this will allow easier and more effective fulfilment strategies and multichannel management of customer data.</p>
<p>New technology such as instore kiosks and more advanced visual imagery online will facilitate the integration of different channels. It is also important for retailers to implement multichannel services such and click &#38; collect, not only to strengthen integration but to enhance convenience credentials.</p>
<p><strong>Reasons to Purchase<br />
</strong><br />
*Understand the impact that changing consumer habits have had on their demands and expectations.</p>
<p>*Identify the issues that retailers face when developing multichannel operations and the strategies that they can employ to overcome them.</p>
<p>*Understand what role new instore and online technology can have in achieving closer integration and consistency of experience.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/e-Retail-Multichannel-retail-integration-31031.html">http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/e-Retail-Multichannel-retail-integration-31031.html</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Managing Multi-Channel Relationships]]></title>
<link>http://expedientmeans.com/2009/10/23/managing-multi-channel-relationships/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:45:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Steve A Furman</dc:creator>
<guid>http://expedientmeans.com/2009/10/23/managing-multi-channel-relationships/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Next week I will be on a panel with three distinguished industry professionals from Best Buy, Draftc]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><a href="http://expedientmeans.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/radio_face_cus_001.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2807" style="margin:0 7px;" title="radio_face_cus_001" src="http://expedientmeans.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/radio_face_cus_001.jpg?w=300" alt="radio_face_cus_001" width="192" height="128" /></a>Next week I will be on a panel with three distinguished industry professionals from Best Buy, Draftcb and imc2. The event is the <a href="http://www.forrester.com/events/eventdetail?eventID=2384" target="_blank">Forrester Consumer Forum</a> held by Forrester Research at the Fairmont hotel in Chicago. I get quite a few invitations to either speak or be on panels (not bragging, just a fact) but I&#8217;m very selective on where I spend my time. Forrester has an amazing track record on delivering great content and they have gotten their chops back on being provocative (full disclosure, I am on their Interactive Marketing Leadership Board). This year&#8217;s Consumer Forum theme is <strong>The Three-Dimensional Consumer: Creating Breakthrough Multichannel Relationships</strong>.</p>
<p>I will be on a panel discussing how to  manage multichannel agency relationships. Today firms are tasked with managing a variety of online channels; web, e-mail, chat, social and mobile. No one person company or agency can be an expert in all of them, but our customers expect us to deliver a great experience and value at every touch point. I view this as an exciting challenge. The agency landscape has expanded to fill this gap. But adding more agency partners complicates things. Here are some of the questions that will likely be thrown at the panel.</p>
<ul>
<li>What is a digital agency’s role in today’s multi-dimensional landscape? Is it more important or roughly the same as it’s been?</li>
<li>What makes a successful interactive agency-marketer relationship?</li>
<li>What are the pros and cons of working with one consolidated agency vs. several specialist agencies?</li>
<li>How has social media changed the landscape and what is the role of agencies in this space?</li>
<li>What can marketers and/or agencies do better to improve relationships?</li>
</ul>
<p>Looking forward to a lively discussion and voicing my opinion. Check back for a wrap-up after the event.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Peer-to-Peer Mail]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/peer-to-peer-mail/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:04:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/peer-to-peer-mail/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Software provider Centage addresses a letter to financial executives from its own chief financial of]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Software provider Centage addresses a letter to financial executives from its own chief financial of]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[2009.38 | Hold the Receipt | Donuts &amp; Furniture]]></title>
<link>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/2009-38-hold-the-receipt-donuts-furniture/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:24:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tim Dickey</dc:creator>
<guid>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/2009-38-hold-the-receipt-donuts-furniture/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Hold the Receipt - A September 1 article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the growing trend of]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><strong><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-179" style="border:0;margin:10px;" title="tale_of_the_tape" src="http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/tale_of_the_tape1.jpg?w=300" alt="tale_of_the_tape" width="300" height="263" />Hold the Receipt </strong>- A <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125175363135673825.html">September 1 article in the Wall Street Journal</a> highlighted the growing trend of very long receipts, given the addition of <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125175363135673825.html#project%3DRECEIPTS0908%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive">contract terms, transaction barcodes, product details, loyalty information, coupons and more</a>.  While much of the information on the receipt is useful for retailers and consumers alike &#8211; enabling interactions and conversations via offers, ensuring transaction clarity, and simplifying returns, it also means an incredible amount of waste.  </p>
<p>The ultimate objective will be to eliminate receipts entirely, removing paper, labour, waste, cost and complexity from the equation completely, but it&#8217;s easier said than done <a href="http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/hey-wait-minute/2009/08/20/death-receipts?page=full">for many reasons</a>. </p>
<p>What can be done today?  Electronic <a href="http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/tag/coupons/">coupons</a> are one way to trim the paper use that many retailers and businesses are experimenting with.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXWxwqomGQA">Two sided thermal receipt printing</a> is another great measure to address the issue, reducing costs and waste substantially while maintaining the benefits that the information on the receipt provides.</p>
<p><strong>Donuts &#38; Furniture</strong> &#8211; Consider two very different organizations and two different approaches to multichannel communications:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.dunkindonuts.com/">Dunkin Donuts</a> has implemented the <a href="http://www.dunkinrun.com/">Dunkin Run program</a> utilizing a <a href="http://www.dunkinrun.com/About/HowItWorks.aspx">twist on a social networking</a> to allow an individual to invite friends to place their orders online for one lucky runner to pick up for the group.    Status of the pickup can be <a href="http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/dunkin-donuts-launches-online-ordering-iphone-app/">displayed on Facebook</a>.  What a great idea to drive up sales, the dollar value of each purchase, and increase consumer loyalty.   It should also be an easy migration to a mobile footprint given the type of solution and interface provided.</p>
<p>Ikea is making moves down the path to multichannel communications as well.  The <a href="http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DisplayPage?layout=aboutIkeaFamily&#38;storeId=7&#38;langId=-20&#38;catalogId=11001&#38;localStore=10109">IKEA FAMILY </a>loyalty program in use in Europe leverages registration kiosks in store.  In the US, Ikea is leveraging a <a href="http://m.IKEA.us">mobile application</a> for store finding and specials.  Expect IKEA to <a href="http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/retail-crm/323-ikea-execs-discuss-launch-of-us-loyalty-use-of-mobile-medium.html">move those channels</a> together.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Russound Collage: Music, Intercom, Surveillance &amp; Control over Powerlines]]></title>
<link>http://goqav.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/russound-collage-music-intercom-surveillance-control-over-powerlines/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:50:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Quality Audio Video</dc:creator>
<guid>http://goqav.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/russound-collage-music-intercom-surveillance-control-over-powerlines/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Russound is preparing to launch their new HomePlug-based system dubbed &#8220;Collage.&#8221;  The s]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Russound is preparing to launch their new HomePlug-based system dubbed &#8220;Collage.&#8221;  The system offers up whole-home music, video surveillance, intercom and control for retrofit applications &#8211; no new wires required (except maybe a few short runs of speaker wire).</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-179" title="Russound Collage Keypad" src="http://goqav.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/russound_collage_keypad.jpg" alt="Russound Collage Keypad" width="322" height="400" /></p>
<p>Collage is Russound’s  new power line media and intercom system that employs PLC (power line carrier) technology to distribute media throughout the home.</p>
<p>The collage system core is a modified version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomePlug_Powerline_Alliance" target="_blank">HomePlug 1.0 technology</a> to deliver audio and video streams from sources (iPods, Servers, NAS Drives, Computers, CD Players, etc) which are controlled via Collage keypads.</p>
<p>The whole-home system taps into Romex (electrical wiring abundantly available in every home) to get power and transfer signal.  The diagram below depicts the Collage topology.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-180" title="Russound Collage Topology" src="http://goqav.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/russound_collage_topology.jpg" alt="Russound Collage Topology" width="450" height="337" /></p>
<p>With a built-from-the-ground-up approach, Russound packed their new in-wall Collage controllers with smart processors and interface modules to allow communication over the Romex network. The brawn of the Collage keypads encompass a touchpad, click wheel and quarter VGA (QVGA) display which is about the same resolution and look of an iPhone screen; behind that lies the brains: a CPU, modified HomePlug technology, a 30-watt amp, power supply, and even an FM tuner is built into each keypad.</p>
<p>Sources can plug into any AC outlet in the home to be accessed from any zone.  This works thanks to Russound&#8217;s new Gridcast communication protocol which is built into every product in the Collage ecosystem.  Behind every keypad and the powerline plug-in modules is a Gridcast product; iPod docking stations and Gridcast bridges for connecting (and controlling) analog audio sources and surveillance cameras.  Gridcast-enabled Media Manager gateway delivers IP-based content from media servers and DLNA-compliant devices, as well as Web-based music from sources such as Rhapsody, Shoutcast and Internet radio stations (no PC required).</p>
<p>In addition to functioning as the whole-home music system we’ve described above, Collage is also an intercom system.  Best of all, you will find many high-end features such as room-to-room, whole-home paging, listen-in, and hands free as you would normally see on more expensive stand-alone intercom system.  To top things off Collage also has a built-in alarm clock with a sleep timer and snooze feature.</p>
<p>Perhaps one of the most amazing features is the fact that you can have as little as one single zone or as many as 10.  The reason we find this so fascinating is because with tradition hardwired whole-home music systems you typically will purchase a six zone multichannel receiver and processor.  That means if you originally installed six zones and want to expand to a seventh, you would have to add the cost of buying another six zone multichannel receiver.  With Russound Collage you build the system for how many zones or areas of audio you want and you’re done – no more excess or overly abundant system architecture.  Collage can support up to 34 sources, including iPods, analog audio devices, surveillance cameras and networked sources via Russound Gridcast network plug-in modules.</p>
<p>Anywhere you have an outlet or light switch, you can have Collage!</p>
<p><a href="www.GoQAV.com" target="_blank">www.GoQAV.com</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[2009.28 | More Mobile and Social Media]]></title>
<link>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/2009-28-more-mobile-and-social-media/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:50:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tim Dickey</dc:creator>
<guid>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/2009-28-more-mobile-and-social-media/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Retailers continue to delve deep into the murky waters of mobile apps. A Sears representative recent]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Retailers continue to delve deep into the murky waters of mobile apps. A <a href="http://www.sears.com/">Sears</a> representative <a href="http://retailtouchpoints.com/home/cross-channel-strategies/275-sears-leader-delivers-keynote-at-dma-mobile-commerce-spotlight-event.html">recently talked</a> about their experiences and suggested success criteria for mobile retail with <a href="http://mobile.usablenet.com/mt/www.sears.com">Sears2Go</a>. <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/">Best Buy</a> has also <a href="http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=31052">jumped in</a>, with both a <a href="http://m.bestbuy.com/m/b/">mobile website</a> an <a href="http://www.bestbuyapps.com/?p=3">iPhone app</a> that will provide information on deals at your local Best Buy based on location &#8211; a sort of virtual local flyer.</p>
<p>Taking the social media trend to its logical next level, <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/">Whole Foods</a> recently announced that <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/twitter/">individual stores will now have their own Twitter accounts</a>. Expect departments and special interest by store to follow as those interested in certain subjects open themselves up for communication. As mentioned previously <a href="http://www.sephora.com/">Sephora</a> is encouraging its <a href="http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/commerce/2488.html">customers to post reviews of its products </a>on its <a href="http://reviews.sephora.com/8723/allreviews.htm">site</a>.</p>
<p>Geeky as these items appear at first glance, the movement of mobile technologies and their applications to the maintream represent an amazing opportunity for retailers to go back to their roots.</p>
<p>Years ago, retailers operated in small communities, knew their customers on an individual basis and would market to them at that level. A sporting goods store owner knew that a new rod and reel would appeal to a very specific group of people in his community. That retailer could be in touch with those people he knew to let them know about the product. Much of that one to one relationship marketing was lost with the advent of big box stores and the migration of commerce from city centres and markets to suburban shopping malls.</p>
<p>With the ever widening number of mobile tools and the increasing number of tribes and communities out there, there is a real opportunity for retailers and consumer facing organizations of all kinds to go back to that sort of one on one relationship that can result in real benefit to both parties &#8211; consumers recieve products and services tailored to their specific needs, and retailers obtain an opportunity to gain real loyalty and value add for providing those tailored offers.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Mobile in Europe]]></title>
<link>http://agoradusa.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/mobile-in-europe/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:31:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
<guid>http://agoradusa.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/mobile-in-europe/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[According to a study, Spain seems to be the more expensive country concerning mobile plans. (45.38 e]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[According to a study, Spain seems to be the more expensive country concerning mobile plans. (45.38 e]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[A winning recipe for growth in food retail?]]></title>
<link>http://retailnu.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/a-winning-recipe-for-growth-in-food-retail/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:28:38 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>retailnu</dc:creator>
<guid>http://retailnu.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/a-winning-recipe-for-growth-in-food-retail/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Planet Retail’s Robert Gregory outlines the trends dominating the global grocery market The global e]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Planet Retail’s Robert Gregory outlines the trends dominating the global grocery market The global e]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[2009.23 | Trading Privacy]]></title>
<link>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/2009-23-trading-privacy/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:31:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tim Dickey</dc:creator>
<guid>http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/2009-23-trading-privacy/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The basic agreement underlying basic consumer facing loyalty programs is that consumers are willing ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>The basic agreement underlying basic consumer facing loyalty programs is that consumers are willing to trade a certain amount of their privacy in return for a <a href="https://www.clubsobeys.com/Login.page">discount on goods</a>, <a href="http://www.scene.ca/home.aspx?lan=en&#38;otc-source=cpx_home">services</a> or <a href="http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards/rbcrewards/index.html">other</a> <a href="http://www.hbc.com/hbcrewards/">rewards</a>.</p>
<p>Moving past that basic agreement, more sophisticated consumer facing organizations provide targeted offers or suggestions to consumers based on their <a href="http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=58513&#38;storeId=1&#38;catalogId=1&#38;langId=-1&#38;feat=26-dppfi">selections</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=13316081">buying habits</a> with the consumer&#8217;s agreement.</p>
<p>Now consider the internet generation and web 2.0, where few question the fact that every online and mobile service online is &#8217;free&#8217;. All comers are completely willing to provide their intimate details to populate the key fields of the system &#8211; a marketers dream. In this environment, the consumer&#8217;s data is the price of admission for a &#8216;free&#8217; service.</p>
<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-115" title="last.fm" src="http://retailtechnologytrends.wordpress.com/files/2009/06/last-fm.gif" alt="last.fm" width="512" height="369" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.last.fm/">Last.fm</a> keeps track of all their members&#8217; music and listening habits in incredible detail. In return, it is possible to listen to new music online with links to purchase music from iTunes, discover concerts and share music online or even right on their mobile device (<a href="http://iphonehelp.in/2009/05/30/apple-staff-training-reveals-over-the-air-downloads-of-movies-and-tv-shows/">video is coming, too</a>). The data captured is an irreplacable resource that can be sold to music artists and labels (or movie studios). Detailed listening data can be used to target consumers of specific musical taste, providing spot on targeting, reducing promotional costs, and driving revenues.</p>
<p>While this could still be considered a fair trade, assuming data is kept anonymized and used for legitimate and agreed upon commercial purposes, it does bring up <a href="http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/securityfraud/wal-marts-kiosk-trial-raises-serious-pci-data-ownership-issues/">troubling privacy issues</a>. In 2009 most people are comfortable sharing their information online in social media experiments like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.last.fm/">last.fm</a>, <a href="http://www.bookarmy.com/">Bookarmy</a>, <a href="http://www.evernote.com/">Evernote</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?hl=en_US&#38;continue=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/login%3Fcontinue%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fpicasaweb.google.com%252Fhome&#38;service=lh2&#38;ltmpl=gp&#38;passive=true#utm_medium=embed&#38;utm_source=pwalogin">countless</a> other very useful applications. There are certainly other applications for these consumers&#8217; data that have not been considered by the consumers as they provide it, and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/magazine/17credit-t.html?_r=1">insidious or not</a>, it signals change in our society and our consumer interactions.</p>
<p>Privacy issues or no, the first consumer facing organizations that discover a seamless way to allow customers to move as themselves from point of service to online to the web, remembering preferences of product and business method, purchases, while making useful recommendations and generally acting as our trusted advisor will certainly profit. There are <a href="http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/home/cross-channel-strategies/225-sears-aligns-all-channels-for-personalized-shopping-with-shopyourway-branding.html">many</a> <a href="http://maverix.typepad.com/brandingunbound/2009/01/sephora-brings-product-reviews-to-mobile-phones-instore.html">attempts</a> <a href="http://springwise.com/automotive/rent2buy/">being</a> <a href="http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/commerce/3323.html">made</a> <a href="http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/home/cross-channel-strategies/254-tt.html">today</a>.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[The Obama Effect Part II: 10 More Takeaways for Multichannel Fundraisers]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/the-obama-effect-part-ii-10-more-takeaways-for-multichannel-fundraisers/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 14:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/the-obama-effect-part-ii-10-more-takeaways-for-multichannel-fundraisers/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Originally published in Inside Direct Mail May 1, 2009 by Britt Brouse In part one of this article, ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Originally published in Inside Direct Mail May 1, 2009 by Britt Brouse In part one of this article, ]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Social Influence and Polymorphism]]></title>
<link>http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/social-influence-and-polymorphism/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:35:54 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>thegreenjar</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/social-influence-and-polymorphism/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The quality of being made of many different individuals, diversity and opinions makes social media i]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>The quality of being made of many different individuals, diversity and opinions makes social media influential and expandable in this day and age of digital business. Social marketing&#8217;s entry to the mainstream has created a true consumer to business engagement driven by people&#8217;s influential powers. Social campaigns that were seeded in 2008, blossomed in early 2009 and will get pollinated very quickly through 2010. The main reason for that is &#8220;people influencing people&#8221; and has become the new strategy for marketers. This strategy extracts attention with ease. A way that reaches out to every new and future member of a social community automatically with minimal effort. A tactic that markets continuously as long as the social channel exists and grows, without end or interruption. We are seeing some trend shifts and companies who are introducing the influence component in the mix with other pillars of brand marketing and direct response.</p>
<p><!--more--><strong>Social Adopters</strong></p>
<p>Companies like Dell that recently claimed a revenue of 1 million dollars through social campaigns at Twitter are the early successful adopters of influential marketing. They used Twitter as email, sales alert system and even offered discounts to social community based users such as exclusive discount to My Space and Bebo. Ford launched their new Fiesta model through a Tweep Up again targeting Twitter community with their eye on influential marketing.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-414 aligncenter" title="dell-social" src="http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/files/2009/04/dell-social.jpg" alt="dell-social" width="425" height="55" /></p>
<p><strong>Social Object Architecture (SOA)</strong></p>
<p>Social object architecture allows various social sites and services to cross pollinate and exchange not only their social audience but also opinions. Tweedeck is a great example which is a non mobile Twitter tool recently released it&#8217;s Facebook integration. This cross pollination will become more and more visible in the near future.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-415 aligncenter" title="tweetdeck-social" src="http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/files/2009/04/tweetdeck-social.jpg" alt="tweetdeck-social" width="426" height="61" /></p>
<p><strong>Social Investment &#38; Revenue Generation</strong></p>
<p>With more and more sites, tools and services designed around social media and networks, investors are going to welcome new opportunities, advertisements will grow and revenue will build.</p>
<p><strong>Social Branding</strong></p>
<p>Opinions are going to play a huge factor on how companies define their brands. The reverse effect of influence over brand will become more prominent where opinions will be shaping the brands more than brands shaping them thus forcing companies to deliver much stronger value propositions to their customers.</p>
<p><strong>Social Advertisements</strong></p>
<p>Still in its early stages, the social advertising is trying to redefine the format for better ROI&#8217;s. Through blogger communities, link exchanges, widgets/tools and content syndication, a hybrid platform will become important driving social experiences and awareness in the web and other platforms. </p>
<p><strong>Social Influence v/s Measurement</strong></p>
<p>It will not be accurate to say that measurement will become  secondary in case of social marketing. Even though there is no point in measuring social channel like TV, print, radio or digital channels, still the measurement unit will be redefined. Marketers do care about opinions rather than emotional sentiments and real time feedback will drive the change in marketing campaigns, product development and customer service.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-420 aligncenter" title="influence-mesurment" src="http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/files/2009/04/influence-mesurment.jpg" alt="influence-mesurment" width="426" height="268" /></p>
<p><strong>Social Executives</strong></p>
<p>Don&#8217;t be surprised if you see a blog or a tweet from your CEO or CIO. It&#8217;s not just because employees are joining social networks that compels executives to be involved, it&#8217;s also because competitors are expanding their social existence rapidly forcing the decision makers to be an active participant.</p>
<p>The above shifts are just few we will see in the social marketing space and the key driver will be social influence and relationship. It&#8217;s the polymorphism nature of social media which makes this so versatile and adaptive in today&#8217;s market.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Social Mantra and Marketers Dream]]></title>
<link>http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/social-marketing-mantra/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:39:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>thegreenjar</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thegreenjar.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/social-marketing-mantra/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Take any article on marketing today, there is a certain chance of social media and networks being me]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Take any article on marketing today, there is a certain chance of social media and networks being mentioned in them. The social landscape that includes social media, social networks and social marketing  recently has changed and grown tremendously. On top of it, the social landscape has been adopted by and adapted to very effectively by the Internet population and businesses. Recently I wrote an article on social media&#8217;s survival in this economic times and as we hear/read about this landscapes evolution, it has become very clear on what makes social media and networks so successful and why social marketing is extremely important for businesses to pursue.</p>
<p><!--more-->The key principal social landscape uses is basic communication and interaction in a society. When combined with technology to build the core platform for various business to market and operate their services, social media has become a very powerful channel. Based on today&#8217;s flourishing sites and networks, it is very clear that the social mantra can be summed as:</p>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="color:#808080;">&#8220;RELATE+ INTERACT+ RESPOND&#8221;</span></strong></h3>
<p>Customer Relationship, Competitor Relationship and Professional Relationship complete the relate circle on the mantra. Once the relationship is established, Interaction becomes not only natural but also essential in social society. Evaluating, listening and connecting are all part of interact circle of mantra. Finally, adding a human or personal touch closes the communication circle. Sharing, feedback and comments complete the final respond circle of mantra. So Let&#8217;s take a look how this all fits in some of the very well known Social Media and Networking sites and why marketers are taking this as a great opportunity.</p>
<p>Blogs and Microblogs are excellent examples. Twitters growth in the past 1 yr has shown why more and more marketers are drawn it to it. Where blogs are great for information sharing, it is still a selective medium for users. The chances of an IT professional to search for insurance data unless required is very low almost 1-2% but Twitter allows the same search to be increased by a substantial 30%. Allowing information to be available at a single platform but connecting to the various larger blogs or social news hubs makes it such a great success for Twitter. Users can build relationships, interact multi-directionally and respond effectively thus making it ideal playground for companies and marketers. Competitors can actually see the user responses on not only their products/services but also others. </p>
<p>Linked In is another prime example of social network&#8217;s success as it follows the social mantra. A place where professionals and businesses can build relationship, interact and respond effectively for growth. Apart from being a great job search site, it&#8217;s a place where groups can be formed, information can be exchanged, recommendations can be made and markets can be evaluated. </p>
<p>For companies, social sites engage consumers by making them smarter about what they buy and own. They allow brands and publishers educate consumers, enable them to collaborate online, get advice from trusted individuals, and research and purchase products.</p>
<p>The Social landscape allows users to be selective on how to use the information provided by the results of search done by themselves and by other users. The social mantra enables and facilitates the marketers to penetrate and use it as a marketing channel. There are certainly lot of factors to be considered and I don&#8217;t expect companies making strategic decisions purely based on social community but it is certainly an important market to look into.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[The Obama Effect: 20 Takeaways for Multichannel Fundraisers]]></title>
<link>http://nonprofitstrategies.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/the-obama-effect-20-takeaways-for-multichannel-fundraisers/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:44:46 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>andrewolsen</dc:creator>
<guid>http://nonprofitstrategies.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/the-obama-effect-20-takeaways-for-multichannel-fundraisers/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Great article on the key fundraising learnings from the Obama campaign&#8217;s fundraising successes]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Great article on the key fundraising learnings from the Obama campaign&#8217;s fundraising successes.  This was originally featured at <a href="http://www.insidedirectmail.com/article/the-obama-effect-20-takeaways-multichannel-fundraisers-405259.html" target="_blank">Inside Direct Mail</a>.</p>
<h2>The Obama Effect: 20 Takeaways for Multichannel Fundraisers</h2>
<p><span class="article_pubdate">Apr 1, 2009 </span></p>
<div class="article_byline">by Britt Brouse</div>
<div class="content_story_left">
<div class="article">
<div class="article_body">
<p>There&#8217;s no question that the Obama for America campaign set a new standard in online fundraising. Of its $750 million raised, half a billion came in online.</p>
<p>Let me say that again. Half a billion dollars came in online; that&#8217;s 6.5 million small donations, with an $80 average gift, from 3 million donors. Those numbers are staggering. So how did Obama for America do it?</p>
<p>In many ways the campaign was &#8220;in the right place at the right time,&#8221; meaning it picked up from where Howard Dean&#8217;s campaign left off, but now consumers are more comfortable with the idea of giving online than they were in 2004. Obama&#8217;s campaign also profited from the onset of new media, like video, social media and mobile technologies, that were not as widely used only a few short years ago. Then, there are the numerous fundraising advantages of a political campaign&#8217;s structure, such as constant media attention, huge name recognition, high emotions and quick deadlines to meet.</p>
<p>As much as fortuitous circumstances abetted its efforts, the Obama for America campaign put to use every best practice of online marketing and brought the power of online fundraising to the forefront of everyone&#8217;s mind. &#8220;As the Obama campaign&#8217;s success in raising so much money online begins to enter the consciousness of the public, I think we will start to see more and more people turn online not just to search for information about nonprofits &#8230; but to take advantage of secure online giving opportunities and open up their checkbooks,&#8221; comments Mal Warwick, founder and chairman of Mal Warwick Associates, a direct mail and internet fundraising consultancy based in Berkeley, Calif.</p>
<p>Now more than ever, fundraisers should be thinking critically about integrating online into their direct mail strategies. Below and in part two, to be published in our May issue, Warwick and other fundraising experts share 20 key best practices and ideas that they&#8217;ve taken away from their experiences with multichannel fundraising and Obama for America&#8217;s successful campaign.</p>
<p><strong>1. Online No Longer Cannibalizes Direct Mail</strong><br />
There is an untested superstition that including a URL in direct mail will cannibalize response. &#8220;Early efforts to include a URL in a [direct mail] fundraising appeal were, by accounts that reached my ears, unsuccessful. They depressed response. But I am not entirely sure that that&#8217;s the case anymore,&#8221; Warwick says. With some studies showing as many as half of all fundraising direct mail recipients going online to learn more about organizations or appeals, Warwick says it&#8217;s imperative to include at least a URL in mail efforts and test whether the suspicion of a depressed response is even true.</p>
<p><strong>2. Older Constituents Are Online, Too</strong><br />
While the Obama campaign was celebrated for its ability to attract younger constituents, historically, philanthropy has been concentrated in 65-year-olds and up, points out Vinay Bhagat, founder and chief strategy officer of Convio, an Austin, Texas-based software-as-a-service provider for nonprofit marketing and online donations. As more and more baby boomers enter the 65 and older group, direct mail alone may not be enough to acquire and retain these donors. &#8220;The new target audience for new donors is baby boomers, and many of them are not as direct mail responsive as previous generations and are actually conducting more of their business and personal life on the internet,&#8221; Bhagat says. &#8220;I am not saying that charities should get out of the direct mail business-far from it-but they need to reallocate some of their investment toward the online channel to make sure they have a more long-term way to acquire new donors,&#8221; he adds.</p>
<p><strong>3. Online Donors Are Extremely Valuable</strong><br />
Compared to direct mail donors, Warwick says online donors tend to give much larger first-time gifts, which, depending on the appeal, can be anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent higher than a mail or telemarketing gift. Bhagat stresses the importance of increasing your online donor file. &#8220;If clients have a direct mail donor base, we seek to help them collect e-mail addresses &#8230; and then try and communicate to and cultivate those people online,&#8221; he adds.</p>
<p><strong>4. Multichannel Donors Most Valuable</strong><br />
&#8220;Donors who give through more than one channel &#8230; are invariably more valuable and display a greater degree of loyalty and staying power than donors who give through only one channel,&#8221; Warwick says. Bhagat found in a Convio study that by communicating through two channels, fundraisers could lift frequency by a factor of two and retention rates by around 5 percent to 10 percent. Bhagat adds that inception channel should not dictate future appeals, as online-acquired prospects convert at a healthy rate through the mail. &#8220;What we counsel our clients to do is, even if they acquire an online donor, don&#8217;t just communicate to them online, but add them to your direct mailstream as well and see how they perform in the mail,&#8221; Bhagat advises.</p>
<p><strong>5. Integrate Channels</strong><br />
Online is not a stand-alone device; it works best when integrated with mail. &#8220;There are very few people that are truly online-only donors and for whom online communications are the only vehicle that&#8217;s going to work,&#8221; Bhagat points out.</p>
<p>Paul Philips, online fundraising manager for PETA, defines channel integration as not relying solely on the channel that a donor came in through, but sending similar appeals at similar times to similar populations across whatever channel the donor chooses. Warwick agrees that fundraising is most effective when integrated with other channels-specifically direct mail and telemarketing. &#8220;I believe that it is that combination of media, integrated multichannel fundraising, that represents the future of our field, not online in and of itself,&#8221; he stresses.</p>
<p><strong>6. Build Successful Landing Pages</strong><br />
One common mistake Warwick sees among nonprofits new to online fundraising is the absence of campaign-specific landing pages. &#8220;They tend to regard their simple, straightforward donation page as a landing page &#8230; You need to tailor a landing page to each individual appeal, and without that, you are likely to get much lower response,&#8221; he describes. Landing pages also should heavily promote conversion. &#8220;When you went to the [Obama] website as a first-time visitor, the very first thing you&#8217;d see was a flash page which really tried to motivate you to give up your e-mail address and to convert you from being a visitor to a subscriber,&#8221; Bhagat explains.</p>
<p><strong>7. Practice Online Lead Conversion </strong><br />
Karen Taggart, manager of fundraising innovations for PETA, says the method for converting online leads should reflect the appeals the leads came in on, their ages and whether they are third-party acquired leads or direct visitors to the landing page. Leads who come in off timely campaigns, i.e., PETA&#8217;s Hurricane Katrina effort, tend to have a short shelf life, and Taggart advises converting them as quickly as possible. For someone coming in off of a more general appeal, Taggart advises a multichannel approach. &#8220;Let&#8217;s say we have someone who comes online and signs up to get a vegetarian starter kit &#8230; We might find that person is receptive to a quick online action without an ask, then a thank-you online, then a phone call to check in on how they&#8217;re doing with their vegetarian pledge plus an ask and then maybe direct mail,&#8221; she details.</p>
<p><strong>8. Fundraisers Treat Online Acquisition Like Conversion</strong><br />
For acquisition purposes, online gives fundraisers an advantage not found in a more passive medium, like direct mail. &#8220;I always think of online donor acquisition as lead conversion, because nine times out of 10, when you have an online lead, you own that lead, because someone has taken an online action,&#8221; Taggart comments. Bhagat agrees that online changes the game for donor acquisition to the advantage of nonprofits. &#8220;Historically, the way they&#8217;d be prospecting is through list exchange and rentals, and this is a much more economical way to do acquisition because these are people who have raised their hand and said, ‘I am interested in the ASPCA,&#8217; rather than people who may be donating to other related charities,&#8221; Bhagat says.</p>
<p><strong>9. A Welcome Series Converts Online Leads</strong><br />
Capturing e-mail addresses is the first step to successful online strategy-but then what? Sending a generic e-mail to those leads may turn them away. Bhagat has designed a welcome series with the ASPCA, which capitalizes on the fact that prospects already have raised their hands by registering on the homepage. &#8220;New registrants are put through a filtered channel and are sent four messages that are really designed to get them to convert,&#8221; he says. The organization found it was able to convert between 0.8 percent and 1 percent of new subscribers to online donors within about 45 days with those four e-mails. Then it placed the 99 percent who did not respond to the e-mails into a direct mail acquisition stream. Within a year, another 4 percent converted to donors through a series of six direct mail asks.</p>
<p><strong>10. Empower Constituents Online</strong><br />
&#8220;One of the biggest lessons about fundraising that I got out of the Obama for America campaign was the importance of engaging donors not just through our typical fundraising asks, but through other types of involvement strategies like blogs, volunteer opportunities and local events,&#8221; Taggart shares. Warwick points out the thinking behind this strategy-it is very difficult to reach out to people online and ask them point blank to give money to your cause. Instead, he says online fundraisers need to use the medium to involve constituents in the work of the organization. Online empowerment is something the Obama campaign executed very successfully as visitors to the website were encouraged to take &#8220;grassroots&#8221; actions through a number of online tools and networks. One such empowering action supporters could take online was to download a list of potential voters and be on the phone telemarketing to them within minutes.</p>
<p>The next 10 takeaways will be featured in part two of this article in the May issue. </p></div>
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<title><![CDATA[My point of view of Multi channel retailing]]></title>
<link>http://vivekvenugopalan.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/my-point-of-view-of-multi-channel-retailing/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Vivek</dc:creator>
<guid>http://vivekvenugopalan.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/my-point-of-view-of-multi-channel-retailing/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This article outlines my point of view on multichannel retailing.  My point of view is based on cust]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>This article outlines my point of view on multichannel retailing.  My point of view is based on customer at the center and all multichannel initiatives of a retailer.  I believe that Multi-channel retailing helps deliver a superior shopping experience by synchronizing customer touch points and leveraging channel capabilities.</p>
<p>This is a dated paper that I wrote over a couple of years ago but I think it is still very valid in today&#8217;s context.  You will find it on our <a title="Integrated multichannel retailing" href="http://wipro.us/retail/images/Integrated%20Multi-Channel%20Retailing.pdf" target="_blank">corporate website</a>.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Så här kunde de överlevt...]]></title>
<link>http://blog.enferno.se/2009/03/25/pc-city-i-graven/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:49:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>heurlin</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blog.enferno.se/2009/03/25/pc-city-i-graven/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Idag kom beskedet att Elkjöp som tillhör DSG stänger ned PC City varuhusen som sålt hemelektronik. D]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-188" title="pccity" src="http://enferno.wordpress.com/files/2009/03/pccity.jpg" alt="pccity" width="205" height="106" /></p>
<p>Idag kom beskedet att Elkjöp som tillhör DSG stänger ned PC City varuhusen som sålt hemelektronik. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSG_International_(retailer)" target="_blank">DSG</a> (Dixons Stores Group) som är ägare till Elkjöp, ElGiganten och Webhallen och Pixmania mfl är sedan tidigare pressat av finanskrisen och dålig lönsamhet i speciellt UK. Senast nu i början av mars 2009 drabbades DSG av kreditförsäkringsbolaget Hermes sänkta kreditgränser.</p>
<p>För PC City betyder beslutet att de 230 anställda sägs upp och fyra varuhus i Stockholm samt butikerna i Västerås, Uppsala, Linköping och  Helsingborg stängs.</p>
<p>Några av de främsta orsakerna att det gick som det gick och varför även andra kedjor kommer hamna i samma situation är:</p>
<h3>Näthandeln</h3>
<p>En ålderdomlig nätbutik som bara är stylat skin på El-Gigantens lika gamla Intershop-lösning gör ingen speciellt glad. I princip alla moderna funktioner saknas. Ett typiskt tecken på att en fysiskt orienterad detaljistkedja ser internet mer som ett hot än en möjlighet. För fem år sedan kunde man låtsas att konkurrerande nätbutiker inte fanns men nu 2009 där nätkanalen står för 30-35% går det inte. Tyvärr utnyttjade man inte tiden för att revidera sin egen affärsmodell.</p>
<h3>Varumärkespositioneringen</h3>
<p>Varför skall man köpa av PC City? Jag som konsument förstår knapp skillnaden på El-Giganten och PC City. En tydlig profil mot den eller de målgrupper som man vänder sig till i kombination med ett kundanpassat erbjudande inom produkter och tjänster lyser med sin frånvaro. Och därefter en strategi att kommunicera detta genom den marknadsföring som man investerar i.</p>
<h3>Avsaknad på tjänster</h3>
<p>Varför är det så förtvivlat svårt att få support och hjälp på datorer och andra it-produkter efter köpet. En fysisk butik har alla förutsättningar att bygga upp en lönsam eftermarknad med såväl reparationer, garantihantering och på-platsen service som såväl privatpersoner och mindre företag är beredda att betala för.</p>
<h3>Sortimentsstrategi</h3>
<p>Affärsmodellen att köpa restlager av utgående modeller som reas ut via massbrevsutskick är på utdöende&#8230; Varken kunder eller leverantörer är i längden intresserade av detta. I tillägg till erbjudanden måste framtidens butiker hantera breda sortiment (long tail) och även de senaste nyheterna inklusive förbeställningar.</p>
<h3>Prisstrategi</h3>
<p>Jag har tidigare skrivit om nackdelarna med olika prissättning i olika kanaler. PC City har haft det och är ytterligare en anledning varför man haft svårt att nå lönsamhet. Ledningen tror att man kan hålla en högre prisnivå i butik jämfört med nätet men kunderna köper inte argumentet. <a href="http://blog.enferno.se/2009/03/17/olika-priser-pa-natet-och-i-butik-ar-inte-bra/" target="_self">Läs mer om prissättning</a></p>
<h3>Källor</h3>
<p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.dagensps.se/artiklar/tt/2009/03/24/butiksdod/index.xml" target="_blank">Dagens PS</a>, <a href="http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.219882/pc-city-stanger-svenska-varuhus" target="_blank">Computer Sweden</a>, <a href="http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.219917/adjo-pc-city" target="_blank">IT 24</a>, <a href="http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/nyheter/artikel_2639097.svd" target="_blank">SVD</a>, <a href="http://hd.se/nyheter/skane/2009/03/24/maanga-handlar-via-internet/" target="_blank">hd.se</a>, <a href="http://hd.se/nyheter/skane/2009/03/24/pc-city-bommar-igen-28-faar-gaa/" target="_blank">hd.se</a>, <a href="http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/pc-city-lagger-ned-i-sverige-1.828741" target="_self">DN</a>, <a href="http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/jobbet/artikel_2639097.svd" target="_blank">SVD</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200903/24/20090324102729_Realtid473/20090324102729_Realtid473.dbp.asp" target="_blank">Realtid</a>, <a href="http://www.dagenshandel.se/dh/DagensH.nsf/0/13950CF8530F3737C1257583003710BC?open" target="_blank">Dagens Handel</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[DSA Dynacord Series ]]></title>
<link>http://it.audiofanzine.com/2009/05/24/dsa-dynacord-series/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2009 10:35:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>audiofanzineitalian</dc:creator>
<guid>http://it.audiofanzine.com/2009/05/24/dsa-dynacord-series/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dynacord ha presentato i nuovi amplificatori con i tre modelli della sua nuova serie DSA multi chann]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><span><a href="http://audiofanzineit.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/144095.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4355" title="144095" src="http://audiofanzineit.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/144095.jpg?w=147" alt="144095" width="147" height="150" /></a>Dynacord ha presentato i nuovi amplificatori con i tre modelli della sua nuova serie <strong> DSA multi channel</strong>.</span></p>
<p><span> Ogni canale può essere configurato singolarmente per offrire una potenza massima di 500 Watt o 1.000 Watt in qualsiasi carico da 2 a 10 ohms, o supportare una linaea di altoparlanti da 70 o 100 Vrms direttamente senza trasformatore di output, dice la Dynacord.</span><!--more--></p>
<p><span>Se connesso a un modulo RCM-810 facoltativo, gli utenti possono configurare i nuovi amplificatori di potenza con l&#8217;aiuto di IRIS-NET per reestituire un rendimento massimo in ogni canale, con un intervallo che va da 100 Watt di 500/1.000 Watt con  un incremento &#8216;one-watt&#8217;, per qualsiasi carico da 2 a 10 ohms (regolabile in incrementi da </span><span>0.1 </span><span>ohm).</span></p>
<p><span> Un modulo di RCM-810 permette la supervisione  e il controllo remoto della serie DSA tramite IRIS-NET.</span></p>
<p><span> I tre modelli della serie DSA multi channel sono:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span>DSA x 88058 500W2/4/8 Ohm / 70Vrms / 100Vrms</span></li>
<li><span>DSA x 84054 500W2/4/8 Ohm / 70Vrms / 100Vrms</span></li>
<li>DSA x 84104 1000W2/4/8 Ohm / 70Vrms / 100Vrms</li>
</ul>
<p><span> Per ulteriori informazioni, visitate <a rel="nofollow" href="//www.dynacord.com/wDynacord/en/index.php');"> www.dynacord.com/wDynacord/en/index.php </a>.</span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Part II: Decoding the Intelligent Mail Barcode]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/part-ii-decoding-the-intelligent-mail-barcode/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2009 13:03:46 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/part-ii-decoding-the-intelligent-mail-barcode/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Experts discuss the creative implications of the Intelligent Mail Barcode and the benefits it afford]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Experts discuss the creative implications of the Intelligent Mail Barcode and the benefits it afford]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Advances in Multichannel Fundraising]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/advances-in-multichannel-fundraising/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2009 14:58:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/advances-in-multichannel-fundraising/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve spoken to experts and written about the effect Obama&#8217;s campaign had on online and m]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve spoken to experts and written about the effect Obama&#8217;s campaign had on online and m]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Trigger Happy]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/trigger-happy/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 18:37:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/trigger-happy/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Trigger campaigns are becoming a direct marketing staple, with new technologies available and consum]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Trigger campaigns are becoming a direct marketing staple, with new technologies available and consum]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[A Hybrid Call to Action]]></title>
<link>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/a-hybrid-call-to-action/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 18:11:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brittbrouse</dc:creator>
<guid>http://brittbrouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/a-hybrid-call-to-action/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Netflix successfully blends word-of-mouth, mail and online in one offer In 1938, when Orson Welles a]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Netflix successfully blends word-of-mouth, mail and online in one offer In 1938, when Orson Welles a]]></content:encoded>
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