diary of a digologist

It seems that marketers with bigger marketing budgets are more aware of the importance of analytics, but that almost seems backward to me. If you have less to spend, shouldn't you be more careful about how you spend it?

The problems with internal measurement are obvious: people who are responsible for the results are reporting on themselves and can (possibly) shape the numbers to say anything they want them to say. However, this eMarketer.com article goes on to illustrate that marketing executives were happier with internal measurement programs than with external ones.

Of course, in the tough economy we are in right now, being able to track and prove results for the online portion of your marketing budget could make it less susceptible to cuts.

Even though Facebook pay-per-click advertising is on the rise, Moms register as being more interested in using Facebook for socializing and entertainment and turning to Mommy bloggers and BabyCenter communities (and, presumably, other similar sites) for useful information and product recommendations. This is worth keeping in mind when planning your Mom-targeted marketing campaigns.

Notice that women are most like to respond to an ad that involves a sales offer or a special promotion code (I know those work on me!) My feeling is that this same principle applies to email offers.

If you are attempting to compel female response to an offer, this might be worth testing: have one landing page that makes the offer outright, and have a second one that requires the use of the code to receive the offer. How fun would that be? Of course, no one likes to feel manipulated, however, it's an age-old direct marketing principle that allowing the responder to interact with the offer is more compelling than just giving it without requiring any action on their part.

I personally only market in English, but this is an important indicator of Facebook's global influence. I do think it is surprising that French is not higher, since it is the most widely used language in the world. I would love to see statistics on the penetration of the internet overall into different language markets. There are two possible explanations: 1) Facebook just doesn't have that great of a foothold in non-English-speaking countries; 2) French is more widely spoken in countries that do not have access to or do not widely use the internet. Great research project for "someday" when I have an hour to kill. Or...someone could stop by and share a source with those statistics (hint, hint).

Check out this fantastic article by Amber Naslund about Community Management.

Lovely closeup pics of the new white iPhone 4GS. Being a white iPhone user myself, I am gazing longingly. Unfortunately, being one of the sad individuals whose contract is not set to renew in 2010, I will have to wait awhile.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

How To: Make an HTML Email Signature For Apple Mail

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December 03, 2007 | Comments 9 | Leave a Comment

My good friend and designer, James LaCroix, showed me awhile back how to make an html email signature for Apple’s Mail program (something it doesn’t do easily). Since I set up that signature I have had a few folks inquire how I made it, so I thought I show the steps here. NOTE: These directions work with Apple’s Tiger and Leopard.

Step One: HTML, AVATARS and YOUR INFO

Create your signature in html format. You can use something like Apple’s Textedit, my favorite Textmate, or something more visually based like Dream Weaver.

You will need to upload your avatar to your server, or host it on something like a box.net account (you’ll have to make sure it’s public if you use this). My avatar is set to 42×42.

You can download a basic template here.

Step Two: FAKE SIGNATURE

Next, you want to navigate to Mail’s preferences (or hit the shortcut ,). Click the signature tab at the top. Here you want to create a new signature, and give it a fancy name since it will be for your new fancy signature. I have called mine FAKE for purposes of the tutorial. This will serve as a place-holder for your new HTML signature. Now drag title of your signature to whatever email account you want to be able to use it with (or drag it to all).

Step Three: WEBARCHIVE

Next, open your HTML file in safari, and click “save as” in the menubar. Next, go to your home folder—>Library—>Mail—>Signatures. In there you will see the signature you created in Mail’s preferences (you can see what the most recent signature is using quick-look in Leopard, or look at the “date modified”). The title of the FAKE signature you created will look something like “8D2D5125-757A-482F-A291-EFDFEE476000.” Copy that title, and make that the title of the Webarchive file you just created. You do this so when you drop that webarchive file into signatures folder it will overwrite the FAKE signature. Once you move your webarchive Signature to the signature folder, and click replace and you should be good. Restart Mail.

Now, when you go to write an email make sure you have your new signature selected from the panel in your message window and everything should look slick. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

UPDATE:
A reader has sent in this tip and think it may solve some of the problems people are having. Let me know if it works for you:

“There must be written text before and after the HTML entry!” … i don’t know why this works, but i’ve spend a long time trying out all kinds of methods, and then came across this side (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20070407214643680) and implemented only the part where this is mentioned … worked great! I believe, that those who did get it to work might have had text before and after, but may not have realized that it this is why it worked..

Digg this?

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Thanks to Wess Daniels for this great tutorial. I also used it to insert a Facebook "Like" box as part of my email signature.

Brett Borders of SocialMediaRockstar.com did a great job of breaking down some popular social media marketing myths. For example:

1. Social media marketing is easy;
2. Social media marketing works overnight;
3. Social media marketing is free;
4. Social media marketing works well for any type of business.

To read Brett's well-reasoned arguments against these beliefs, click through to the article.

10 Golden Lessons From Steve Jobs

 

““I think we’re having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we’re always trying to do better.”

- Steve Jobs

His accomplishments and character helped define a generation and change the world. He is co-founder of the fairytale company we now know as Apple Computers. And he is the visionary of the personal computers world that led the entire computer hardware and software industry to restructure itself.

This man with boundless energy and charisma is also a master of hype, hyperbole and the catchy phrase. And even when he’s trying to talk normally, brilliant verbiage comes tumbling out.

Here’s a selection of some of the most insanely great things he said, golden lessons to help you succeed in life, Jobs-style:

“1. Steve Jobs said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Innovation has no limits. The only limit is your imagination. It’s time for you to begin thinking out of the box. If you are involved in a growing industry, think of ways to become more efficient; more customer friendly; and easier to do business with. If you are involved in a shrinking industry – get out of it quick and change before you become obsolete; out of work; or out of business. And remember that procrastination is not an option here. Start innovating now!

2. Steve Jobs said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

There is no shortcut to excellence. You will have to make the commitment to make excellence your priority. Use your talents, abilities, and skills in the best way possible and get ahead of others by giving that little extra. Live by a higher standard and pay attention to the details that really do make the difference. Excellence is not difficult – simply decide right now to give it your best shot – and you will be amazed with what life gives you back.

3. Steve Jobs said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

I’ve got it down to four words: “Do what you love.” Seek out an occupation that gives you a sense of meaning, direction and satisfaction in life. Having a sense of purpose and striving towards goals gives life meaning, direction and satisfaction. It not only contributes to health and longevity, but also makes you feel better in difficult times. Do you jump out of bed on Monday mornings and look forward to the work week? If the answer is ‘no’ keep looking, you’ll know when you find it.

4. Steve Jobs said: “You know, we don’t grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved… I mean, we’re constantly taking things. It’s a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge.”

Live in a way that is ethically responsible. Try to make a difference in this world and contribute to the higher good. You’ll find it gives more meaning to your life and it’s a great antidote to boredom. There is always so much to be done. And talk to others about what you are doing. Don’t preach or be self-righteous, or fanatical about it, that just puts people off, but at the same time, don’t be shy about setting an example, and use opportunities that arise to let others know what you are doing.

5. Steve Jobs said: “There’s a phrase in Buddhism, ‘Beginner’s mind.’ It’s wonderful to have a beginner’s mind.”

It is the kind of mind that can see things as they are, which step by step and in a flash can realize the original nature of everything. Beginner’s mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. Think of beginner’s mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement.

6. Steve Jobs said: “We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”

Reams of academic studies over the decades have amply confirmed television’s pernicious mental and moral influences. And most TV watchers know that their habit is mind-numbing and wasteful, but still spend most of their time in front of that box. So turn your TV off and save some brain cells. But be cautious, you can turn your brain off by using a computer also. Try and have an intelligent conversation with someone who plays first person shooters for 8 hours a day. Or auto race games, or role-playing games.

7. Steve Jobs said: “I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It’s very character-building.”

Don’t equate making mistakes with being a mistake. There is no such thing as a successful person who has not failed or made mistakes, there are successful people who made mistakes and changed their lives or performance in response to them, and so got it right the next time. They viewed mistakes as warnings rather than signs of hopeless inadequacy. Never making a mistake means never living life to the full.

8. Steve Jobs said: “I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Over the last decade, numerous books featuring lessons from historical figures have appeared on the shelves of bookstores around the world. And Socrates stands with Leonardo da Vinci, Nicholas Copernicus, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein as a beacon of inspiration for independent thinkers. But he came first. Cicero said of Socrates that, “He called philosophy down from the skies and into the lives of men.” So use Socrates’ principles in your life, your work, your learning, and your relationships. It’s not about Socrates, it’s really about you, and how you can bring more truth, beauty and goodness into your life everyday.

9. Steve Jobs said: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”

Did you know that you have big things to accomplish in life? And did you know that those big things are getting rather dusty while you pour yourself another cup of coffee, and decide to mull things over rather than do them? We were all born with a gift to give in life, one which informs all of our desires, interests, passions and curiosities. This gift is, in fact, our purpose. And you don’t need permission to decide your own purpose. No boss, teacher, parent, priest or other authority can decide this for you. Just find that unique purpose.

10. Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Are you tired of living someone else’s dream? No doubt, its your life and you have every right to spend it in your own individual way without any hurdles or barriers from others. Give yourself a chance to nurture your creative qualities in a fear-free and pressure-free climate. Live a life that YOU choose and be your own boss.

Each lesson might be difficult to integrate into your life at first, but if you ease your way into each lesson, one at a time, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in your overall performance. So go ahead, give them a try.

 

You may or may not agree with Steve Jobs or even like Apple's products, but, as the number one cyber-company, it's difficult to argue with their results. Personally, I'm an Apple fan and I enjoy the quirky nature of its leader.