OK some of this is heavy if you are not into marketing and analytics. But if you are interested in loyalty programs and CRM, this 2 part knowledge sharing from Fulcrum’s CEO David King is worth a read .

In part1, the discussion is about how "database marketing technology is finally catching up to the real-world need to manage customer relationships over time. Finite state machines are being adapted to marketing and provide an entire new set of capabilities."

In part 2, KIng talks about optimizing marketing around particular strategic goals and in the face of real-world constraints… "extend the concept of state machines with a
technique used for optimizing processes in many other industries – a
Markov Decision Process (MDP) — here the transitions are a set of probabilities."

Here is a "wireless loyalty card" that  shoppers carry with them in the store on their key fob.  Do I think it  will fly?  Not sure – because of the infrastructure needed to read and write special offers to these fobs throughout the stores. But, I think the idea is in the right direction  Scansave (company I founded) is working on an alternate approach where your points/loyalty/credit card in your wallet has a special surface that  prints, erases and reprints offers right onto your card.  Imagine visiting Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s and when you take out your card, you show it like you do today, then you swipe it, and your card is imprinted with offers… JUST FOR YOU! 

Scansave offers PVC loyalty card solutions with re-printable surface

Weird Science! Google’s brand value 50% more than Coca Cola.Double the value of either Toyota or McDonalds. Give me  a  break today! According to agency Millward Brown, authors of the annual "Brandz 100" study … "Brand value is the financial value of a brand – defined as the sum of all earnings that a brand is expected to generate" But, they use their own brand contribution multiplier, based on intangibles,  to get the total. You know what they say about 50% of advertising being a waste, but no one knows which 50% it is.Too much of marketing is intangible.

http://www.millwardbrown.com/Sites/optimor/Media/Pdfs/en/BrandZ/BrandZ-2007-RankingReport.pdf

Remember this National Lampoon Cover? Maybe this is the best way to monetize blogging? Threats! No? well then I’d love some ideas and direction, because I’m back at this after a break of 3 years and would like to know how, where, and who can teach me about how to effectively use the blog to build business. That’s really what its about isn’t it?! Be honest!
If I just wanted a friend I would keep the dog, and shut down the blog
Which is the best host? I have a few days left in the trial period to decide to keep typepad. Is wordpress better?

Over 3,000 facebook apps! I have been looking for an app that would let me tie in this new blog, a facebook group, websites and my facebook profile. I chose "blog friends" and we’ll see how that goes. Most of the apps for RSS I looked at, were reviewed by users and most had bug complaints. I really didn’t see a clear leader in this "category"   

I know one thing I hate on facebook is being forced to get an app to see what someone is trying to send/give/share. I’m a hypocrite… I like shoebox and have sent non-users special gifts that they need shoebox to see – GUILTY as charged!

I see VCs raising funds just for facebook app companies,  websites that review facebook apps. It seems like the 3rd wave of the Internet is now underway and facebook is right in the centre! Watch out google!

I have to admit this first post is not something I have looked forward to. I maintained a blog for a few years with Blogger, and although the links and content were IMO excellent, it was a sinkhole for time (and likely ahead of its time).

4 or 5 years later and I’m giving it another shot to integrate  my thinking on target marketing, to learn, to connect,  and provide a focused outlet for those interested in all the issues around target marketing and promotion optimization.  You are welcome to contribute, promote and sell as long as you are on "target". If you can help teach me how to promote the blog too, that would be a gift!

One area I am interested in, and want to learn about is… Privacy and Target Marketing.