Articles by Jim Leone
Blog Archive
This Groundhog Day, Let’s Put These Recurring Myths About Direct Mail to Rest
I recently asked my daughter to do an errand for me while I’m out of town on Groundhog Day, February 2. She agreed, and I left… only to ask the favor again a few minutes later. She looked confused at first, but then laughed. Even though she was only two when Groundhog Day came out […]
Five Tips for Effective Marketing to Baby Boomers
Growing up in a large family and having a big family of my own, I’ve been exposed to a wide variety of generations my entire life. From my parents (traditionalists) to my own generation (baby boomers) to some of my younger siblings (Generation X) to my kids (millennials) and now my grandkids (Generation Z), it’s […]
InfoTrends Study Reveals a Roadmap to Data-Driven Marketing
A few months ago, our friends at InfoTrends (now a division of Keypoint Intelligence) released a new study titled “Lead with Data: Follow with Print.” We’re always intrigued by the research published by InfoTrends because of the methodology they employ and the insight they provide. This study set out to define how sophisticated […]
Keep an Eye Out for These 3 Direct Marketing Trends in 2017
It’s important to understand and anticipate top direct marketing trends, both personally and professionally. For example, I am a proud survivor of four teenage daughters. For years, my house was filled with nail polish, curling irons and expensive jeans with holes in them. Why would anyone pay for pants that have holes in them? (Word […]
Our Favorite Moments from the Ryder Cup
Last week the world witnessed the US Team winning the Ryder Cup. For the Americans it was the first win in eight years and only the second in 14―needless to say, we had been in a drought. It was a great point of pride for me not only as an American golf enthusiast, but […]
Not Your Father’s Direct Mail: Data, Analytics and Creative as Formidable as Anything Online
As a father of five children, I cannot believe the technological advancements that have occurred in just the short 12 years between the birth of my oldest and my youngest. Cell phones replacing land lines (and smart phones replacing cell phones), the explosion of the information age and the internet, and electric automobiles (to name […]
Don’t Be Fooled by These 4 Misconceptions About Direct Mail
As a prankster from way back, April 1st is a favorite day of the year. I can smell a prank from two miles away – but have to admit, I’ve also been tricked before. Today, it’s easy to get distracted by word-of-mouth rumors, myths and misdirection in the marketing world. With that in mind, […]
Are We There Yet? Using Data to Drive Dynamic Content
Being a father of five, I remember family vacations when we’d drive to reach our destination. Commotion aside, the most vivid memory was the barrage of questions. “Why is the sky blue?” Or, “Do butterflies make butter?” Or, “Why is that man yelling at us?” (which is a story for another day). But the most […]
Four Principles of Direct Mail that Stand the Test of Time
Every industry has a set of principles that hold true despite years of change, innovation and disruption. Direct marketing is no different. Although there is an expanding array of channels, when it comes to the overall marketing mix, direct mail is still fundamental to marketing. It’s the flour to bread, the grapes to wine, and […]
If There Was a Direct Marketing Draft, Should You Choose Potential or Proven Performance?
The NBA Draft was just last week, and our Minnesota Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick. This got me thinking that the strategy used to draft professionals athletes isn’t much different than selecting which channels should be used to maximize your direct marketing results. Like an NBA franchise, marketing executives often must […]
