To Brand or Not to Brand?

The shift that marketers are making from institutional marketing to what I call "directional" marketing is a rather interesting one. While the most notable reason is the fact that the Internet expands one's target market and increases the sales potential, more often than not it is also the fact that it is arguably more cost-efficient than any other medium.

What’s Your Visitor’s UPA?

One of my students made me realize something important. In fact, his point was so well made because he drove it home using the very idea he was illustrating. While his comment was general in nature, I realized how beautifully it applied to copy ... Particularly web copy.

Mastering Narrow Marketing-Mindedness

Without question, people are getting more and more tired if not annoyed of searching through mountains of irrelevant search results. Today. we are bombarded with so much information that the Internet, which is supposed to simplify our lives, is doing the converse. On the other hand, niche-based portals (i.e., vertical portals or "vortals") promise to save the day.

How to Write Carrot-Wielding Copy!

A significant reason behind websites that fail is the lack of an effective direct response sales message. Such a message is comprised of three elements: it must be 1) captivating (it captures the reader's attention), 2) riveting (it pulls her into reading further) and 3) engaging (it calls her to act).