The Reach Students blog recently posted that many marketers are shocked that many of the students who have signed up for Facebook are actually unreachable through the site’s ad targeting platform. In the UK there are roughly 2 million students but only 182,430 are available for brand targeting. There is also a drop in France where there is less than 2% of the country’s population that are on Facebook. This has been in the past the busiest time in the university marketing calendar, but Facebook executives are unaware of why so many have dropped off. This will prove vital when Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg goes on the road promoting their marketing solutions to those that are already skeptical of the site.

Business First of Louisville reports today that United Parcel Service Inc. has started a first-to-market service called UPS Direct to Door, offering discount coupons from well-known brands and retailers to recipients of UPS residential shipments.

Atlanta-based UPS said the pilot program is available to homes in select ZIP codes in Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Miami, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Each Direct to Door Pak can contain about 12 offers and samples.

What do you think of the USPS’s new marketing initiative? We’d like to hear your thoughts.

Seth Godin had an interest post in his blog in which he discussed that marketers can not be right and have empathy at the same time, you have to choose one.  Do most marketers want to prove that they are right or try to console and attend to why the customer is upset.

According to Seth, marketers should understand that being “right” means that the customer is “right”. The customer must believe that he or she is always right.
Do you agree with Seth’s reasoning?

Check out his post here.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/win-the-fight-lose-the-customer.html 

Walmart has added a new section to their presentation entitled “The Walmart Smart Network: Smarter Shopping, Smarter Marketing”. In addition to the original content, Walmart has added a new piece around “halos” which will be shared for the first time at this event.

Shopper Marketing Fusion 2009: http://bit.ly/1hr8Fo
Brochure: http://bit.ly/v1h9x
Speakers: http://bit.ly/10ceB1
Registration: http://bit.ly/w6IFJ

New Section: THE 3 HALOS OF IN-STORE MARKETING

James Beck, General Manager, Walmart Smart Network, Walmart Stores, Inc.

What is an in-store marketing halo? When marketing drives lift beyond the advertised item to other related items and beyond the campaign to subsequent weeks. It’s the inverse of cannibalization or forward buying.

On Friday, October 16, learn more about this outcome and see examples from the Walmart Smart Network that include brand halo and post-campaign halo.

Plus, James will share:

The Walmart Smart Network: Smarter Shopping, Smarter Marketing

The Walmart Smart Network was introduced a year ago to improve the shopper experience and to drive higher sales lift. Since then, it has delivered impressive results for Walmart’s partners. What has been achieved?  What has been learned? What does the future hold? Learn how the Walmart Smart Network combines expertise in retail messaging, dynamic targeting in- store, and reliable insights to accelerate business results.

Key Takeaways:

· How partners on the Walmart Smart Network have achieved exceptional marketing results.

· Programs and programming that deliver what shoppers want and inspire them to buy.

· New approaches to optimization that drive higher sales lift.

—————————————

James Beck, General Manager of the Walmart Smart Network, guides a team that is helping moms shop smarter and Walmart suppliers market smarter. Prior to the Walmart Smart Network, James led Walmart’s Home and Hardlines category marketing teams.  Before joining Walmart, James served in executive marketing roles with Coca-Cola, Pillsbury and General Mills.

We hope to see you next month!

Cheers,

Shopper Marketing Fusion

DigitalMediaWire.com reports that Facebook and Nielsen have partnered to measure how effective the social media giant’s marketing efforts have been.The first product of the collaboration, Nielsen BrandLift, allows advertisers to serve opt-in polls on Facebook’s homepage — to measure consumer attitudes and purchase intent from display advertising that has appeared on the site.

What do you think of the partnership? Will we see an increase in advertising on Facebook?

We’d like to hear your thoughts.

According to the Kansas City Star, the current recession has lead to an increase in cause marketing for nonprofits.  While strapped consumers are spending their dollars wisely, nonprofits are partnering with businesses to gain support from dollars spent.  Nonprofits are seeing an increase in awareness and an increase in donations, as many consumers are choosing to purchase products that stand for something.  Read the full article here.

I came across this presentation from Tim Stock in which he highlights the The Psychology of Objects (Design Research Methods) . Take a couple of moments to see it on slideshare.

According to Velti, Coca Cola is turning increasingly towards mobile marketing to reach the teenage and young-adult generations.  They feel they need to reach this generation on a new medium where they spend most of their time.

The senior mobile marketing manager at Coca-Cola, Hinde Pagani, commented: “It is critical to interact with teens and youth where they spend their time and deliver engaging and compelling brand experiences.”

Achieving Customer Relevance
Strategies for Connecting Lifestyles within Life Stages
May 10-12, 2010 • Chicago, IL

The Institute for International Research is excited to announce that production of the Achieving Customer Relevance conference is underway. We will be reviewing presentation submissions until September 21st – space is limited so please submit your ideas TODAY!

This three-day event is the destination for those looking to understand how to reach targeted life styles and stages. From the segmentation to the marketing, explore best practices for pinpointing innovative ways to deeply connect with profitable segments, growing segments and new segments to maximize lifetime value and achieve sustainable growth.

Your Opportunity
We are currently recruiting corporate practitioners to share unique ideas, perspectives and case studies related to future trends.

Got a good story to tell? Have a provocative perspective that needs to be shared? I’m interested in hearing from you.

Session topics include but are not limited to:
• Transition in Life Stage: How Your Customer Evolves
• Breaking into New Life Stages without Alienating Your Consumer Base
• Products Across Life Stages – Which Ones Succeed and Why?
• Researching Life Styles and Stages: Tools and Techniques
• Innovating New Products or Services for Multiple Life Stages and Styles
• Common Threads and Differences in Specific Segments
• Creating an Authentic Message to Build Loyalty for Life
• Integrating New Trends into Traditional Products to Grow Your Brand
• Emerging Product Markets for Various Life Stages
• Product Life Stages: Introducing and Removing Products
• Ethnography for Universal Design
• The Spread of Technology through Life Stages
• Keeping Your Product Relevant as Your Consumer Ages
• Using Social Networks and Blogs as a Marketing Tool? What Works?
• The Right Mix of New Media to Reach Your Target Market
• Mobile and Online Marketing: Where Your Consumers Are
• Trends in Social Media and Technology
• How Your Consumers are Using Online Now
• Cutting Edge Trends: What’s Next?

Formats include
1. Standard presentation (45 minutes long)
2. Interactive ideation and brainstorming sessions (60 minutes long)

o Real Time Exercise: Get your hands dirty! At this point in the event the larger group will be broken up into small work groups. Your mission will be to complete a take. Facilitators will frame the exercise and then the small group will vote on the best project.
o Guru Session: This is your opportunity to really pick their brains, off the record. Chance of a lifetime. In a small group discussion setting, get access to big stage thinkers.

Interactivity is encouraged in all sessions!

The Audience
Who will attend? Leaders from a variety of industries with responsibilities in:
• Marketing
• Market Research and Development
• Product and Brand Management
• Consumer, Customer, Shopper, Strategic Insights
• New Product Development/Management
• Strategic Planning and Development
• Customer Experience, Loyalty, Retention
• Business Development
• eMarketing/Social Media
• Innovation & Discovery
• Communications/Design
• Licensing/Sales
• Segmentation
• User Experience

Speaker Benefits
Our speakers join us for countless reasons. Some include:
• To advance the purpose and value of reaching life stages and styles
• To share best practices and lessons learned
• To showcase the critical role of reaching life stages and styles within their organization
• To reinforce their own position as an expert and share results of an exciting project or study
• To network with their peers and other industry leaders and participate in high level, intellectual exchanges

Added Bonus: Each speaker will receive free admission to the conference (a $3000+ value) including admission to all conference sessions, networking breaks, lunches, exhibit hall, cocktail party, etc.

Submission Guidelines & Deadline
For consideration, please e-mail Amy Kritzer at akritzer@iirusa.com with the following information by Monday, September 21st:
• Proposed speaker name(s), job title(s), and company name(s)
• Contact information including address, phone and e-mail
• Title of presentation
• Brief overview of the presentation (1 short paragraph plus 2 bullets that illustrate audience takeaways): Please note: if your proposal is selected, portions of this description will be printed in the brochure and used online to promote your participation
• Previous conference presentation experience and/or brief speaker biography

Due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to respond to each submission. All those selected to participate as speakers will be notified shortly after the deadline.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO VENDORS, CONSULTANTS & SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS
Whether you are looking to build awareness, generate new business or strengthen existing relationships – a presence at the Achieving Customer Relevance conference can help you achieve your goals.

This event provides a unique opportunity to showcase your products and services to targeted end users and decision-makers. Establish the right set of contacts and be at the right place and the right time.

A limited number of sessions are reserved on the program for vendors, consultants and solutions providers. Sponsors of the conference are given priority choice among available sessions. We are excited to work with you to customize a package that would meet your marketing needs. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Ashley Chiplock Warheit, Sales Manager. She can be reached via email at achiplock@iirusa.com or at 646-895-7481.

Thank you for your interest in Achieving Customer Relevance!
All the best,

Amy Kritzer
Senior Conference Producer
Marketing and Business Strategy Division
Institute for International Research
P: 646-895-7328 F: 212-599-2192
akritzer@iirusa.com
708 Third Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017

YMME AND KMME PRESENT: Create NEXT NOW

Future forward practices for connecting deeply with the Modern Family Unit by translating needs and trends into new business opportunities
May 10-12, 2010
Chicago, IL

The Institute for International Research is excited to announce that production of the YMME AND KMME PRESENT: Create NEXT NOW conference s underway. We will be reviewing presentation submissions until September 21st – space is limited so please submit your ideas TODAY! This three-day event is the destination for those looking to reach all segments of the modern, young family – moms, dads, kids, tweens and teens. Showcasing what’s next in these markets in terms of shopper behavior, interests, and the latest in market research, marketing, trends and innovation, the conference will bring together corporate best practices and gurus to facilitate understanding and connecting with these focused segments.

Your Opportunity
We are currently recruiting corporate practitioners to share unique ideas, perspectives and case studies related to future trends. Got a good story to tell? Have a provocative perspective that needs to be shared? I’m interested in hearing from you.

Session topics include but are not limited to:
• Youths and Parents: Shopping Habits and Behaviors
• Trends in the Future of Social Media
• Integrating New Trends into Traditional Products to Grow Your Brand
• How is the Family Dynamic Changing?
• What’s New in Green?
• Parent to Friend: The Changing Parent/Millennial Relationship
• Cutting Edge Trends: What’s Next?

Submission Guidelines & Deadline
For consideration, please e-mail Amy Kritzer at akritzer@iirusa.com with the following information by Monday, September 21st:
• Proposed speaker name(s), job title(s), and company name(s)
• Contact information including address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail
• Title of presentation
• Brief overview of the presentation (1 paragraph plus 3 – 5 key audience “takeaways): Please write this with the knowledge that if your proposal is selected, this description will be printed in the brochure
• Previous conference presentations and/or brief speaker biography

Due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to respond to each submission. All those selected to participate as speakers will be notified shortly after the deadline.

Thank you for your interest in Create NEXT NOW!

All the best,
Amy Kritzer
Senior Conference Producer
Marketing and Business Strategy Division
Institute for International Research
akritzer@iirusa.com