Re: Case studies of promotional mini-cd's for Web sites

From: Emily Dubberley <emilyd_at_abctales.com>
Date: Mon 07 Jan 2002 16:31:03 -0500

> People are used to receive regular sized CD's so this
> really wouldn't work unless you're sending a DEMO to
> strictly targeted users...

I agree entirely - in fact very good targeting will make
all the difference anyway. If these are going to people
who've *said* they like the format then it will *obviously*
work. Ditto, if the CD with the invitation also contains
something (software, music etc) that the peopel you're mailing
have said they'd love to receive

> Unfortunately, even if you're not using music, you must have
> either a good software or great promotional material...

Yep - although if you've got great promo material, you may not
need the CD :-)
>
> Still, in some cases you can use some fairly inexpensive
> royalty free solutions both music or software...

Don't know about the software side of things but the royalty
free music in the UK is frequently (although not exclusively)
dreadful (remembers *hours* trying to find decent beds when
I worked in radio)


> While I too, do tend to drop a lot ofpromotional CD's, I think
> we should explain the reasons for doing so.

Sorry - should have done earlier:

1 I've got too much work on to have time to load up a CD - this is why
print/email is good
2 Half the time the CDs will start some kind of install - no way am
I installing something from a stranger on my machine

> However, packaging IS EXTREMELY important again!

Yes - and *very* expensive generally - anything other than a plain sleeve
can add several pennies (at least) to the overall cost which on a large
run can really add up

> Mini CD or irregular shaped CD will draw much more attention.

I tend to think gimmick and/or 'this company has more money than sense'
They look pretty but at about 50p more per CD, again, it's not cheap.

> In my case, the plain text message would work ONLY in case
> I already know and work with you. Othervise... there is a folder
> in my Outlook... it's caled SPAM :-(

I agree entirely - unsolicited irrelevant invitations from strangers are
deleted
and (if I get more than one or am in a bad mood) reported to Spamcop
I meant if it's targeted (ie, sending journalists at relevant
publications an invitation to a press launch - and *only* the ones at
relevant publications. Or mailing people that I already know in the
relevant areas. Didn't mean to suggest *for a second* that I think
unsolicited mail is a good thing!)

> We may not like it but *moderate* spamming does work...
> Not all people are spam sensitive as I am.

Spam is *evil*! I'm definitely in the sensitive category.
Oh, and I don't consider buying lists to mean targeting...

--------------------------
Emily Dubberley
http://www.cliterati.co.uk
Because women like sex too
--------------------------





Received on Mon Jan 07 2002 - 15:31:03 CST