#1. Anne's SherpaBlog: Quick first-peek at results

Wow, thanks! 1,610 of you so far have taken our quick one-page questionnaire on your email newsletters and campaigns. If you haven't had a chance yet, here's the link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=25948598941

I'll send you a full Executive Results Summary in a couple of weeks; in the meantime, here are a few preliminary results:

60% of respondents plan to increase their use of email campaign-specific landing pages next year. I guess landing page R&D will be a line-item on many emailers' 2005 budgets.

Only 24.2% of you still add names to your list on an opt-out basis. Bravo! That's 10 points lower than last year. Best practices in email permission are finally kicking in.

Average clicks on rented lists are below 2% no matter what kind of offer. The list industry's already in trouble, this won't help much.

Sad-but-true, just 10.6% of you say you track your campaign responses by major ISP. So, you probably don't know when you have a delivery problem at AOL or Hotmail, etc. etc.

Anyway, I probably shouldn't go on much more because these are, after all, preliminary results and our Metrics Editor Stefan Tornquist will be peeved if I steal his thunder.

Look for the (much longer and better) Exec Results Summary from us in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, again if you haven't taken the quick questionnaire yet, here's that link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=25948598941

Thanks for your support,

Anne

Anne Holland - Publisher
MarketingSherpa

P.S. As always, our Case Studies and articles are open access for about 10 days. Then they go into SherpaLibrary where you can research for a small fee. The links always remain the same.
http://www.SherpaStore.com

CASE STUDIES

#2. Online Marketing to CFOs of Multibillion Dollar Companies

Your company has to gross at least half a billion for Alan Ginsburg to even consider marketing to your CFO. (And he'd prefer it if you were over a billion.)

How does he get big-time CFOs to respond to lead generation campaigns for software? Killer content plus a Web/email combo that rocks.

Definitely check out this Case Study (including creative samples for white paper and webinar offers) if you target c-level executives at large companies:
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2828
(Open access until Oct 16th)

#3. How Dirt Devil's Site Gets Unusually High Sales (Includes Check Out Process Test Results)

Sites that serve many masters -- ecommerce, customer service, offline retailers, warranty registration, market research -- usually suck.

Too many goals equals too much mess. Consumers get fed up and leave.

But somehow Dirt Devil's site pulls it off, achieving a remarkable 5-18% sales conversion rate. Discover how Dirt Devil's online team turned a terrible site into one you should steal ideas from.

Plus, get the results of their tests along the way (including what happens when you *stop* requiring phone and email on your cart order form):
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2827
(Open access until Oct 15th)

PRACTICAL KNOW-HOW

#4. 3 Before-and-After HTML Email Design Makeovers; Results and Samples + 10 Critical Design Tips

Do you think your emails could get higher clicks? Here are three real-life examples of successful HTML redesigns to inspire you and your designer. Includes:

Before-and-after email design from CareerBuilder, Heartland Film Festival, and PostNewsweek Tech Media

7 HTML tips your designer should implement now

3 more HTML design tips to specifically *deter* phishers

Enjoy! (And be sure to share your results with us):
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2829
(Open access until Oct 17th)

#5. Is Your Yellow Pages Ad Working? Top 4 Most Common Advertiser Mistakes

Did you know 57% of Americans don't use online search engines on a regular basis? Turns out 15 billion searches per year are still conducted via the printed Yellow Pages.

Yes, that's 15 billion searches.

Unfortunately, most Yellow Pages ads are ... lousy. Your ad probably could be getting a much better response rate. Discover the typical mistakes and how to fix them:
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2826
(Open access until Oct 14th)

#6. PR Interview: How to Get Covered by Electronic Design Magazine

145,000 design engineers and their managers get copies of Electronic Design magazine every other week. Would you like to see your product, service, or CEO featured? Find out how in our behind-the-scenes interview with Editor-in-Chief Mark David:
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2825
(Open access until Oct 11th)

#7. Fame Briefs: Briefs: 1 New Award

Every week we list the newest upcoming advertising, marketing and PR awards you can nominate yourself for, plus any open speaking gigs we hear about. Quick and fun:
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2632
(Open access = permanent)

#8. Help Wanteds: 32 New Jobs and 3 New Seekers Available

This week's new postings include positions from Saatchi & Saatchi, MGM, Nortel, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, GAP Inc. and Walt Disney Internet Group. Plus, learn how to post your own opening (complimentary service).
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2522
(Open access = permanent)