I am about to reveal some untold secrets about sweepstakes. This information comes from 40 years of marketing experience, with 30 of them at the very private and secretive granddaddy of sweepstakes … Publishers Clearing House.
Bill Clinton
When was the last time you checked your copy's grade level reading scores? American's reading ability is declining. And you could be writing over your prospective customer's ability to understand your message. In the U.S., average reading levels are at about the eighth grade level. But 1-in-5 U.S. adults read below a fifth grade level. And surprisingly, 14 percent of U.S. adults can't read
The Macmillan Dictionary defines charisma as: NOUN/ ka 'rizzma—a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you. The Wall Street Journal's Elizabeth Holmes wrote a 1,296-word essay titled: "How to Develop Your Personal Presence on Social Media and in Real Life." The subhead is: "Presence, a Mix of How You Look, How You Communicate and How You Behave, Influences Your Social Stature and Ability to Climb the Ranks." Included were a slew of tips on developing: "Your authentic self, combining strength and warmth."
Last week's column featuring Philadelphia's three great cheesesteak emporiums: Jim's, Pat's and (most famously) Geno's, generated correspondence about which cheesesteaks are the best. My answer: NOT Geno's.
The 2010 election was not a great one for Democrats, as scores of candidates were defeated in a Republican wave. Their control of the U.S. Senate was maintained, though, and 2011 saw several direct mail efforts by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to see that it stayed that way. Centering on the theme of "I Am The Firewall," the mailings tried to energize Democratic supporters, to make certain that nothing was being taken for granted.
If the 2008 election was about hope and change, the 2010 mid-term campaign, judging by its direct mail, was mostly focused on anger. That's the most obvious takeaway based on a review of the fundraising appeals and campaign fliers that we've seen during the year. Whether directed at President Obama, or at Congressional leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, this emotional touchpoint dominated political mail like it hasn't since the days of Bill Clinton.