Q&As

Medco Health Solutions Inc. posted net income of $228.8 million for the fourth quarter rose to $228.8 million, a 29.4% increase over $176.8 million in the prior-year period.

YP Corp. reported net profit of $485,000 for the first quarter, compared to a net loss of $327,000 for the prior-year period.

Lightbridge Inc., an online payment processing company, has sold its Telecom Decisioning Services business to Vesta Corp. for $2.5 million.

Delia’s has named Stephen Feldman as chief financial officer.

Coming on the heels of Gap, Inc. CEO Paul Pressler resigning in January due to several poor financial quarters, the retailer insists there will be no wavering of support for Product RED, its celebrity-backed brand that funnels a percentage of product sales to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (January PROMO).

AT&T is promoting its sponsorship of the hit show American Idol this season with a host of text messaging-based offers, including a sweepstakes for a chance to win $1 million.

Every direct marketer aims for one-to-one marketing. But searching for one-of-a-kind used and out-of-print books may be more one-to-one than any other Internet business.

Sure, taking the time to blog might distract an author from working on his or her novel. But for those with the discipline to maintain a blog or Web site, update it regularly and get their day job done, the Web is a great way to promote their work, says Jeffrey Yamaguchi, online marketing manager, Harper Collins.

What spurs you to enter a bookstore, or buy a book? Does a shop have to offer a spiffy loyalty program or deep discounts? Book clubs? Extra foam on your latte?

Advertisements for books, such as full-page efforts in newspapers, bear some of the tritest writing one will ever have the misfortune to slap their eyes on. And for marketers, the blurbs in question commit the most egregious sin possible: They don’t sell books.