In some ways, this year’s DMA fall conference resembled the one that was held in Chicago in 2001.
That event was dominated by 9/11 and the anthrax attack. People didn’t come because they were afraid to fly. Experts predicted the end of postal mail.
This year’s crisis will not result in loss of life, but its effects on the business will be more long lasting. It can be summed up in three letters: DNC.
What else is there to talk about?
As I write this, the do-not-call uproar is entering its second month, with no letup in sight. Direct marketers who prospect by phone have been demonized, and those who don’t have suffered guilt by association.
Vente just published a survey showing that twice as many people hate telemarketing more than they do e-mail.
And we can believe it’s based on some of the e-mail we’ve received from consumers, who have probably mistaken us for the DMA or the ATA.
An unedited sample:
Network
