1. Marié Digby - Say It Again

2. Chris Brown - Forever

3. Gavin Rossdale - Love remains the same

4. Augustana- Sweet and Low

5. Astro Nuts - Strong as the Sun

In other words ...

One shouldn't pay attention to what people say they'll do as much as what they actually DO.

For example, it seems most readers of the National Enquirer don't want to admit they read it. Just ask people, "You read that tabloid stuff?"

"No way! Not me."

Maybe they're afraid of looking silly to others? Maybe their embarrassed to admit buying a paper with headlines like, "Brad Runs To Jen As Angelina Lays Down The Law."

Perhaps they fear people will think they're too shallow? Un-sophisticated?

Doesn't matter.

What matters to the National Enquirer, of course, is that millions of readers each week buy it. Whether folks admit to reading tabloids or not there are a whole lot of those papers being sold. So the old rule applies... Don't pay attention to what people SAY they do as much as what they DO.

What's this got to do with direct mail?

Plenty.

If anyone should LOVE direct mail it would be a magazine editor. Direct mail is used to sell millions of magazine subscriptions each year.

But check out what William Baldwin - - editor of Forbes magazine - - wrote in the July 4th 2005 issue:

"The junk mail industry, says Chana Schoenberger in the story beginning on page 90, is giving a new lease on life to Xerox. This firm sells a $500,000 color printer ideal for customized advertising circulars.

Junk is a lucrative sector of the ad business, with a $51 billion annual volume that dwarfs the outlays for magazine advertising. Lucrative, and wasteful. I don't know if the catalogs I get from Land's End cost more to make than the shirts, but surely they weigh more.

Between printing and mailing it costs at least half a buck to send a first-class pitch to someone. If 90% of the recipients chuck the envelope unopened into a wastebasket, then the pitchman is spending $5 just to get one advertisement read. Isn't there a better way of getting people's attention?..."

Now... please ignore the fact Mr. Baldwin writes this even as he gets a Land's End catalog in the mail.

This means, of course, that either he, or his wife probably bought something from it. Which is why he continues getting a Land's End catalog in the mail regularly.

Also ignore the fact that direct mail sales letters have been used to launch prominent magazine-publishing empires over the years.

Mr. Baldwin says direct mail is lucrative (for the "junk mail industry") yet wasteful (for those using it) at the same time. Am I missing something here? Doesn't he know much advertising is "wasteful", and direct mail sellers only mail things out over and over again because it's profitable?

How many advertising dollars are spent (and wasted) targeting people who won't buy because they're not the right audience for the sales pitch? How much ad money is wasted paying for commercials on T.V. nobody watches?

Direct Mail is Targeted Marketing

There's no better... or more cost efficient way... of reaching those most interested (and most likely to buy) your product or service than direct mail. And after you reach the person most likely to buy you're able to hit all their emotional hot buttons. Give them all the reasons they should buy from you. Tell them your story. Person-to-person.

Is there any waste? Sure there is.

People live busy lives. Even if your sales pitch reaches the right person it may not reach them at the right moment in time.

They might not have time to read it today. Or this week. They might not be ready to buy again. Your pitch might end up in the trash before it even gets read.

Overall ... doesn't matter. Know why?

Because if you've mailed correctly a certain percentage of prospects are going to read your pitch. They're going to respond they way you want them to.

They're going to buy ... or call for more information ... or send for the free sample.

You're going to be offering people something they want. Maybe even something that makes their life easier. Or helps them out in some way. Or lets them be more productive. Or enhances their quality of life somehow.

So how do you know if direct mail is good for you?

Well ... despite everything you may have read about response rates ... the test is simple.

First thing though ... forget about the fact everyone says they don't like getting "junk" mail. The majority of people who get lots of "junk" mail (and say they don't like it) get on mailing lists after buying something through the mail.

Now ...

Determine beforehand if a mailing can make money on paper ... then do a live test mailing. If, for example, you get a 16% response rate but your overall mailing costs exceed your net profits then your mailing is a failure.

Bottom line ... if your net profits from a direct mail campaign are a lot higher than your costs to do the mailing then you've got a winner.

Some direct mail companies run successful advertising campaigns with less than a 1% response rate. They mail millions of ad pieces. But their mailing costs are low relative to their huge profits - - even with low response rates.

Response rates aren't nearly as important as actual profit margins.

Small businesses usually can't keep mailing costs extremely low. If you don't mail tens-of-thousands of pieces you won't be able to get letters and envelopes printed in bulk for pennies-a-piece. Don't let that bother you.

If the numbers work ... and your product or service is priced right ... then maybe only a few orders out of every 100 sales letters will make money.

So what are you waiting for?

Sit down. Work the numbers. Do a test mailing.

I bet if you think about it hard enough you'll be able to figure out a way to make direct mail work for you. If you need some help contact me. And don't worry about what people say. Pay attention to what they do.

Joe Farinaccio is a direct-response copywriter. Joe specializes in writing sales letters and direct mail packages for small businesses. To learn how you can do direct marketing for your business, or get help with your sales letters and direct mail packages visit his website at http://www.sales-letters-and-marketing.com.

jjfarina@hotmail.com

The love birds sat next to Sam's mom in the front row for this morning's (Saturday) show of twin sister Charlotte's spring collection at New York Fashion Week.   According to some accounts the couple nearly caused a riot, immediately swarmed by photographers who rushed passed all of the other celebrities to catch shots of Two Lesbos Goin At It's favorite love Dixie Cups.  

Lindsay looked hot hot hot (did I mention that she looked hot) in a denim dress and sexy blue pumps, and wore her blonde hair pulled back.  Sam was looking pretty damn good in a black T-shirt, gray skinny jeans and vest.  And, as we suggested . . . she has pretty much dropped the hat . . . instead, showing off her very cute face and adorable haircut.  Honestly, we love the new look Sam!  (My God, what I'd pay to be you.   Not really, Lovely Spouse, just trying to make them feel good as they come out . . . that's all . . . )

Here are some photos of this morning's show - the real show - Samantha and Lindsay:

So guess what?

My dad is home!

Remember when I told all of you in May that my dad had to take a cruise ship job because of the job shortages in America?  He was the ship trombonist.  My dad was away for three months.  It was hard being without a dad for that long.  The house seemed empty.  It was.

He came home a week early.  Thank you Jesus!  My dad arrived safe and healthy.  We are all glad to have him back.  Hopefully he won't have to leave again.  I love my dad.

Has this happened to anyone else?

~hasta la vista, baby!

With Ramadhan starting this Monday, the situation grew a little intense (not that I complain). I would have chosen not to attend the Orientation, But our seniors and Professors advised against it and encouraged me to attend it pointing out that this week would serve as Ice Breakers between students. I showed up the first day a little sleepy (please keep in mind I hardly slept after Sehar) and I was literally taken aback by what I saw and heard. It was total implausible stuff there. Like I never knew a Normal Human could shout soooooooo LOUD (while cheering); And when I say LOUD I mean defeaning LOUD .. I never knew people could eat that much stuff .. I am pretty sure everyone of them must have gained atleast 2 pounds after their Lunch and Dinner. I never knew people could sweat that much .. Ewe .. !!

I was exhausted by 5:00 pm and was frantically searching for a comfortable couch to slid on. Having spent the entire day outdoors in the scorching sun, I was amazed at how dead I was feeling, My legs were aching and my throat was all dried up. I couldnt look at those cold water bottles passed around the students and neither at the varied snacks stalls .. It was really Hard folks, ignoring such sights and holding on to yourselves.

But the thing I absolutely loved about my University is - We have a Huge Muslim Community there and the Uni has many facilities specially for us like A separate prayer room, with sets of Quran and English Translation books; and shawls to pray; and a washroom specially for performing Wudhu with low taps and stool to sit on and wash your legs and a drier to dry them before wearing your shoes back; Dates and Water to break your fast with followed by a Halal Dinner. And!! Did I mention I read three prayers there (Zohr, Asr and Maghrib) with Jamad ?? How admirable and wondorous is that ? Mashallah.

All in all It was a Long and difficult day .. I did enjoy it though but Most certainly would have enjoyed more if it wouldnt have had been in the Month of Ramadhan. Right now I have to recover my strength back by not having had to sleep nicely for two nights followed by the pounding of my head, the painful cries of each and every muscle of my body and the dizziness I STILL feel ...

P.S: In my last post, Many of you asked my Area of education. I am doing a B.Sc/B.ed combined degree inshallah with Math as my Main subject (Havent decided my second till now .. ) So, remember me in your prayers .. :-)

To become a great school, the school should try to offer programs like night school, or G.E.D programs, for those students who want to graduate from high school, but cannot make it day school whether they have become seriously ill or  have to work daytime jobs in order to support there life.  Most school’s offer a summer school program, which personally i feel is great. If a student needs more academic help, then they should be able to get that extended summer school help.

To become a great school, I think the school needs to be open to new ideas and suggestions. I think they need to listen to what there students have to say, know matter what it is, or how important it is to you. No student should be tossed aside like a piece of trash. Now trash may be a bit of a strong word to use, it’s definitely wasn’t my first word of choice, but i thought it was school appropriate.  I do not believe a student should be kicked out of a classroom for disrupting a class because they are bored, being loud or do not understand the lesson the teacher is trying to explain. The teacher should take the time to listen to the disruptive student, and here there explanation for why they are acting the way they are. Maybe the student disagrees with your teaching style; maybe the student has no idea how you solved that equation or how you translated a sentence in Spanish. Maybe that student learns differently from the way you teach.  The teacher should take the time to listen to the student and try to understand them better; so that way eventually they will be able to focus on their education, and improve there grades. Students should be taught in a comfortable class room setting. Maybe outside a discussion group or somewhere were the atmosphere is good for everyone.
The requirements for graduation should be the four main basic classes that the school says you need in order to lead an adult life. Like in math, english, history, and science.  Once you have completed those classes than I think the students should have more chances to take the courses they want to take. The school should definitely offer more elective classes. We want to learn more, we need a bigger variety.

Pretty much, that’s all I have to say for now. :]

Of course, I won't be blogging because I have limited access to the internet. I've posted a few entries for events in the coming week to tide you over, but in the meantime, I'd also suggest you check out:

Design Notebook - blogger Melanie Spencer covers all the design events, she usually posts a roundup once a week, so check here for what to do this week and next

Tribeza's Fashion Week - there are a few free events leading up to the hot fashion show, which benefits Candlelight Ranch, a wonderful retreat for kids ... I'd definitely take a ride on the Boutique Crawl bus to keep the booze and buying in check--Thursday, September 11.

austin360.com - it's an obvious choice, but they usually have the scoop on events in Austin

I'll be back late Thursday the 11th, so hopefully I'll have some fun news and events for the weekend!

I went over the protocol in my head.  I waited until a week had passed in order to give him time. And then I let him know I was thinking about him and was wondering how he was doing by email.  Maybe it would have been better to call but I don't often call and I didn't want to intrude.  So I logged on and found out he read my message and he didn't respond.

Am I expecting to much?

I really liked this guy.

And now in order to save myself from impending pain (or so my head is telling me) I have already started my "cut this guy from my life" emergency plan.  It starts on its own as soon as the first cold knife of reality is thrust into my chest, I can't help it.

I am already ready to delete him from my myspace, phone, brain...

But I like him and hope that I am wrong.  I would like to find out what it would be like to be in a relationship with him. Please let me be wrong.

They expect every restaurant to be packed every night during ARW, so make some reservations stat! (Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are strongly recommended)

Austin Restaurant Week Participating Restaurants:

Well, today, it’s back to the old grind.  It was awfully special to make a guest list for Danielle, but today, we’re back to Matt’s assignments.

I’ve said on many occasions that Matt’s list topics are a cut above the ordinary.  They’re thought provoking and require a bit more soul-searching than the lists assigned by a certain other list assigner I’ve employed on this blog.  Today, I was assigned just such a list: Top Five Days of The Week.

The real difficulty of this list is that there are only seven possible options to fill the five spots.  What standards can I use to basically give the finger to two days of the week?  Further, what the hell kind of pictures am I going to put up here?  These are the challenges I face.  It’s an undesirable duty, and something I would no wish on any of you, but it is nonetheless my duty, and I will stand and face this task like a man.  Like a man with a huge beard and patchy back hair.  Like a man who loves America so much that he has a mug attesting to that fact.

Alright, it’s the Top Five Days of The Week.  Let’s get it on.

5) Tuesday

Tuesday’s a pretty good day.  It’s early in the week, but it’s not the beginning of the week.  It’s in the middle, but it’s not exactly in the middle.  Tuesday is really when you are at your best; on Monday you haven’t quite hit your stride yet, and by Wednesday, you’re looking forward to the end of the week.  But, on Tuesday, you’re doing good.  Pus, House, M.d. is on Tuesday nights.

4) Wednesday

Hump Day!  It’s a depressing day, the day when next weekend and last weekend are equidistant.  Wednesday has redeeming values though.  For instance, The Real World/Road Rules Challenge is on Wednesdays.  Also, in the Craig David song “7 Days,” Wednesday is the day when he finally gets into that chick’s pants (“Monday, took her for a drink on Tuesday.  We’re making love on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We chill on Sunday.”)

3) Friday

There’s rarely any good TV on Friday nights (sometimes you can capitalize on a new episode of Degrassi, but really that show has been struggling in recent years), but that is okay because there’s usually something to do that night.  I’m a man who loves a good party, primarily because I love to drink.  Most people my age go to parties in an attempt to get laid, but for me, that’s about the furthest thing from my mind.  I go to parties to get hammered and yell at people.  That’s why I’ve never really understood drinking games where drinking is treated as a penalty.  It’s not like the goal of a party is to make it to the end of the night in as sober a state as possible; it’s not like somehow you are going to be shamed if the end of the night comes and you’re tanked.  I guess if you pass out early someone might tea-bag you or draw a penis on your face, but that’s the price we pay to have a good time.  As Omar says, “It’s all in the game.”

2) Thursday

Thursday is a sleeper day.  People don’t think much of Thursday, but then Thursday rolls around and before you know it, you’re enjoying it.  For many college students, Thursday is the real bar night, something that I’ve never fully understood.  The only explanation I can come up with is that if you drink on Thursday, you can recover on Friday, then drink hard again on Saturday, thereby maximizing your weekend drinking.  That’s never been my plan.  I just end up drinking on Friday, feeling like shit on Saturday, then rallying and drinking again Saturday night.  Still, I include Thursday on this list because it is the day that is home to my favorite show, Survivor, and my 23rd favorite show, Lost.

1) Monday

As if there was ever any doubt.  I know this may come as a controversial pick, but I stand by my decision.  After a real serious weekend of drinking, I’m often very ready to get back to the grind on Monday.  It’s rarely as painful a thing as everyone likes to pretend it is.  Monday is a reminder that though a good time was had over the weekend, reality still exists and you’re part of it.  Though that can be a painful reminder at times, I think as a whole it’s a positive.  Plus, when you get a three-day weekend, you usually get Monday off.  Yet, I only need one reason to make Monday the number one day of the week: it is the day when I get to watch new episodes of Heroes.  I love that damn show.  It hasn’t been on long enough to dethrone Survivor as my favorite show, but if it keeps going as it has, it’s only a matter of time.  It’s been a bizarre nine-month wait, but it’s almost over; September 22 is going to be a very cathartic day.  I’m going to need about a pound of weed, two pizzas and a two liter of Fresca and then I’ll be ready for the two hour season premiere.  So close, yet so far.

Start Weight 260
Goal Weight 180
Next week Goal 258

Waist 45
Hips 49.5
Bust 45
Arms 17.5
Neck 16
Calf 18
Thighs 31

http://twitter.com/Phyaflyjones

This week Sports Card Info is starting a new feature called "Flashback Product of the Week".  Today I'm taking you back to the late 90's, where game used relics were fairly new and insert cards were all the rage.  This week I'm talking about 1998 and 1999 Topps Action Flats.  Topps went in a little different direction with this product.  When you opened a box and looked down to see what you got, all you could see were these tiny little figures looking back at you like a twisted "Toy Story" army.  Each pack contained a miniature plastic figure of an athlete that resembled a flattened pancake, and one Topps card.  There really wasn't anything different about the card except it had a foil logo on it that said "Action Flats".  Other than that it looked exactly like a regular Topps base card.  I'll admit that I purchased a few of these back in the day when I was a young collector.  I think I had a Dan Marino and Mark McGwire.  After 1999 these really didn't pan out and Topps stopped making them.  If you ask me, I can't believe they made more than one series of this product.

by static416

The beer was cold and the conversation was good.

We agreed that I'm awesome and that everything I do is also awesome. Furthermore, I make all the correct choices, all the time, and the way I behave in general should be held up as the pinnicle of human achievement.

At least that's what I remember. My memory may be a little fuzzy. But seriously, good times.

by static416

The middle of the week is a blur of C code and sitting in traffic. It's no wonder that my posting has become less frequent with that dynamite combination as my primary source of inspiration.

Friday brought the promise of drinking and disco music at Maggie's party. Maggie is a friend of Emma's. Emma drank Sapporo.

by static416

Maggie has alot of copies of Monopoly. One might even say she has a... monopoly on monopoly. *rimshot*

by static416

I took this photo entirely so I could make that joke. I don't think it was worth it.

The party was a fun time. In addition to molesting a plastic baby and Teddy Ruxbin, Emily blew into a cat.

by static416

Disco music played into the evening. This caused dancing to break out in people who are not me.

by static416

Wonder Woman was accosted by police officer, an amoeba, and another gentleman that I cannot recall. Apparently her powers are rendered impotent when confronted with the prospect of marriage. Every woman's weakness.

by static416

Then I took an artsy shot of a chair and some lights.

by static416

Emma and I didn't have much to drink, but she was still grumpy getting up early the next day.

At 7:30am Emma and I left for the cottage my family had rented in Dwight. Kitty came along too to provide the weekends supply of cute.

by static416

I spent most of the weekend drinking, eating, sleeping, and ignoring Emma while reading Watchmen (which is very good by the way).

by static416

There were also campfires to go with the drinking, accompanied by stories of "that time I severely injured myself" and solutions to most of the world's problems.

We left at 7:30am on Monday in an attempt to beat traffic on the way back to the city. I meant to steal all of the available leftovers in order to eat for free the following week, but apparently my memory isn't as sharp as my sense of cheapness because I forgot.

It was a great weekend, with great weather, but I'm always grateful to be sleeping in my own bed again.

by static416

but this is the featured deviant person ...

x-cerberus-x!

because his(or her) photoshop brushes are awesome ive used the for wallpapers and previews for my fonts and icons and stuff

GO AND LOOK AT HIS BRUSHES AND DOWNLAOD THEM!

http://x-cerberus-x.deviantart.com/

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STONED KIDS CLUB( NOT REALLY)

Hoops aim to bring swagger on road
Sundin engaged, mum on future in T.O.
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Dynamo turn attention to Toronto FC