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We are always asking people what they think about certain issues facing the internet and web marketing. We started last month asking people about their email inbox preferences. Seemed that we hit a nerve as so many marketing sites and bloggers picked up on it and carried the message around the global block.

This month we are curious about another issue, time management and needs. Not from a business perspective, but from a consumer/lifestyle perspective. We are all becoming internet junkies and what impact is this having on our lives outside of work? Is there a life outside of work as there used to be?

Help us understand how the world is changing between work and life and we will post the results for you in September. Take the Email Addiction Survey and see where you stand >>

I came across a blog that was right up my alley – The Spam Obituaries! The blog starts with an explanation of itself: “Hi, I’m William Ridenhour. By day I train as a chef under Delia Smith. By night I write the Spam Obituaries.” The blog takes the names from spam e-mails, bring them to life and kill them off swiftly. Odd, but interesting. Check it out.

eMarketer published some exciting data on blog demographics and which group of people are blog power-users. Most blog neophytes assume that 12-24 year old MySpace users and “People” magazine readers are blogging about 50 Cent all day long, but the reality (from what this study shows) is that older, educated, affluent individuals are consuming and creating the bulk of the blog content. View the full article on “Blogs, Blogs, and More Blogs.”

What is a blogger’s etiquette around posting an entry slightly different than another contributing writer? Who cares – I liked the discovery of where I fit in the Kettle Club so much that I had to write about it. My next posting will show a picture of me in my pirate outfit (probably not unless I knock back a bunch of cocktails tomorrow night).

See what kind of person you are: www.findanewflavor.com

 

I am Unconventionally Strong and Tangy

A salty dog; I like adventure. A high-seas kind of person, my drum beat is just a little bit different than the rest. I know what I like and I’m not afraid to go for it. I can be sharp and witty, but I never mean to cause a sting. I just know that a little sour makes every sweet sweeter. Oh yeah, and I might have a pirate costume in my closet.

eROI Predictions for 2006
In an effort for all of us to remember some of these outlandish predictions, we went with the beloved Top10 format.

10. Online viral campaigns will continue to spread like the plague.
Marketers finally get it – viral marketing is here to stay. The multiplier affect of great marketing, online public relations, co-creating with your customers, and lead capture for minimal cost is too much for marketers and business owners to pass up. 2006 will see a rise in viral campaigns. Some will feel forced, some weak, but the most innovative and creative campaigns will be rewarded with huge online traffic and leads. Our five favorite online viral campaigns in 2005 are:
a. Death Jr Hamster Game – Konami
b. Chinese Back Street Boys
c. Kettle Foods Crave Site
d. Darth Vader Mind Games – Burger King
e. JibJab’s ‘2-0-5’ video

9. Email design and content will matter more.
Assuming email addiction has set in more and more as we predicted last year, we are becoming more and more jaded with email in our inboxes that have predictable content and weak design. Don’t tell me that you spend 5 minutes admiring every email that hits your inbox – holmie don’t play that. The average email recipient spends 2.8 seconds reading an email. This time per email is decreasing rapidly year over year. As humans, we love a pleasant surprise; something that makes us stop and look a little bit longer so we can tell our friends and colleagues about it. Email template and brand consistency will continue to be important, but more marketers will take advantage of unique headline banners to their newsletters and other email communication.

8. More blogs than websites for most.
It’s not whether or not to have a blog in ’06, it will be how many blogs. Disclaimer: we are ridiculous – eROI maintains four blogs and five websites (www.eroi.com and four micro-sites). Companies will realize that a blog for each vertical niche of their product or service offering (or for segmenting their customer base) is the way to go in ’06. Why? For three main reasons:

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The recent newsletter from TrendWatching.com absolutely captivated me today. The following blurb is a quick overview of the in-depth online trends that over 7,000 spotters have documented from people’s online behavior:

“For the first time in the history of our still evolving consumer societies, tens of millions of consumers are pro-actively telling and showing each other, and you, what they’re feeling and doing in the broadest sense of the word, all in a centralized online arena, in real time (it has never been easier to upload your LIFE CACHE), whether it’s on (mo)blogs or on picture and video sites. They want to connect, to share, to create, to show off. Add to that a slew of new search engines helping you navigate through Web 2.0 (there, we said it), and the ability to link postings to personal profiles (TWINSUMERS) to put things in perspective, and what you end up with is a completely new way of observing, of keeping a finger on the global pulse, of inspiring yourself. Regardless of whether you’re a CEO, a researcher, a planner, an entrepreneur, a designer, an MBA or MFA student, or a fellow member of GENERATION C.”

This is such a trustworthy email and such a new tactic that I had to post it to the Email Days blog. It’s all in the implementation. Enjoy!

“Greetings from Queen,

I got your contact from our country’s chamber of commerce through web search. I am Miss Queen Gnassingbe, the daughter of the late Togolese president (Mr. Gnassingbe Eyadema), who died of heart attack on the 5th of febuarary 2005 on a good Saturday.
After his death, my elder brother(Mr.Faure Gnassingbe),was quickly acknowledged as the new president of my country, and till date there are still outstanding problems and on steady decisions it really look like he is going to discontinue as the leader of my country. Due to this effect, i wish to move some funds lodged in by my late father before his death in an account in Europe to your country for a private investments abroad.

I am seeking for your trust to assist me move this funds into your country for private investments now, and i am assured in me that you are a trustworthy person that can not only assist me get the funds into your country alone, but also keep it safe for me until i come over to your country and we shall make proper arrangements for good investments together. I shall thank you after this funds has gotten into your country through your assistance.

Please respond to my personal Email address: miss_queen_gnassingbe@walla.com , if you do accept, But i will be deeply disappointed, if you do not accept but then would respect your decision.

Best regards.
Miss Queen Williams Gnassingbe Eyadema.”

MarketingVox reports that email list rental prices continue to drop. Surprised? I hope not. It’s pretty clear that email list rentals have become tougher and tougher to justify the ROI. Perceived spam and irrelevant content are two of the major reasons why email list rentals often don’t work. In an effort to adjust to this sad fact, B2B list costs have declined to around $0.17/email and B2C lists are down to roughly $0.10/email on average.

Leveraging your own in-house email list continues to top the list of most popular and effective online marketing tactics along with search engine optimization and marketing. Viral marketing (aka “grassroots marketing”, “word of mouth marketing”, “word of mouse marketing”) is quickly becoming the new new thing in the world of online marketing. Blogs, RSS, Podcasting, viral microsites, short video clips, and advergames are just a few of the tools and technologies that are making this such a dynamic medium and industry.