Abstract
A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.

Abstract
A method is defined to create marketing opportunities with the knowledge that an individual will be visiting a retail outlet to pick up a product.

Of course this doesn’t seem to apply to cable networks. Those brands have to have a sharper focus. Thus you have Fox News’ “We Report. You Decide”; TBS’ “Very Funny”; TNT’s “We Know Drama”; and USA Network’s “Characters Welcome,” among others.

In the late ’90s, ABC — mostly on the ropes in third or fourth place — found room for a wide-ranging network brand campaign, the so-called “yellow campaign,” with the ultimate tongue-in-cheek marketing line, “TV is good.”

Once ABC began to get some good shows, the line seemingly lost some bite — or sarcasm.

Still, that kind of wide-ranging marketing theme could seemingly return if broadcast networks ever work themselves into the niche arena that some cable networks find themselves in. For example, couldn’t CBS offer a spin on all its procedural crime dramas?

Tim Brooks, executive vice president of research at Lifetime, told Television Week that broad-based nightly slogans could be tricky business. “If NBC adopts a slogan like this, they have to stay with comedies on Thursday night, and that can be tough if they decide to put in an ‘Apprentice.’”

It’s not just Thursday night. NBC is looking to regroup other programs on other nights, for example on Sunday.

With “Deal or No Deal, “The Apprentice,” and, possibly, “The Biggest Loser” on that night, NBC could offer up another line or two: “Reality Night — With Bite” or “Reality on NBC: Pact, Fat or Sacked.”

United States Patent 7,162,221

Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided that allow wireless device users to “opt-in” to a direct marketing campaign by “clicking on” a conventional advertisement displayed within a wireless device and register to receive future promotions via one or more direct marketing channels. Likewise, users can “opt-out” of future direct marketing by “clicking on” content displayed within various promotional content.

United States Patent 6,970,864

Abstract
A method and system are provided for performing database queries with geographic inputs that are converted to a direct marketing area prior to performing the query. Direct marketing areas define geographic locations as discrete areas of interest that may be more useful than city limits or a specific geographic location (e.g., latitude/longitude). Direct marketing areas are more useful geographic designations for purposes of advertising and marketing. A geographic input, such as a city and state, or a latitude and longitude are converted to a direct marketing area. The direct marketing area is then substituted for the entered geographic parameter (e.g., city and state or latitude and longitude), and the requested database query is performed.

Direct mail

Probably the most commonly used medium for direct marketing is direct mail, in which marketing communications are sent to customers using the postal service. In many developed countries, direct mail represents such a significant amount of the total volume of mail that special rate classes have been established. In the United States and United Kingdom, for example, there are bulk mail rates that enable marketers to send mail at rates that are substantially lower than regular first-class rates. In order to qualify for these rates, marketers must format and sort the mail in particular ways – which reduces the handling (and therefore costs) required by the postal service.

Direct mail permits the marketer to design marketing pieces in many different formats. Indeed, there is an entire subsector of the industry that produces specialized papers, printing, envelopes, and other materials for direct mail marketing. Some of the common formats, include:

Catalogs: Multi-page, bound promotions, usually featuring a selection of products for sale.

Self-mailers: Pieces usually created from a single sheet that has been printed and folded. For instance, a common practice is to print a page-length advertisement or promotion on one side of a sheet of paper. This is then folded in half or in thirds, with the promotional message to the inside. The two outside surfaces are then used for the address of the recipient and some “teaser” message designed to persuade the customer to open the piece.

Poly-bag packages: Large (often 9×12 or bigger) full-color packages sealed in a clear plastic outer wrap. The contents show through the poly-bag, giving the potential for maximum initial impact. Poly-bag packages can be extremely effective, but also quite expensive.
Postcards: Simple, two-sided pieces, with a promotional message on one side and the customer’s address on the other.

Envelope mailers: Mailings in which the marketing material is placed inside an envelope. This permits the marketer to include more than one insert. When more than one advertiser is included, this is often called “marriage mail”. Valpak is one of the largest examples of a marriage mail service.
Snap Mailers: Mailers that fold and seal with pressure. The sides detach and the mailer is opened to reveal the message.
Dimensional Mailers: Mailers that have some dimension to them, like a small box.

Intelligent Documents: Programmable mail pieces built dynamically from database information, and printed digitally for faster production.

Direct marketing can use any medium, including: television, magazines, newspapers, mail, email, banner ads, web sites, pay-per-click ads, radio, billboard, transit ads, package inserts, door hangers, statement inserts, card packs, etc. If the ad is asking the prospect to take a specific action — call an 800 number, visit a web site, return a response card, place an order, complete a survey, etc. — it is a direct marketing effort.

The term is believed to have been first used in 1961 in a speech by Lester Wunderman, who pioneered direct marketing techniques with brands such as American Express and Columbia Records. Although Wunderman may have been the first to use the term “direct marketing”, the practice of “mail order selling” (direct marketing via mail) essentially began in the U.S. upon invention of the typewriter in 1867. The first mail-order catalog was produced by Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872. The Direct Mail Advertising Association, predecessor of the present-day Direct Marketing Association, was first established in 1917. Third class bulk mail postage rates were established in 1928.

Direct marketing’s history in Europe can be traced to the 15th century. Upon Gutenberg’s invention of moveable type, the first trade catalogs from printer-publishers appeared sometime around 1450.

Direct marketing is attractive to many marketers, because in many cases its effectiveness can be measured directly. For example, if a marketer sends out one million solicitations by mail, and ten thousand customers can be tracked as having responded to the promotion, the marketer can say with some confidence that the campaign led directly to the responses. By contrast, measurement of other media must often be indirect, since there is no direct response from a consumer. Measurement of results, a fundamental element in successful direct marketing, is explored in greater detail elsewhere in this article.

While many marketers like this form of marketing, some direct marketing efforts using particular media have sometimes been criticized for generating unwanted solicitations. For example, direct mail that is irrelevant to the recipient is considered “junk mail”, and unwanted email messages are considered “spam”.