Direct mail and email marketing is dead. Blogs and online communities are the conduit to the buyer today

Implications: Direct mail and email marketing is dead. Blogs and online communities are the conduit to the buyer today, especially when selling to tech-savvy buyers. The business week article was right on the money. A significant paradigm shift is well underway, corporate America has been slow to recognize the opportunity, but this is changing quickly.

Analysis:  Direct mail and email marketing is dead. Blogs and online communities are the conduit to the buyer today, aspiringly when selling to tech-savvy buyers. The business week article was right on the money. A significant paradigm shift is well underway, corporate America has been slow to recognize the opportunity, but this is changing quickly.

What most companies don't realize is the value of the blog. It can provide thought leadership, provide a "draw" to customers to return (and do so often), and most beneficial - blog content is very highly ranked in SEO (search engine optimization), and can quickly and easily make a company more relevant in the market with a minimal investment. Apple, VMware, T-Mobile and many others have all mastered this game in the past 24 months.