Direct Marketing Advisor Solution Spotlight Can you believe it! Another year on the calendar. We hope you all had a prosperous year and are busy planning for remarkable marketing ventures in 2012. This last issue of the Marketing Advisor features one new article from Barry Densa that you’re really going to enjoy on using “Humor in Sales Copy,” and two more articles from our Favorite Author’s Archive that were very popular this past year. We thank you for your continued support and readership, and look forward to sharing some brilliant marketing copy with you in the New Year. Our Favorite Authors are always asking for ideas to write about just for you! Let us know how we can help! – editor@MelissaData.com Humor in Sales Copy – Yes or No? By Barry Densa A debate has been burning up the bits and bytes on one of the popular marketing forums. The topic of heated discussion: Whether or not to include humor in sales copy. Some of the members argue that humor can be a disarming and refreshing alternative to the caveman approach to copywriting – i.e., bludgeoning the reader into shock and submission with forceful declarations and exclamation points. Drop the hard sell and take a more friendly and convivial approach, they say. Be sociable, be charming, be funny! Read more. Are You Missing the ‘Secret Sauce’ In Your Marketing Programs? By Bob Martel If you launch a marketing campaign and nobody understands your message, can you really call it effective communication? You can have the greatest product or service in the world, but if you can’t communicate its value or influence, and persuade your market with magical words, then that proverbial path to your door will grow tall grass! Words open wallets, for they bring the promise of perceived value. Change your vocabulary and the world might actually find that path and lead to your company’s prosperity. Read more. 5 Rules to Break When Writing Marketing Materials By Valerie Kendrick Since I am a hard-core stickler for correct grammar in writing, I am surprised I am now going to tell you about five grammar rules you can and should break when writing your marketing materials. Read more. Words of Wisdom "In the absence of communication among your customers, advertising rules." - Don Peppers - Don Peppers, Peppers & Rogers Group and 1to1 Media About Melissa Data Corp. Melissa Data is a total solutions provider of direct mail, marketing and data quality tools. Melissa Data helps companies acquire and retain customers, validate and enhance contact data, improve marketing ROI, and save money on postage and mail processing. Since 1985, Melissa Data has helped companies like the FBI, Northrop Grumman, AAA, Safeway, and the Atlanta Braves improve customer communications. www.MelissaData.com   |    1-800-MELISSA (635.4772)    |    editor@melissadata.com

December 2011 In this Issue: Solution Spotlight Humor in Sales Copy Missing the ‘Secret Sauce’? 5 Rules to Break NewsWorthy Express Mail Flat Rate Box Debut New Postage Rates & Fees   Resource Center   Your direct link to product collaterals and support, white papers, case studies, industry news, and articles on data quality, direct marketing, and direct mail.   Free Trials & Demos MAILERS+4 Data Quality Suite Geocoder MatchUp RightFielder   USPS NewsWorthy   First-Ever Express Mail Flat Rate Box Debuts When Prices Change January 22 Download New Postage Rates & Fees Effective Jan 22, 2012.

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