Jeff Prettyman's Page

Magazine rate-card-reported advertising revenue for full-year 2009 closed at $19,450,949,762, posting a 18.1% decline against the previous year, according to Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). A total of 169,217.76 advertising pages were generated throughout the year, a drop of 25.6% compared to 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2009, PIB revenue generated $5,778,429,251, which was a 12.4% decrease compared to 2008’s fourth quarter. There were 48,958.92 advertising pages counted for the quarter,… Continue

As much as marketers are moving advertising to digital (web, email, etc.), print remains a vital part of the marketing communications plan. Utilizing direct mail, marketing collateral, etc., print still has many applications. Below is a "Top Ten" list from Folio magazine.

10. Print provides differentiation. How many of the millions of Web sites out there have a print magazine to drive traffic to it? The vast minority, I assure you. Print vehicles provide a unique strategy to drive traffi… Continue

Direct mail spending will decline 39 percent during the next five years from $49.7 billion in 2008 to $29.8 billion in 2013, according to a study released earlier this week by Borrell Associates, a media research and consulting firm. Research reports usually contain fairly measured language, but this one has several dramatic statements. For example, the report describes direct mail as “the largest and least-read of all print media” and goes on to say, “Direct mail has begun spiraling into what w… Continue

The US Postal Service is taking steps to build volume in its recently announced "Summer Sale." This plan will offer a 30% rebate on mail put in the system from July 1 through September 2009 that is over a specific threshold mailed in the same period during the prior year.

Approximately 3200 mailers are eligible for the rebates, accounting for 75% of Standard Mail volume. These mailers will receive letters of eligibility as well as their individual thresholds as determined by USPS data systems.… Continue

In a study of U.S. recessions, McGraw-Hill Research analyzed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that business-to-business Firms that Maintained or Increased their advertising expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession averaged significantly higher sales growth, both during the recession and for the following three years, than those that eliminated or decreased advertising. By 1985, sales of companies that were aggressive recession advertisers had risen 256% over those that didn't… Continue