Meta Must Face Suit Over Scam Ads

Yes, the rumors are true—the United States might actually get a federal privacy law. Introduced in June, the American Data Privacy Protection Act (ADPPA) actually has bipartisan support, though there are a few kinks to work out. But one section of the bill, which is now eligible for a floor vote in the House, could fundamentally change how consumer privacy is protected and enforced in the US: the proposed creation of a Bureau of Privacy, which would be a part of the Federal Trade Commission, broadening the scope and definition of how the regulator could enforce the law. “It would dramatically elevate the profile of privacy in this country and the agency internationally,” Daniel Kaufman, a partner at BakerHostetler who previously held several roles at the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said during a LinkedIn Live hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). “It’s almost limitless in terms of what the FTC can do.”

About 10 years ago, REI made me so stinking mad that I swore I’d never grace their check-out again. A brand-advocate no more, I huffed my outraged “customer-no-service” story to everyone that cared to listen. Their offense? They made me pay for return shipping on a few items that didn’t fit. And worse, because I didn’t get my way, I decided the phone rep was rude and dismissive. Yes, I’m guilty of perpetuating the “all-about-me” attitude pervasive in the consumer world. WORD OF CAUTION: YES, one bad experience can ruin a customer relationship forever. And the reason can be as petty as feeling dismissed. But then, darn it, suddenly I couldn’t avoid them – they were everywhere. Read more at: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/rei-me/

There’s no lack of evidence suggesting direct mail delivers results. Take its average response rate: A respectable 5-9%, towering over that of email at less than 1%. Yet despite the smorgasbord of statistics underpinning its advantages, only about 50% of businesses report using direct mail in their marketing strategy, compared to over 80% utilizing email. Spoiler, it comes down to cost. The physical production and shipment of a printed mail piece typically comes with a larger price tag than that of digital mail. However, a strong mail campaign doesn’t have to be the budget-consuming super beast it’s cracked up to be. Knowing how to navigate USPS tools, and take advantage of postage efficiencies can cut costs significantly, and ultimately, increase your ROI. Here we’ve outlined some of the smartest ways to boost your return on investment and make your direct mail campaigns work harder without chewing through your budget.