WrapMail signs 3 new Hotels in Norway

WrapMail today signed Hotell Ivar Assen, Hareid Hotell and Sagafjord Hotell in Norway. These hotels should start wrapping early next week.

WrapMail is a finalist for the South Florida Business Journal’s 2009 Technology Awards

WrapMail, Inc. has been selected as a finalist for the South Florida Business Journal’s 2009 Technology Awards in the Interactive Marketing category.

The Technology Awards was created to honor the area’s best technology-based companies, the CEOs or CIOs leading the way, and the companies making the best use of a technology in South Florida. We looked for growing startup companies, trend-setting innovations, products and services to highlight. Our judging team – led by our editorial department, along with Mark Smith, COO of 3Cinteractive; Mark Wyllie, executive director of InternetCoast; Travis Berger, VP and president-elect of the South Florida Interactive Marketing Association; and Chris Burgio, president of the South Florida Technology Alliance – selected three outstanding finalists in each category from the scores of nominations received.

On Nov. 5, WrapMail, Inc. and all of the finalists will be honored at a special awards luncheon at Jungle Island, at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, in Miami.

10% Response Rate for $5

A quick note regarding our updated pricing.  We have eliminated the required minimum of $20 per month which should now make signing up for businesses with 1, 2 or 3 users a very easy decision.  The new pricing is as follows:

- Activation Charge (includes first free Wrap): $40.00

- Monthly Charges: $5 per user, per month (user is an email address)

- No minimum, no commitment

That’s it – SIMPLE!  Click here to signup.

Dave Kustin – CMO, WrapMail

WrapMail & eBay

WrapMail and eBay – doesn’t sound like a natural match but we go together like peas and carrots.  For those of you new to this blog, indulge me for a second.  WrapMail is all about “wrapping” the “everyday” external email traffic that you are going to send anyway.  We do this without the need to install anything on your computer nor do you need to learn any new routines or software.  What can/should be featured in a Wrap?  For most of the world, Wraps would look very similar to the corporate website, but there are others that may include 3rd party ads.

So where does eBay come into play?  eBay has roughly 2 million Power Sellers.  These are people that have “stores” on eBay and typically sell a lot of a singular product (hammers) or a wide range of products (toys, rugs & small electronics).  WrapMail is a perfect tool for these Power Sellers to push information out on their products and listings.  Every time a Power Seller responds to an email they could send an email that has their featured listings in it. Here’s the best part.  eBay could sell/offer this tool to their Power Sellers, thus creating a new stream of income.  And if you haven’t been reading the news, eBay could use it.

 

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

New Type of Advertising

Thanks to a startup called Sojern, customers of some of the nation’s biggest airlines will soon see ads on the boarding passes that they print at home.  Lets examine what that really means.  Consumers will see advertising in a place where for the previous 50 years or so they did not see it.  I have one question.  What took so long!?!?  Is there a more natural place for airlines to cross promote and sell advertising?  I think not….a consumer books a trip to Orlando for instance, and then when they print their boarding passes they will see information and advertisements that they can react to at their destination.  Pretty smart.  And with the airlines hurting so badly it was an easy decision for them to participate in an opportunity where a new line of revenue was the result.  Now, these ads are most likely for spur of the moment type things: restaurants, attractions, local weather, etc…

I have a message for the 6 airlines that are participating.  HEY, LOOK OVER HERE.  WRAPMAIL CAN PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY!!!  Every carrier sends emails to confirm travel plans. What better place than to cross promote and sell advertising.  Same concept. Low barrier to entry and a new revenue opportunity.  The main difference with WrapMail is the timing of the delivery of the message.  With Sojern, the consumer will see the offers very close, if not on their travel date which right away eliminates hotels and car rental companies.  With WrapMail, an airline could include ads in a confirmation email that arrives months prior to travel which opens more opportunities to sell advertising.  More opportunity = more revenue.  

Lets take it one step further.  The scenario I describe above is related to automated confirmation emails.  WrapMail could do the same thing in EVERY email from EVERY employee.  Delta has 1,000’s of employees sending emails every day all day.  Literally millions of potential impressions to potential consumers.  All of which could rotate in every email – offers for hotels, concerts, attractions, car rentals, restaurants, museums, etc….The airlines are leaving a ton of money on the table.

Maybe we should call Sojern?

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

Increasing Your Blog Traffic

Corporations and individuals around the world are publishing blogs for a many reasons, not the least of which is that people will read them.  We, at WrapMail, write and maintain our blog so it will be read.  Plain and simple.  Other reasons may include: positioning yourself as an expert in your field, staying in touch with your customers and prospects, and finally, releasing current news, happenings, etc…And the very nature of blogs make it easy to do all of the above quickly.  So, it should be of the utmost importance to drive readership, lest why go through the effort.

A simple way to increase traffic is to institute WrapMail.  Yes, it sounds counter intuitive to implement an email marketing product for your everyday email to increase blog readership but it’s true.  Our statistics show that website traffic increases by roughly 10% when our clients use our system.  Which means, if a client were to feature their corporate blog in their Wrap (like we do – see above), then readership will increase.  Wrap it up!

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

WrapMail Goes International

WrapMail has recently added new Partners to our network of distribution resellers.  They are:

Top Partner – Italy

2k Enigma Solution – United Kingdom

Terrabyte Design – New Zealand

These partners join our other international partners in Norway and France.  The buzz on WrapMail is spreading quickly around the world and we are adding clients and partners at a rapid pace.  

In other news, our demo video on YouTube has reached 6,025 views after just 3 weeks.  You can watch the video by clicking the image below.

 

click to view

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

WrapMail adds Partner in Denver

WrapMail has added Denver based Advanced Network Solutions to its Business Partner Program.  About Advanced Network Solutions:

Advance Network Solutions (ANS) is a consulting firm focused on technology with offices in Colorado and Wyoming. We have been serving clients since 1991. Consulting practice areas include network management, technology leadership, Security assessment and implementation, and web development and hosting. Advance Network Solutions, Inc. provides specific solutions for companies seeking technology planning and strategy, technology marketing strategies, intelligent architecture, franchise technologies, financial services, security audit readiness, as well as outsourced network services.

Why would ANS want to partner with WrapMail?  Two words.  Sales opportunity. And differentiation.  OK, three words.  ANS is at the source.  They are a trusted technology service provider to their clients and prospects and have an open door to introduce new technology such as WrapMail.  Our product integrates perfectly with email and web hosting providers as we are a bridge between the two.  Further, our product will increase traffic to your website by roughly 10%.  We look forward to working with ANS in creating a productive relationship for both parties.

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

Study: E-Mail is The Most Effective Form of Direct Response

According to BrandWeek, which ran results from a study conducted by Direct Partners, New York, E-mail is the most effective form of direct response media.  The results of the Direct Partners study were derived from 30,000 surveys sent in April to senior executives at companies with 2007 revenues exceeding $100 million.  Some findings from the study:

• E-mail is used primarily by 35% of companies compared to 25% which use traditional direct mail and 21% who use package, statement stuffers or free standing inserts
• 68% market to their prospect database
• 82% market to their customer database
• 57% said their direct response budget will remain the same this year compared to last, while 23% reported their budget would increase by 10% or higher
• 47% said that less than 10% of their marketing budget went to direct response media

A few things jump out at me.  The fact that 82% market to their customer database says that these companies are trying to sell more “stuff” to their existing customers, which is something all businesses should do.  It also tells me, that most likely, these customers are NOT aware of ALL the products and services the companies have to offer.  If they did, they would market elsewhere.  Another observation is that budgets for direct response media are expected to increase.  

What is proof of concept for WrapMail is the 82% number.  These are people that are existing customers and are therefore willing and/or expecting an email from the company, whereas with a broadcast email they may not.  WrapMail is designed for companies that have employees sending regular everyday emails to customers, prospect, and friends.  This audience will be open to seeing the email and will therefore see the Wrap.  They are a captive audience, put your message right in front of them with every external email your company sends.

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail

The $190 Burger & Reverse Compatibility

Burger King announced this week a $190 burger available only in London.  This is the world’s most expensive burger.  According to Burger King, it is made from Wagyu beef, topped with white truffles and Pata Negra ham (which owes its nutty flavor to the fact that the pigs are fed on acorns), the burger nestles in a bun spread with organic-white-wine-and-shallot-infused mayonnaise, plus pink Himalayan rock salt, and dusted on top with Iranian saffron. It is served with Cristal champagne onion straws (inspired by the “angry lobster” dish at David Burke & Donatella Manhattan restaurant) and a garnish of lamb’s lettuce.

This burger is an attempt at creating press (of course) but also an ultra premium item that distinguishes the brand.  The micro-brew, Sam Adams, has done a similar thing with a version of their beer that is more cognac than beer.  The bottle sells for $100 and is supposed to be consumed at room temperature and sipped.

I think the take-away here is that these brands are, in addition to creating a calling card type product, they are also trying to send a message of reverse compatibility.  By that I mean, if they can successfully create a super premium product for very discerning tastes (and wallets) then they should EASILY be able to create a run-of-the-mill burger or beer for us regular Joe’s.

This week marks the first full week of Wrapping Broward Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country.  They have roughly 25,000 users.  Reverse compatibility my friends.  Reverse compatibility.

Dave Kustin – EVP Marketing, WrapMail