Monday, June 30, 2008

Pittsburgh Social Media Marketing Buzz #8

Welcome to Pittsburgh's Social Media Marketing Buzz, keeping tabs on the social media activities going on in and around the 'burgh. Issue 8 takes a look at a career coach with a future design and we bring you tips for email marketing in time for July 7th policy changes.

A Future You

So what does a career and life coach with a Zen and Christian Chaplain background do to reach an audience. Well, Neal Griebling turned to the web and brought Future Design Studio to the World.

Future Design Studio even has its own blog with helpful tips for those that want to change their career direction and even a little Zen as well.

Neal has big plans for social media as well. He is looking into bringing video and maybe even a podcast in the future and will begin selling products as well soon. In his other time, he gives seminars and counsels job seekers on how to become career ronins.

Email Marketing Provisions Update

Originally released in the UniversalWit blog, we thought it should show up in this space as well. New CAN/SPAM regulations will go into effect on July 7th, 2008.

The new rule provisions address four topics:

1. Unsubscribe Requirements: In the new rules, the FTC states that an email recipient cannot be required to pay a fee, provide information other than his or her email address and opt-out preferences, or take any steps other than sending a reply email message or visiting a single Internet Web page to opt out of receiving future email from a sender. This will impact senders that currently require their subscribers to provide a password or visit more than one web page to unsubscribe. We recommend marketers utilize a One-Click Unsubscribe mechanism or link directly to their subscription center to manage this process.

2. Definition of “Sender”: Under CAN-SPAM, a “sender” is defined as the entity whose goods or services are advertised in a commercial email message. The new rules provide a clearer definition of “sender”, and make it easier to determine which of multiple parties advertising in a single email message is responsible for complying with the Act’s opt-out requirements. Those mailing on behalf of other advertisers or including advertising in their messages should take note of these changes. Generally speaking, the new rules state that the sole sender appearing in the “from” line of the email becomes the designated sender of the message, and therefore must comply with all provisions of the Act (such as listing a physical postal address and providing an opt-out mechanism).

3. Post Office Box Allowed: A “sender” of commercial email can include an accurately-registered post office box or private mailbox to satisfy the Act’s requirement that a commercial email display a “valid physical postal address.”

4. Liability Clarifications: The definition of the term”person” was added to clarify that CAN-SPAM’s obligations are not limited to natural persons. The scope of the Act includes individuals, groups, unincorporated associations, corporations, and non-profits. There is no exemption from CAN-SPAM for any of these groups.

The above info was provided by ExactTarget and they recommend consulting your own counsel to learn how these changes specifically impact your email program. You can download ExactTarget’s new CAN SPAM compliance whitepaper for more information.

If you are unsure about your email marketing programs, please feel free to contact UniversalWit.

Don't Forget UniversalWit's Seeker Game is going on now at UniversalWit.com. We will begin weekly drawings for $50 gas cards on July 4th.

In the next issue:

MEOW Updates An Old TV Trick

Are You in This Boat?

The Pittsburgh Social Media Marketing Buzz is a publication of UniversalWit. More information on UniversalWit is available at www.universalwit.com. Submit your new media news to
blog@universalwit.com

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