Media Sales Today

More data from the Local Ad Sales Forecast – Mid-Year Update shows direct mail advertising sales managers continue to be optimistic about 2011 ad revenue. Nearly one half of these managers said revenue was down for the first half of 2011 versus the first half of 2010, but more than 80% expect increases for the year.

In December 2010, nearly 95 percent of advertising sales managers projected increased ad revenue in 2011, but a new study shows 76 percent now anticipate increases, and with much lower overall expectations. According to the mid-year update of the AdMall 2011 Local Advertising Sales Forecast, just 1.5 percent of these ad managers anticipated a decline in sales coming into the year, now 16.1 percent project lower numbers.

Despite doom and gloom predictions for the print industry, Folio blogger Joe Pulizzi thinks there is still a role for print, even in the ‘era of iPads and Apps.’ In fact, he thinks print will make a comeback in 2011, and lists some pretty good reasons marketers should use consider using it.

AdMall announced today that their popular Media Sales Mobile app is now available for Blackberry. Designed specifically for media advertising sales professionals, Media Sales Mobile features advertising opportunities, local prospect lists and nearby demographics, consultative sales tips and conversation starters.

Coupons went out of style a few years ago, reaching a peak of 4.6 billion redemptions way back in 1999. Coupon use sank to 2.6 billion from 2006-08, but then the recession hit, and coupons became cool again. Coupon redemption was up 27 percent in 2009 to about 3.3 billion, according to NCH Marketing.

Bad news first: Direct mail spending dropped 3% in 2008. That equates to $56.7 billion. It’s the first recorded drop in 60 years for the U.S.

Good news now: Mass mailings are a thing of the past. Smaller, targeted direct mail campaigns are a thing of the future. Marketers still want to use direct mail, just in a more effective way.

Direct mail offers from financial services companies fell by at least 25 percent, according to estimates by Mintel Comperemedia.