32% More Women Read Direct Mail than Email Marketing
Eighty-five per cent of 25 to 44-year-old women read printed direct mail marketing information, compared to just 53 per cent of women who read email marketing communications, a survey has shown.

The newly-published Customer Focus Direct Mail study by Vertis Communications suggests that marketers would be wise not to abandon print campaigns and are likely to do particularly well if they combine the two methods.

Lead Generation Master Class
Many people invest considerable time in networking and yet do not seem to get the business referrals they seek. Others seem to be able to generate referrals very quickly. This workshop will develop a skill that has helped business developers to turnaround their networking fortunes literally overnight by applying a simple and learnable approach.

This is an intensive Master Class where you will not just learn simple yet powerful strategies for lead generation but where you will also leave with valuable business leads.

European Union to Combat Email Scams
Email scammers could soon find themselves coming unstuck when new consumer protection regulations come into force later this month. The Co-Operation Regulation (CPC) aims to establish a network of national consumer and trade enforcement bodies with the power to work together throughout the EU. The Office of Fair Trading is appointed as the authority for the UK.

The new regulations are there to aid co-operation between enforcement authorities across the EU, particularly with regard to cross-border cases. Member states will find it much easier to request action from overseas on behalf of consumers – something which is becoming increasingly important as more people make purchases over the internet. The aim is to streamline the process of taking action against unscrupulous companies who set out to dupe their customers.

Google Expands as Profits Surge
According to recent figures from comScore, Google have continued to expand their share of the search engine market, with December 2006 searches accounting for 47% of the total. Yahoo are following hot on Google’s heels with a 28% share.

In third position, Microsoft sites produced 713 million searches – a drop of half percent – with Ask.com and Time Warner (AOL) in 4th and 5th place with 363 million and 335 million respectively. December 2006 searches were up by 30% compared to the previous year.

Sales 'Beyond Technique' with R&A Consultancy
So, you've been on many selling skills courses in your career, but you feel there's a magic 'something' that you have glimpsed in the odd exceptional salesperson you've come across.

In 'Sales Beyond Technique', R&A show you how to increase your gravitas and personal presence and so be more credible and impactful.

Email Marketing on the Increase
A recent study indicates that email marketing is still on the increase, with many marketers choosing to use email in conjunction with other online marketing methods such as advertising. The study, conducted by marketing software provider Alterian, targeted 500 online marketers, service providers, and ad agencies.

According to the results, 81% of respondents plan to increase their email marketing spend this year. 50% of these firms plan to increase direct marketing and 45% plan to invest in their landing pages.

European Internet Users Lead the Way
With the world’s largest percentage penetration of broadband it’s no wonder us Europeans are world leaders when it comes to internet use and online shopping. In fact, 45% of us use the internet EVERY day according to a recently published report – and we’re spending on average more time online than ever before.

The report sponsored by the European Interactive Advertising Association (in association with Synovate) indicates that as more and more people begin to feel comfortable with an increasingly digital lifestyle, so internet usage has risen accordingly – particularly with regard to online shopping. As many as 78% of European internet users regularly shop online, indicating a rise in confidence and trust in the safety of buying from companies which sell their wares over the net.

Government Streamlines Web Information
Although the current government have put many services online, the decision has been made to rationalise, closing down at least 500 government websites in an effort to streamline the information and make access easier for people. Ultimately, all government information will be channelled through either Business Link or Directgov.

Directgov is a good example of the way ahead, where users have one single access point to a wide range of focussed information, rather than having to wade through a plethora of individual websites – many of which are inadequately indexed and therefore difficult or impossible to find.

B2B Website Design 'Needs Improvement', Research Shows
Business-to-business correspondence is often damaged by poor website design, a new study has revealed.

According to a report by Forrester Research, entitled Best and Worst of B2B Site Design 2006, only two of the 16 B2B sites analysed achieved pass grades when their text legibility, availability of important content and task-flow efficiency were all taken into account.

Join Jon in losing some pounds to Thames Hospicecare
Add your weight of support to Thames Hospicecare by taking part in the Sunflower Slimathon. Windsor businessman Jon Davey is making his New Year resolution really count. By resolving to shed some of the pounds he has put on over Christmas he is at the same time helping Thames Hospicecare pile on the pounds needed to purchase essential medical equipment.

Grab the Top Spot
Currently the top news spot on our homepage is devoted to our latest slice of Business in Berkshire news. But with over 57,000 site visitors enjoying one of the 200,000 pages they visited during December 2006, we’ve decided it’s time we offered this prime position to you – a great opportunity to put your business in the spotlight.

Business in Berkshire had over 50,000 visitors per month through the last 3 months of 2006, a figure that’s been growing steadily. So it really makes sense for us to offer the prime spot on our homepage for sponsorship – it’s on the top right of the page, the ideal place to grab every reader’s attention.

Internet will emerge as most important brand-building tool
The internet will finally come into its own this year as the main advertising medium for many firms, a marketing expert has predicted. Recent Writing in Marketing, regular columnist Mark Ritson said that the year ahead would be “fascinating” for brands, with the media mix due for a major shake-up.