Whatever Happened to “On the Internet, No One Knows You’re a Dog?”

Are Internet users THIS ticked off at web site developers that they want regulations that turn off the convenience of what the Internet is all about?  Or have web sites finally gone too far in their collection of visitor data that we need formal restrictions on what can be collected, and how it’s used?  And will these new self-regulating policies allow online advertisers to outrun the FTC’s threats to restrict them?

This long-raging debate struck a milestone this week with the announcement of formal “self-regulating” policies introduced by four major advertising industry trade associations (the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the Association of National Advertisers, the Direct Marketing Association, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau), and a coalition of corporate sponsors. 

The group has banded together to develop regulations that, among other things, propose that all web sites use an icon or special verbiage to point visitors to a site that explains what data is being collected on them and give them an option to opt out of ALL behavioral tracking. The regulations go on to stipulate that no information be collected about children under 13 years of age or from sites directed at children under 13.

Huh?  How do I know if a visitor is 13 or 130?  Duh, could it be because you tell me? What if I lie? AND, who will really pay attention to these rules?  Will the bad apples, who have already spoiled it for responsible online vendors, even heed these new rules? Don’t get your hopes up!  

Yet, here’s a thought: Do we really need these regulations?  More importantly: do we need the FTC to oversee these – or more restrictive — policies?

The whole concept is based on the assumptions that Internet users don’t often know what information advertisers are collecting on them. BALONEY!  I know when I give an advertiser my credit card number and passcode that they’ve got it and will use it.  I know when I list my home address and phone number that that information can be viewed and shared on the Internet.

So, how’s this:  If you don’t want your personal information stored, shared, and used, don’t put it on the web.  Isn’t it really that simple?

Maybe not!  The Internet seems to have encouraged an ongoing trend – good, I think – for greater openness and sharing. And it seems to be more prevalent in younger generations than among people of my parents’ age and even mine.  Are we just skeptics…or more practical?  Do we see the dangers lurking around the virtual corner BECAUSE we’ve witnessed them in the brick-and-mortar world?  As more and more people adopt “Internet behavior” do we – the ‘protective classes’ – become less restrictive too, adopting a sense of ‘safety in numbers?’  Is it a slippery slope and do we really need the FTC to put in speed bumps to slow us down… or at least warn us of “Danger, Will Rogers?” 

I don’t know. As I write this, even I am shifting my position, because I don’t think self-policing works.  I WANT the convenience of the Internet now that I’ve experienced it. So, it’s hard for me to NOT give up my personal information.  I LIKE having emails sent to me suggesting discounts on travel and products based on my searching on various web sites for possible vacation destinations or gifts for my friends.  But, yes, I’m afraid – very afraid – if I stumble onto a porn site inadvertently that someone will think I’m a pervert or child pornographer. 

Does having the FTC lurk over responsible – and not-so-responsible – web sites’ shoulders really help make me feel safer on the web?  I don’t know.

What I do know is this: On the Internet as in real life, I am a person, not a dog!  I put my money and jewelry away in a bank for safe keeping.  I lock my house if I want to help protect its contents. I have keys to lock my car. And I don’t go into areas where I feel unsafe.  Shouldn’t I be as diligent with my personal data?  And, if I give it out, shouldn’t I know that it’s safe?  Will self-policing or FTC regulations give that to me? I frankly doubt it…

The truth is: I believe that the Internet has introduced new behaviors and a new way of interacting, the underpinning of which is a new requirement for online trust. Is this realistic?  Probably not, but this, really, is what the debate should be about.

For more information about the new recommendations see the news release posted on Reuters:  http://twurl.nl/op1q8s.

Opinion submitted by Carol Wolicki

On behalf of the Ennect Team, we wish all a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

Let the festivities begin…

Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) is an organization with a mission: to groom a new generation of glass artists and enthusiasts.  One of the world’s top glass art centers, PGC hosts beginners and world-renowned glass artists, alike, at its state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, creating, and promoting glass art.  To help it attract artists, students, and benefactors to revenue-generating classes and fund-raising events, PGC has turned to Ennect™ Event, web-based software that allows it to cost-effectively market its events, register attendees, and track results.

Tough Times Call for…Online Marketing!

For ten years, the non-profit Center has hosted an annual fete to help it raise operating funds.  In last year’s tightening economy it was critical for the Center to make its main fund-raising event a success.  In an effort to extend the reach of its auction, PGC launched a program using Ennect Event that allowed it to provide a timely and attractive source for information and online registration for its annual Pittsburgh-based Art on Fire Celebration & Glass Art Auction.

“PGC is grant-funded, but we still need to raise a large portion of our operating budget.  Consequently, we need to make the most of our marketing dollars,” says PGC Marketing Director Paige Ilkhanipour. “Using Ennect Event allowed us to create a more robust presence for this event without the overhead that printed save-the-date postcards or mailed invitations would have cost.  Plus, it made it much easier for our guests to register.  They could just go online and securely sign up for the event.”

Click here to read complete story.

Sometimes it’s difficult to determine just how to phrase survey questions and what types of information you’re really seeking from your respondents. How much information do you really want?  Will more types of information ferreted from your respondents via myriad types of survey methods answer your questions, or a few well-worded queries?

Here’s my attempt to get maximum response from Ennect blog readers with minimal questions.  Summer has now arrived here at Ennect headquarters, with thoughts of lazy summer days in the back yard, on the beach, around the pool, up in the mountains, down by the river.  Wherever you happen to be, what will you be doing?  Globally a favorite pastime in warmer weather is reading.  Will that be part of your summer?

Please take our survey, let us know what you’ll be doing.  We’ll post results of this survey later this summer (and perhaps midsummer if the response turns up a great list of books).

The Survey:  My Summer Reading Intentions

Recently the Sweepstakes software included in our suite of Ennect products has been getting an enormous amount of interest from online businesses wanting to execute their own sweepstakes contest.  It is very true that running a sweepstakes contest is a great way for any online business to build up their marketing list.  But, if you have never done this type of marketing, there are a few things to consider. ..

1. Offer a prize that  your audience will find of true value - the prize needs to get people talking and generate lots of enthusiasm - has to be make people want to enter!

2. Eliminate the barriers to entry.   A true contest does not require that the entrant makes any type of purchase in order to enter the  contest.

3. Keep the entry form simple and concise - if someone feels they have to give up too much personal information they will be less likely to enter your contest.  Also, you may want to brand the entry form.  This will help validate the legitimacy of your contest.

4. Know the laws!  There are law firms out there who specialize in contest rules.  Depending on your prize value and the state in which you reside, there are all sorts of different contest rules which you must adhere to. Click here to see the law firm that Ennect recommends.

5. Display the contest rules.  Post them in a few places so they cannot be missed.

6.  State clearly and specifically how the winner will be drawn and announced including exact date and time.

7. Draw a winner and get the prize to them in a timely manner.  It may even be a good idea to announce the winner or get a testimonial from them for future marketing efforts.

8. If you plan to market to your list of entrants via future email campaigns, make sure your email campaigns are CAN-SPAM compliant.  Meaning, make sure you provide each person receiving your mail the option to opt-out from any future email campaigns.

All the best to anyone who initiates a sweepstakes contest!

On behalf of the Ennect Team, we wanted to send out a huge congratulations to our parent company, Elliance, Inc.  for being named one of the top 10 agencies of 2008 by the IMA(Interactive Media Awards).

Great job by our entire Elliance Team!

Click here to view entire list of winners.

Back in February, after the Pittsburgh Steelers won their 6th Superbowl Championship, we gave tons of praise to Dick’s Sporting Goods for their swift marketing efforts.  They sent an email out 2 minutes after the game ended, notifying their customers that they would open early and they were completely stocked with all of the Steeler Superbowl Champion gear.  That email message was well received by all Pittsburghers.

This past Friday evening our beloved Pittsburgh Penguins brought the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh after 17 years!  BUT, there was no email sent from Dick’s Sporting Goods announcing they were stocked with Stanley Cup Championship gear.

This lack of email communication did not go unnoticed by Pittsburghers. While sitting at my daughters softball game, on the morning following the Penguins big win, people in the stands were commenting that they were surprised that Dick’s Sporting Goods did not send an email to cash in on our town’s obsession with our sports teams.

Did Dick’s Sporting Goods miss out on an excellent email marketing opportunity to gain more business by the lack of communication after the Penguin’s big win?  I would have to say, YES!

There is no mystery as to why online event registration is popular: it’s fast, convenient and easy.  You get an email about an event, you read the corresponding web page describing the event, and you submit your payment method to secure your place at the event.

The email and web pages are the two parts of this equation which correspond directly to the emergence of the Internet.  But payment methods have been evolving far longer, beginning with barter, coins, cash, and most recently personal & bank checks (cheques), and finally credit cards.

No boring historical lecture here, today–just a couple of fascinating links for you to peruse while you’re taking a break from crafting your latest mail template, event registration form or survey questions, or as a jumping off point for a summer of casual reading:

Origins of:

• Checks
• Credit cards
• Electronic payment
• PayPal

Without electronic payment methods, online event registration software would be nearly useless, certainly giving organizers lists of interested registrants, but not allowing registrants to secure their place at the event and providing event organizers with monetary support for the idea that their conference is being well received by an audience willing to pay to attend.

OK,  all you online marketers, time for the moment of truth….take this quiz to find out what kind of tech user you are…

http://www.pewinternet.org/Participate/What-Kind-of-Tech-User-Are-You.asp

Thanks to the folks at Minding Your Business, Inc., a meeting planning group in Chicago, for passing along an important message from none other then Ben Stein.

This past weekend Ben Stein talked about the effect the downturn — and an early comment from President Obama about AIG’s lavish incentive meeting — have had on the convention and travel industry.  It’s a powerful video and one which everyone in the event industry should watch, share, tweet about, talk about, append to all their email messages…just get the word out.

Meetings are important!  Sharing is important!  Without both, we lose interactions that are powerful and critical to learning, understanding, and innovation.

The G-20 Summit is coming to Pittsburgh, PA, home of Ennect and our award-winning ‘mothership,’ Elliance, Inc.  Clearly the leaders of the world understand the importance of meeting.  How else are friendly relations made and kept?  And in this day, when mis-understanding drives so much, being face-to-face with others is more important than ever.

PLEASE pass this information around.  Send thank you letters to Ben Stein and to MYB for pushing this item to the top of many people’s agendas!

You can see the whole video and MYB’s comments, too, here:

http://www.myb.net/Ben_comments/BenStein_meetings.html