10 Years and Social Media's Convergence

By Jim Gilbert

Friends and readers, where's time gone? Back in 1999, I decided to start my own direct marketing consultancy. It wasn't out of any burning desire to be an entrepreneur again (I started a publishing company when I was in my 20s), but more out of self-defense. Living in Florida has its benefits and challenges. The benefits are obvious; the challenges not so much. Florida is the wacky company capital of the world (and that's putting it nicely), so this was a good measure to hedge my bets.

Fast-forward 10 years: I'm still a full-time consultant. In fact, the business is now a full-fledged agency. And sure, this economy presents significant challenges, but there are significant and potentially game-changing opportunities as well.

Social media represents one such opportunity, and I've been pushing it heavily in this column. I'm seeing successes, too. In the paragraphs below, you'll read about a contest I'm conducting for the first anniversary of my blog, which coincides with my corporate anniversary. I not only hope you'll take part in the contest, but that you'll come away with some useful ideas from it, too. Remember, it's all about engagement, and this contest is designed to engage.

The contest will award whoever can most accurately guess how many page views Gilbert Direct Marketing's blog received in its first year. The winner will receive a free, one-hour social media consultation. The consultation will focus on one of two areas (of your choosing): improving your LinkedIn profile for more results or a review of your social media sites and activities. One winner will be notified when the contest ends on Nov. 30. To enter, click here.

With social media in full gear, I'm seeing many new customers that want to enter that space. I advocate and use the same strategic methods and disciplines from my direct marketing experience — new media with classic DM strategy.

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Jim Gilbert Author's page Jim Gilbert has been creating direct marketing programs that drive superior ROI for almost 30 years. Fluent in consumer or B-to-B, creative, operations, and analytics, he marries the strategic and tactical sides of direct and social media marketing in a seamless fashion that gets results. He's CEO of a multidiscipline direct marketing agency, Gilbert Direct Marketing, Inc., which focuses on direct mail, catalogs, DRTV, telemarketing, print, alternative direct marketing media and social media marketing. Jim has been involved in start-ups, expansions and turnarounds, and is an expert in helping multichannel marketers get to the "next level." He's a former adjunct professor, teaching direct marketing at Miami International University, and is President of the Board of Directors of the Florida Direct Marketing Association. Jim loves to talk direct marketing, and has done many lectures on direct and social media marketing.