Industry conferences seem to have taken on the air of game shows. Attendees are often duped with sales pitches that are disguised as industry leading ideas and content. But this wasn't so at KidScreen.

This was my first attendance at the event and what struck me, (and others that I spoke with), is how 800+ attendees had come together in a first class assemblage to meet and actually speak with the pundits, movers and shakers and dealmakers. "I was amazed by how accessible and receptive everyone was at KidScreen," said Jeff Sneticker of NeoPets, Inc. The lack of the not-so-subtle sales pitches that we've come to expect at these conferences was noticable. Instead I found an effective gathering of doers and hopefuls, brought together in a way that makes things happen.

My hat is off to the network executives that made themselves available to small crowds in timed sessions. They were attentive and friendly. They welcomed familiar faces and treated everyone with respect. And the attendees responded with gratitude.

This intimate exchange coupled with the overall gathering of industry associates proved to be an effective and worthwhile investment and use of my time.

Great format. It was wonderful to see how a conference can be done well. Is this a new fad? Could this be contagious? Let's hope so.

Thanks to Jim Shenkman and his team for a great experience.



John King

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  Your Online Appearance Matters to Moms - by Kevin Burke



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  Marketing to Moms Blog



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  All the Best Articles of the Month - Just One Place

Your Online Appearance Matters to Moms
by Kevin Burke

Your web site can hurt your brand image in a Mom's eyes. This was one significant finding from our recent study on how Moms shopped during the holiday season. We found that 62% of Moms 'think less of companies' with unappealing websites that do not speak to their interests.

Two hundred and fourteen Moms told us what they looked for, where they went, and what entertainment products they bought for their children during the 2004 holiday season. The results of the study showed us more of why the Internet plays a big role in how Moms shop.

Marketing to Moms Blog

This week we launched the first Marketing to Moms Blog. It is another resource for posting, learning, and discussing the business topic of Marketing to Moms. Look for this blog to explore areas and ideas of marketing to Moms that don't necessarily fit neatly into a published article, book, or white paper. We'll have real Moms comment on marketing tactics, experts share their wisdom and marketers express their views.
Go to: http://marketingtomoms.blogspot.com

• relationship strategy
  The Hidden Market of Female Travelers by Martha Lagace - Women are a rising force among frequent business travelers. They also make a majority of decisions for their families' personal trips. So can the travel business get in gear?



• crm solutions
  Is Social Networking an Overhyped Fad or a Useful Tool? by Jim Dickie - When put to the test, this sales and marketing application delivers.



• email marketing
  New Research Data: How Seasonality Affects Best Day of Week to Send Email - The bottom line? Performance by day of week is a moving target that may be affected by seasonality as well as overall email send trends.



• marketing databases
  Have You Defined Your Customer Segments? by Arthur Middleton Hughes - Customer segmentation is essential to successful database marketing. Segments are groups of customers with similar interests in your products or services, which you have created based on their demographics and lifestyle. Your messages to customers in each segment should reflect these differing interests if you want to find a receptive audience.



• marketing metrics & analysis
  Lapsed Customers? Bring 'Em Back - While there is no hard and fast rule as to when a marketer should develop a reactivation program, it usually becomes an issue when the "net flows of people in an organization start slowing down," according to Steve Briley, chief statistical officer, Merkle Direct Marketing.



• internet promotions & advertising
  Why Good PR Warrants Your Attention by Robert A. Kelly - Because good public relations can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors among key outside audiences.



• customer research
  Indelible Branding by Martin Lindstrom - How do you define extreme brand loyalty? There's one unusual way of measuring a brand's popularity that might take even the savviest marketers by surprise.



• leading edge marketing tactics
  How To Find Your Best Niche Market by Bob Leduc - Do you define the targeted market for your business similar to one of these? If you do, you're working harder and spending more money than necessary to promote your business. And you're getting only a fraction of the sales you should be getting.