Tree Killers!

That, in a nutshell, is what most Americans think of direct mailers. An interesting, if slightly out of date, article at e-Marketer gives the details.

Apparently junk mail, the actual physical kind, only accounts for about 2% of municipal waste. The average person asked credited it as being 1/3 to 1/2! That's a big difference.

Compare that to spam, which most people just blow off as a nuisance--Spam accounts for 98% of all email sent!

It's also a perception to keep in mind if you are considering a direct mail campaign. Most of the people surveyed did say they would think better of a company that sent their DM piece on recycled paper

Starving Artists

Writers qualify as starving artists. It's true!

And all thanks to people who think like the one who wrote this Craigslist ad:

Looking for freelance writers to write some articles.
If you require pay, what is your rate?

Are they serious? "If you require pay"?!?! I am easy-going, and, frankly undercharge for my services, but not quite THAT much.


If you do need a writer, and really, truly, cannot afford one, try to make it a little more appealing than the above.

And more honest than the one who emailed asking me to write for free because they cannot afford professional writing. I visited the site they wanted re-written. Their hourly rate is over 3x mine, yet they cannot afford professional services. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to work for free, a point that seems to be overlooked far too often.

Clips are nice, sure, but they don't pay the bills.