Happy 2007 and all the success to you!

If anyone of course still comes back to read this blog after more than a half-year break:)

Well, in 2007 MarketingStudies.net is making a come-back. After months of 18 hour work days, while at the same time resolving some family issues, things are finally falling back into place.

1. What Happened?

Life. And work.

In my post as the International Internet Director for Studio Moderna, the largest direct-response network in Central & Eastern Europe (20 countries), I started 2006 with 5 people on my international team ... and finished with 35. And more coming in 2007 ...

And hey, we just manage around 130 webstores:)

The high growth in new hires and other developments put quite a management strain on me. The good news is that with the most recent hires I am now finally able to devote some of my 19 hours per day to MarketingStudies.net ... and on the Studio Moderna side focus on achieving our overall goal of dominating e-commerce in CEE.

2. In Search of Personal Identity

When I started thinking of the MarketingStudies.net come-back the first question was that of my personal identity and that of MarketingStudies.net as a business.

While most of the internet world in the US recognizes me from the RSS industry, the largest part of my professional life revolves around e-commerce management and channel integration. Don't want to go overboard with my ego here, but I probably know more about (and have experience with) e-commerce and online direct marketing in CEE (overall, not all the individual countries of course:) than anyone else in the world.

Yeah, talking about an overblown ego:)

Anyway, B2C e-commerce is in my blood, a passion, just like RSS, and starting with 2007 this will be much more apparent in the directions that MarketingStudies.net takes.

The essence however still stays the same --- how to use online in integration with other channels to directly increase B2C sales and profitability. Simple as that.

3. First Things First

Before we go back to a regular publishing schedule some house-cleaning will need to be made. Starting with all the comment spam that so nicely accumulated here over the past few months. Sorry guys, it will have to go.

Following that ...

a) Business Case for RSS 2007 Whitepaper [hopefully in January]

b) RSS for PR e-book, with Sally Falkow [soon]

c) Unleash RSS 2007 [this was supposed to be the promised 2006 edition ... well, at least you will be getting all the latest data and info]

d) The new MarketingStudies.net [should have been launched in Q1 2006, will be launched in Q1 - Q2 2007, you'll love it]

And more ...

4. How About the Blog Posts?

This is the hard one.

What happens when you want to do too much at the same time?

Life.

Keeping a blog is naturally part of that. But all the writing and communication that comes along with it is usually enough to help you stray away from your other priorities. I'll need to find some balance, but the blog is here to stay.

But, content wise expect three distinct directions:

a) The RSS Marketing Diary
This one is here to stay, but it won't revolve only around RSS, but also about taking marketing advantage of other new online media.

b) B2C Interactive
A direct marketer's/e-commerce manager's spin on online marketing and channel integration, including models, processes, case studies, analytics and other essential stuff.

c) Marketing Rants
The name says it all, right? Commentary and opinion. No prisoners.

More to follow shortly ...