What Next - Augmented Reality?
Like most fundraisers, I stay on the lookout for the next “BIG” thing. Something that will give me an edge to raise those dollars.
We continue to hear statements like … Direct Mail is DEAD … eMail is DEAD … TV is DEAD.
R-I-G-H-T.
Reams, both real and virtual, have been written on blogs and industry publications to debunk these myths such as:
1- Direct mail still raises more than any other direct response vehicle (The Agitator);
2- eMail is still the #1 form of reaching people online (yes, even young people - eMail Insider ); and
3- TV viewership is up 1.5% over 2008 - great news for DRTV - nielsenwire).
So what is the next “BIG” thing? Who knows … after all, were you participating in social networking sites five years ago?
One thing that did catch my eye recently was a piece on the Today Show talking about Augmented Reality. (Yea, I still watch Meredith, Matt, Ann and Al.)
David Granger - editor of Esquire Magazine - unveiled their December issue (due out next week) that, when held up to a web cam, will play a video on your screen of Robert Downy Jr. and other celebrities on inside pages. Mr. Granger explains that this technology isn’t designed to change the essence of the magazine, rather it is there to enhance the user experience.
Kind of reminds me of the newspapers in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, where photos move around as the reader scans the pages.
The technology is not simple (and I would surmise not cheap) … it requires layers of data … but thinking about how far online communications technology has progressed since I first tried e-mail fundraising in 1996, imagine this becoming accessible to the masses … it could bring a whole new meaning to interactive marketing.
Regards,
Sue
