DMNews reports on a recent survey of 500 direct marketers, 85 percent of whom say they’re going to be increasing their online direct marketing spending in 2007 — with 81 percent planning to increase their spending in email marketing.

With all the identity theft incidents over the past few years, general attitudes about privacy on the Internet haven’t changed all that much. In fact, they’ve gotten a bit looser.

That’s the surprising result of surveys by ChoiceStream, reported over here by eMarketer. Back in 2004, for example, 57 percent of adult Internet users were willing to provide demographic data in exhange for personalized content. That dipped to 46 percent in 2005, but bounced back to 57 percent in 2006.

Here’s another interesting tidbit: Back in 2004, the percentage of adult Internet users willing to allow Web sites to track clicks and purchases in exchange for personalized content was 41 percent. That dipped to 32 percent in 2005, but in 2006 it bounced even higher than two years earlier, to 43 percent.

Takeaway for marketers: Yes, your customers are concerned about their privacy. But if you’re offering something of real value and their information and email inboxes with respect, those concerns can be alleviated.

Another really bad day for Jack Bauer begins tonight. Wiki 24 is one way you can enhance your 24 viewing experience online.

adverlicio.us calls itself the “world’s tastiest collection of online advertising.” That may or may not be the case, but an easily searchable archive of nearly 2,500 banners, skyscrapers, and more sure is pretty cool.

“So, then, to every man his chance — to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining golden opportunity — to every man his right to live, to work, to be himself, to become whatever his manhood and his vision can combine to make him — this, seeker, is the promise of America.”
—Thomas Wolfe