Is direct mail dead, or still alive and kicking?

dno

> I've read opposite opinions about this in
> recent times....

> On the one hand, I've read that direct mail
> is dying or dead. I think I read Bill Myers
> state this on his membership web site. He's
> a very experienced direct marketer, both
> online and offline, so if he says it, I
> listen.

> But on the other hand, I just read the
> opposite opinion, in Gary Halbert's most
> recent newsletter, which he put online on
> his web site.

>
> http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/remote_docs/newissue.html
> The part I'm talking about is near the
> end.

> Here's what he says....

> Know what I think? I think, in this
> "Age-of-Anthrax"...

> Direct Mail Is Still The "Jackpot"
> Way To Produce Fungolas!

> For one thing, as far as competition goes,
> it has thinned out the weak (cowardly)
> members of the herd. Gary Halbert is a
> legendary direct mail marketer. He's the
> creator of the historic "Nancy"
> letter which Gordon wrote about recently
> right here. The direct mail letter which
> made big money being sent to a PHONE BOOK
> list!

>
> http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=6751
> So what do you think?

> Has the internet, combined with the fear of
> anthrax, killed off direct mail as a
> promotional medium?

> Or has the lower competition in fact made it
> a better medium than ever?

> - Dien Rice