Usually to produce 1/3 A4 (DL) size where two folds wrap inwards around themselves.

The opening and sorting of orders and the handling of checks and cash. So called, as people work in cages for security purposes.

A site that houses a telemarketing operation.

A cooperative pack of postcards, usually mailed in a clear poly outer, that is used in both consumer and business-to-business direct marketing. The postcard, which either orders the product or asks for more information, can be mailed back to the individual advertiser.

Mail sorted by carrier route to qualify for discount postage rates.

Short for channel definition format, an XML specification developed by Microsoft that allows Web publishers to push content at users. Once a user subscribes to a CDF channel, any software that supports the CDF format will automatically receive new content posted on the channel's Web server. Microsoft submitted CDF as a Note to the W3C in 1997.

Short for content delivery network, a network of servers that delivers a Web page to a user based on the geographic locations of the user, the origin of the Web page and a content delivery server. A CDN copies the pages of a Web site to a network of servers that are dispersed at geographically different locations, caching the contents of the page. When a user requests a Web page that is part of a CDN, the CDN will redirect the request from the originating site's server to a server in the CDN that is closest to the user and deliver the cached content. The CDN will also communicate with the originating server to deliver any content that has not been previously cached. This service is effective in speeding the delivery of content of Web sites with high traffic and Web sites that have global reach. The closer the CDN server is to the user geographically, the faster the content will be delivered to the user. CDNs also provide protection from large surges in traffic. The process of bouncing through a CDN is nearly transparent to the user. The only way a user would know if a CDN has been accessed is if the delivered URL is different than the URL that has been requested.

Pronounced sern. Short for Conseil Europeen pour le Recherche Nucleaire (European Laboratory for Particle Physics), a research laboratory headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and funded by many different countries. While most work deals with nuclear physics, the CERN is known for Tim Berners-Lee's pioneering work in developing the World Wide Web portion of the Internet.

A store that has an online presence as well as an actual building.

The record of a user’s Internet activity including Web sites visited, length of the visit, and what pages were viewed.

The process of a visitor clicking on a Web advertisement and going to the advertiser's Web site. Also called ad clicks or requests. The click rate measures the amount of times an ad is clicked versus the amount of times it's viewed.

See Content management system

Created by the U.S. Postal Service to ensure the accuracy of software programs used by service bureaus to check addresses and code mailings for delivery.

A server, usually a Web server, that is located at a dedicated facility designed with resources which include a secured cage or cabinet, regulated power, dedicated Internet connection, security and support. These co-location facilities offer the customer a secure place to physically house their hardware and equipment as opposed to locating it in their offices or warehouse where the potential for fire, theft or vandalism is much greater. Most co-location facilities offer high-security, including cameras, fire detection and extinguishing devices, multiple connection feeds, filtered power, backup power generators and other items to ensure high-availability which is mandatory for all Web-based, virtual businesses. Co-location sites are being erected at various points around the world to provide services to the rapidly expanding Web hosting and e-commerce marketplace. The term co-location is also known as colo.

When used in reference to Web sites, a colophon is a description of the tools, systems and resources used to create the Web site and keep it operational. The colophon serves to acknowledge and give credit to all the resources that combined to produce the specific site. A site typically will devote a separate page to detailing its colophon. A colophon can include but is not limited to any software and hardware that was used to create the site, the type of server that the site is running off of, the types of scripts that are running the site and the programming languages of the scripts, the operating system the site is based on, any industry standards that the site adheres to, when the site was launched and how often it is updated, the names of the administrators of the site or the editorial team that provides its content and any other acknowledgments the site’s administrators want to share with its visitors.

See Pre-Press Services

Plastic performed spine with many fingers which when mechanically opened allows for punched or pre-drilled paper to be inserted. Pages lie flat when opened.

A list gathered from directories, newspapers, public records, etc. identifyng people or organizaitons with common characteristics.

A company that will maintain lists for list owners. Services may include: updating the list, merge/purge, data overlays and preparing the list for mailing or rentals.

A consolidator accepts mail for deposit within a particular type of delivery service. By grouping together mail from more than one company, consolidators are often able to obtain higher volume discounts than an independent mailer.

Any list of individuals at home addresses who have bought merchandise, subscriptions, given to a non-profit, etc.

A software solution for easing and automating the authoring, management and publishing of website content. The key feature of a CMS is that it allows the content manager or author to manage the creation and modification of web content without needing to know HTML or requiring the intervention of a Webmaster. This delivers benefits including greater website accessibility for non-technical users, lower costs for the organisation, improved quality control as developers and administrators can set up templates enforcing corporate guidelines and improved scalability as growth and content from multiple users can be more easily managed.

An order from a mailer who has previously tested or used the list within 12 months and is using it again.

An offer of a series of products to be received in timely intervals. Most often used for books, tapes/CDs and recipe cards.

The amount of money left over to contribute to overhead expenses after deducting for customer returns, cost of goods sold, direct selling expenses and variable order-processing costs.

Software tools designed to save passwords and other data on someone’s computer. The data can be called up automatically when the user shops online or visits Web sites on which they’ve surfed before, thus saving the user time by not having to re-key required data.

Two or more list owners combine their lists and access each other’s names.

Advertising (including direct mail, inserts, stuffers, card decks) where offers from several different mailers are included.

A person/company who recommends and takes orders for marketers who want to be part of a cooperative effort.

A person/company who sells space in the co-op for the cooperative owner.

A company that brings different marketers together into a co-op effort. Services may include: printing the individual inserts, combining them and mailing them to preselected lists.

A promotional device used by marketers to increase sales or store traffic by offering a discount when the coupon is redeemed.

Chief Privacy Officer

Short for customer relationship management. CRM entails all aspects of interaction a company has with its customer, whether it be sales or service related. Computerisation has changed the way companies are approaching their CRM strategies because it has also changed consumer buying behavior. With each new advance in technology, especially the proliferation of self-service channels like the Web and WAP phones, more of the relationship is being managed electronically. Organisations are therefore looking for ways to personalise online experiences (a process also referred to as mass customisation) through tools such as help-desk software, e-mail organisers and Web development apps.

Two folds at right angles to each other.

A service that changes money from one currency to another.

Any publisher who will, for a fee, create a publication for a direct marketer that is most-often used for self-promotion or as a premium.

Providing better communication, offers and services to customers by evaluating your previous interactions with them.