In Print:  Paid subscriptions are up, especially for women's titles.
Newly released ABC Rapid Reports show increases in paid subscriptions for many women's titles for the second half of 2009. InStyle saw the largest, with a 14% gain over the same period in 2008. Glamour was not far behind with a 12.6% increase and Cosmopolitan saw an 11.7% boost in paid subscriptions.   Source: Audience Development 2/3/10

On Line:  Two top tax rivals use social media to square off this tax season.
Tax season is here and two of the biggest tax rivals, TurboTax and H&R Block, are using social media to square off. While TurboTax is using Facebook and Twitter heavily this season, H&R Block set up their own "Get it Right" social website where tax advisors can answer users' questions about their returns. Both advertisers expect big responses; TurboTax research shows that half of its 20 million customers are on Facebook, while H&R Block has already signed up 65,000 users to their site and answered 50,000 questions.   Source: AdWeek 2/2/10

Out of Home:  Latest and greatest out-of-home opportunities available through WMI.
Look for the rollout of digital signage to continue throughout 2010. Watch also for more mobile elements such as 3D augmented reality and downloadable coupons to be incorporated into traditional out-of-home formats to promote greater interaction with passersby. For more information, including a look at the latest and greatest in out-of-home advertising formats, please give me a call.

On Air:  Google develops a cost-per-call calculation tracking system for TV ads.
To assist small-business owners in determining the effectiveness of a direct-response ad and take the work out of cost-per-call calculations, Google has developed a tracking system for television ads. With the use of a toll-free number provided by Google, advertisers can track the number of calls received by a particular TV spot. Google TV ads can air in homes served by Dish Network, and also some national cable networks.   Source: MediaPost 2/5/10