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December 3, 2007, 2007 Postal Rate Update

This postal rate update from Eileen Cunningham, Operations Director at DCP, is to inform you of a recent important decision made by the USPS regarding future increases in postage rates.

Up until Dec 20 of this year, the USPS Board of Governors had the option to file a new rate case. The last rate case resulted in significant increases in postage costs for most mailers—increases took effect in May of this year. On Nov 15, the board decided to not file a new rate case, and instead announced that future postal rates would be set according to new regulations recommended by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

What does this mean to you?

• The new regulations will put in place a regular annual increase in the postage rates that will be capped by the Consumer Price Index (average of the previous 12 months). The increase does not have to be the full amount, but it cannot exceed this amount. The percentage increase applies to a total class of mail, so some types of mail may experience higher or lower increases but the overall category increase will not exceed the established CPI cap.

• This will result in more gradual, more predictable, but also more frequent increases in postage costs across all of the products DCP mails.

• DCP will get a 90-day advance notice of any increase, and then increases will be annual thereafter. We will keep you informed of any notices.

• Around December 10, the USPS will announce if and when an increase will go in to effect for 2008. If there is an increase announced, it is expected be approximately 2.5%-3% and could become effective as early as April or May. Sources indicate that this is likely.

• There is little or no expectation that there will be any changes to the rate structures put in place with the May increases. This is good news in that the basis for which your mail is being charged will stay the same—it will just be percentage increases from year to year.

Please contact your account manager if you have any immediate questions about specific projects.

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December 3, 2007, DCP and Chevron Win Three Prestigious Awards in 2007

DCP proudly announces that Next* Chevron Technology magazine was honored with three prestigious awards this year. They include:

• Maggie Award for Best Corporate or In-House Publication
• Apex Award of Excellence for Photography
• MarCom Platinum Award for Corporate Magazine

The 56th Annual Maggie Awards, hosted by the Western Publications Association (WPA), are the largest publishing awards in the western United States. Known as “the Oscars of the magazine industry”, the Maggies honor the best in magazine and electronic publishing. With over fifty years of service and 224 member companies, the WPA received nearly 2,000 entries representing more than 450 magazines.

The 19th Annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence is a competition for communications professionals. With close to 5,000 entries, the APEX awards are determined based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry—in the opinion of the judges—in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.

The 12th Annual MarCom Awards, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world.

“We are honored that Next* has been acknowledged by a diverse group of experts in marketing communications and magazine publishing,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP. “We’re particularly pleased to share this high honor with our talented partners at Chevron.”

The goal of this 40-page custom publication is to enlighten partners about Chevron’s innovative technological advances, and take them behind the scenes to show them the ingenuity, partnership, efficiency, and 'human energy' behind Chevron’s triumphs. Written in a magazine style, Next* features educational stories that update readers on Chevron’s frontier work in the renewable energy, nanotechnology and new energy systems fields. While the content of Next* is all about technology, the individual stories demonstrate the collaborative style Chevron has established with its partners around the world.

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November 28, 2007, DCP and WebEx Take Home Three Pearl Awards for “Connect”

DCP was honored with three prestigious Pearl Awards. Recognizing the best in design, editorial and strategic initiatives for B2B and consumer custom publications, the Custom Publishing Council (CPC) feted 27 companies with bronze, silver and gold awards at New York City’s Rainbow Room on November 8. The 4th annual Pearl awards were presented to an audience of 140 custom publishing executives.
 
This year’s 572 entries mark a 21% increase from 2006, reflecting the overall strength of the custom publishing industry. Awards are given for distinction in editorial, design and strategy, in 25 different print and online categories.

DCP’s three Pearl awards were all in recognition of the new WebEx custom publication, Connect. The specific awards are:

o Gold—Editorial (Best New Publication/Newsletter)

o Bronze—Design (Best New Publication/Newsletter)

o Bronze—Strategy (Best Launch)

“Considering the record-breaking quantity and superior quality of this year’s entries, we are very proud to win these three Pearl awards,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the CPC Executive Board. “Being recognized in three distinct areas—editorial, design, and strategy—demonstrates that DCP has the talent necessary to be an effective full-service custom media provider. It also means that the entire DCP team contributed to these awards, which makes them even more meaningful.”

A team of over thirty judges in three locations across the country identify publications demonstrating the best in strategy, design and editorial. All custom publishing companies, including independent custom publishers, divisions of larger publishing houses, advertising agencies, and other media conglomerates—whether or not they are members of the CPC—are invited to enter the competition. Judges are key marketing executives, academics, journalists, designers, corporate strategists, and publishers.

About the CPC
The CPC is the leading professional organization representing custom publishers in North America and is focused on promoting the growth and vitality of this dynamic marketing discipline. Marketers across the country, the media and other interested constituencies rely on the Custom Publishing Council as the authoritative source of industry news, data and trends, information on the effectiveness of custom publishing, and referrals to the top custom publishers in North America.  More information can be found at www.custompublishingcouncil.com.

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November 28, 2007, DCP Launches Custom Magazine for Solage Resort

DCP announces the successful launch of Solage magazine. With the opening of their premiere Solage resort, Auberge Resorts sought to create a custom magazine to convey the unique Solage experience—where cosmopolitan luxuries take on a comfortable, enlightened attitude. They selected DCP for this high-style project based on its consumer lifestyle publishing experience and intimate knowledge of the Napa Sonoma region.

Through 16 artistically designed pages, Solage magazine uses custom content and photography to communicate a brand of style that’s naturally, simply brilliant. This lifestyle-focused magazine focuses on the countless ways to relax, refresh and enjoy Solage Calistoga and the greater Napa Valley Wine Country. The 55,000 printed copies are distributed to clients of Solage and other Auberge Resorts, as well as readers of Diablo and DFL magazines. An online version of the magazine can be viewed by all visitors to the Solage website. The direct link to the Solage online publication is: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/dcp/solage/.

“We decided to create a custom magazine as a way to put a voice behind the new Solage brand and entice people to enjoy the Solage experience,” says Caroline MacDonald, Vice President of Marketing at Solage Resorts. “We’re extremely pleased with the premiere edition of Solage and our partnership with DCP. We’ve worked with many vendors in the past and found the process with DCP to be extraordinarily smooth and painless. They quickly got what we were trying to accomplish, brought their expertise and talent to the table, and ultimately made my job very easy.”

“We’re very proud of the publication we created for Solage and thoroughly enjoyed working with their bright, energetic team,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the Custom Publishing Council Executive Board. “Solage adds a prestigious brand to our growing client base in the hospitality market.”

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October 4, 2007, DCP Hosts West Coast Judging for 2007 Pearl Awards

DCP was selected to host the West Coast judging for the 2007 Pearl Awards on October 5, 2007. The Pearl Awards is conducted by the Custom Publishing Council (CPC) to recognize excellence in the custom publishing industry. Awards are offered for distinction in editorial, design and strategy, in 25 different print and online categories. The 2007 Pearl Awards will be given out at a dinner ceremony on November 8, 2007 at the world-famous Rainbow Room in New York.

The Pearls have become the industry standard for quality, with previous winners including Lexus magazine, Ritz-Carlton magazine, WebMD the Magazine, My Ford magazine, and many more. Last year DCP won Pearl awards for excellence in graphic design (Buzz magazine for Comcast Corporation), editorial content (Athletics Magazine for the Oakland Athletics) and overall excellence in website design (dcpubs.com). For the over 350 entries submitted in 2006, 91 awards were given out to 36 companies.

A team of over thirty judges in three locations across the country will identify publications demonstrating the best in strategy, design and editorial. The editorial and design award categories focus on the best new, ongoing, and improved publications, while the strategy categories look at how well the publications complement the sponsoring organization’s integrated marketing campaigns, how well they achieve the organization’s goals, how they prove a return on investment, and what type of distribution strategy they employ.

All custom publishing companies, including independent custom publishers, divisions of larger publishing houses, advertising agencies, and other media conglomerates—whether or not they are members of the CPC—are invited to enter the competition. Judges are key marketing executives, academics, journalists, designers, corporate strategists, and publishers. The impressive list of local judges includes:

1. Edie Barry, VP, Communications & Marketing; Stanford Alumni Association
2. Adrienne Carew, VP, Marketing; YMCA Mt Diablo Region
3. Nancy Donati, VP, Publications and Creative Services; San Francisco Giants
4. Eileen Feldman, Communications, Government & Public Affairs; Chevron
5. Lyn Hogan, Director, Marketing Communications; Jones & Stokes
6. Doran Newhart, Former VP Strategy and System Development; John Muir Health
7. Alex Paine, Director; Websight Design
8. Richard Rogers, Former GM; Comcast Spotlight Bay Area
9. Theresa Savage, General Manager; Hudson Yards
10. Dan Stokes, Partner; J Stokes & Associates
11. Eric Williams, Senior Manager, Marketing Communications; Boston Scientific

“Considering the significance of the Pearl Awards in our industry, DCP is delighted to host the West Coast judging panel,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the CPC Executive Board.

In order to ensure impartiality, West Coast judges will not be involved in judging DCP entries in the awards.

About the CPC
The CPC is the leading professional organization representing custom publishers in North America and is focused on promoting the growth and vitality of this dynamic marketing discipline. Marketers across the country, the media and other interested constituencies rely on the Custom Publishing Council as the authoritative source of industry news, data and trends, information on the effectiveness of custom publishing, and referrals to the top custom publishers in North America.  More information can be found at www.custompublishingcouncil.com.

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October 4, 2007, DCP Earns Three More Awards in 2007—Two Aster Awards and One APEX Award

DCP is the proud recipient of three more coveted awards. These latest honors were granted to the following publications:

• Athletics Magazine from the Oakland Athletics – APEX 2007 Award of Excellence
• Advances newsletter from the American Cancer Society—Silver Aster Award
• The Stewardship Report from St. Joseph Health System Sonoma County—Bronze Aster Award

The 19th Annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence is an annual competition for communications professionals. With close to 5,000 entries, the APEX awards are determined based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry—in the opinion of the judges—in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.

The Aster Awards Program provides national-level recognition for healthcare organizations and advertising agencies who strive for excellence in medical marketing. A panel of design and healthcare marketing professionals with decades of combined experience judge each entry based on creativity, layout/design, typography, production, quality & overall effectiveness. The Aster Awards is hosted by Creative Images, Inc., an internationally recognized firm that has specialized in strategic healthcare marketing for more than 14 years.

“It’s always an honor to receive distinguished awards because they are a testament to our team’s talent and creativity,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and Custom Publishing Council Executive Board Member. “Ultimately, we view these awards as another validation of the overall effectiveness of our efforts in achieving our clients’ goals.”

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October 4, 2007, DCP Offers a Comprehensive Suite of Digital Publishing Services

Digital Publications

DCP offers a comprehensive suite of digital publishing services that can transform your print publications into high-quality digital editions. We can create an exact replica of your print piece or can enhance it with a variety of rich-media content (video, audio, hyperlinks, and animation) that engage readers at a deeper level. We can also help you distribute and market your easy-to-read digital publication over email and the Internet.

Collect Vital Reader Information
Along with hosting and archiving your digital publication, we provide you with detailed tracking reports that give you insights into your customers’ behaviors and how they interact with your publication. This vital information empowers you to focus the content of future editions on the sections and topics that your customers respond to best.

Ensure Easy Reading and Pass Along Through Standard Features
Every digital edition includes a broad set of sophisticated features that make it fun and easy to read online. Some features are designed to replicate the print reading experience—page turning, bookmarking, and sticky notes. The majority of features make it even more efficient to read online--zoom, word search (current issue or all issues), table of contents. To pass interesting information along, just email a friend, paste links to your favorite blogs, or set up RSS feeds for future distribution.

Enliven Your Publication with Premium Features
By embedding a video, podcast, or flash animation in your publication, you can better educate and entertain readers. You can also generate instant responses from your readers by embedding hyperlinks, email links, online business reply cards, or surveys in your digital publication. All of the special print advertising features can be replicated online (gatefolds, bellybands, inserts) and you or your sponsors can bring ads to life by enhancing them with audio, video and flash elements.

Contact us to find out how your organization can benefit from our digital publications.

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August 18, 2007, DCP Manages Blackhawk Plaza Re-branding Campaign

Since January, DCP has been working closely with the new ownership at Blackhawk Plaza to devise and launch an extensive re-branding campaign.

Blackhawk Plaza, located in Danville, CA, has been acquired by CenterCal Properties, LLC and is in the midst of a renaissance. After over fifteen years in the San Francisco East Bay, the Plaza is poised to take advantage of the arrival of a critical mass of population density combined with savvy redevelopment planning by CenterCal. In addition to making architectural and design enhancements that will make the Plaza a more inviting and accessible environment, CenterCal will bring an optimized retail formula that mixes upscale retail, food, and events. This formula, successfully executed in other markets by CenterCal is designed to lure more shoppers and give those shoppers more opportunities to spend.

How then can the brand be reinvigorated?  How can consumers be convinced to give the new Blackhawk Plaza a try?

With the abundant shopping districts available to East Bay consumers, a significant marketing communications campaign was needed. By combining advertising, event promotion, and direct marketing, CenterCal has an opportunity to re-invent the brand at the same time that the Plaza itself is reinvented.

That’s where DCP comes in. The DCP creative and editorial teams went to work on a comprehensive campaign designed to re-introduce the “new” Blackhawk Plaza to consumers. The six distinct elements of this effort include:

• Identity re-design to convey a sophisticated new look and differentiate from previous brand
• Barricade graphics to help consumers visualize the future
• Parking lot banners to encapsulate what’s special about Blackhawk Plaza
• Brochure to inform consumers of the “new” Blackhawk Plaza and promote the Summer Concert Series
• Advertising campaign to position Blackhawk Plaza as the serious shoppers’ paradise
• Direct mail campaign to inform consumers of store openings

“Working with Blackhawk Plaza has been a particularly exciting and rewarding project for DCP,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP. “We love taking on the challenge of shifting people’s long-held perceptions—using powerful visuals and words to replace their old perceptions with new, more positive ones."

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August 17, 2007, DCP Offers Comprehensive Email Marketing Services

Are you communicating with your primary audience via email on a consistent basis? The experts say that you should be interacting with them at least once per month. By sending relevant and valuable information via email, you can cost-effectively stay in touch with your customers and prospects and cultivate meaningful relationships with them.

DCP is currently managing email marketing programs for clients, including the YMCA, WebEx, and Sunset Development. We can help your company develop effective email marketing campaigns that encourage recipients to visit your website and engage with your brand on a frequent basis. Our services include:

Develop and manage email marketing strategy
• Identify goals and create campaign that delivers on objectives
• Build a detailed email marketing schedule that specifies what content will be sent, to whom, and how often
• Ensure that each message accomplishes its goals

Write, design and produce email messages
• Follow best practices to create emails that inspire people to open, read, and act on your message
• Turnkey services include text message creation to fully designed, feature-rich content with embedded links and images

Broadcast the message
• Follow best practices to achieve optimal deliverability and CAN-SPAM compliance
• Segment list to convey highly targeted messages to specific groups

List management
• Ensure that opt-outs and duplicates are automatically deleted and bounce backs are properly handled
• Clean-up the list to increase open rates for the next message

Track and analyze results
• Report results for each email message, including the number of delivered messages, opens, bounces, clicks, unsubscribes, and forwards
• Track specific subscribers that opened your email, the number of times they clicked a link, and who forwarded your message to whom
• Compare statistics from each email to identify trends

View DCP email marketing examples in the portfolio section of our website, dcpubs.com To learn more about DCP’s email marketing services, call us at 925-943-1111, and ask for Amy Romanoff.

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June 4, 2007, DCP Offers Comprehensive Podcasting Services

Have you considered the power of podcasts to enhance your website—and your brand? Through a podcast, your experts can speak directly and authoritatively to your audience on timely topics, positioning your business as a go-to source for credible information. Forrester Research predicts that podcasting will grow nearly twenty-fold in the next four years.

DCP can help you make the most of this trend with our new full-service podcast production capabilities. We have acquired the knowledge, talent, and technical resources necessary to produce a full range of podcasts. Below are brief descriptions of the general levels of products and services we provide:

• Level 1: Repurpose a recording of an already-planned interview for an upcoming magazine article. Add an introduction, conclusion, music transitions and provide professional editing services to optimize sound quality.

• Level 2: Supplement an upcoming print article by adding questions to an already-planned interview. Edit the recorded interview so that the podcast only provides supplementary information. Add an introduction, conclusion, music transitions and provide professional editing services to optimize sound quality. Option to include professional voice talent.

• Level 3: Plan and develop a customized podcast program that complements existing print and online marketing programs. Option to include graphical and video elements.

Visit the podcast page on our website to hear a sample of one type of podcast we can create for you. In this demo, you’ll hear how a doctor might offer health tips to diabetes patients.

“Considering the explosive growth in podcasting, we’re excited to launch DCP’s line of services,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the Custom Publishing Council Executive Board. “While we envision countless podcasting opportunities, we’ve begun with the most synergistic scenario. Imagine the value to your audience of listening to a complete interview with your expert? And imagine the value of a podcast that expands on the content in your print article? DCP can now help you bring more meaningful content to your customers in new formats.”

Are you wondering what a podcast is and what it can do for you? Podcasting refers to the technology used to pull digital audio files from websites down to computers and MP3 players. Podcasting is a significant departure from traditional broadcasting because it removes the time requirement—you can listen to a podcast radio program or interview any time. In this way, podcasting has the same capacity to change the way we learn and take in new information as we experienced when audio books on tape became available.

Podcasting isn't just about downloading MP3 files. What makes it special is that it works with RSS technology, also known as Really Simple Syndication. Some websites offer regularly published content in XML files called "RSS feeds." You can install software programs called newsreaders on your computer and they will continuously monitor your favorite RSS feeds for new content and bring it to you. Clearly, the key to the success of podcasting is its ease of use.

So far, there are thousands of podcasts out there, with new ones popping up every day. Many are talk shows on health, technology, business, entertainment, sports and so on. Business 2.0 magazine calls podcasting the "democratization of broadcasting." Currently, podcasting exists primarily as audio content, but the technology also supports other rich media as well, such as photos and video.

How does podcasting relate to marketing? We all know that people like dealing with people. Audio commentary injects a human element not present in a printed piece or on a typical website. Adding a human voice to your website through podcasting gives your audience the opportunity to reconnect with your organization on a repeated basis.

Why should you podcast? Read this blog entry for “7 Business Reasons to Podcast and Extend Your Brand.” http://blog.podblaze.com/public/blog/105976

To learn more about DCP’s podcast products, call us at 925-943-1111.

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June 4, 2007, DCP Expands Portfolio on dcpubs.com

DCP has expanded the portfolio section of its website (www.dcpubs.com) to give you an updated look at some of our clients’ projects and introduce you to new capabilities that we offer. The new items on dcpubs.com include:

• Flash Design:   View three distinct samples of Flash designs.

• Podcasts:   Listen to a podcast demo on a healthcare topic.

• Web Publications:   Look at examples of actual e-publications and templates.

• WebEx Projects: Learn about three recent projects with WebEx--Brand Magazine, Web Publications, Email Marketing.

“We’re proud to announce that our very own website has won several prestigious awards during the past year,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the Custom Publishing Council Executive Board. “Now we’re trying to keep it current and make sure that it gives visitors an accurate picture of what we do for our clients. I believe we’ve accomplished our primary goal—to create a clean and straightforward business-to-business “portfolio” site that stays true to our branding.”

 

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May 16, 2007, DCP and Chevron Win Prestigious 2007 Maggie Award

DCP proudly announces that Next*, Chevron’s technology magazine, won the prestigious Maggie Award for Best Corporate or In-House Publication. Hosted by the Western Publications Association (WPA), the 56th  Maggie Awards are the largest publishing awards in the western United States. Known as “the Oscars of the magazine industry”, the Maggies honor the best in magazine and electronic publishing. With over fifty years of service and 224 member companies, the WPA received nearly 2,000 entries representing more than 450 magazines.

Written in a magazine style, Next* features educational stories that update readers on Chevron’s frontier work in the renewable energy, nanotechnology and new energy systems fields. The goal of this 40-page custom publication is to take readers behind the scenes and enlighten them about Chevron’s innovative technological advances. While the content of Next* is all about technology, the individual stories demonstrate the collaborative style Chevron has established with its partners around the world.

“We are honored that the very first issue of Next* has been acknowledged by the publishing industry experts,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP. “We’re particularly pleased to share this special award with our talented partners at Chevron.”

The Maggie Awards recognize the hard work, dedication and creative talents working in the publishing industry today. A total of 96 Maggies were handed out at the awards banquet held on April 27, 2007, at the Westin Hotel at Los Angeles Airport. Over 600 publishing professionals attended this event.

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May 1, 2007, Custom Publishing: Highlights From 2007 Characteristics Study

This year's Characteristics Study: A Look at the Volume and Type of Custom Publications in America, is now available to members of the Custom Publishing Council (CPC). As a CPC member, we have highlighted some important findings for you below.

The study, which was conducted by Publications Management, reveals that the steady upward trend of custom publishing statistics is due to increased spending by corporate America, a surge in high-revenue businesses, and a consistent move from the newsletter format to the magazine one.

More Titles: The number of unique custom titles being published in North America increased for the fifth year to 125,044-an increase of 29% since first measured in 1999. This is an average of 2.3 titles per company.

More Revenue Allocated: Custom publishing spending by Corporate America continues its 7-year growth run, hitting an all-time high of $55.6 billion. Spending on custom pubs has more than doubled since first tabulated in 2000. Excluding costs related to personnel assigned to custom publishing projects, spending was $37.3 billion.

Unique Pages: The total number of unique pages produced in 2006 was 26.2 million, up 3.2% from 25.3 million in 2005.

More Pages: The average pages per issue remained consistent at 25 per issue, up 80% since 1999.

Magazines Outpace Newsletters: In 2005, magazines became the most common publication format, beating out newsletters for the first time since 1999. In 2006, the popularity of the magazine format grew even more, comprising 41% of the market share while the use of newsletters dropped to 35%. The use of online publications in 2006 rose slightly from 15% to 17% while tabloids remained consistent at 8%.

Use of Color: More companies used four- color this year (62%) than ever before, while 80% used some four-color.

Decreased Circulation: Circulation per issue for custom publications decreased this year for the first time since 2001, although total average circulation has increased by 80% since 1999.

Drop in Paid Advertising: For the first time since 2002, paid advertising in custom publications has dropped to 29% from 34%. However, the percentage of custom publications carrying paid advertisement has more than doubled since 2002 when only 14% carried paid ads.

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May 1, 2007, DCP Launches Multi-Platform Marketing Campaign for WebEx

DCP announces the successful multi-platform launch of WebEx Connect magazine. With 2.2 million registered users, WebEx is the global leader in on-demand applications for collaborative business on the Web. As part of their 2007 marketing efforts and branding campaign, WebEx teamed up with DCP to create a custom publication program that involves five components:

• Print edition of the 28-page magazine distributed to 60,000 people.

• Email newsletter sent to 100,000 WebEx customers and prospects.

• Online edition of the magazine posted on the Internet.

• Website created for Connect magazine: www.webexconnectmagazine.com.

• Podcasts of selected articles for readers to listen to more of an interview via broadcast using their PC, MP3 or web browser.

Through this distinctive and innovative magazine, WebEx aims to capture the attention of the most powerful influencers in the collaboration market. At the same time, they seek to deepen their customers’ and prospects’ emotional connection to the WebEx brand. The specific goals behind Connect are to:

• Educate readers on the benefits of existing, new and advanced web-based collaboration services and explain how these tools help people meet their most ambitious goals for marketing, sales, training and support.

• Demystify the technology and get people to understand how WebEx collaboration services fit perfectly into their businesses and enhance their lifestyle.

• Entertain readers with a compelling style and sense of humor. Show how collaboration can be fun and engage readers quickly with relevant information on business trends, blogs, research and tips.

“We created Connect magazine to inform our audience about online collaboration and to develop a meaningful bond with them,” says Lisa Villasenor, Director of Brand Marketing. “The magazine launched less than a month ago and it’s already accomplishing our original objectives. Between the positive reader feedback received, the number of subscriptions requested and extensive time visitors spend on www.webexconnectmagazine.com, it’s clear that Connect is successfully connecting WebEx with our audience -- and that is very exciting.”

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May 1, 2007, Interview with WebEx's Director of Brand Marketing, Lisa Villasenor

Name: Lisa Villasenor
Title: Director of Brand Marketing

1. What’s your biggest challenge in your job?
Getting the entire organization on board with a brilliant brand campaign. Humans are naturally averse to risk.

2. What’s been your most proud marketing achievement?
Other than Connect magazine? Getting the entire organization on board with a brilliant brand campaign. Once the sales team is on board and willing to support what marketing does—we’ve achieved. If sales is successful then the company is successful. If marketing is pleasing sales, then marketing is doing its job.

3. What’s the biggest marketing risk you’ve taken?
Managing a campaign that featured a temperamental 6’8”-tall drag queen as our spokesperson. People loved it and people hated it. But everyone learned more about WebEx. We broke through in multiple markets.

4. What goal do you most want to achieve?
I want the world to realize how much easier life can be, how much more they can do, and how many carbon emissions they can avoid if they used an online collaboration service like WebEx.

5. How did you sell your custom publishing project to management?
Surveys show that a primary adoption inhibitor is “fear of technology.” I wanted to create a place where people get connected to what WebEx does for the world. Share real stories in a fashion that allows the reader to consume it in their own time, even if they don’t have access to an Internet connection. Curl up with the brand in bed. Become familiar with the idea of online collaboration thru other people’s stories.

6. How does custom publishing fit into your marketing mix?
Advertising, tradeshows, customer and prospect leave behinds. And it looks great in our lobby.

7. How will you know when Connect magazine is achieving success?
I already know. The response rates for subscriptions and reader surveys out pace some direct marketing campaign averages. That’s great considering this is not a direct marketing campaign. It’s a relationship builder. How do you measure relationship building? When you figure out that scientific equation, please let me know.

8. Which WebEx products do you use most often?
Meeting Center and WebOffice by far. If we had a Marketing Center, I’d use that. Stay tuned…

9. What’s your favorite pastime and stress buster?
Cheering my goal scoring 9 year old son from the sidelines. I can actually cut out of the office early to make the soccer game without stressing because I can log into the meeting from home (or whatever Internet connection is handy) right after the game. Liberation is definitely a stress buster.

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April 27, 2007, DCP Earns Four SIAA Awards

DCP is the proud recipient of four 2006 Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) Awards. With over 2,000 entries received from fifty states, SIAA is the only national advertising award program that exclusively recognizes the creativity and communication accomplishments of the service industry. A national panel of judges reviewed every entry for execution, creativity, quality, consumer appeal and overall break through advertising content.

The 2006 SIAA awards went to: 

o Buzz magazine from Comcast Corporation—Gold Award

o Inside Bishop Ranch newsletter from Sunset Development Corporation—Gold Award

o www.dcpubs.com, DCP's redesigned website—Gold Award

o Advances newsletter from the American Cancer Society—Silver Award

“I’m proud to report that DCP has now been honored with more than 30 awards for 2006 projects,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and Custom Publishing Council Executive Board Member. “We’re particularly pleased to be acknowledged by SIAA for a diverse range of work in four distinct industries, targeted at both businesses and consumers. This confirms that the DCP team is effective across all types of industries and media.”

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March 13, 2007, Interview with Deborah Kirk, DCP's New Editorial Director

1. What motivated you to transition from Elle, Forbes, and Harper’s Bazaar to custom publishing?
I learned a vast amount and developed solid editorial skills during my 20-plus-year career in consumer publishing. When I started working on custom publishing projects, I saw how I could apply those skills to developing products that have as their goal a very focused relationship between client and reader. Understanding that relationship and how to address it creatively was an exciting new challenge for me. I was also drawn to the variety and scope of projects that can fall under the custom umbrella, and, since I am a multi-tasker by nature, the potential variety of projects appealed to me.


2. What do you view as the biggest differences in directing editorial for traditional magazines vs. custom publications?
Much of the process is the same – we write and edit compelling content and offer creative art direction and design. But in custom publishing, our focus is on building a relationship between our clients and their target readership. So we apply the exacting criteria of traditional magazine publishing to creating products that have a precise, strategic vision.


3. What skills have been most important to your ability to succeed as an editorial director?
Having a big-picture vision for every project, assembling and motivating the best possible team for every project, encouraging collaborative efforts between key team members, and knowing that I am not always right.


4. What unique challenges did you face when launching a custom magazine in Latin America?
We launched a lifestyle and business magazine for a leading regional bank called Banistmo. Banistmo was rapidly expanding and had a presence in six countries – and wanted its magazine, ISTMO, to be relevant to customers throughout the region. A big challenge was to develop an editorial strategy that worked in countries as different as Colombia, Honduras and Costa Rica. Another challenge was building a stable of contributors in each of the six countries. And another challenge was to understand the client’s long-term strategic vision and how we could complement it.


5. What goals do you want to achieve at DCP?
I want to continue to improve and enhance DCP’s editorial product. I want to focus on the quality of the writing, editing, presentation, and overall editorial vision and planning. We have a very talented team of editors, writers and freelancers, and I want to help, support and challenge them to create compelling products that generate excitement and build brand loyalty. I also hope to contribute to the growth of DCP and to use my experience in lifestyle and financial services publishing to expand our reach into those sectors.

6. How will you know when you are achieving success?
When as a team we challenge ourselves to produce the very best product we can - and when it exceeds our clients’ expectations.


7. What’s been your most proud achievement in your career?
Learning how to develop magazines for international clients. I created two magazines in the Dominican Republic and co-created and managed several projects in Panama, where I set up and staffed a fledgling publishing company.


8. What’s the biggest editorial risk you’ve taken?
Leaving a fulltime job in New York as an editor at Harpers Bazaar to move overseas and try my hand at international magazine development.


9. What’s your favorite pastime and stress buster?
Swimming laps, scuba diving, and visiting museums.


10. What are your favorite magazines?
The New Yorker, The Atlantic, British Vogue, and Granta.

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March 9, 2007, Three DCP Publications are Nominated for Prestigious 2007 Maggie Awards

We are proud to announce that DCP is a finalist for three 2007 Maggie Awards. In addition, DCP’s parent company Diablo Publications is in the running for eleven Maggie Awards for Diablo Magazine, Design for Living, and Napa Sonoma.

Hosted by the Western Publications Association (WPA), the prestigious Maggie Awards honor the best in magazine and electronic publishing west of the Mississippi River. With over fifty years of service and 224 member companies, the WPA attracted more than 2,000 Maggie entries this year from both members and non-members. The Maggie Awards will be presented on Friday, April 27.

DCP finalists include:
Next* -- Chevron Corporation
Buzz -- Comcast Corporation
Athletics -- Oakland Athletics

“Considering the quality and number of entries, we are extremely proud to have produced three Maggie Award finalists,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP. “With nearly half of our entries nominated as finalists, we view this recognition as another confirmation that we are serving our clients well. We’re particularly pleased that two of our newest publications received high honors.”

A team of carefully selected judges poured over more than 2,000 entries to identify publications demonstrating the best in editorial, design, circulation and promotional areas of publishing. All publishers of print and online magazines, tabloids and newsletters published west of the Mississippi River, were eligible to submit entries in over 80 editorial and design categories.

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February 28, 2007, Deborah Kirk Named Editorial Director at DCP

DCP has named Deborah Kirk Editorial Director. Kirk will manage editorial operations for the custom publisher’s growing and diverse portfolio of award-winning publications for clients such as the American Cancer Society, Chevron, Comcast, Catholic Healthcare West, and WebEx.

With more than 20 years of editorial experience, Kirk most recently served as an editorial consultant launching and advising custom publications for clients including Pottery Barn and Johnson & Johnson. In the financial services sector, she created, staffed and launched a publication for a leading Latin American bank that is distributed in six countries.

Prior to her custom publishing consulting work, Kirk held senior editorial positions in New York for Harper’s Bazaar, Forbes and Elle.  She has been widely published as a freelance writer in publications such as Details, The New York Times Book Review, O: The Oprah Magazine, Rolling Stone, Salon.com, and Travel and Leisure.

“Deborah brings to our team considerable custom publishing experience with a strong emphasis in lifestyle-oriented content,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP. “As DCP expands into new industries and enjoys tremendous project growth, Deborah is perfectly suited to help propel DCP forward.”

A native New Yorker now residing in San Francisco, Kirk graduated from Brown University. In her free time, she’s an avid scuba diver who loves to travel, write and photograph.

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February 6, 2007, DCP Announces Results of National Survey on Custom Media

DCP reports the results of a national survey conducted in 2006 for the Custom Publishing Council (CPC) by Roper Public Affairs. This survey, "CMOs Attitudes Toward Custom Media," is the result of one hundred in-depth interviews between Roper's researchers and top level marketing executives.

Among the findings of the CPC/Roper Public Affairs survey:

• Custom media represents the future of marketing: Almost 8 of 10 CMOs (79%) believe that custom media should be an integral part of the marketing mix for any business and 78% agree that custom media represents the future of marketing.

• CMOs see value in custom publications: When asked to offer their own opinions on custom publications, 72% of CMOs reported seeing value in the service they provide. Even more staggering— eight in ten said they believe that people who receive custom publications are more likely to buy from the sponsoring company again.

• Custom publications viewed as strengthening bonds with consumers: Seven in 10 CMOs believe that custom publications have a positive effect on people’s attitudes; leaving them feeling more favorable toward the sponsoring company (This finding is consistent with the Roper/CPC 2005 study).

• CMOs receptive to including custom media in marketing plans: 67% say they are receptive to using custom media in their marketing plans.

• Custom web content and websites are the most common type of custom media currently used: Eighty seven percent of CMOs cite using web content and websites in their marketing plans. Of those who say they rarely or never use these methods, three-quarters say they plan on doing so in the future.

• CMOs underestimate consumers’ familiarity with custom pubs: Although CMOs correctly gauged the public’s appreciation of custom pubs, they underestimated the percentage of the public that is familiar with custom publications (CMOs guessed 48%, whereas 58% of Americans say they are aware of these publications).

• CMOS know that consumers are savvy about the intent of custom: 93% of consumers know that the underlying reason companies provide custom publications is to sell more products, but like getting them anyway. CMOs predicted that 85% of consumers would feel this way.

• Concern about ROI: While CMOs can accurately assess their own appreciation for custom media, 89% agree that they would use custom media more if there were an effective way to measure ROI.

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February 6, 2007, DCP Gets Great Marks on Customer Satisfaction

Almost half of DCP’s customers responded to an online customer satisfaction survey on performance in a variety of areas. Below are highlights.

• 100% of DCP customers who responded to the survey were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their overall experience with DCP.

• When asked how satisfied they were in the area of customer service, 100% reported that they are “very satisfied” or “satisfied”.

• When asked to rate the DCP project team, the feedback was extremely favorable:

100% of respondents reported that the DCP project team:
     o demonstrates a clear understanding of project goals and objectives
     o does a good job incorporating goals and objectives into project
     o responds promptly to questions and inquiries

95% of respondents reported that the DCP project team:
     o provides input and ideas that help me use DCP’s services effectively
     o is flexible and responsive and effectively manages change
     o are effective problem solvers

• 90% of respondents consider DCP to be better than other companies that offer the same or similar services.

• When asked if they would recommend DCP services to their colleagues, everyone said yes!


For more information about the survey, email DCP at info@dcpmail.com.

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February 6, 2007, DCP Announces Collaboration with WebEx

DCP announces the upcoming launch of a new custom magazine they are developing for WebEx. With 2.2 million registered users, WebEx is the global leader in on-demand applications for collaborative business on the web. As part of their 2007 marketing efforts and branding campaign, WebEx teamed up with DCP to create a custom magazine.

Through a distinctive, innovative and resourceful magazine, WebEx aims to capture the attention of the most powerful influencers in the collaboration market. At the same, they seek to deepen their customers’ and prospects’ emotional connection to the WebEx brand. The specific goals behind Connect, a 28-page custom publication are to:

• Educate readers on the benefits of existing, new and advanced web collaboration products and explain how these tools help people meet their most ambitious goals for marketing, sales, training and support

• Demystify the technology and get people to understand how WebEx products fit perfectly into and enhance their lifestyle

• Entertain readers through humor, style, and engaging material about WebEx’s world-class technology, along with relevant business trends, research and tips

Connect magazine will launch in both print and online formats in April 2007, and will be produced on a quarterly schedule. Connect will be distributed to roughly 50,000 people, including customers, prospects and business analysts.

“We are creating Connect magazine to inform our audience of the full extent of what WebEx on-demand collaboration services can do for them,” says Lisa Villasenor, Director of Brand Management. “At the same time, we want to take this opportunity to develop a meaningful bond with our audience. By providing relevant information in a captivating format, we hope to establish and deepen many long-standing relationships.”

“We’re excited to partner with WebEx on this vital project,” says Jim Offel, General Manager at DCP and member of the Custom Publishing Council Executive Board. “At DCP, our expertise is in humanizing complex topics and helping companies use branded content to deepen their relationships with key audiences. We’re confident that Connect will do just that.”

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DCP provides custom publishing services for customer magazine, newsletter, web site, direct mail and email newsletter projects. / Sitemap