Online Role Playing

So, our paper was approached by one of our long-term clients and they asked us if we would do a "pay per lead" advertising run. That sort of question normally gets cringes.

It was time though. We are going forward with an experiment in the "pay per lead" arena that is seems to be popular with ad networks. I'm interested to get any feedback on this post.

We are trying to create something bigger by:

• Opening up another communication channel and allowing more communication through the weekly updates on leads
• Creating idea trading with our client to ensure they are getting the best response
• Allowing us to modify the ad while it is running to measure the leads and message clarity
• Being even more accountable to our client
  
• Optimizing their ad dollars
  
• Testing the future of "pay per lead" with our paper.

I'll post an update once it runs for a few weeks but I would enjoy any feedback or insights to this.

Even though it is a common practice in some arena's, it is still new to me.

Bad Bank Of America Visa Card

Our interest rates doubled. From 5.9% to 11% for no good reason. No late payments. Nothing.

We had a fixed rate and they said "Mr. Siatkowski, letters went out to 40 million people" so I don't feel alone?

Wondering who else this happened to?

We have 4 accounts with Bank of America and I'm trying to wrap my head around where the logic is in this. Was it Visa or was it Bank Of America - they girl I spoke with said it was Bank of America - I was shocked.

Customer service sent me to Percy who sent me to Samantha, the credit analyst and she said it happened to her too (with another company.) She told me "we're [Bank of America] the leader in the industry and other banks will follow what we do."

That doesn't help me much, nor am I concerned about that.

It seems that, in a recession, businesses would worry more about their customers, not less. Fact is we can pay off and close the account and we're looking for options to close the other three as well. We can find a 5%-7% interest rate elsewhere but - more importantly - it's the feeling we have. The yukky-nasty-boy-we-screwed-you-and-your-wife-feeling that won't go away after we transferred money and closed other accounts to use our Bank of America "Fixed" 5.9% rate. Then, months later hear its going to double. And, all I get is some customer service validation in "Sir, our 5.9% was kinda like a promotional rate." Gee, thanks kid.

In financially lean times, I won't tolerate it. I hope you won't either.