From: matus [matus@snet.net]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 10:41 PM
To: matus@snet.net
Subject: MFD List - Time Inc. enlists astrologer to help sell magazines

(At least I can find solace in that fact that, thanks to capitalism, those
investment firms that work (i.e. one that uses methods that actually do
work, not ones that people merely think work) will outcompete those that
base thier financial forecasting on tarot card dealing chicken bone throwing
stargazing wishfull thinkers. - Mike)

Skepticnews submitter Jimmy Reynolds writes:  Specifically, the giant
conglomerate's trendy business magazine, Business 2.0, has made an
advertising deal with internet astrologer Susan Miller: Time and the
Stargrazers Miller said of this deal, "When you are an astrologer some
unenlightened people ... automatically dismiss your value and and won't take
the time to meet with you,..." (italics mine). Perhaps she's right in a way:
some unenlightened people and all of the enlightened ones won't take the
time to meet with her.

from - http://in.news.yahoo.com/011108/14/18f7l.html

Time Inc. enlists astrologer to help sell magazines

By Andrea Orr

PALO ALTO, Calif.(Reuters) - Call it a new kind of business partnership for
the new economy. Or maybe just a sign that corporate America has gone New
Age.

When AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Business 2.0 magazine recently began an e-mail
marketing campaign to attract subscribers, one of the first deals it entered
was with a popular Internet astrologer.

Under the arrangement, Susan Miller, who runs the AstrologyZone.com Web
site, has begun pitching subscriptions to Business 2.0 to her loyal base of
followers -- people who often consult astrological charts rather than stock
charts when making
critical investing decisions.

In her latest monthly newsletter, Miller offered a free issue of Business
2.0 to any AstrologyZone readers who signed up for a subscription.

``If you are involved with business in any way, or know someone who is, this
magazine will give you a terrific edge,'' Miller wrote in a message that
acknowledged the arrangement was somewhat unconventional.

``When you are an astrologer some unenlightened people ... automatically
dismiss your value and and won't take the time to meet with you,'' she said.


Not so for Business 2.0, a magazine that focuses on the Internet and new
ways of doing business in all industries.

``In general, Business 2.0 is always looking for interesting new ways to get
circulation,'' said Editor and President Ned Desmond, who said the e-mail
pitch that began earlier this week has already brought in some new
subscribers. Under a revenue-sharing agreement, Business 2.0 will pay Susan
Miller for subscriptions she helps sell.

Desmond, a Taurus, said he is less a follower of astrology than a curious
skeptic. But he was less skeptical about the business of astrology.

``Susan Miller has an extremely engaged audience. I can't prove it but I
have a strong feeling that a lot of them are in our demographic,'' he said.

``There are a lot of people who don't make decisions without consulting
their charts. I wouldn't say it's an outrageous way to appeal to our readers
at all.''

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

www.matus1976.com