Puppies, Kittens or Seals?

Puppies or kittens? That age-old question inspired a recent study by Blue State Digital, in which it conducted a double-blind variable-controlled test to determine which pulled better response rates — the image of a puppy or a kitten — for an e-mail advocacy effort around toxic pet food.

With the help of a focus group made up of "Sasha and Malia Obama, and our grandmothers and kindergarten teachers," the company chose pictures of a puppy and a kitten for test petition signup and fundraising e-mails, which it sent on behalf of one of its high-profile clients.