Email marketing is one of the most affordable and effective ways to consistently engage customers and prospects. For every dollar spent on email marketing, brands generate nearly $41 in sales. And the number of worldwide email users is expected to increase from 2.6 billion at present to 2.9...Read More

The time has come for Millennials to come of age, start their own families, and establish households. This new generation of energy consumers represents huge opportunities for utility companies to market their energy programs to the millennial head of household. In fact, survey findings by ...Read More

With instant access to information across digital channels, consumers have more choices than ever. They are constantly interacting with brands, and if marketers can’t keep up, they are missing opportunities. Marketers are increasingly investing in real-time solutions to engage with multi...Read More

If you are an email marketer, you have only 3 seconds to capture the attention of your audience. That’s a really short window of time. In fact, the odds aren’t even that good. The majority of marketing emails are determined attention-worthy in the time frame of zero to three...Read More

The first thing to sort out when considering a data strategy is what types of data you have, what types you need, and how you can use both. The two main segments of data are first-party and third-party.First-party is the foundation of your marketing strategy. This is the internal data that is...Read More

Customer experience has been and will continue to be top of mind for marketers these days. And for good reason. Positive experiences generate more revenue, brand loyalty, and repeat purchases. On the other hand, a poor experience can have extremely negative ramifications, damaging brand...Read More

The definition of real-time marketing is evolving. The buzz around Big Data and the age of the “multi-channel, empowered consumer” has made marketers believe that a real-time and instantaneous interaction with consumers is the answer to all marketing situations. Yes, real-time is...Read More

According to a new study by Forbes and Turn, 64% of executives surveyed “strongly agree” that data-driven marketing is crucial to success in a hyper-competitive global economy. Data drives all aspects of marketing and without doubt is the most valuable resource for marketers...Read More

Today’s consumers move fast and are spread across more and more digital, mobile, and social channels. This certainly isn’t news, but as technology moves faster, consumers are changing the way they use digital platforms. eMarketer and Oracle recently released the US Digital Media...Read More

Real-time analytics, real-time marketing, real-time insights, and other variations of the term have been gaining momentum and popularity as industries adjust to fit the needs of always-on consumers. Forbes recently published an article titled “16 Marketing Predictions For 2016 from the...Read More

Each year, Insurance Journal publishes their 101 Sales, Marketing, and Management Ideas list based on the input of “readers, experts, educators, marketing professionals” and more. The list compiles big picture suggestions, macro view comments, and obvious recommendations...Read More

 Data-driven content marketing strategies generates five times more marketing revenue than standard content marketing strategies, according to new research by Aberdeen Group. Those companies driving the most revenue have a focused strategy, aligning content to their target personas...Read More

As an online marketer you collect as much information as your website visitors are willing to give you via online forms.  But what happens if your visitors won’t provide what you are asking for, or worse, they provide inaccurate information? How does that affect your interactions with...Read More

Social media marketing has become an invaluable tool in today’s modern business environment. There are few better ways to connect with your target audiences, not only in terms of numbers, but in the type of conversations. More than any other channel, social media allows brands and customers...Read More

 Consumers today leave clues and data across the Internet – insights into who they are, what they like, and what they are about to purchase. And like most industries today, the automotive industry is gathering and using as much of this data as they can possibly collect.Of course, not...Read More

It’s your job to know your customers, what makes them buy and how to find more like them. The hard part of that job has always been separating the wheat from the chaff.If your marketing budget is being tracked to sales and ROI more than ever, you just can’t afford for half of it to be...Read More

The insurance industry is highly competitive and faces many challenges. In an attempt to gain more wins in today’s market, insurance carriers are throwing more of their budgets into bigger and better advertising campaigns. As advertising budgets grow to alarming rates, the unfortunate news...Read More

At a time in our history when there is more data than ever before, the overwhelming majority of companies have yet to see the full potential of better data insights. PwC and Iron Mountain recently released a survey on how well companies are gaining value from information. The results...Read More

At its core, multi-channel marketing is a strategy that blends various communication channels (online, mail, email, social etc.) using consistent messages and brand imagery. The name of the game is a seamless experience for the customer, however or whenever they decide to interact with your brand...Read More

 In the super competitive world of B2B marketing, it’s a battle between your success –or that of your competitors. The right marketing strategies can keep you way ahead of the curve, but if you aren’t keeping up with the times, your competition will be hard on your heels...Read More

We recently published a post with our predictions for marketing trends in 2016. One of the key trends gaining in momentum is the importance of the customer experience. Marketers who embrace the concept of providing truly exceptional experiences will quickly rise to the top in 2016 and beyond...Read More

Marketing is continually changing and evolving. And it’s that time of year when marketers are shaping up their strategies for 2016. This year we dealt with Big Data, understanding that it’s the “Age of the Empowered Consumer,” and embraced the idea of cross-channel...Read More

The insurance industry spends more than $6 billion a year on marketing, according to McKinsey & Company. (Just think of the millions of dollars alone in campaigns such as the GEICO gecko, the “We are Farmers” jingle, or the always helpful Flo from Progressive.)No doubt that...Read More

Email marketing is a hugely popular channel for both B2B and B2C marketers, and is known to be a highly successful channel – that is if you have a deliverable email list. Unfortunately, email deliverability has seen a sharp decline over the past year. According to recent research by ...Read More

What do a newly married couple, a recent college graduate, and an expectant mom all have in common? Yes, this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but in actuality, each of these consumers are experiencing life event changes.  And when consumers make important life decisions or are in a...Read More

Car manufacturers and dealers have historically focused on product quality and the driving experience to acquire new customers and encourage brand loyalty. However, product quality is improving dramatically and is losing value as a key brand differentiator. According to a report by Medallia,...Read More

Targeting and acquiring today’s connected retail consumer has never been more challenging. Mobile commerce continues to rise, making it more difficult to build brand loyalty with a consumer who visits brick-and-mortar locations less frequently. Consumers shop across more digital channels...Read More

In the modern auto dealership market, trends are quickly changing. Data and technology applications provide brand new ways to reach current customers and attain new ones – as well as market to consumers most likely to make a purchase today. Advancements in the data-as-a-service...Read More

A study published by Accenture this year has insurance companies taking notice and changing the course. The study found that low customer satisfaction and heightened consumer expectations has led to a “Switching Economy” in the insurance industry which left $470 Billion in insurance...Read More

A few months ago, we posted this Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Data Quality and Business Intelligence for those looking for a crash course in how high quality data is the foundation for improving customer experiences, engaging consumers across channels, and more. As a follow up for those...Read More

Over 45 million people move each year in the United States. And these new movers represent a huge opportunity for new revenue for your business.Shortly after a move, consumers begin to look for a new hair salon. Or they are ready to dive into home decorating and fixer-upper projects. The dog...Read More

Today’s American seniors are healthier and have more discretionary income than ever before. Likewise, millennials are the up and coming generation with more purchasing power than any other demographic. The good news for the auto industry is that they are spending and in the market for new...Read More

Marketers today are furiously collecting as much data as they can. After all, data promises us new customers, higher ROI, cross-channel success, and ultimately, more revenue. But more often than not, the question marketers forget to ask is, “Am I collecting the RIGHT data?” If it...Read More

New technologies and access to more digital channels have changed the way consumers shop for insurance.  They turn to customer reviews, social posts, and do online research before even contacting an agency. In fact, a recent study by Accenture found that 1 in 6 insurance policy holders base...Read More

Online dating has become a popular phenomenon in this digital age. According to Match.com, in 2015 there was an estimated 49 million people who used online dating services.At first glance, there may not seem like there are many correlations between online dating and b2b marketing. However, there...Read More

Car shopping 20 years or so ago involved checking out ads in the local newspaper, taking a day to drive from dealer to dealer, and learning about hot deals through television advertising.Fast forward to today. Consumers shop on Amazon, read the news on-line, research and comparison shop for their...Read More

Email is one of the lowest costing and most effective channels available today.  Email marketing was ranked as the best channel in terms of return on investment according to Adestra’s Email Marketing Industry Census. Revenue from email increased by 28% in one year and 68% of companies...Read More

Data Driven marketing is on its way to becoming the standard in all industries. A 2015 study by the Global Direct Marketing Association and Winterberry group found that 92% of surveyed marketing professionals believe that data will be an important factor in the future of marketing.An early...Read More

Purchasing pre-populated lists for marketing is not a new concept in the business world. For decades marketers have been purchasing email and direct mail lists based on a variety of “check-the-box” criteria. For instance, all single family households in a 3 mile radius with $150k...Read More

When it comes to data, marketers across all industries are becoming technically savvier. They seek better ways to use data to improve customer experiences. They are collecting more on-line data to power digital marketing strategies. Big Data, social media data, and real-time data are part of...Read More

It’s the age of digital and we are all wired in. Smart phones, tablets, hundreds of television channels, thousands of apps, social media, and online shopping are part of our everyday culture.Before the digital revolution, in the not so distant past, marketers focused on creating compelling...Read More

In the past 5 years the average sales cycle has increased 22%, and since B2B purchasing decisions require more buy-in from various parties than a B2C transaction, the B2B sales cycle has become even longer. According to a 2012 study by Marketing Sherpa, when a contact first gives a vendor their...Read More

It happened today- I wasn’t expecting it- but it happened. I received an email promoting the holidays. It’s September! But, hey, no better time than the present to start crossing people off the shopping list, right? It makes sense why retailers are trying to get a head start as there...Read More

Marketers have flocked in droves to the concept of real-time marketing (RTM). At its core, RTM is about reacting in the moment to events or conversations with relevant and timely content. Do you remember the Super Bowl a few years back when the lights went out due to a power cut? Oreo was on it...Read More

You may think you know your customers, but according to a new study by IBM, nearly 80% of consumers stated that brands really don’t know them. By now you know that this is the age of the empowered consumer. You need your customers more than they need you, but if you don’t really...Read More

Despite some recent negative press about security concerns, it’s safe to say that as the kinks are worked out Connected Cars will be the way of the automotive future. Connected Cars began as simply vehicles with in-car Wi-Fi and capabilities similar to a smart phone. Now, they’ve...Read More

Customer acquisition strategies get huge attention – after all, new customers are the lifeblood of any business. However, you have probably heard the stats before -  it costs six to seven times more for an organization to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. So while...Read More

There’s conflicting opinions on when the term Big Data really came onto the scene, but it is undeniable that its notoriety has skyrocketed in the past few years. Big Data has become the hot topic buzzword around the internet, as is made obvious in the Google Trends graph below.One by one as...Read More

Data Quality Procrastination, or DQP, affects 63% of organizations, who say that they lack a “coherent, centralized approach” to their data quality strategy. This is a shocking statistic seeing as 99% of organizations believe that data is essential for marketing success, and that 83...Read More

According to a 2013 survey by Google, in-market shoppers are researching more than ever before buying a car. In fact, on average, car buyers research 24 touch points during the process, including search engines, OEM sites, third party sites, and more. Need less to say, digital plays a big role...Read More

Maybe it started with a search on “prospect targeting,” “real time data,” or maybe you just noticed the term “Data-as-a-Service (DaaS)” popping up more and more in the marketing publications you’re subscribed to. Regardless of how you got here, you&rsquo...Read More

Email continues to reign as one of the top channels producing ROI. In fact, revenue from email has increased by 28% in one year according to an Econsultancy Email Marketing Industry Census 2014 sponsored by Adestra. On average, companies are attributing 23% of their total...Read More

Today’s consumers are more modern, digitally-connected and always on-the-go. To target today’s auto shoppers, dealers must also follow suit – which means being on-line and becoming just as digitally connected. And dealers are listening. In fact, according to research by...Read More

1. Quality over Quantity In a way, online dating sites revolutionized the concept of “romantic lead generation.” The days of waiting in bars hoping to catch the eye of your next date are a thing of the past. Instead, access to attractive suitors is delivered in bulk with just a click...Read More

It’s no secret that the future is upon us. Packages are literally being delivered by robots, holograms are performing concerts, and astronauts are taking selfies from space. The Jetsons will be coming by in their flying car in no time. As technological advances propel us forward, all...Read More

Marketers get data – or at least they get the importance of data. Data answers questions such as:Can you help me understand my customers?Which customers are my best customers and why?How can I find profitable new customers?How can I sell more to existing customers?How can I retain my...Read More

In automotive marketing, timing is everything. Purchasing a new car, making large repairs, or even changing auto insurance are all major decisions that consumers often don’t take lightly. Therefore, it’s imperative for auto marketers to use actionable insights into the consumer&rsquo...Read More

As data continues to grow at unprecedented speeds, organizations must embrace a data-driven mind-set to stay competitive. With the influx of bigger data and new types of data, companies of all sizes are increasingly dependent on large sets of information to make better business decisions. ...Read More

Many businesses use telephone marketing as a key component of their marketing strategy.  It can be a highly effective tool to increase revenue, provide a more interactive sales approach, and generate leads and appointments.Despite the bad rap that telemarketing gets, it works! Hey, it&rsquo...Read More

We live in an age where “Customer is King." We want to acquire more customers, as quickly as possible, but of course, only the RIGHT customers that will become our most loyal fans, buy from us consistently, and spread the word about just how great our company is.Although it...Read More

With any technology, there is a risk of mechanical failure. Unfortunately, in the case of automotive technology, failures can mean billions of dollars lost for auto manufacturers, and in the worst cases injury and even death for consumers. Since the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act...Read More

There are loads of digital marketing tools and tactics out there – some that are bright and flashy, others that are the “new shiny object” that quickly lose their luster, and yet others that continue to prove their value by contributing actual revenue to the company’s...Read More

If you are a manufacturer, you know nothing is constant. One moment economists are predicting growth, and the next, reports reveal production is on the decline. According to MAPI (The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation), manufacturing production fell 0.6% in January, dropped 0...Read More

We’ve all seen the saying “Start strong, finish stronger”—probably on a poster at the gym intended to provide inspiration to those struggling on the elliptical, but not in concerns to customer retention. Customer retention is often referred to as a separate process that...Read More

The automotive industry is a growth industry. As technology marches on, so do the aspirations of car manufacturers to be the first to tap into the “next big thing.”Despite an overall healthy industry outlook, there are still challenges facing industry players. Competition for market...Read More

Email marketing is, ultimately, a goal-driven pursuit. According to a recent survey by Marketing Sherpa, the top goals of email marketers are to deliver relevant content to customers and prospects, drive traffic to their website, and increase sales conversions and revenue. In order to achieve...Read More

According to a study from MIT, over 80% of shoppers will check prices online before shopping in-store, and a third of those will check prices from a mobile device while in-store. The study also found that $1.1 trillion store sales were directly influenced by their web presence. What does this...Read More

Let’s all take a minute to throw it back to our favorite 2003 RomCom- “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” We laughed, we cried, and most of all learned (at least in Hollywood’s opinion) what NOT to do in a relationship. “So, wait, guys DON’T want me to call them 82...Read More

Despite the digital revolution that continues to take place, direct mail is just as important as ever. Direct mail may be more expensive than its digital counterparts, but it’s worth the investment to have a truly integrated campaign and high effectiveness. According to the Direct Marketing...Read More

I’m not ashamed to say that in many ways I can be a walking cliché. I can’t resist a shoe sale, a Starbucks latte, or a trip to Target. The majority of the ads I receive are a reflection of this—many times with products I didn’t even know that I wanted. With...Read More

If you are like most companies, you know you need to get started with Big Data – and sooner than later. Companies today are more customer-focused, are trying to outpace the competition, and are seeking new ways to grow revenue. These objectives are all fueling the need for Big Data insights...Read More

In today’s competitive economy, acquiring profitable new customers can be a challenge. Consumers have access to more information, more choices, and more ways to shop. They talk about what they have bought or what they want to buy on social media. And in the B2B world, buyers download white...Read More

If you are like most B2B marketers, you may be swimming in a sea of data. After all, “data is essential in marketing,” and “data drives results.” However, as you are taking this swim, you may also feel a bit like you are drowning in too much data. Rest assured - with a...Read More

Today’s marketers are becoming technically savvier. They understand the need to improve customer experiences or implement digital marketing strategies to engage consumers across channels. Customer retention and acquisition, Big Data, social media marketing, and content marketing are just a...Read More

72% of marketers say social content has helped them close deals (Brafton). And there are a ton of consumers out there in the “world of social” holding conversations about what they want to buy and who they plan to purchase from. They are asking for recommendations, posting pictures of...Read More

93% of customers expect companies to have a presence on social media (Cone Communications). At this point in the social media frenzy, most companies have at least some sort of social platform or presence in place. This may be a Facebook page to share content, a LinkedIn group to network with...Read More

As a marketer, I know that my fellow colleagues are always looking for ways to generate more leads. More importantly, we are looking for techniques, tools, and best practices that will allow us to generate the most quality leads for our company.Actually generating quality leads is a major...Read More

Most businesses know that content is a must-have in marketing. And not just any content. Good content.While creating compelling content takes times, the pay-offs can be huge. When you add data-driven insights into your content marketing strategy, the rewards are even bigger.Based on a 2015...Read More

Like the terms “Big Data” or “Omni-Channel” and “Multi-Channel Marketing”, “Digital Marketing” is another term that is top of mind these days. And while many of us have some notion of what it means, there are still quite a few questions about how to...Read More

6 Must-Have Skills for Today’s Successful MarketerMarketing is evolving - more so than ever before. In the last decade, new technologies and bigger data have brought major changes to the world of marketing. And while traditional marketing strategies such as print, radio and television...Read More

At the heart of good marketing is data. And when data drives your marketing, the average return on investment (ROI) is a whopping 224%! (VB Insight)VB Insight surveyed over 3,000 marketers and looked at tools used on over 3 million websites. Even small improvements have the potential to drive...Read More

Are you ready to let data drive your marketing strategies? Here’s what you need to know.Data is a must-have for marketing today. Most marketers understand this at this point in the game. We’ve all heard the warnings about Big Data – “Use Big Data or You Will Lose to Your...Read More

For industrial and manufacturing marketers, the integration of data, technology and marketing is producing a wealth of new opportunities to boost revenue streams. However, figuring out which technologies to implement and which data to utilize has challenged more than one B2B marketer.Customer...Read More

With both competitors and potential customers constantly online, digital marketing channels are quickly outpacing traditional channel strategies. Simply put, digital marketing is essential in today’s fast-paced environment, and more marketers plan to invest.So which channels are top of mind...Read More

Did you know that 84% of marketing databases are barely functional? NetProspex analyzed hundreds of companies, thousands of files, and over 61 million records for their Annual Marketing Data Benchmark Report. The findings were an eye-opener:64% of records did not include a phone number.Only 35...Read More

The Step-by-Step Guide to Improving the Customer Experience [for Manufacturers]In the age of the empowered customer, the reality is that you need your customers more than they need you. B2B buyers have more options and access to more products on numerous channels. Maintaining customer loyalty is...Read More

It’s no surprise to anyone that data growth is increasingly steadily. Over three billion people now have access to the Internet at home and contribute to the content on the Internet by generating:55 Million Facebook status updates daily500 Million tweets per day204 Million emails sent per...Read More

Marketers love data. In a survey by GlobalDMA and the Winterberry Group, 77% of marketers are confident in using data-driven approaches to drive growth and better customer experiences.The biggest drivers of increased use of data-driven marketing include:53% - A need to be more customer centric49%...Read More

Lead generation is a top priority for manufactures. That may be stating the obvious, but if you work within the manufacturing industry, you know there is fierce competition for a limited pool of customers – the same customers that your competitors are after.So what are some of the...Read More

Shoppers interact with retailers across a number of channels – through digital, mobile, social and in-store. As digital shopping has become the new norm, sales for online retailers has grown at rapid paces. In fact, between 2008 and 2013, e-commerce grew 10 times faster than in-store...Read More

Data is everywhere. We get that. However, the focus is no longer on who owns the MOST data, but how to turn this data into insights to solve business challenges and create competitive advantage.Most companies are focused on just a fraction of what their data is telling them. However, according to...Read More

Your customers are willing to share their personal information with you – but only if they get something in return. Today’s consumers are eager for personalized services. And they understand that they must give up some of their personal info to get a customized experience...Read More

How is Big Data Changing the World?When we talk about Big Data, many of the examples and use cases we share center around how Big Data is changing the way businesses must operate. But Big Data is changing the world on some exciting global levels as well. So let’s take a step back from the...Read More

“Customer Experience” is a wildly popular buzzword this year. And improving the customer experience tops every marketer’s agenda – or at least should be.  This is a concept we can all get behind. We all want a positive experience when shopping and interacting with our...Read More

Did you know that the number one reason for CRM failure is bad data? On average, every 30 minutes 120 business addresses change, 75 phone numbers change, 20 CEOs leave their jobs, and 30 new businesses are formed. (Source: D&B The Sales and Marketing Institute) The Cost of...Read More

CMOs are spending big on technology this year. One of the major priorities driving this spend is “getting their data together”. According to a study by Conductor[1], 61% of marketing executives say data is “more” or “much more” important than it was 12 months...Read More

Author Bryan Kramer really hit the mark with the message, “There is No B2B or B2C: It’s Human to Human”.  In his new book, Bryan captures the sentiment that should drive all marketing messages. We are talking to people. It’s about delivering messages that make people...Read More

3 Ways to Improve Customer Experiences on Social MediaCustomer Experience is the hot concept for 2015. Not a day goes by where I don’t see a new chart on how CMO’s are investing in customer experience technologies, or I see a new infographic on customer experience stats and figures...Read More

Data is everywhere. The number of unique data sources out there is larger than any one organization can wrangle. And make no mistake – these big data sets are thesource of competitive advantage for companies across all industries. But finding the right information from today’s...Read More

Smart marketers understand that traditional marketing is becoming less and less effective. Consumers fast forward through advertisements on TV, flip the pages on magazine ads, and ignore banners when they surf on-line.Marketers must cut through the clutter with relevant content and information to...Read More

It’s the age of Big Data, digital shopping, social media, and mobile marketing. Companies of all sizes are diving into the on-line world to find new data, new opportunities and new ways to grow business.At the heart of good marketing is data. And when data drives your marketing, the average...Read More

Research confirms and we know this intuitively, positive customer experiences will keep our customers coming back. No one wants to continue doing business with a company after a bad experience, poor customer service, wrong product shipments that aren’t quickly rectified, or for any number...Read More

We are all familiar with the 80/20 rule – 80% of your revenue can be contributed to 20% of your customers. But did you know that according to a study by Bain & Company, increasing customer retention rates by just 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%?And it’s much less expensive...Read More

Most marketers realize that millennials are more than just social-savvy, smart-phone toting hipsters – but rather a generation of consumers who are ready to spend money. Millennials – the population born in the US between 1980 and 2000, are now the largest population segment of over...Read More

Top 3 Challenges Retailers Overcome With Business AnalyticsIt is clearly the age of the consumer – and has been for some time now. As more consumers turn to digital channels, relationships with customers and prospects have become more virtual than physical. Understanding how to target today...Read More

Email marketing is one of the most affordable and effective ways to consistently engage customers and prospects. For every dollar spent on email marketing, brands generate nearly $41 in sales. And the number of worldwide email users is expected to increase from 2.6 billion at present to 2.9...Read More

The time has come for Millennials to come of age, start their own families, and establish households. This new generation of energy consumers represents huge opportunities for utility companies to market their energy programs to the millennial head of household. In fact, survey findings by ...Read More

With instant access to information across digital channels, consumers have more choices than ever. They are constantly interacting with brands, and if marketers can’t keep up, they are missing opportunities. Marketers are increasingly investing in real-time solutions to engage with multi...Read More

If you are an email marketer, you have only 3 seconds to capture the attention of your audience. That’s a really short window of time. In fact, the odds aren’t even that good. The majority of marketing emails are determined attention-worthy in the time frame of zero to three...Read More

The first thing to sort out when considering a data strategy is what types of data you have, what types you need, and how you can use both. The two main segments of data are first-party and third-party.First-party is the foundation of your marketing strategy. This is the internal data that is...Read More

Customer experience has been and will continue to be top of mind for marketers these days. And for good reason. Positive experiences generate more revenue, brand loyalty, and repeat purchases. On the other hand, a poor experience can have extremely negative ramifications, damaging brand...Read More

The definition of real-time marketing is evolving. The buzz around Big Data and the age of the “multi-channel, empowered consumer” has made marketers believe that a real-time and instantaneous interaction with consumers is the answer to all marketing situations. Yes, real-time is...Read More

According to a new study by Forbes and Turn, 64% of executives surveyed “strongly agree” that data-driven marketing is crucial to success in a hyper-competitive global economy. Data drives all aspects of marketing and without doubt is the most valuable resource for marketers...Read More

Today’s consumers move fast and are spread across more and more digital, mobile, and social channels. This certainly isn’t news, but as technology moves faster, consumers are changing the way they use digital platforms. eMarketer and Oracle recently released the US Digital Media...Read More

Real-time analytics, real-time marketing, real-time insights, and other variations of the term have been gaining momentum and popularity as industries adjust to fit the needs of always-on consumers. Forbes recently published an article titled “16 Marketing Predictions For 2016 from the...Read More

Each year, Insurance Journal publishes their 101 Sales, Marketing, and Management Ideas list based on the input of “readers, experts, educators, marketing professionals” and more. The list compiles big picture suggestions, macro view comments, and obvious recommendations...Read More

 Data-driven content marketing strategies generates five times more marketing revenue than standard content marketing strategies, according to new research by Aberdeen Group. Those companies driving the most revenue have a focused strategy, aligning content to their target personas...Read More

As an online marketer you collect as much information as your website visitors are willing to give you via online forms.  But what happens if your visitors won’t provide what you are asking for, or worse, they provide inaccurate information? How does that affect your interactions with...Read More

Social media marketing has become an invaluable tool in today’s modern business environment. There are few better ways to connect with your target audiences, not only in terms of numbers, but in the type of conversations. More than any other channel, social media allows brands and customers...Read More

 Consumers today leave clues and data across the Internet – insights into who they are, what they like, and what they are about to purchase. And like most industries today, the automotive industry is gathering and using as much of this data as they can possibly collect.Of course, not...Read More

It’s your job to know your customers, what makes them buy and how to find more like them. The hard part of that job has always been separating the wheat from the chaff.If your marketing budget is being tracked to sales and ROI more than ever, you just can’t afford for half of it to be...Read More

The insurance industry is highly competitive and faces many challenges. In an attempt to gain more wins in today’s market, insurance carriers are throwing more of their budgets into bigger and better advertising campaigns. As advertising budgets grow to alarming rates, the unfortunate news...Read More

At a time in our history when there is more data than ever before, the overwhelming majority of companies have yet to see the full potential of better data insights. PwC and Iron Mountain recently released a survey on how well companies are gaining value from information. The results...Read More

At its core, multi-channel marketing is a strategy that blends various communication channels (online, mail, email, social etc.) using consistent messages and brand imagery. The name of the game is a seamless experience for the customer, however or whenever they decide to interact with your brand...Read More

 In the super competitive world of B2B marketing, it’s a battle between your success –or that of your competitors. The right marketing strategies can keep you way ahead of the curve, but if you aren’t keeping up with the times, your competition will be hard on your heels...Read More

We recently published a post with our predictions for marketing trends in 2016. One of the key trends gaining in momentum is the importance of the customer experience. Marketers who embrace the concept of providing truly exceptional experiences will quickly rise to the top in 2016 and beyond...Read More

Marketing is continually changing and evolving. And it’s that time of year when marketers are shaping up their strategies for 2016. This year we dealt with Big Data, understanding that it’s the “Age of the Empowered Consumer,” and embraced the idea of cross-channel...Read More

The insurance industry spends more than $6 billion a year on marketing, according to McKinsey & Company. (Just think of the millions of dollars alone in campaigns such as the GEICO gecko, the “We are Farmers” jingle, or the always helpful Flo from Progressive.)No doubt that...Read More

Email marketing is a hugely popular channel for both B2B and B2C marketers, and is known to be a highly successful channel – that is if you have a deliverable email list. Unfortunately, email deliverability has seen a sharp decline over the past year. According to recent research by ...Read More

What do a newly married couple, a recent college graduate, and an expectant mom all have in common? Yes, this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but in actuality, each of these consumers are experiencing life event changes.  And when consumers make important life decisions or are in a...Read More

Car manufacturers and dealers have historically focused on product quality and the driving experience to acquire new customers and encourage brand loyalty. However, product quality is improving dramatically and is losing value as a key brand differentiator. According to a report by Medallia,...Read More

Targeting and acquiring today’s connected retail consumer has never been more challenging. Mobile commerce continues to rise, making it more difficult to build brand loyalty with a consumer who visits brick-and-mortar locations less frequently. Consumers shop across more digital channels...Read More

In the modern auto dealership market, trends are quickly changing. Data and technology applications provide brand new ways to reach current customers and attain new ones – as well as market to consumers most likely to make a purchase today. Advancements in the data-as-a-service...Read More

A study published by Accenture this year has insurance companies taking notice and changing the course. The study found that low customer satisfaction and heightened consumer expectations has led to a “Switching Economy” in the insurance industry which left $470 Billion in insurance...Read More

A few months ago, we posted this Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Data Quality and Business Intelligence for those looking for a crash course in how high quality data is the foundation for improving customer experiences, engaging consumers across channels, and more. As a follow up for those...Read More

Over 45 million people move each year in the United States. And these new movers represent a huge opportunity for new revenue for your business.Shortly after a move, consumers begin to look for a new hair salon. Or they are ready to dive into home decorating and fixer-upper projects. The dog...Read More

Today’s American seniors are healthier and have more discretionary income than ever before. Likewise, millennials are the up and coming generation with more purchasing power than any other demographic. The good news for the auto industry is that they are spending and in the market for new...Read More

Marketers today are furiously collecting as much data as they can. After all, data promises us new customers, higher ROI, cross-channel success, and ultimately, more revenue. But more often than not, the question marketers forget to ask is, “Am I collecting the RIGHT data?” If it...Read More

New technologies and access to more digital channels have changed the way consumers shop for insurance.  They turn to customer reviews, social posts, and do online research before even contacting an agency. In fact, a recent study by Accenture found that 1 in 6 insurance policy holders base...Read More

Online dating has become a popular phenomenon in this digital age. According to Match.com, in 2015 there was an estimated 49 million people who used online dating services.At first glance, there may not seem like there are many correlations between online dating and b2b marketing. However, there...Read More

Car shopping 20 years or so ago involved checking out ads in the local newspaper, taking a day to drive from dealer to dealer, and learning about hot deals through television advertising.Fast forward to today. Consumers shop on Amazon, read the news on-line, research and comparison shop for their...Read More

Email is one of the lowest costing and most effective channels available today.  Email marketing was ranked as the best channel in terms of return on investment according to Adestra’s Email Marketing Industry Census. Revenue from email increased by 28% in one year and 68% of companies...Read More

Data Driven marketing is on its way to becoming the standard in all industries. A 2015 study by the Global Direct Marketing Association and Winterberry group found that 92% of surveyed marketing professionals believe that data will be an important factor in the future of marketing.An early...Read More

Purchasing pre-populated lists for marketing is not a new concept in the business world. For decades marketers have been purchasing email and direct mail lists based on a variety of “check-the-box” criteria. For instance, all single family households in a 3 mile radius with $150k...Read More

When it comes to data, marketers across all industries are becoming technically savvier. They seek better ways to use data to improve customer experiences. They are collecting more on-line data to power digital marketing strategies. Big Data, social media data, and real-time data are part of...Read More

It’s the age of digital and we are all wired in. Smart phones, tablets, hundreds of television channels, thousands of apps, social media, and online shopping are part of our everyday culture.Before the digital revolution, in the not so distant past, marketers focused on creating compelling...Read More

In the past 5 years the average sales cycle has increased 22%, and since B2B purchasing decisions require more buy-in from various parties than a B2C transaction, the B2B sales cycle has become even longer. According to a 2012 study by Marketing Sherpa, when a contact first gives a vendor their...Read More

It happened today- I wasn’t expecting it- but it happened. I received an email promoting the holidays. It’s September! But, hey, no better time than the present to start crossing people off the shopping list, right? It makes sense why retailers are trying to get a head start as there...Read More

Marketers have flocked in droves to the concept of real-time marketing (RTM). At its core, RTM is about reacting in the moment to events or conversations with relevant and timely content. Do you remember the Super Bowl a few years back when the lights went out due to a power cut? Oreo was on it...Read More

You may think you know your customers, but according to a new study by IBM, nearly 80% of consumers stated that brands really don’t know them. By now you know that this is the age of the empowered consumer. You need your customers more than they need you, but if you don’t really...Read More

Despite some recent negative press about security concerns, it’s safe to say that as the kinks are worked out Connected Cars will be the way of the automotive future. Connected Cars began as simply vehicles with in-car Wi-Fi and capabilities similar to a smart phone. Now, they’ve...Read More

Customer acquisition strategies get huge attention – after all, new customers are the lifeblood of any business. However, you have probably heard the stats before -  it costs six to seven times more for an organization to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. So while...Read More

There’s conflicting opinions on when the term Big Data really came onto the scene, but it is undeniable that its notoriety has skyrocketed in the past few years. Big Data has become the hot topic buzzword around the internet, as is made obvious in the Google Trends graph below.One by one as...Read More

Data Quality Procrastination, or DQP, affects 63% of organizations, who say that they lack a “coherent, centralized approach” to their data quality strategy. This is a shocking statistic seeing as 99% of organizations believe that data is essential for marketing success, and that 83...Read More

According to a 2013 survey by Google, in-market shoppers are researching more than ever before buying a car. In fact, on average, car buyers research 24 touch points during the process, including search engines, OEM sites, third party sites, and more. Need less to say, digital plays a big role...Read More

Maybe it started with a search on “prospect targeting,” “real time data,” or maybe you just noticed the term “Data-as-a-Service (DaaS)” popping up more and more in the marketing publications you’re subscribed to. Regardless of how you got here, you&rsquo...Read More

Email continues to reign as one of the top channels producing ROI. In fact, revenue from email has increased by 28% in one year according to an Econsultancy Email Marketing Industry Census 2014 sponsored by Adestra. On average, companies are attributing 23% of their total...Read More

Today’s consumers are more modern, digitally-connected and always on-the-go. To target today’s auto shoppers, dealers must also follow suit – which means being on-line and becoming just as digitally connected. And dealers are listening. In fact, according to research by...Read More

1. Quality over Quantity In a way, online dating sites revolutionized the concept of “romantic lead generation.” The days of waiting in bars hoping to catch the eye of your next date are a thing of the past. Instead, access to attractive suitors is delivered in bulk with just a click...Read More

It’s no secret that the future is upon us. Packages are literally being delivered by robots, holograms are performing concerts, and astronauts are taking selfies from space. The Jetsons will be coming by in their flying car in no time. As technological advances propel us forward, all...Read More

Marketers get data – or at least they get the importance of data. Data answers questions such as:Can you help me understand my customers?Which customers are my best customers and why?How can I find profitable new customers?How can I sell more to existing customers?How can I retain my...Read More

In automotive marketing, timing is everything. Purchasing a new car, making large repairs, or even changing auto insurance are all major decisions that consumers often don’t take lightly. Therefore, it’s imperative for auto marketers to use actionable insights into the consumer&rsquo...Read More

As data continues to grow at unprecedented speeds, organizations must embrace a data-driven mind-set to stay competitive. With the influx of bigger data and new types of data, companies of all sizes are increasingly dependent on large sets of information to make better business decisions. ...Read More

Many businesses use telephone marketing as a key component of their marketing strategy.  It can be a highly effective tool to increase revenue, provide a more interactive sales approach, and generate leads and appointments.Despite the bad rap that telemarketing gets, it works! Hey, it&rsquo...Read More

We live in an age where “Customer is King." We want to acquire more customers, as quickly as possible, but of course, only the RIGHT customers that will become our most loyal fans, buy from us consistently, and spread the word about just how great our company is.Although it...Read More

With any technology, there is a risk of mechanical failure. Unfortunately, in the case of automotive technology, failures can mean billions of dollars lost for auto manufacturers, and in the worst cases injury and even death for consumers. Since the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act...Read More

There are loads of digital marketing tools and tactics out there – some that are bright and flashy, others that are the “new shiny object” that quickly lose their luster, and yet others that continue to prove their value by contributing actual revenue to the company’s...Read More

If you are a manufacturer, you know nothing is constant. One moment economists are predicting growth, and the next, reports reveal production is on the decline. According to MAPI (The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation), manufacturing production fell 0.6% in January, dropped 0...Read More

We’ve all seen the saying “Start strong, finish stronger”—probably on a poster at the gym intended to provide inspiration to those struggling on the elliptical, but not in concerns to customer retention. Customer retention is often referred to as a separate process that...Read More

The automotive industry is a growth industry. As technology marches on, so do the aspirations of car manufacturers to be the first to tap into the “next big thing.”Despite an overall healthy industry outlook, there are still challenges facing industry players. Competition for market...Read More

Email marketing is, ultimately, a goal-driven pursuit. According to a recent survey by Marketing Sherpa, the top goals of email marketers are to deliver relevant content to customers and prospects, drive traffic to their website, and increase sales conversions and revenue. In order to achieve...Read More

According to a study from MIT, over 80% of shoppers will check prices online before shopping in-store, and a third of those will check prices from a mobile device while in-store. The study also found that $1.1 trillion store sales were directly influenced by their web presence. What does this...Read More

Let’s all take a minute to throw it back to our favorite 2003 RomCom- “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” We laughed, we cried, and most of all learned (at least in Hollywood’s opinion) what NOT to do in a relationship. “So, wait, guys DON’T want me to call them 82...Read More

Despite the digital revolution that continues to take place, direct mail is just as important as ever. Direct mail may be more expensive than its digital counterparts, but it’s worth the investment to have a truly integrated campaign and high effectiveness. According to the Direct Marketing...Read More

I’m not ashamed to say that in many ways I can be a walking cliché. I can’t resist a shoe sale, a Starbucks latte, or a trip to Target. The majority of the ads I receive are a reflection of this—many times with products I didn’t even know that I wanted. With...Read More

If you are like most companies, you know you need to get started with Big Data – and sooner than later. Companies today are more customer-focused, are trying to outpace the competition, and are seeking new ways to grow revenue. These objectives are all fueling the need for Big Data insights...Read More

In today’s competitive economy, acquiring profitable new customers can be a challenge. Consumers have access to more information, more choices, and more ways to shop. They talk about what they have bought or what they want to buy on social media. And in the B2B world, buyers download white...Read More

If you are like most B2B marketers, you may be swimming in a sea of data. After all, “data is essential in marketing,” and “data drives results.” However, as you are taking this swim, you may also feel a bit like you are drowning in too much data. Rest assured - with a...Read More

Today’s marketers are becoming technically savvier. They understand the need to improve customer experiences or implement digital marketing strategies to engage consumers across channels. Customer retention and acquisition, Big Data, social media marketing, and content marketing are just a...Read More

72% of marketers say social content has helped them close deals (Brafton). And there are a ton of consumers out there in the “world of social” holding conversations about what they want to buy and who they plan to purchase from. They are asking for recommendations, posting pictures of...Read More

93% of customers expect companies to have a presence on social media (Cone Communications). At this point in the social media frenzy, most companies have at least some sort of social platform or presence in place. This may be a Facebook page to share content, a LinkedIn group to network with...Read More

As a marketer, I know that my fellow colleagues are always looking for ways to generate more leads. More importantly, we are looking for techniques, tools, and best practices that will allow us to generate the most quality leads for our company.Actually generating quality leads is a major...Read More

Most businesses know that content is a must-have in marketing. And not just any content. Good content.While creating compelling content takes times, the pay-offs can be huge. When you add data-driven insights into your content marketing strategy, the rewards are even bigger.Based on a 2015...Read More

Like the terms “Big Data” or “Omni-Channel” and “Multi-Channel Marketing”, “Digital Marketing” is another term that is top of mind these days. And while many of us have some notion of what it means, there are still quite a few questions about how to...Read More

6 Must-Have Skills for Today’s Successful MarketerMarketing is evolving - more so than ever before. In the last decade, new technologies and bigger data have brought major changes to the world of marketing. And while traditional marketing strategies such as print, radio and television...Read More

At the heart of good marketing is data. And when data drives your marketing, the average return on investment (ROI) is a whopping 224%! (VB Insight)VB Insight surveyed over 3,000 marketers and looked at tools used on over 3 million websites. Even small improvements have the potential to drive...Read More

Are you ready to let data drive your marketing strategies? Here’s what you need to know.Data is a must-have for marketing today. Most marketers understand this at this point in the game. We’ve all heard the warnings about Big Data – “Use Big Data or You Will Lose to Your...Read More

For industrial and manufacturing marketers, the integration of data, technology and marketing is producing a wealth of new opportunities to boost revenue streams. However, figuring out which technologies to implement and which data to utilize has challenged more than one B2B marketer.Customer...Read More

With both competitors and potential customers constantly online, digital marketing channels are quickly outpacing traditional channel strategies. Simply put, digital marketing is essential in today’s fast-paced environment, and more marketers plan to invest.So which channels are top of mind...Read More

Did you know that 84% of marketing databases are barely functional? NetProspex analyzed hundreds of companies, thousands of files, and over 61 million records for their Annual Marketing Data Benchmark Report. The findings were an eye-opener:64% of records did not include a phone number.Only 35...Read More

The Step-by-Step Guide to Improving the Customer Experience [for Manufacturers]In the age of the empowered customer, the reality is that you need your customers more than they need you. B2B buyers have more options and access to more products on numerous channels. Maintaining customer loyalty is...Read More

It’s no surprise to anyone that data growth is increasingly steadily. Over three billion people now have access to the Internet at home and contribute to the content on the Internet by generating:55 Million Facebook status updates daily500 Million tweets per day204 Million emails sent per...Read More

Marketers love data. In a survey by GlobalDMA and the Winterberry Group, 77% of marketers are confident in using data-driven approaches to drive growth and better customer experiences.The biggest drivers of increased use of data-driven marketing include:53% - A need to be more customer centric49%...Read More

Lead generation is a top priority for manufactures. That may be stating the obvious, but if you work within the manufacturing industry, you know there is fierce competition for a limited pool of customers – the same customers that your competitors are after.So what are some of the...Read More

Shoppers interact with retailers across a number of channels – through digital, mobile, social and in-store. As digital shopping has become the new norm, sales for online retailers has grown at rapid paces. In fact, between 2008 and 2013, e-commerce grew 10 times faster than in-store...Read More

Data is everywhere. We get that. However, the focus is no longer on who owns the MOST data, but how to turn this data into insights to solve business challenges and create competitive advantage.Most companies are focused on just a fraction of what their data is telling them. However, according to...Read More

Your customers are willing to share their personal information with you – but only if they get something in return. Today’s consumers are eager for personalized services. And they understand that they must give up some of their personal info to get a customized experience...Read More

How is Big Data Changing the World?When we talk about Big Data, many of the examples and use cases we share center around how Big Data is changing the way businesses must operate. But Big Data is changing the world on some exciting global levels as well. So let’s take a step back from the...Read More

“Customer Experience” is a wildly popular buzzword this year. And improving the customer experience tops every marketer’s agenda – or at least should be.  This is a concept we can all get behind. We all want a positive experience when shopping and interacting with our...Read More

Did you know that the number one reason for CRM failure is bad data? On average, every 30 minutes 120 business addresses change, 75 phone numbers change, 20 CEOs leave their jobs, and 30 new businesses are formed. (Source: D&B The Sales and Marketing Institute) The Cost of...Read More

CMOs are spending big on technology this year. One of the major priorities driving this spend is “getting their data together”. According to a study by Conductor[1], 61% of marketing executives say data is “more” or “much more” important than it was 12 months...Read More

Author Bryan Kramer really hit the mark with the message, “There is No B2B or B2C: It’s Human to Human”.  In his new book, Bryan captures the sentiment that should drive all marketing messages. We are talking to people. It’s about delivering messages that make people...Read More

3 Ways to Improve Customer Experiences on Social MediaCustomer Experience is the hot concept for 2015. Not a day goes by where I don’t see a new chart on how CMO’s are investing in customer experience technologies, or I see a new infographic on customer experience stats and figures...Read More

Data is everywhere. The number of unique data sources out there is larger than any one organization can wrangle. And make no mistake – these big data sets are thesource of competitive advantage for companies across all industries. But finding the right information from today’s...Read More

Smart marketers understand that traditional marketing is becoming less and less effective. Consumers fast forward through advertisements on TV, flip the pages on magazine ads, and ignore banners when they surf on-line.Marketers must cut through the clutter with relevant content and information to...Read More

It’s the age of Big Data, digital shopping, social media, and mobile marketing. Companies of all sizes are diving into the on-line world to find new data, new opportunities and new ways to grow business.At the heart of good marketing is data. And when data drives your marketing, the average...Read More

Research confirms and we know this intuitively, positive customer experiences will keep our customers coming back. No one wants to continue doing business with a company after a bad experience, poor customer service, wrong product shipments that aren’t quickly rectified, or for any number...Read More

We are all familiar with the 80/20 rule – 80% of your revenue can be contributed to 20% of your customers. But did you know that according to a study by Bain & Company, increasing customer retention rates by just 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%?And it’s much less expensive...Read More

Most marketers realize that millennials are more than just social-savvy, smart-phone toting hipsters – but rather a generation of consumers who are ready to spend money. Millennials – the population born in the US between 1980 and 2000, are now the largest population segment of over...Read More

Top 3 Challenges Retailers Overcome With Business AnalyticsIt is clearly the age of the consumer – and has been for some time now. As more consumers turn to digital channels, relationships with customers and prospects have become more virtual than physical. Understanding how to target today...Read More