In this economy, there continues to be talk about whether marketing should be the first place to cut — or an opportunity to capitalize with less noise in your space. Regardless of what your next move is, there’s no question that 2009 is a time to get much smarter and more qualitative about your […]

If your company is international, or wants to be, you’ve probably heard the term BRICs as the “place to be”. BRIC is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China, although it’s become a euphemism for all the emerging economies with similar profiles.

After a few months of collaboration with the National Center for Database Marketing team, we recently launched a new online resource: TheCenter@NCDM.
TheCenter@NCDM is built on our Social Cultivation Engine platform and creates an online presence for the incredible NCDM event. We designed the community to leverage the content and thought leadership from the conference, along […]

There’s a simple fact that all financial experts agree upon: Asset allocation is the key strategy for maintaining a consistent yet superior rate of investment return.

Like a good investment portfolio, an effective integrated marketing campaign uses a balanced approach. Here are a few “do’s” and “don’ts” to consider as you’re developing your marketing campaigns:

Do: Understand […]

We drop a lot of mail on behalf of our clients. The recent postage rate change by the USPS impacts the Direct Mail Advertising industry more than most people realize. The USPS not only raised the overall postage, but widened the gap between letter rate and flat rate.
Additionally, the USPS changed some of the physical […]

I am well versed in the hold music for my bank, my favorite pizza parlor and my cell phone company. And to date, no one is showing me the love I feel I deserve.
Where is my incentive for being a long-term customer? Why don’t you have a history of my pizza orders and give me […]

When it comes to the new social Web, everyone wants you to join their club, participate in their community, add your thoughts to the conversation, upload your content. Unless you’re running a Web site, and then YOU want everyone to participate in YOUR community.
Content is valuable and takes time and effort. So why do end […]

Have you ever attended a trade show and come across the drive-by attendee? I’ve witnessed the phenomena many times over the years.
The drive-by attendee is less interested in the product you have to promote and more interested in the coolness factor of your giveaway. I once had an overly-aggressive booth mate who would actually track […]

How do you view your indirect sales channel? Friend or foe? Depending on your strategy, your channel can be your biggest advocate or your biggest challenge to success.
How do you turn your VAR into an advocate? When I begin a new channel relationship, I employ the following:
I: Educate
Your product is one in […]

I have incredibly high expectations today about the companies I do business with—or am considering doing business with. Whether they communicate with me via the Web, email, mail, phone or other channel, I’m keenly aware of the continuity of their messages and information (probably because I’m a marketer!).
I’m amazed at how disconnected these communications appear. […]