I’m sure it has happened to you too. You look someone up on LinkedIn only to find they are a third degree connection (or not even!) and you get a profile page with basically no information. LinkedIn profile access is even more restricted, today you now need a premium account to view third degree connections. Of course, you can solve this with a premium membership, but here is how to view the full public profile without a premium account. Here is an example using Eric Cantor, a Congressman from Virginia that I don’t share any groups with and isn’t a connection. MORE >>

According to recent research from IDC, lead generation is a top B2B marketing priority , and in the next four years Sirius Decisions predicts 75% of all registrations will be captured online. Sirius Decisions actually labels this as inbound marketing, however I use a more limited definition of inbound marketing.) One of the primary ways B2B marketers capture leads online is asking prospects to register for content. Doing it effectively requires creating content prospects want in a format that is easy to engage with while capturing the information you need. Does Your Content Create A Barrier? MORE >>

It seems there is another marketing infographic hiding around every corner of the web, and it will probably fall well short of its potential. Instead of making information easier to consume, many infographics make it harder to understand the information they present or even outright mislead. Here are 5 of the biggest infographic mistakes marketers make with an example of each. Creating Confusion Instead of Clarity Even as a gardener, this infographic was very difficult to follow for me. In particular, look at the environment key below and map that information in the infographic. MORE >>

The following 9 terms are so overused or misused in B2B marketing that they have lost nearly all meaning. If you are using these terms today, it is time to stop and explain what you really mean. Otherwise, we may hear you, but we will think you mean something completely different. Thought Leadership Almost any type of content has been labeled thought leadership marketing in recent years. Unfortunately much of it reflects zero thought and leads no where. If you use the term thought leadership, explain what you want to be seen as a leader in. Clarity is critical. Should it link to somewhere?” MORE >>

B2B marketers are looking for a shortcut to thought leadership , but the shortcut many are taking lead somewhere else completely. According to a recent report on eMarketer , 85% of marketers curate content in order to establish thought leadership! Does sharing someone else’s content make you a thought leader? Marketers, in their race to the shortcut, are confusing respect and attention with thought leadership. Content curation can be a valuable activity. Done well, it can make you a recognized resources for news and information and keep you in front of your audience. MORE >>