The Point

OCTOBER 25, 2018

The analysts at Demand Gen Report just published their “ 2018 Lead Nurturing & Acceleration Survey Report ” and one conclusion is no surprise: many B2B companies are still really bad at lead nurturing. It’s not just that 44% of respondents said that their lead nurturing “needs improvement.” Think about that.

Lead Nurturing 178

Lead Nurturing Marketing Report Lead Ranking Lead Scoring 178

The Point

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Precious few B2B marketers can show true ROI from organic social activity, and even less are using organic social media in a systematic way to either generate social leads or drive those leads through the demand generation funnel. Integrating Social Leads into the Demand Generation Funnel via @spearmktg. Click To Tweet. (HS)

Top of Funnel 203

Top of Funnel Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation Lead Ranking 203

The Point

OCTOBER 15, 2019

If your organization is generating plenty of leads but those initial inquiries aren’t converting to sales qualified leads, meetings, or pipeline, a myriad of things could be at fault: 1) sales follow-up may be sub-standard in either cadence, frequency, or message. 2) lead nurturing. 2) lead nurturing. Better Content.

Sales Qualified Leads 138

Sales Qualified Leads Work Management Marketing Management Account Based Marketing 138

The Point

JULY 21, 2016

It’s well documented that, of the companies who invest in marketing automation, many fail to achieve maximum return from that investment, or even utilize marketing automation technology to its full capacity. In our agency’s work with marketing automation users , we’ve identified 10 of the most common mistakes to avoid: 1.

Marketing Automation Services 80

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Sales Management Automation 80

The Point

MARCH 22, 2019

Lead scoring – as a fundamental part of a company’s lead management strategy – has officially fallen out of fashion. Two reasons I can think of: One is that lead scoring is routinely set up as part of an initial implementation of a marketing automation platform. So, is lead scoring a dying art?

Lead Ranking 113

Lead Ranking Lead Scoring Sales Qualified Leads Account Based Marketing 113

The Point

JUNE 29, 2015

Are most B2B companies getting maximum value from their investment in marketing automation? Or are companies rushing to implement marketing automation without a full understanding or strategy for how to put that technology to best use? The post Infographic: The State of Marketing Automation Maturity appeared first on The Point.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Automation Marketing Management 100

The Point

AUGUST 22, 2014

For those of us who work in and around the technology every day, it can seem like marketing automation is already pervasive. Analyst David Raab reports that for companies under $5 Million in revenue, marketing automation penetration is a miserly 5 percent. Which begs the question: is marketing automation right for every company?

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Paid Search Agency Marketing Automation Advertising Agencies 100

The Point

APRIL 8, 2015

Spear Marketing Group has published an informative report detailing results of a survey designed to gauge the maturity of marketing automation deployments within the B2B community. In some notable areas, the average marketing automation user appears to be achieving real business value.

Lead Scoring 100

Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation 100

The Point

OCTOBER 29, 2021

And now that chat is becoming a staple of the B2B tech stack, creative marketers are finding ever more innovative ways for leveraging their investment to drive engagement throughout the lead lifecycle. Lead Nurturing. Trial & Demo Conversions. Responding to those specific companies, by name (“Hey Google!

Account Based Marketing 350

Account Based Marketing B2B Marketing Automation Services Demand Generation Agencies 350

The Point

MARCH 3, 2015

It’s always been obvious that agencies were a sensible channel for marketing automation vendors to pursue, but I’m beginning to wonder whether agencies might turn out to be the primary channel for such systems, excepting only direct sales to large enterprises. Perhaps having agencies run them is the real solution instead.”. But, actually: no.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Enterprise Management Paid Search Agency Advertising Agencies 100

The Point

JANUARY 27, 2016

Demand Gen Report just published “ Top B2B Marketers Measure Lead Nurturing Effectiveness to Boost Performance ,” a special report in which they address the whys, whats, and how tos of measuring lead nurturing’s true impact. That, ultimately, is what lead nurturing is designed to do – move leads towards opportunity and close.

Lead Nurturing 100

Lead Nurturing Lead Ranking Marketing Qualified Leads Sales Qualified Leads 100

The Point

AUGUST 20, 2015

Results are in from a recent survey on B2B Lead Generation by the B2B Technology Marketing Community on LinkedIn ( free report download here ), and the numbers tell a disheartening story. Marketing automation has yet to solve the reporting issue. No wonder lead quality is such a pressing issue. Why is that?

Lead Generation 100

Lead Generation Demand Generation Agencies Lead Scoring Lead Ranking 100

The Point

APRIL 1, 2014

Recent studies tell us while the adoption of marketing automation technology continues to gain momentum, fewer than 20 percent of marketing executives say that they are fully integrating the technology into their current sales and marketing initiatives.

Lead Nurturing 100

Lead Nurturing Sales Qualified Leads Lead Scoring Lead Ranking 100

The Point

NOVEMBER 22, 2016

For a long time, “ lead nurturing ” was thought of as something you did with the leads that sales didn’t want. The theory was: leads come in, the sales team gets the hot ones, and the rest go to lead nurturing. Today, of course, a comprehensive lead nurturing strategy is much more than that.

Lead Nurturing 100

Lead Nurturing Top of Funnel Sales Qualified Leads Lead Scoring 100

The Point

MAY 14, 2012

A new report from Forrester Consulting, commissioned by marketing automation provider Silverpop , offers little in the way of groundbreaking insights, but does provide plenty of data confirming what most already know: that many companies are failing to realize the true potential from their investments in marketing automation.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Marketing Report Automation 100

The Point

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Just look at the sudden influx of companies boasting so-called “predictive analytics” solutions – software that allows marketers to better score leads, acquire new names, target market sectors, and even refine message and content, based on highly sophisticated algorithms. Just when did demand generation get this complicated?

Demand Generation Agencies 100

Demand Generation Agencies Lead Gen Marketing Report Research 100

The Point

OCTOBER 8, 2015

Bear with me as I relate a quick story about lead nurturing: A few months back I became a sales lead. A question: at this point, what kind of lead am I? By my own reckoning, I’m an MQL (Marketing Qualified Lead). Perhaps I was an SQL (Sales Qualified Lead) at one point in the conversation, but no longer.

Lead Ranking 100

Lead Ranking Marketing Qualified Leads Sales Qualified Leads Lead Scoring 100

The Point

DECEMBER 15, 2016

Form abandonment and cart abandonment campaigns are standard practice for B2C and ecommerce marketers, less so for those of us B2B types who deal in leads vs. transactions. It feels like the company is talking to me, not just sending an automated email that could have gone to anyone. Call to Action. But otherwise, a job well done.

Leads 100

Leads Lead Marketing Qualified Leads Landing Pages 100

The Point

OCTOBER 30, 2013

A client asks: “I notice that you’re recommending we gate our offer content behind landing pages as part of the lead nurturing campaign. It’s why click-to-lead conversion rates are never 100%, no matter how good your landing page. Why is that necessary when we already know who these people are? Here’s why: 1. A click is not a response.

Lead Nurturing 100

Lead Nurturing Lead Ranking Lead Scoring Landing Pages 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

On Focus.com , Craig Rosenberg asks: “What are the top benefits of adopting marketing automation?” My response: Based on our firm’s experience , the most common benefits of marketing automation are these: 1. Improved consistency of follow-up to all new leads independent of sales bandwidth.

Marketing Automation 100

Marketing Automation Automation Bandwidth Cost per Lead 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Recently I was asked to contribute some thoughts to Marketo’s new ebook, “ The Definitive Guide to Marketing Automation.” You can download a free copy of the ebook – 100 pages on everything you need to know about marketing automation – what it is, how it’s different from CRM, common features, keys to success, and more – by clicking here.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Marketing Management Automation 100

The Point

OCTOBER 26, 2010

Recently, Lauren Carlson of research site Software Advice wrote a very perceptive and timely piece entitled “ Tailwinds for Marketing Automation Software ” about the broader market trends that, in her view, are driving the increased adoption of marketing automation technology. Marketing automation helps eliminate marketing waste.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Work Management Marketing Management Marketing Budget 100

The Point

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Sungard AS runs a highly successful demand generation program, an integrated mix of both online and offline campaigns, to generate a consistent flow of leads to the company’s sales force. Design, build and launch a “Welcome” email program designed to improve follow-up and response to new leads. Spear is a Marketo agency partner.) “A

Conversion Rate 100

Conversion Rate Marketing Qualified Leads Demand Generation Agencies Lead Ranking 100

The Point

AUGUST 1, 2013

Lead scoring has quickly become an integral part of a demand generation marketer’s arsenal. A well-planned, well-designed, and optimized lead scoring schema can be a key contributor to sales productivity, sales engagement, and the rate at which inbound leads convert to Sales Qualified Leads, opportunities, and deals.

Lead Scoring 100

Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Sales Qualified Leads Leads 100

The Point

AUGUST 23, 2011

Unclear on the difference between lead management and revenue cycle management? Horrified at the responsibility of investigating marketing automation solutions for your company? In a little over 20 minutes, you’ll learn: • What makes marketing automation different from older email platforms. • You can access the Webinar here.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Marketing Management Webinar Metrics 100

The Point

JUNE 25, 2019

The reasons for this are varied, but many of them center on the quality of the underlying data, and the degree to which information about a particular lead, or opportunity, or closed deal is captured and tracked accurately. A good starting point is a mini data audit, focused on the following questions: * Are you capturing lead sources?

Marketing Attribution 242

Marketing Attribution Work Management Marketing Management Marketing Automation Services 242

The Point

MAY 6, 2010

A couple of weeks ago our firm prepared a detailed ROI analysis for a client helping them substantiate to their management the investment in a marketing automation platform. For other companies, the decision of whether or not to take the plunge into marketing automation is less of a slam-dunk.

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Marketing Management Automation 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 11, 2014

How to ignite your company’s growth so marketing is filling your sales pipeline with more new buyers than needed to beat your future revenue goals…AND without increasing your cost per visit and cost per lead. HS] I notice that you integrate with some of the leading marketing automation vendors, including Marketo and Act-On.

Paid Content 100

Paid Content Demand Generation Agencies Cost per Lead Lead Ranking 100

The Point

JANUARY 14, 2014

In my experience, most of the mental energy and strategic thinking around the practice of lead nurturing and lead management is usually applied to the goal of accelerating prospects through the sales process – from MQL to SQL, from SQL to Opportunity, and so on. And that lack of focus can be a big mistake.

Lead Ranking 100

Lead Ranking Marketing Automation Services Marketing Qualified Leads Sales Leads 100

The Point

JANUARY 17, 2019

Some years ago, our firm conducted a lead management audit for a technology client who was struggling to convert raw, inbound inquiries into sales qualified leads. During the audit, it became quickly apparent that one of the major issues was at the very front end of the lead qualification process. Click To Tweet.

Sales Qualified Leads 168

Sales Qualified Leads Tips Lead Nurturing Multi-Channel 168

The Point

JULY 14, 2015

In an era when “demand generation” and “content marketing” are virtually synonymous, most B2B sales leads are the result of a prospect downloading or requesting content. That latter group becomes fodder for ongoing nurturing, in the hope that further education and brand awareness will ultimately result in conversion to qualified leads.

Sales Qualified Leads 100

Sales Qualified Leads Marketing Qualified Leads Lead Ranking Top of Funnel 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

In a phone call this week I was swapping war stories with a well-known sales and marketing consultant, who, like us, works with B2B companies to improve their return on marketing automation. The bad news here is that marketing automation isn’t the magic wand that some companies apparently thought it was. emphasis mine).

Marketing Automation Services 100

Marketing Automation Services Marketing Automation Automation Process 100

The Point

AUGUST 14, 2009

DemandGen Report just released a report detailing the results of a survey in which they heard from more than 50 executives at organizations who have implemented marketing automation solutions. Tags: B2B Marketing Lead Management Lead Nurturing Marketing Automation demand gen report manticore.

Manticore 100

Manticore Marketing Automation Automation Marketing Management 100

The Point

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Indeed, the days of marketing en masse to cold lists via marketing automation platforms (MAPs) like Marketo are behind us. Outbound marketing is an imperative if your audience doesn’t know your brand, or that your type of solution exists, or that they even have a problem worth solving in the first place.

Purchase 162

Purchase Paid Search Agency Paid Social Agency Outreach 162

The Point

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

In the early stages of a recent client engagement, it became apparent that the schema already in place to determine and assign lead scores was, well: broken. The basic lead scoring recipe is typically a variation on the following: * assign positive scores for desired behavior or demographics (e.g. Thanks Dan!

Lead Scoring 100

Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Sales Qualified Leads Leads 100

The Point

AUGUST 8, 2013

When a client says “We set up lead scoring but sales doesn’t pay any attention,” it’s a sure sign that something is amiss – and more likely the problem doesn’t rest with sales. Here’s Part 2 of our discussion of the most common B2B lead scoring mistakes. For Part 1 of this post, click here.).

Lead Scoring 100

Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Sales Qualified Leads Marketo 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

Define up front the kind of system access needed to implement the program being funded: marketing automation, CRM, CMS, LinkedIn accounts, email templates, image libraries, etc. If you do invest in lead generation, set clear expectations for sales follow-up. Be realistic. Set the bar too high and campaign results may be compromised.

Demand Generation Agencies 147

Demand Generation Agencies Advertising Agencies CMS Development Work Management 147