The CMO must prove ROI for more traditional, measurable investments and create meaningful metrics for softer returns, such as brand awareness that results from blogging or other social media marketing activities. Quaero recently sponsored Forrester's Marketing Forum 2011. And if any of you were able to attend our reception or visit our booth, you'll agree that the event was a particularly sweet success; Quaero treated attendees to more than 2,000 pieces of gourmet chocolate!). As always, the Forum provided marketers with a great deal of food for thought. It's lonely at the top. Be sly." MORE >>

Twitter blog post on Monday listed all of the various means with which you could get your news fix should your power go out (e.g., Extreme storms like Hurricane Sandy have always been news-worthy, but until recently, they were localized, the focus of regional news outlets and weather junkies. That is no longer the case, thanks in large part to social media. Hurricane Sandy, dubbed the Frankenstorm, has become a national, if not global, weather-watching event as images , video and  memes  hurtle through the blogosphere. So why the widespread interest? Take Duracell. MORE >>

In Part 2 of this blog series ( Overview & Part I are here), the focus is on the criteria, components and considerations for your ideal KPI Dashboard. When it comes to determining what you want from a Dashboard, keep repeating this mantra: less is more. Determine which metrics are useful to your success metrics and planning efforts and stick with them. Just because you may have access to an excessive wealth of data, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good use of time and resources. Frankly, there are only a finite set of KPIs that are worth assessing. KPI Definition – Which Metrics? MORE >>

MORE >>

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog suggesting that marketers and the DMA get ahead of net tracker legislation , after the FCC had invited some comments on proposed privacy legislation. Then came word that Senators John Kerry and John McCain, both senior and influential from opposite sides of the political and ideological spectrum, are co-sponsoring an " online privacy bill of rights ". . All of this points to online privacy fast becoming a hot political issue.  It is one thing for marketers and the DMA to fight the FTC.  MORE >>