This started as a post about Empathy Logic , a company that merges data from marketing automation, CRM, Web tracking, order processing, social monitoring, and other systems; lets marketers segment and select from this more complete set of data; and sends the resulting lists back to message delivery systems such as email and Web sites. You might think that Empathy Logic isn’t needed because a marketing automation system is supposed to build that integrated database. Raab Associates does have its own model of a complete marketing architecture. MORE >>

After my in-depth article on integration between CRM and Marketing Automation , I’d like to write about something a little lighter: Social Media. Clearly, Social Media is one of the big revolutions in marketing today. More specifically: how do you integrate it into your normal Sales & Marketing processes? Social, CRM & Marketing Automation. Both in B2C and B2B markets, customers use Social Media to find products and product recommendations. Social CRM. Social Marketing Automation. Digg this! MORE >>

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to co-present on a webinar with Amanda Batista, from DemandGen Report and Chris Parisi, from Bulldog Solutions, on the State of Marketing Automation in 2011. But more importantly, the crowded space and savvier marketers has forced marketing automation vendors to innovate well and quickly. At this point, most marketing automation solution providers offer a very similar set of features. By 2015, 50% of all B2B companies will have implemented Marketing Automation. This is where the consumer wins. MORE >>

Summary: So you want some hard numbers to prove the value of marketing automation? client asked yesterday if I had some benchmark information to justify the cost of her marketing automation project. Neolane “ Making the Business Case for Enterprise Marketing Software ”. The Heart of Growing Conversion Rates," 2008): Best in Class Average % higher Inquires to Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) nearly 10% 3.9% Aberdeen Group has published many studies related to marketing automation. 16% % firms w/lead to first call conversion > 50% 48.7% MORE >>

2009 was the year in which Marketing Automation really took off. Several new vendors appeared on the market, many existing vendors experienced rapid growth, and Marketing Automation as a term gained popularity among B2B marketers. In this post I want to focus on the trends in Marketing Automation for 2010. Integration of Social Media, Inbound Marketing and Marketing Automation. Sales & marketing alignment. Chris Frank , Director of Marketing, TreeHouse Interactive. Manager, Inbound Marketing, Marketo. MORE >>