Summary: So you want some hard numbers to prove the value of marketing automation? Here's a bunch. client asked yesterday if I had some benchmark information to justify the cost of her marketing automation project. This set off an hour-long scavenger hunt through my hard drive, followed by sporadic afterthoughts later in the day. Since this is a question that comes up pretty often, I figured I’d share some of the more useful results. If anyone else cares to expand on this list, even better. Neolane “ Making the Business Case for Enterprise Marketing Software ”. Statistics include: • 16.5% MORE >>

Last week I had the honor of presenting on both social media and mobile media at Optimization Summits in Dallas and I wanted to take this post to share the mobile marketing presentation I created for the event. as well as a groundbreaking mobile-marketing guide that aired last week from the team at 360i. But first I should explain, while I'm a HUGE advocate of integrating social media into the marketing mix , I promise you this: with over HALF THE PLANET already on mobile (3.4 or spread all over the globe. mobile will play a vital role in how you engage and support your buying audiences. MORE >>

Last week Steve Farnsworth sent out an invitation to join him in writing a small series of 4 posts on the same topic. According to Steve as an opportunity to see what smart practices we share in common, and more importantly, what fresh perspectives and insights can we collectively learn from. Today the first post in this series: [.]. MORE >>

Image via Wikipedia. Many executives, in particular those of B2B and service oriented organizations, are faced with the challenge of having to rethink how to succeed in today’s digital age.    This rethinking raises questions as well as the dialogue today on the effectiveness of the traditional functions of sales, marketing, support, and customer service.      Perplexing executives as well is the rapid infusion of digital and social media that buyers are engaging with at an increasing rate yet with no clear discerning picture of what the future holds.  MORE >>

I am feeling sad and a bit ashamed of myself. Something happened — a wake-up call about this notion of social media “community&# and “conversation.&# It’s making me pause and reflect on what we’re really all about here on the social web. What I’m about. Last year I collaborated with a bright young woman named Jenn Whinnem.   I didn’t know her at all and in fact I kind of pulled her out of thin air to help with a post on sexism on the social web.  I hadn’t even talked to her on the phone. would have heard the coughing. We can talk next week. MORE >>