This can be good from a tracking perspective – some generators will capture location, time of scan, and allow you to expire the QR code so the scan no longer works. QR Codes encode data, it doesn’t encrypt data. So, the code will encode bits of data that represent a website URL. As long as the QR generator website you use doesn’t redirect to the generator’s website but instead links directly to your website, you’ll be fine. Some generators will first point users to their own server or website to get analytics and then redirect the user to the actual website. Test Your QR Code. MORE >>

Imagine a supplier of test and measurement equipment compiling a series of videos showing how their complex machinery works in the lab. One of the biggest challenges B2B marketers have is coming up with new content. Boring white papers and boastful case studies are common pitfalls. So how do you find new content that engages audiences? Try these six surprising B2B content marketing ideas. Branded Tool – Create a branded tool for prospects and customers that provides a customized analysis, report, product recommendation, or plan. Do not pitch your products. Don’t Reinvent The Wheel. MORE >>

But it takes work – namely well-planned content and savvy use of social media marketing. Probably the number one thing that keeps social media managers up at night is thinking about how to create content that engages audiences and gets people to interact. How do you get Facebook fans and Twitter followers excited and look forward to what you have to say? How do you get people to share your content, leave comments on your business blog, and get busy executives to interact with you? The answer is by having a content marketing strategy. Marketers are now publishers. MORE >>

Your online marketing and offline marketing should work together to further a business goal. From the top B2B marketing metrics to the most effective demand generation tactics, MarketingSherpa put together a great infographic they shared at the B2B Summit 2011. MarketingSherpa’s B2B infographic was based on data from their 2012 B2B Marketing Benchmark Study to be released later this year. Their study examines all stages of the B2B purchase funnel from lead generation to sales conversion. We’ll summarize their findings in a future blog post when the survey is released. MORE >>

This won’t work. Attention Businesses: Study Finds Majority of People Conduct Research Online - Google uses a complex ranking algorithm when determining how to rank websites across the web. Factors such as inbound links, Meta Tags, Title Tags, anchor links, keywords in body copy, page load speed, and hundreds of other signals influence where a website will rank in Google search results. The study found that social media activity is well-correlated with higher Google rankings. And Facebook may be more influential that Twitter. This is not to say stop using Twitter and focus on Facebook. MORE >>