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Sage Software( www.sagesoftware.com ) is one of those amorphous software companies that have grown by acquiring many products and keeping them pretty much separate. The company does have a focus: it sells accounting and CRM software on small and mid-sized business. But under that umbrella its Web site lists thirty different products, including well-known brands Peachtree, DacEasy, Accpac and MAS for accounting, ACT! contact management, and SalesLogix and Sage CRM for CRM. MORE
Spending on online video is expected to soar to $1.5 billion in 2009 from a projected $385 million this year, according to eMarketer. Which is why Andy Plesser, founder of PR agency Plesser Holland Associates, has started a video blog MORE
many marketers believe generating more sales leads is the key to hitting revenue targets. that's not always true. in fact, most companies need to do a better job managing and qualifying the leads (or more likely the inquiries) they MORE
Are you finding that trade shows or events are a “waste of time” for lead generation? You may want to think again. I interviewed Ruth Stevens, author of Trade Show and Event Marketing, to get her views on what marketing MORE
You're about to be redirected. The blog that used to be here is now at [link] Do you wish to be redirected? This blog is not hosted by Blogger and has not MORE
Don't take my word for it check out Guy Kawasaki Top 10 Lessons of PR. A summary is available here Kawasaki is the CEO of venture capital investment bank Garage.com, former Chief Evangelist for Apple Computer and author of numerous MORE
btob magazine points out some interesting findings in the dma 2006 response rate trends report which includes data for more than 1500 campaigns received in 2004, 2005 and 2006. the dma report found that the phone and e-mail produced the MORE
thanks to jim berkowitz and his crm mastery e-journal for pointing me to the marketingprofs article, five proven ways to waste money with pay-per-click advertising by john grant. i think this article does a nice job pointing out some of MORE
My last entry described in detail the issues relating to automated deployment of multi-variate Web test results. But automated deployment is just one consideration in evaluating such systems. Here is an overview of some others. segmentation: as pointed out in a comment by Kefta’s Mark Ogne, “testing can only provide long term, fruitful answers within a relatively homogeneous group of people.” Of course, finding the best ways to segment a Web site’s visitors is a challenge in itself. MORE
My last two posts listed many factors to consider when evaluating multi-variate Web testing systems. Each factor is important, which in practical terms means it can get you fired (if it prevents you from using a system you’ve purchased). So there’s really no way to avoid researching each factor in detail before making a choice. And yet…there are so many factors. MORE
It’s been fun to explore multi-variate testing in some depth over these last few entries, but I fear you Dear Readers will get bored if I continue to focus on a single topic. Also, my stack of white papers to review is getting taller and I do so enjoy critiquing them. (At At the top of the pile is Optimost’s “15 Critical Questions to Ask a Multivariable Testing Provider” available here. This covers many of the items I listed on Monday although of course it puts an Optimost-centric spin on them. MORE
I'll be presenting a Webinar on "Getting Started with Marketing Automation", sponsored by Unica, on Wednesday December 6 at 11:30. Eastern / 8:30 Pacific. Click here to register MORE
Arguably the whole concept of comments on a blog make blogs authentic and entertaining. On many blogs, a web visitor may find a post with some rich interaction between the original author and some commenters. Typically the item that is being discussed is one that both the author and commenter are passionate about. The new visitor can either be satisfied with just reading the interaction or even add a comment themselves. How can businesses capture the excitement of blogs? MORE
If you've been on IBM's site lately, you may have noticed a new feature. OK, you'll probably notice many new features it's Big Blue for goodness sake, they've patented the meaning of life! :) The feature I'm most interested in is a new little Chat icon on the side of the page. You can see it here. What better way then to interact with potential clients then to allow them to speak with you without having to pick up the phone. MORE
Larry Chase at Web Digest for Marketers is an amazing source for marketers looking for tools to assist in email marketing, search marketing, surveys - you name it! Here are a few of my favourite tools from his website: Paid Search and Organic Search Spyfu : Can be used to find out how much a search term is currently going for, how popular a search term is and who (which of your competitors) is currently using the search term and how they are using it. MORE
I’ve learned a bit more about Web optimization system since yesterday’s post. Both Memetrics and Offermatica have clarified that they do in fact support some version of automated deployment of winning test components. It’s quite possible that other multi-variate testing systems do this as well: as I hope I made clear yesterday, I haven’t researched each product in depth. While we’re on the topic, let’s take a closer look at automated deployment. MORE
Not sure what authentication is when it comes to email marketing and how it relates to email deliverability ? Have you seen those Visa commercials where a call centre verifies these heads that come through a computer screen? It's similar to this. How do you prove to your email recipients that the email that you're sending is actually from you? Through email authentication. MORE
Direct Impact Marketing recently conducted a survey of B2B marketers on lead generation tools. When voting for their favorite best-of-breed B2B lead generation tool, 65% of those surveyed nominated email, blogging and web analytics MORE
Marketers have projects. So unless you're one of those rare individuals who can not only keep a multitude of details straight in your head, but also magically keep your team on the same page with your brain, you need project management tools. Base Camp is a reasonably-priced (there's even a free version) online project management collaboration tool that's worth checking out, despite a few quirks and shortcomings. MORE
While working on a PR and marketing plan recently, the question came up: are blogs more of a PR tool or a marketing medium? Seems like an interesting question, yet there has been surprisingly little written about it. Blog marketing" outscores "blog PR" on a Google search by a margin of about five to two, and you'll find four times as many books about blog marketing at Amazon as you will about blog PR. MORE
Curious about what podcasting can do for your business? Check this out. The experts at Twin Cities marketing agency Provident Partners are offering a hands-on presentation and workshop on video and podcasting. This session will save you time and help you understand how new-media formats such as audio podcasts and digital video are being used as powerful tools in the marketing mix. MORE
Two words -- valuable content. As Mike Kaselnak, CEO of Hoard Client Systems wrote in response to my recent RainToday article How To Build Website Traffic With Content , "The days of trying to trick the search engines are over. Content is King!" Actually, neither search engines nor people are fooled anymore by tricks with hidden text or metatags. MORE
For 2006 the number one business priority for CIOs was surveyed to be business process improvement – implementing technology to help the business become more streamlined and easier to do business with. [1]. To help accomplish these elusive priorities, IT organizations are reorganizing by hiring one or more business / financial experts as key members of the IT executive team. MORE
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) section 404 compliance requires companies to implement extensive internal controls and documentation. Many companies did not have sufficient control in place to comply when SOX was passed, so investments have been made in systems, personnel and auditing to assure compliance. In order to achieve a positive ROI, the SOX compliance must have net benefits that exceed the investment to achieve compliance. These benefits cannot be the compliance itself – ie. MORE
With the official release of Microsoft Vista many corporations will be getting requests to upgrade, and puzzling over whether it makes fiscal sense. The major question to be answered: Does Vista derive enough savings to make the case for near-term migration, or should the organization take a wait-and-see approach? MORE
IT spending has experienced a healthy three years of budget increases since the beginning of 2004, giving many IT execs plenty of reasons to celebrate. Annual growths in 2006 is expected to top 6%, and although projections for 2007 show a more conservative sentiment, spending increases are likely to continue with consensus estimates of 5% to 6% expected according to IDC and Forrester Research. MORE
B2B Lead Generation
NOVEMBER 16, 2006
Are you finding that trade shows or events are a “waste of time” for lead generation? You may want to think again. I interviewed Ruth Stevens, author of Trade Show and Event Marketing, to get her views on what marketing
Anything Goes Marketing
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
Arguably the whole concept of comments on a blog make blogs authentic and entertaining. On many blogs, a web visitor may find a post with some rich interaction between the original author and some commenters. Typically the item that is being discussed is one that both the author and commenter are passionate about. The new visitor can either be satisfied with just reading the interaction or even add a comment themselves. How can businesses capture the excitement of blogs?
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Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
Sage Software( www.sagesoftware.com ) is one of those amorphous software companies that have grown by acquiring many products and keeping them pretty much separate. The company does have a focus: it sells accounting and CRM software on small and mid-sized business. But under that umbrella its Web site lists thirty different products, including well-known brands Peachtree, DacEasy, Accpac and MAS for accounting, ACT! contact management, and SalesLogix and Sage CRM for CRM.
Buzz Marketing for Technology
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
Don't take my word for it check out Guy Kawasaki Top 10 Lessons of PR. A summary is available here Kawasaki is the CEO of venture capital investment bank Garage.com, former Chief Evangelist for Apple Computer and author of numerous
Speaker: Jay McBain, Principal Analyst – Channels, Partnerships & Ecosystems
We are in the middle of a major transformation of how companies go to market – in fact, 76% of global CEOs feel that their current business models will be unrecognizable in the next 3 years. Join Jay McBain from Forrester as he unpacks these future trends.
The ROI Guy
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
IT spending has experienced a healthy three years of budget increases since the beginning of 2004, giving many IT execs plenty of reasons to celebrate. Annual growths in 2006 is expected to top 6%, and although projections for 2007 show a more conservative sentiment, spending increases are likely to continue with consensus estimates of 5% to 6% expected according to IDC and Forrester Research.
B2B Marketing Zone brings together the best content for marketers in the B2B industry from the widest variety of thought leaders.
B2B Lead Generation
NOVEMBER 22, 2006
btob magazine points out some interesting findings in the dma 2006 response rate trends report which includes data for more than 1500 campaigns received in 2004, 2005 and 2006. the dma report found that the phone and e-mail produced the
Anything Goes Marketing
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
If you've been on IBM's site lately, you may have noticed a new feature. OK, you'll probably notice many new features it's Big Blue for goodness sake, they've patented the meaning of life! :) The feature I'm most interested in is a new little Chat icon on the side of the page. You can see it here. What better way then to interact with potential clients then to allow them to speak with you without having to pick up the phone.
Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
It’s been fun to explore multi-variate testing in some depth over these last few entries, but I fear you Dear Readers will get bored if I continue to focus on a single topic. Also, my stack of white papers to review is getting taller and I do so enjoy critiquing them. (At At the top of the pile is Optimost’s “15 Critical Questions to Ask a Multivariable Testing Provider” available here. This covers many of the items I listed on Monday although of course it puts an Optimost-centric spin on them.
Buzz Marketing for Technology
NOVEMBER 27, 2006
You're about to be redirected. The blog that used to be here is now at [link] Do you wish to be redirected? This blog is not hosted by Blogger and has not
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In today’s climate, it’s more important than ever for SaaS companies to build rock-solid financial models on which they can operate and make key business decisions. The teams at SaaSOptics and Burkland have teamed up to create a comprehensive guide to the most difficult aspect of financial modeling: revenue forecasting.
The ROI Guy
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
With the official release of Microsoft Vista many corporations will be getting requests to upgrade, and puzzling over whether it makes fiscal sense. The major question to be answered: Does Vista derive enough savings to make the case for near-term migration, or should the organization take a wait-and-see approach?
WebMarketCentral
NOVEMBER 24, 2006
Marketers have projects. So unless you're one of those rare individuals who can not only keep a multitude of details straight in your head, but also magically keep your team on the same page with your brain, you need project management tools. Base Camp is a reasonably-priced (there's even a free version) online project management collaboration tool that's worth checking out, despite a few quirks and shortcomings.
B2B Lead Generation
NOVEMBER 22, 2006
thanks to jim berkowitz and his crm mastery e-journal for pointing me to the marketingprofs article, five proven ways to waste money with pay-per-click advertising by john grant. i think this article does a nice job pointing out some of
Anything Goes Marketing
NOVEMBER 27, 2006
Larry Chase at Web Digest for Marketers is an amazing source for marketers looking for tools to assist in email marketing, search marketing, surveys - you name it! Here are a few of my favourite tools from his website: Paid Search and Organic Search Spyfu : Can be used to find out how much a search term is currently going for, how popular a search term is and who (which of your competitors) is currently using the search term and how they are using it.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Every sales forecasting model has a different strength and predictability method. It’s recommended to test out which one is best for your team. This way, you’ll be able to further enhance – and optimize – your newly-developed pipeline. Your future sales forecast? Sunny skies (and success) are just ahead!
Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 29, 2006
I'll be presenting a Webinar on "Getting Started with Marketing Automation", sponsored by Unica, on Wednesday December 6 at 11:30. Eastern / 8:30 Pacific. Click here to register
Buzz Marketing for Technology
NOVEMBER 22, 2006
Spending on online video is expected to soar to $1.5 billion in 2009 from a projected $385 million this year, according to eMarketer. Which is why Andy Plesser, founder of PR agency Plesser Holland Associates, has started a video blog
The ROI Guy
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) section 404 compliance requires companies to implement extensive internal controls and documentation. Many companies did not have sufficient control in place to comply when SOX was passed, so investments have been made in systems, personnel and auditing to assure compliance. In order to achieve a positive ROI, the SOX compliance must have net benefits that exceed the investment to achieve compliance. These benefits cannot be the compliance itself – ie.
WebMarketCentral
NOVEMBER 16, 2006
Two words -- valuable content. As Mike Kaselnak, CEO of Hoard Client Systems wrote in response to my recent RainToday article How To Build Website Traffic With Content , "The days of trying to trick the search engines are over. Content is King!" Actually, neither search engines nor people are fooled anymore by tricks with hidden text or metatags.
Speaker: Christopher Ryan, Founder and CEO of Fusion Marketing Partners
Sales & Marketing departments that work together guarantee higher acquisition, better nurturing, and more effective sales. Join Christopher Ryan for this insightful webinar, presenting the wide funnel lead nurturing model. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get your teams working together and your revenue performance optimized.
B2B Lead Generation
NOVEMBER 1, 2006
many marketers believe generating more sales leads is the key to hitting revenue targets. that's not always true. in fact, most companies need to do a better job managing and qualifying the leads (or more likely the inquiries) they
Anything Goes Marketing
NOVEMBER 20, 2006
Not sure what authentication is when it comes to email marketing and how it relates to email deliverability ? Have you seen those Visa commercials where a call centre verifies these heads that come through a computer screen? It's similar to this. How do you prove to your email recipients that the email that you're sending is actually from you? Through email authentication.
Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 28, 2006
My last two posts listed many factors to consider when evaluating multi-variate Web testing systems. Each factor is important, which in practical terms means it can get you fired (if it prevents you from using a system you’ve purchased). So there’s really no way to avoid researching each factor in detail before making a choice. And yet…there are so many factors.
Buzz Marketing for Technology
NOVEMBER 20, 2006
Direct Impact Marketing recently conducted a survey of B2B marketers on lead generation tools. When voting for their favorite best-of-breed B2B lead generation tool, 65% of those surveyed nominated email, blogging and web analytics
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The ROI Guy
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
For 2006 the number one business priority for CIOs was surveyed to be business process improvement – implementing technology to help the business become more streamlined and easier to do business with. [1]. To help accomplish these elusive priorities, IT organizations are reorganizing by hiring one or more business / financial experts as key members of the IT executive team.
WebMarketCentral
NOVEMBER 10, 2006
Curious about what podcasting can do for your business? Check this out. The experts at Twin Cities marketing agency Provident Partners are offering a hands-on presentation and workshop on video and podcasting. This session will save you time and help you understand how new-media formats such as audio podcasts and digital video are being used as powerful tools in the marketing mix.
Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 27, 2006
My last entry described in detail the issues relating to automated deployment of multi-variate Web test results. But automated deployment is just one consideration in evaluating such systems. Here is an overview of some others. segmentation: as pointed out in a comment by Kefta’s Mark Ogne, “testing can only provide long term, fruitful answers within a relatively homogeneous group of people.” Of course, finding the best ways to segment a Web site’s visitors is a challenge in itself.
Customer Experience Matrix
NOVEMBER 22, 2006
I’ve learned a bit more about Web optimization system since yesterday’s post. Both Memetrics and Offermatica have clarified that they do in fact support some version of automated deployment of winning test components. It’s quite possible that other multi-variate testing systems do this as well: as I hope I made clear yesterday, I haven’t researched each product in depth. While we’re on the topic, let’s take a closer look at automated deployment.
Speaker: Ruth Stevens, President of eMarketing Strategy
In a pandemic, it’s more important than ever to focus on retaining and expanding current customers. So, how can sales and marketing support the retention effort? Join Ruth Stevens as she dives into this fast-paced session and reviews the 7 key strategies for current customer marketing, to enable sales and expand customer value.
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