It used to be that if a company focused on their product and delivered decent customer service all was good.  If a customer was unhappy, they might complain to a few people and then they would simply move on.  Damage to the brand was limited.  That isn't the case anymore.  Social media has given unhappy consumers a much louder voice.  Angry consumers, voicing their complaints online with reviews,  YouTube, Twitter, FaceBook, and a host of other social media channels, can wreak havoc on your brand.  The repercussions of failing to meet customer expectations can be much more damaging today.  

How do you get advertisers to buy from you? 

Having a good lead generation strategy is essential for an organization's continued success because it is the engine that drives profits.  In order for your lead generation strategy to produce optimal results, you need to have the right components in place  The infographic below is a detailed guide to the components needed to generate high quality leads and to keep your sales pipeline moving along.

There seems to be this struggle between IT and Marketing teams; each feeling the other is a threat, which causes tension. The fact of the matter is we need each other! This trend isn’t new, it has been creeping its way from tread to reality as more and more organizations are accepting they need to be data-driven. But who controls that data? IT? Marketing?

Consumers spend a great deal of time online today.  They go online to find answers to their questions, solutions for their problems, and to research and/or purchase products and services.  Because of this, your website is quite often their first point of contact with you.  The experience the consumer has can determine whether or not they return.  Can they easily access your website via desktop and mobile? Once there, are they able to find what they're looking for quickly and with ease?  How your website is designed can have a big impact on the success of your organization.  Our partner, Higher Logic, has a blog post written by Julie Dietz that lists 6 important components your website should have in order to engage and convert potential customers and members.  These 6 easy website tweaks can provide you with a big return on investment because sometimes the smallest changes can have the largest impact.

Recently Marketing Sherpa held their 2017 Sherpa Summit.  Marketing Sherpa Summits talk a great deal about customer-first or customer-centric marketing.  Customer-centric marketing is an approach that focuses on providing a positive customer experience throughout the buyer's journey.  This approach enhances the buyer's experience, promotes sales, and grows customer loyalty by promoting a positive customer-first environment.  Email marketing is a prime area where you can put the needs and concerns of the buyer first.  So at this year's summit, customer-centric email marketing was a big topic.