Does your marketing team face these challenges?
Posted by 
on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 
at 8:42 AM 
in There is a great chart from eMarketer today that caught my attention.
It details the results of a survey that asked marketers what types of challenges they face when it comes to the data that they are collecting.
In today’s multi-channel world, most companies are finding and storing more data than ever before about their prospects and customers.
But if they are not properly using that data, or if that data is making it harder for them to achieve key business objectives, then that is a big problem.
Why Companies Are Struggling With Data
One reason that many companies are running into those top 3 challenges — having trouble measuring ROI and sharing data across and organization, not using it to effectively personalize communications, and not being able to link data to individual customers — is because their marketing efforts are not integrated. They may be using separate point solutions for each of their marketing channels…. one soution to send emails, one to create personalized URLs, one to manage collateral and digital assets, one to collect leads from the website, one to collect survey responses, etc.
With that type of approach, marketers are stuck with multiple databases that may not talk to another , which prevents them from having a holistic view of their customers and prospects.
In today’s world, that circumstance can doom many marketers. If the effectiveness of their marketing efforts decreases, or if they can’t prove what’s working, then their job tenure may be cut shorter than ever before.
The Solution to Handling Big Data Problems
However, that does not have to be the case.
Marketers can adjust their strategies to take an integrated approach.
Our CEO John Foley, Jr. wrote this White Paper to help companies find the best ways to do that.
Also, they can also make changes in the technology that they use. They can break down their silo-ed approach, and start using solutions that ensure their activities and results are running through a central database.
When those things happen, then the available data can truly be put to use. And both marketers and consumers will benefit greatly!
Would you like to start walking down that path? If so, I’d love for you to take a moment to register for a demo of interlinkONE’s marketing solutions.
Tags Mailing and Fulfillment in a Multi-Channel World
From May 12th through the 15th, I will have the opportunity to attend and participate in the 2012 MFSA Southwest Chapter Conference.
interlinkONE has been a Gold Partner of MFSA on a national level for a number of years, and we are always happy when we get the chance to interact with members on a regional level.
During the conference, I will be delivering a one-hour presentation that is titled “Multi-Channel Marketing for the Mailing and Fulfillment Services Provider“. The presentation will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Challenges Faced by Service Providers in Today’s World of Marketing and Communications
- Selling Multi-Channel Marketing Solutions
- Best Practices for Managing, Executing, and Measuring Marketing Campaigns
- Emerging Technologies and Getting Ready for What’s Next
The 2012 MFSA Southwest Chapter Conference is being held Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth Texas from April 12th – 15th.
I hope to see you there!
For more information about the conference, please click here >>
Neuromarketology and Dscoop7
From March 22nd through the 24th, we will be attending and exhibiting at one of our favorite yearly events – Dscoop’s annual conference!
Over the next few weeks, we will share more information about the specific activities that we have planned for Dscoop7. But today, we wanted to turn the spotlight on one of favorite customers.
FabCom is a dynamic marketing agency from Scottsdale, Arizona. Their CEO Brian Fabiano will be delivering a presentation at Dscoop that will absolutely be a must-attend event.
On March 23rd, he will be speaking on the subject of Neuromarketology: Cross-Channel Marketing Campaigns that Generate Astonishing ROI.
FabCom recently posted a preview video to discuss what attendees can expect:
Marketing Tips for Mail and Fulfillment Service Providers
In just a few days, my beloved New England Patriots will be facing the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. And while I will certainly be rooting heavily against New York in that game, that certainly will not stop me from heading to that State in order to meet with some mail and fulfillment service providers!
On Wednesday, February 1st, I will be speaking at a meeting of the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association (MFSA) New York Chapter.
Presentation Overview
The presentation that I will be delivering is titled “How You Can Improve Your Own Marketing Efforts”.
I will focus on providing actionable items and intelligence that service providers can use to reach more prospects and generate more leads. Some of the main topics that will be covered include:
- Creating a marketing strategy and plan
- How to incorporate online marketing and content marketing into your effort
- Ideas for executing multi-channel marketing campaigns
- Ways to use social media and mobile marketing in your business
If you are in the New York area, I hope to see you there!
Event Details
When: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Where: Club 101, 101 Park Avenue, (40th St), New York, NY
5:30 – Cocktail Reception
6:15 – Dinner
7:00 – Program
Need more information? Please visit the MFSA New York Chapter’s website >>
P.S. Go Patriots!
A Return to Strategy
“Tactics, Tactics, Tactics…. Everywhere I look, all I see is tactics!”
Perhaps you have also felt that same way recently. We hear about tactics across nearly every marketing channel out there. QR Codes. Personalized URLs. Augmented Reality. SMS/Text-Messaging. Mobile Email. Social Media Advertising.
Those are just a few of the terms that we hear and talk about quite frequently in the marketing world. I know that I can often get quite excited about them!
But, while there is nothing wrong with diving in and understanding specific tactics, we run the danger of thinking of those things as bright and shiny objects that can solve all of our problems!
Instead of falling into that trap, we must be willing to increase the amount of effort and focus that we put on having a strategy.
Long-Term Solutions Come From Having a Strategy
If our business primarily consists of providing marketing services to our customers, we certainly need to pay close attention to new tools and technologies that could improve our offerings.
However, we must ensure that the things we do add (for example, a QR Code or PURL on a postcard) are not treated simply as add-ons. Rather, we should focus on integrating them into the overall marketing strategy that supports our customer’s goals.
Often, the development of a strategy will consist of us asking critical questions. The answers to those questions will not only help us decide which tools and technologies should be used, but also, how should we best use them.
Yes, I realize that some clients may come to you with a fully thought-out marketing strategy. But in today’s world, many CMO’s are running around at a frantic pace; thus, they could benefit by having a service provider offer some consultation and suggestions. If you do find yourself in that position, here are 4 steps that could help you develop and/or analyze a marketing strategy for your clients:
- Describe the Business: This sounds simple, but it’s crucial. It may help you to define key characteristics that affect branding and messaging.
- Define the Goal: The goal will help us to avoid using a new tool or tactic simply because it’s new. Rather, it will help us to ensure that the reasons we decide to do (or not do) something are done for a reason.
- Understand Who the Audience is And Where They Are: Think about QR Codes for a second. If your client is going to be placing print advertisements inside of a subway station where there is no cell service, do QR Codes really make sense? Or, if you are going to send information that is highly sensitive or private in nature, will a personalized URL actually cause people to not respond?
- How Will You Measure Success?: As a service provider, we may be constantly looking for ways to demonstrate and prove our value. However, in the rush to incorporate a new tactic, we may overlook what steps are necessary to help us measure the effectiveness of a specific tactic. By answering this question ahead of time, we will increase our chances of being able to present valuable data to our customers during the marketing campaign.
These are just a few of the questions that can help us to develop and deliver solutions that increase our revenue now and in the future. I hope that you find them find helpful! Yes, there will be always be new tactics that catch our attention, create some buzz, and get us excited (me included!). But no matter what the tactics are, having the right strategy will help to put us on the right path.
