Earlier in our big data series we explored the rise of big data and some of the specific factors that define it. We also examined a handful of reasons why big data is important and why companies and governments alike are using it to predict trends and customer behavior. In this installment we’ll take a […]
Google “Big Data”; you’ll see talk of terabytes, petabytes, exabytes. Yes, searching and summarizing massive amounts of data is a challenge, but there are tougher challenges on the path to – as Lauren Littlefield put it recently – “amazing insights”. Let’s call another challenge “complexity meets the unknown”. We recently worked on a 42 megabyte […]
Data is the new natural resource. What steam and oil did during the industrial revolution data is doing for us now. Today, we are competing on a whole different scale and the company that is able to collect the most relevant data will win. IBM CEO, Ginny Rometty, was recently quoted as saying that “Data […]
In part one of this big data series, we defined big data and looked at some of the components it’s comprised of. Now we want to look at some of the advantages big data offers. According to a recent report in Forbes, academic research found companies that incorporated data and analytics into their operations show […]
Technology has made it easier than ever to compile, store and evaluate data gathered online. With the cost of storing large amounts of data dropping, more and more companies are doing so. But why? Simply put, sifting through data can reveal amazing insights for businesses and marketers looking to develop a robust profile of their […]
Big Data, Customer Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Scoring, Lead Nurturing, Marketing Automation
How Big Data Facilitates Lead Scoring
Lead scoring is an integral part of the marketing lifecycle. Since lead scoring determines which prospects are sales-ready, getting this right is important to ensure the success of the entire marketing effort. There are many ways and approaches to score leads, but regardless of the approach, there are certain blind spots. For instance, a marketer […]
Customer Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Lead Nurturing
Developing Trust is the Key to Shorten the Sales Cycle
Developing trust is the key to shortening the sales cycle. All marketers welcome a shortened sales cycle. A shorter sales cycle means less work and the possibility of engaging with more prospects in the available time, leading to both increased efficiency and better volumes. The key to shortening the sales cycle is to earn the […]
Customer Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Lead Nurturing, Marketing Automation
The Key Challenges Facing Content Marketing Today
I came across the just-released 2013 B2B Content Marketing Report the other day and wanted to share some of the key takeaways: Marketers are now spending 33% of their budget on content marketing. The corresponding figure last year was 26%. There is still room for improvement as 39% of the marketers surveyed feel that there is […]
Customer Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Email Marketing
Integrating Email and Social Media
Marketers traditionally tend to push their products or the brand through email. They may get a few conversions, but a fair amount of those emails invariably wind up in spam folders. When it comes to social media, the mass “blitzkrieg” approach may be counterproductive. Recipients generally view blanket marketing efforts as spam, or even outright offensive. […]
Customer Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Relationship Management
When Retaining Customers May Not Be a Good Idea
We know it’s far easier (and cheaper) to retain existing customers than it is to recruit new ones. But amidst the buzz surrounding customer retention, it’s important to remember that not all customers are worth keeping. More customers generally means more profit. However, beyond a point, the marginal increase in profits per customer decreases. Increasing […]