You can tell the first time you talk to Doug Shirra that one of his strengths as an executive is an ability to get something done efficiently in the nicest way possible. And he advocates that management style. Despite an increasingly B2B chaotic marketing technology environment, in the many trends and forecasts for marketers in […]
by Kay Mathews The demand for content is growing exponentially. To meet that demand, creating and refining content must go beyond the marketing department, according to a new report. When the value of content is infused across the organization, a Culture of Content can be the driving force behind an engine of content. A CoC leads […]
Google’s Panda algorithm has changed the game for digital marketers. Where once “SEO” was the buzzword of the day, “content strategy” now reigns supreme. With the recent release of Panda 4.1, content is — or should be — the prime focus of every small and mid-sized business’s marketing efforts in 2015. If you are among […]
A slew of made-for-business apps for iPhones and iPads have been launched thanks to a collaborative effort between Apple and IBM, the outcome of a partnership forged earlier in the year between the two tech rivals. In a press statement, Bridget van Kralingen, senior vice president, IBM Global Business Services, said: “Our collaboration combines IBM’s industry expertise […]
We have all heard of the wild success stories that B2C companies have had with crowdfunding campaigns (Pebble, anyone?) but what about B2B companies? The Net isn’t overflowing with stories about B2B start ups finding tremendous success through crowdfunding, so is it even possible? The unfortunate truth is that B2B companies face a number of […]
by Kay Mathews You might have used it with friends to organize a weekend getaway. Or you dabbled with it when your boss wanted to communicate with the team during a conference. WhatsApp isn’t just a fad; the mobile messaging startup is here to stay, but how does its functionality apply to B2B businesses? WhatsApp, […]
It’s that time of year, when booze and catered goodies and Secret Santa gifts take over your office. Holiday parties can be the most highly anticipated social event of your company’s calendar year, but they can also be stressful, even if you’re a seasoned vet at toasting the work mug full of bourbon. How should […]
In our modern, hyper-connected society, app development is not just for the big players; small and mid-sized business can — and should — start developing apps. If creating your own mobile application in-house is not within your operational scope or budget, you may want to consider outsourcing this process. But before you dive into a […]
If you’re selling a product or service, you need to know your buyers. Maybe you don’t know them personally, but at the very least you need to recognize their personality, their passions, their challenges. Below is a handy infographic breaking down the science of buyer personas, courtesy content marketing firm Single Grain. The infographic’s concluding […]
Your company might already be active on the big three social networks of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but don’t overlook StumbleUpon. It’s reminiscent of the Digg-Myspace era, but it hasn’t faded away; in fact, this link-sharing network can prove incredibly valuable to B2B marketers. In case you aren’t familiar with StumbleUpon, it was founded in […]
Aleya Chattopadhyay may now be taking time off and “thinking what I want to do next,” as she puts it, but she has some sharp insights to offer on the future of marketing and social. The ex-CMO of ScribbleLive has an impressive resume. She was the VP of Marketing for large-format and mall stores at […]
With online retail giants like Amazon continuing to disrupt the e-commerce ecosystem and squeezing smaller sellers everywhere, how can those smaller retailers remain competitive? The sheer massive reach and scale of the Amazons of the world and their focus on growth over profits give them an advantage that small businesses just can’t compete with. Or […]
If you saw the 2013 Super Bowl, then you probably remember the Budweiser Puppy Love commercial, the one where puppy and horse make such a deep emotional bond often saved for Gary Marhsall films. You may even have shed a tear by the end, when these two unlikely soul mates defied all obstacles to reunite […]
It’s a B2B company’s worst nightmare: your client is so slow to pay for your services/product, and you don’t know if you’ll ever see payment. Unpaid and overdue invoices are too often a reality in the B2B space, thanks to a client’s sloppiness or internal turmoil never communicated to others. Delta Inc., a Baltimore firm providing […]
How do women juggle professional careers, family life and rewarding hobbies? It’s a question that continues to plague many working women, no matter their industry. According to a report from the Harvard Business Review, fewer women are opting out of careers to raise families, and those who do, do so reluctantly. As the study noted, […]
Tis the season for good cheer, shopping and the inevitable company Christmas – er – holiday party. And with it, comes the to-do list on the mind of every party planner, whether you’re a veteran or rookie in the role. Let’s be honest, it can be stressful to juggle every responsibility to organize a seamless […]
by Kay Mathews Programmatic ad buying promises “hyper-targeting abilities” and FitAd brought this burgeoning tech for marketers to wearables by inking a deal with Amtrak’s Acela Express. The train-travel company is being called by Adweek “the first known programmatic wearables ad buyer.” Travelers in Acela’s Eastern Seaboard route who are golfers on courses in that […]
For many companies, sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to figure things out, and at BE Works that’s just what they do. The Toronto-based consulting firm analyzes consumer behaviour and determine ways of influencing people to achieve the desired behavior. Welcome to the new world of behavioural economics. We spoke with BE Works CEO Kelly […]
You’ve seen it thousands of times: a company faces an emergency and has to act decisively, lest they face turmoil from the inside out. From a paucity of impeccable safety standards to a corporate tax evasion, companies oftentimes have to manage crisis control in a way that ensures the brand and staff is kept intact. […]
Businesses publicizing their products on Twitter and Facebook might actually be better off without investing all their time solely into these social networks, according to a study by market research firm Forrester. Entitled “Social Relationship Strategies That Work” the research reveals how little return on investment these networks actually offer. In a finding that might surprise many […]
