Strategy

Whether you’re thinking about launching a business in 2021 or working on growing one, you probably recognize and understand the importance and value of tools. The fact is, you can’t do it all on your own – no matter how savvy you are. To build or grow a startup in 2021, you need to invest in tools that can help you optimize, automate, and improve every working part of your…

I remember 20 years ago, opening a store online was a big deal. It was complicated and hard to find opportunities for promotion. Most had to use a platform like eBay; otherwise, it was challenging to get traction online. Promoting your online business now involves a much different landscape. The need to attract users online is even more critical today, with shifting buyer behaviors and a focus on eCommerce and mCommerce.…

Marketers have been forced into survival mode to keep their businesses afloat. While many of us are still reeling from the devastating effects of the pandemic, those less fortunate have shut their doors permanently. The businesses finding the most success today, despite the turbulence, are the ones willing to remain flexible, make change rapidly, and get creative. Despite the turmoil, many businesses remain optimistic heading into 2021. 73% of CMOs…

“Strategy without tactics is a daydream; tactics without strategy is a nightmare.” Influenced by Sun Tzu and coined by Sagefrog CEO and Co-founder Mark Schmukler, this quote implies that there’s a clear difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics. It suggests that one can’t be done without the other, and to do both correctly, strategy must come first. It’s the foundation, after all. Marketing strategy, however, can mean different things:…

What is the measure of your B2B marketing campaign's success? As CEOs worldwide are looking at marketing as a growth driver, they have become more critical in measuring all marketing efforts' performance. Leaders are looking beyond engagement numbers and qualified leads. They are now looking for quantifiable answers to these questions: What, or when, is the return of investment (ROI)? How much is marketing contributing to revenue? As a CMO or…

The question of why Sales and Marketing need to be in sync is a no-brainer. Studies have shown that companies with “good” sales-marketing alignment achieve 34% more revenue from new customers 108% more acceptance of Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) 36% increase in customer retention That’s enough for any B2B company to run with and give it their all. But how exactly can sales-marketing alignment benefit YOUR organization? Is it worth…

Customer Experience (CX) is a widely discussed business topic. Companies across the world are starting to shift their marketing focus towards building a better, more intuitive experience for their users. A survey conducted by Econsultancy shows that companies are most excited about the opportunities brought by customer experience, even beating out fierce contenders like content marketing and mobile marketing. In addition, a recent Walker study suggests that by 2025, CX…

Brand storytelling is gaining momentum in the marketing world, and with good reason. Stories are scientifically proven to get a person’s attention. In fact, stories stimulate brain activity. When we read or hear plot points our neurons start firing—and not just in the part of the brain that controls the language center. But there’s a lot of confusion around the idea of brand storytelling. It’s becoming a term that is…

We’re living in a world of big data. Most households have numerous smart devices, from cellphones and speakers to cars and even entire homes. The Internet of Things has not only made our lives easier but has also opened up a whole world of marketing opportunities and new ways to reach consumers. A decade ago, futurists and industry experts eagerly discussed the possibilities of the Internet of Things (IoT). In…

I’ve discussed quite a bit in this blog, and in the book Mean People Suck, about where empathy comes from. Are we born with it? Is it learned? It’s certainly an acquired skill, but there’s plenty of proof that empathy has been part of the human condition for some time. The evolution of empathy can be traced back to long before homo sapiens walked the Earth. Empathy enabled us to…