While sales and marketing are ultimately marching toward the same goal—driving leads and closing more deals—there has long been a disconnect between these two functions. Sales teams often follow up with leads based on little insight into how that prospect became a lead, or what specific area of interest the prospect has.
Chief marketing officers are under considerable pressure to systematize demand generation, justify spending, and provide leadership in innovation in a rapidly changing and complex world. These pressures increase tensions among functional peers and cascade to subordinates who must do more with less staff. Meanwhile, a lack of perceived results are likely to shorten a CMO's…
When Samuel Coleridge wrote "water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink" about the ancient mariner's thirst on the open sea, he also captured the irony many marketers today face about their marketing intelligence. Marketers are also surrounded by an ocean—one of data pouring in from all directions, both disparate channels and enterprise-wide. And…
In Part 1 of this article https://chiefmarketer.com/direct/non-print/data-listtalk-0415bnv9/index.html I made the point that IT departments almost always think they can—and should—be responsible for the marketing database.
What can large B-to-B businesses learn from the techniques that small business owners know so well?
Telemarketing doesn't have the best reputation in many circles. But if done properly, it can be a great way to engage B-to-B prospects and help guide them through the sales process.
Bernice Grossman has a message for business-to-business marketers starting to explore the mobile and social media channels: Slow down, and review some fundamental data opportunities which are largely being overlooked.
In today’s challenging economic environment, not following up on tradeshow lead data is really inexcusable. It is expensive—really expensive—to be an exhibitor at a show. And whether your tradeshow exhibitor investment will net a profit or a loss all depends on how the lead data is capture and used.
Chief Marketer recently talked with John Coe, president of Sales & Marketing Institute, and Jim Wheaton, co-founder of Wheaton Group, about why it is essential for B-to-B marketers to have both a CRM system and a proper marketing database.
Business-to-business communications are fundamentally different from business-to-consumer. With B-to-B, there is usually a long sales cycle. Your goal is to engage, to establish your company as a valuable source of information. You want to get your messages opened and read often, making you the authority buyers turn to when they are deciding where to purchase.…
