The Super Bowl is marketing nirvana for advertisers. Not only is it the most-viewed TV program of the year, but viewers are almost as interested in the ads as the game. But how do you know if a Super Bowl ad will be a winner -- and a smart marketing strategy? Here's my annual guide for how to evaluate the marketing effectiveness of Super Bowl advertising....
View MoreDirect mail is a common marketing tactic for supporting dealers and agents who sell consumer products and services. Using geographically targeted data, the home office or corporate headquarters sends direct mail to prospects with content personalized to the local dealer or agent. When it works, it can be marketing dynamite. Effective agent/dealer campaigns generate leads from qualified buyers, drive retail traffic, and make the phones ring. When it fails, it can be a disaster. Campaigns that miss the mark irritate prospects, waste the marketer’s money, and wind up in the trash. Here are...
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The term “media” used to have a simple definition in marketing: "Media" were the paid advertising channels marketers used to deliver promotional messages to prospects. But today’s definition of "media" is decidedly different. If fact, there are three kinds of media that belong in a marketing plan: Paid, owned, and earned media. Here’s what "media" means today and why paid, owned, and earned media should be part of your smart marketing strategy. New Elements of a "Media" Plan When I studied advertising at Ohio University, my textbook defined a media plan as “the overall...
View MoreThe most important step in developing a business-to-business marketing strategy is the first one: Setting your goals. Why are you investing in marketing? What do you want that investment to achieve for your business? For B2B marketers, the answer to these questions can be surprisingly straightforward. In fact, in my experience as a B2B marketing consultant, there are 10 critical goals that apply to almost every B2B marketing strategy, whether you’re selling manufactured products, professional services, or commodities. Here are the 10 goals that belong in a smart B2B marketing...
View MoreBanks are spending big money marketing products and services to small businesses via direct mail. Most of these direct marketing campaigns are terrible. Here are seven reasons why so many banks fail at B2B direct marketing and some lessons for your smart marketing strategy....
View MoreMore than 6,500 people have read my blog post about Time Warner Cable's ad campaign with former NFL Coach Bill Cowher and dozens have commented. Here's what people saying about what may be the worst ad campaign on television -- and three lessons for your smart marketing strategy....
View MoreOnce cast aside as an old-school marketing tactic, email newsletters are making a comeback as a powerful channel for supporting content marketing and customer relationship management, especially for business-to-business marketers. In part two of a two-part blog post, here are 10 tips for creating a successful e-newsletter that your customers, prospects, and colleagues will welcome in their in-boxes. Treat your newsletter like a real publication. Develop an editorial plan and schedule. Outline several months’ worth of content. Appoint an editor who’s a skilled writer. Create a professionally designed header and an...
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Email newsletters used to be part of almost every organization’s marketing strategy. Then blogging and social media came along and e-newsletters lost their luster. Many marketers stopped producing them. But as more and more companies embrace content marketing and customer relationship management, marketers are rediscovering the value of e-newsletters. In part one of a two-part post, here’s why an e-newsletter can be a powerful tool in a smart marketing strategy and some tips for e-newsletter success. Out of the Trash Heap and into Your Inbox When web technology created dynamic new channels for communications,...
View MoreDirect mail is a proven tactic for cross-selling products and services. But how much is too much cross-selling direct mail? Especially when it's promoting the same product – over and over and over? AT&T is investing vast direct marketing resources to sell U-Verse to wireless customers. Here’s a profile of AT&T's very aggressive cross-sell direct mail campaign and four lessons for your smart marketing strategy....
View MoreShutterfly.com made a big mistake with an email campaign. It's a classic reminder of the most fundamental rule of effective direct marketing: It’s all about the list. Here are some tips from Shutterfly’s example for your smart marketing strategy....
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