Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the hottest technology in marketing. But do you need artificial intelligence to develop good creative for a smart marketing strategy? Or do you just need a talented, insightful creative team? Cleveland marketing consultant Jean Gianfagna shares some perspective....
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A versatile, robust CRM solution is the best way to store, manage, and use customer data for your sales and marketing efforts. But many B2B marketers who invest in a CRM system fail to fully capitalize on its marketing potential. Gianfagna Strategic Marketing, Inc. and InfoGrow Corporation will present a free webinar on CRM Best Practices: Using Your CRM System for Smarter Marketing on August 2, 2017 from 2-2:30 p.m. Jean Gianfagna, agency President, will co-present the webinar with Bob Sullivan, President of InfoGrow. Jean is a leading B2B marketing strategy consultant in...
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"Drip" direct marketing can be a smart marketing strategy for business-to-business (B2B) marketers. Here’s why drip marketing works and how to create a drip direct marketing campaign, from Cleveland, Ohio marketing consultant and strategist Jean Gianfagna....
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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 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 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....
View MoreMember acquisition is a constant challenge and a top priority for most trade associations. Who do you target? How do you reach prospective members? And how do you convince them to join your organization? Here’s how the American Advertising Federation-Cleveland (AAF-CLE) developed a successful membership marketing strategy and campaign that exceeded its goals and laid the foundation for future member acquisition....
View MoreDirect mail is a powerful tool in a B2B marketing strategy. Here are 12 lessons for using direct mail effectively in B2B marketing from a campaign by 4imprint, a Wisconsin ad specialties marketer....
View MoreRetail marketers often use email to promote sales and events to customers and prospects that have opted in to receive email communication. It’s a smart marketing strategy when it’s done right. But when it’s done wrong – especially when it’s overdone – retail email marketing can annoy the customer and ruin the relationship, particularly when the customer is new. Case in point: Ann Taylor Loft. Here’s how this retailer bombarded a new customer with 11 emails in the first 11 days of the relationship and provided a powerful example of...
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