Author Archives: Howard Sewell

Lead Generation Losing Out to Social Media? Not So Much.

A recent industry study on Lead Management Optimization, conducted by CSO Insights and conducted in partnership with SMEI and Marketo, sheds insight on the relative budget marketing organizations are investing in areas such as lead nurturing, social media, and lead generation. Amongst its findings: • Overwhelmingly, the #1 marketing objective… Read More

Sample Outline for a Lead Generation White Paper

Dollar for dollar, white papers continue to be some of the most effective offers for most high-technology marketers. Prospects are usually more likely to download or otherwise register for a white paper vs. a Webinar, free trial, etc. because 1) the time commitment is minimal, and 2) white papers are… Read More

B2B Email Creative: A 5 Point Checklist

Is your lead generation email ready for primetime? Measure it against these 5 criteria before hitting “send.” 1. Get to the Point. By the time your reader is done with the first paragraph, does he or she know what the offer is, why he/she wants it, and how to get… Read More

5 Creative Ways to Make Your White Paper Irresistible

“Always show an image of the offer.” It’s a rule I quote often, one repeated to me ad nauseum many years ago by an early mentor and long-time direct marketing veteran. The logic: whatever it is you want your reader to download, request, order, or register for, a visual image… Read More

8 Things Your CEO Can Write About On His/Her Blog

Launching a CEO blog but the boss isn’t sure what to write about? Here are 8 ideas based on a list we created recently for a client: 1. Opinion/Thought Leadership – opinions/rants/views on the world of [insert your product category here] – the good, bad and ugly. A good place… Read More

Marketo Email Campaign Keeps It Short & Sweet

A client confessed recently that one of the reasons his company selected Marketo as a marketing automation provider was because he was so impressed by their marketing. His logic (presumably): if a technology provider is promising to help improve our marketing effectiveness, shouldn’t their own marketing reflect those same high… Read More

Is “Please Have a Rep Contact Me” a Good Idea?

A client asks: “On every registration form, we give prospects the option to request contact from a sales rep. Is that even worthwhile when we’re going to call everyone anyway? If it is a good idea, what should the verbiage be? Currently the form reads: [Yes/No radio button] I would… Read More