Category Archives: B2B Marketing

Email Critique: Adobe Webcast Invite Keeps It Simple

I’ve praised Adobe’s marketing design before in this space, and the email below is yet another example of how a well-constructed brand standard can work equally well across multiple media. In this case, an invitation to download a recorded Webcast, Adobe combines a clean email design with clear, concise selling… Read More

Why Companies Buy Marketing Automation Software

Recently, Lauren Carlson of research site Software Advice wrote a very perceptive and timely piece entitled “Tailwinds for Marketing Automation Software” about the broader market trends that, in her view, are driving the increased adoption of marketing automation technology. Two of the key trends she identifies include (I’m paraphrasing): *… Read More

21 Tips & Other Impressions from the Marketo User Summit

Earlier this week, Marketo, the marketing automation company, held its second ever user conference in San Francisco. As a Marketo agency partner, I attended along with colleagues from Spear Marketing Group to greet clients, talk shop, and hear how other companies – including Marketo themselves – are putting technology to… Read More

What Response Rate Should I Expect From My Campaign?

On Focus.com, Adam asks: ““What percentage success rate do people (expect from) direct mail campaigns? We (get) 7% response rate when marketing to existing customers and 2% to new customers.” My response: It’s a cop out, I know, but there is no right answer to this question or to its… Read More

Q4 Marketing Budget: 4 Key Areas to Consider

In B2B circles, Q4 is historically a time of year when marketing spend picks up. Sales teams need the push to meet year-end numbers, whilst at other companies, spending marketing dollars in Q4 is simply a matter of “use it or lose it.” Even with the recession now officially over,… Read More

Does Renting Email Lists Make Sense Any More?

I wrote recently in this space about the resurgence of direct mail as a viable outbound component to an integrated demand generation strategy. Most of that resurgence is due to the benefits of using direct mail on its own merits, but there’s another factor: the greatly diminished effectiveness of rented… Read More