B2B Marketers: ABM Gets a Shot in the Arm

B2B Marketers:  ABM Gets a Shot in the Arm

  Demandbase has acquired Engagio! ABM is a tool in every B2B marketer’s tool kit. I’ve been a proponent of Engagio since Jon Miller launched. This combination creates value for all stakeholders for its consolidation of thought leadership, technology platforms and market savvy. Why is this a great transaction: Brings consolidation for ABM in an ecosystem with thousands of  martech vendors Combines thought leadership from 2 market leaders Their platforms that fit together like hand and glove The combined platforms will marry Engagio’s strength in first party data integration with Demandbase’ ability to determine intent and use of AI as we transition to a do not sell environment ABM is a staple of every B2B marketer The combination will bring tried and true practices and techniques for B2B account management:  enhance client retention, enable stronger cross sell and promote Loyalty. Great news during challenging times!

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Marketing’s Digital Divide: It’s Just (Digital) Marketing

Marketing’s Digital Divide:  It’s Just (Digital) Marketing

This article, Marketing’s Digital Divide, discusses the evolution and revolution of marketing and the challenges many marketing organizations face in achieving the synergies of inbound and outbound marketing.  It also addresses the opportunity to enhance the professional development of marketers and marketing management. With a focus on optimizing the performance of one channel rather than testing and learning how channels influence each other, marketers are missing the opportunity to demonstrate how they can increase revenue growth and provide the customer experience expected.  With recommendations on organization design, approach to work, use of tools and commitment to data quality, the article identifies the benefits of organizing and working for an omni-channel world. In the end:  It’s Just digital Marketing.

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Panel Moderator at Chicago AMA MarketingTech Smart

Marianne Hewitt, Founder and Principal Consultant of The Growth Strategy Group and board member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Marketing Association (CAMA) responsible for Analytics and the MarTech SIG, moderated a panel at CAMA’s annual MarketingTech Smart Conference to summarize the day’s learnings. Takeaways from the panel discussion: Keep the MarTech stack simple (KISS).  While there are over 5,000 vendor products/solutions to choose from, there are only 6-8 core solutions needed to market (aka grow revenue) successfully. Content should reflect authenticity and transparency and, again, KISS. Last but not least, keep doing more with less and with a spirit of continuous improvement with a constant watch for alignment with vision and strategy.      

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ABM @ The North Shore (Chicago) Modern Marketers Forum May 11, 2017

The North Shore (Chicago) Modern Marketers Forum met recently to discuss Account Based Marketing (ABM) with Charlie Liang from Engagio leading the discussion. Having the technology to automate the account management targeting processes we’ve used in the consulting and software industries for some time is a real productivity boost. There is immediate benefit to all professional services subsectors and B2B businesses.

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‘Tis the Season for Modern Marketers

What an exciting week! Here in Las Vegas, Oracle’s Modern Customer Experience is underway.  Last night,  Chicago did well in the Markies with Morningstar (Best Lead Management program) and Avon (Best Overall Customer Experience) receiving honors. Those of you attending Marketo’s Summit in San Francisco, the speaker lineup is pretty awesome. If you can’t attend, register free for the keynotes which are being live streamed.   Steve Lucas’ keynote was visionary, inspiring and energizing. Last, but not least, Kellstadt Marketing Group’s 9th Annual Symposium TellAStory will be held on Saturday, April 29. Register. Key themes in all 3: CX including customer journey mapping and storytelling. The Engagement Economy. And, of course, ABM.

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Hewitt facilitates 2017 priorities for Chicago AMA’s MarTech SIG

Chicago AMA launched its new MarTech SIG (Special Interest Group) Thursday evening, April 6, 2017 at TangoCode in the West loop. The theme of the session was “Understanding end-to-end Marketing Technology Enablement”, the first of four MarTech SIGS to be conducted this year. The group of over 20 attendees was led by Marianne Hewitt, Growth Strategist and Marketing Technologist with The Growth Strategy Group.  Marketers’ budgets and priorities for 2017 were presented, MarTech was defined and its scope was discussed and, most importantly, the group was surveyed for preferred topics in the 3 remaining SIGS in 2017. Attendees overwhelmingly selected Customer Experience Analytics Content Marketing and Marketing Technologies as the highest priority topics of interest for future meetings. The date for the next SIG will be announced shortly and will be held during May or June. Chicago AMA introduced Charley Orwig as Director of SIGs at this event.  

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Marianne Hewitt panelist at KMG Digital Marketing Event

The Kellstadt Marketing Group staged another fabulous event for students and alumni on Friday February 24 at DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center in Chicago. The topics discussed by the power panel of marketers were Marketing Automation, SEO, Content Marketing, Social Media, mobile marketing and last, but not least, careers in digital marketing. About the panel. Anna Gong, President of KMG, produced the event. Register for KMG’s 9th Annual Marketing Symposium – #TellaStory

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