When we implement a website or an on-line marketing campaign for a client, I always make sure that I am copied personally on any correspondence that goes through from a potential customer to one of our clients. This is especially helpful in a number of different ways but foremost, it allows me to keep an eye on website activity and specifically, lead generation. One thing that has been apparent in the last couple of months is that direct leads are down– but they aren’t “out.” In fact, I had lunch yesterday with a potential new client who reads this blog regularly and picked up the phone to talk about her business. So let’s take a look at lead generation and how to be smarter in today’s economy. (more…)
Archive for the ‘email marketing’ Category
What good are leads if no one is buying?
Thursday, December 11th, 2008“Once again, we eat the sowing seed.”
Sunday, December 7th, 2008
“Once again, we eat the sowing seed.” I am attributing this quote to popular astronomer and author, Carl Sagan when asked to comment on NASA budget cuts during the recession of 1972. Whether it was Sagan or not is not the point– the point is “the eating of the sowing seed.” What is the sowing seed? It is the seed that is held back for replanting to grow future crops. Without “sowing seed” there is no future crop to harvest because those seeds weren’t planted. In Sagan’s illustration, we were eating for today what should have been planted for tomorrow.
NOW/TODAY is the time to build relationships with your customers. Consumers and businesses are tightening their belts and their budgets, but marketers need to look at today’s recession economy as an opportunity. Now is the ideal time to ramp up your efforts and build stronger relationships with your customers. (more…)
Did email win the election for Obama?
Monday, November 24th, 2008
Email is such a vital part of today’s marketing mix. Already, much has been written about President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign and its highly effective use of new media and direct marketing tactics to tap into and engage with a wide base of supporters. Many say this strategy gave Democrats the crucial edge needed to win this year’s election.
It wasn’t just Obama’s presidential campaign that used email effectively this year; it was the Democratic National Committee program as a whole. They followed email marketing best practices to engage and inform their subscribers, as well as solicit donations.
Here are a few lessons we can all take away from the DNC’s email program from the past year: (more…)
Keep the path clean to email conversions
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008When was the last time you signed up for your own emails? Perhaps better yet, when was the last time that you watched one of your parents sign up for your emails? Would they be able to do it — or would they get confused about certain elements of the process?