“What is inbound marketing and how does it work?” This typically is the first question that our consultants have to answer when speaking to a prospective client. And since inbound marketing underpins what we do, we are always prepared to respond to tough questions about the likes of sales funnel integration, web analytics and social ROI.
We have, of course, dedicated dozens of blogs to the what, the how and the why of inbound marketing. But as we strongly believe in the adage that an image is worth (at least) a thousand words, we dug up this very handy infographic produced by IMPACT Branding & Design - presented in a clear, compelling way, it encapsulates the inbound process in its entirety. Enjoy! (more…)
In this three-part interview for Brightfire, Microsoft UK’s Chief Envisioning Officer, aka Director of Search, talks about the future of technology, winning the trust of consumers, the EU cookie law and the latest Microsoft products and services. (more…)
Brightfire’s Business Development Director on working with technology companies, the benefits of inbound strategies and the future of digital marketing (more…)
Direct mail, cold calling, newspaper and magazine one-pagers, TV and radio commercials, leaflets and flyers, or in other words, what we call ‘traditional marketing’… These techniques were incredibly useful when it came to advertising your product. Launching a new aftershave? Simply open the cheque book and start spending!
In the ‘Mad Men’ days of old, the more you spent on an advertising campaign, the more successful it was going to be. All you had to do was get your TV ad as many slots as possible, make sure your print ad was in every magazine around and buy the biggest billboard space known to man. Now traditional marketing just isn’t cutting it and social media is knocking the big bird off its perch.
Here’s what social media brings to the table:
As we prepare to see off 2011, some have better reasons to crack open the bottle of champagne than others. It’s been yet another challenging year for marketing teams the world over, who have had to keep abreast of all the goings-on and novelties of the digital era in a race to increase web traffic, raise brand awareness and generate leads. And naturally, those on the cutting edge of online marketing are the ones who will toast their success as they ring in 2012.
Whether you have reasons to celebrate or not, there’s always more you can do to improve your marketing performance and results, without having to shell out buckets of cash on expensive advertising campaigns. Here are three key mini-strategies to infuse into your 2012 marketing mix.
Set your brand newsroom in motion
How many times in 2011 did you see the word “content” alongside business terms such as marketing, revenue and lead generation? Brand storytelling has turned into a buzz activity – but while it is often considered a one-hit wonder, producing compelling content with the rigour and care of a traditional publisher has become a necessity for businesses looking to attract consumers in the glut of voices of the digital space. A report by eMarketer predicts that 39% of companies will increase their investment in branded content in 2012.
In a previous post we explained why businesses should be getting ready for the Google+ experience even before Google rolls out the much-awaited business accounts. Today we’ll do a run-down of all the features that make Google+ such an important player in the social media arena.
So here are the key segments that make up the newest social media platform. Read this blog post and you will quickly understand what Google+ is all about (if you haven’t done so yet).
Circles enable Google+ users to define where their contacts sit in relation to the type of content they will be publishing to share with groups. For example, if you work in technology and regularly post updates on the latest iPhone, you can create a circle labelled ‘Technology’.
Econsultancy’s Quarterly Digital Intelligence Briefing found that even though companies are generally happy to embrace content marketing, the majority are still learning the ropes. Nearly half of the survey respondents admit they have not quite mastered the art of digital marketing, with only 21% saying they are “excellent” or “good” at it.
What is the reason behind these statistics? Why are you not converting leads to clients when you tweet every day, blog three times a week and regularly update your Facebook Business Page?
According to the report, while some companies have reaped the benefits of a ‘just do it’ attitude to social media engagement, many have held back from it due to the challenges of measuring the effect of social media interaction on brand sentiment.
While it is understandable that CFOs in general would still be reluctant to fork out money on activities that lack tangible value, there are in fact tools that can precisely gauge the impact of company blogs and social media engagement on brand awareness and sentiment.
Want to spread your word to far-flung corners of the Earth while keeping your carbon footprint in check? With global communication and spending increasingly moving online, this is not only possible, but more easily attainable – and did we mention cheaper? – than ever. Read on to learn how to bolster your visibility, brand awareness and sales overseas.
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As HubSpot reaches the grand old age of 5 years old it is incredible to look back at how much they have achieved. HubSpot have revolutionised the face of internet marketing, enabling businesses across the world to grow their audience, generate leads automatically and close more sales. Their Inbound Marketing solutions offer a long term formula for successful internet marketing in the digital age. After securing $32million funding in March 2011 from Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Salesforce.com, it went on to win nine awards during June alone. It is easy to understand why HubSpot’s customer following grows each day.
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LinkedIn is the largest professional social network online today with over an astounding 100 million registered users! There is no other social networking site where you have a greater chance of being able to interact with an influential decision maker. Follow these five steps to learn how to widen your connections, expand you network and ultimately make the most out of your LinkedIn Profile.
