Many national brands with indirect sales channels such as franchisees, dealers, or resellers have allowed their channel marketing programs to run on autopilot. In truth, those programs — whether co-op, market development fund (MDF), or compliance — have the power to do much more. They just need some restyling. You and your partners can maximize […]
In the Expectation Age, brands face a herculean undertaking: managing and maximizing direct and indirect marketing channels to delight customers at every touchpoint. Customers demand a seamless buying experience, blurring the lines between B2B and B2C marketing efforts. Most brands struggle to deliver contextually relevant customer experiences. Data is siloed, messages get lost in the […]
Whether purchasing a cup of coffee or a fully loaded car, people expect outstanding experiences every time. We’ve grown enthusiastically reliant on technology to make our brand interactions richer and more satisfying. We can opt in or opt out. We can decide how and when we want to receive offers. We can even shape the […]
Today, nothing is more important to a customer than the experience; it can make or break brand affinity and loyalty. Because disruptors such as Amazon, Dollar Shave Club, and Warby Parker have heightened buyers’ expectations for every interaction, brands are no longer threatened solely by companies within their industries. Experience competition is real. Now consider that customers make no […]
In the Expectation Age, consumers demand frictionless experiences, whether they’re asking Alexa to deliver a pizza, using an app to summon a ride, or building their dream car online. Brands that meet these heightened expectations will win market share. Those that don’t will see their customers disappear. The complexities of the Expectation Age surge for […]
With innovation driving the pace of as-a-service (aaS) models, gone are the days when selling in the tech vertical is about effectively positioning and pricing easy-to-understand word processing solutions or printer hardware. As more companies like Cisco, Red Hat, and Microsoft emphasize the migration to recurring software subscription models, the role of channel partners must […]
Consumers consult Siri for answers, order a pizza from Alexa, and chat with Erica about a bank balance, putting a familiar name to responsive artificial intelligence (AI). In marketing, AI technology is gaining traction in the form of bots, computer programs that seamlessly complete automated tasks. By providing specific information in real time, bots help brands […]
These days, marketing to a single general population fails to speak to the ever-growing segment of multicultural consumers. Marketers worry that building a standalone multicultural or Hispanic program is too niche or will be underfunded. But they — and the brand — can’t afford to overlook these groups. Ethnic populations are increasing in numbers and consumer influence. […]
The new year is a good time for brands to review their business goals and evaluate the effectiveness of their existing marketing efforts across downward distribution channels. For a brand to see the benefits of a brand-to-local strategy, channel partners need to leverage every digital opportunity to increase visibility, engagement, and sales in the year […]
Customer expectations for service and experience have never been higher. Regardless of industry, consumers expect near perfection with every interaction, whether it’s a one-click pizza order or the ability to build a dream car online. A July 2018 study by research consulting firm BRP revealed that less than half of restaurants meet customer expectations for things like […]