Sunday, December 30, 2018
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
Saturday, December 29, 2018
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
Friday, December 28, 2018
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
Thursday, December 27, 2018
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
People Without Google Accounts Can Now Collaborate on G Suite
Google has a new beta feature that will allow people without a Google account to work on G Suite documents. This will make sharing and collaboration easier and hopefully entice more people into giving G Suite a
Working on a project with different people is already a challenge, but things can become more complicated when some members use different platforms. Google wants to alleviate this dilemma by giving non-G Suite users a PIN number that will allow them access to Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Privacy settings will be determined by the account holder.
Google opens G Suite file access to non-Google users: https://t.co/4mygGUN3Ca pic.twitter.com/986DISbgCG
— PCMag (@PCMag) December 18, 2018
Google announced in an official blog post that they are “introducing a beta for an easy pincode identity verification process that will enable G Suite users to invite non-G Suite users to collaborate on files.”
Users will send their Google guests a pin code through their email. When the “visitor” clicks on the access link provided, they will see a login screen that will send a verification code to their inbox. Once the code has been activated, the visitor can view, comment, and edit Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
File owners will have total control on the access and sharing permissions. They can also track any changes made to the file and they have the ability to revoke access. Admins will have control of every external sharing made and audit usage.
According to the instructions on the tech giant’s Support page, administrators can set permissions by domain or department. There are also options for limiting what can be shared outside of whitelisted groups and domains.
The PIN feature is only available to select companies. Businesses that want to try out this new feature would have to sign up to become beta testers. They would also select the non-G Suite using organization they are working with. However, there is no guarantee that every company that signs up will be able to access the feature. Google will have to check every site to ensure that they’re legal. The company would then have to add a non-G Suite domain to a whitelist before the feature can work.
This new feature could open more doors to Google. Companies might be more amenable to signing up for G Suite since it allows users more freedom to work together with non-Google users. But whether Google’s new offering will make a dent on Microsoft’s hold on professional suites remains to be seen.
The post People Without Google Accounts Can Now Collaborate on G Suite appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/people-without-google-accounts-can-now-collaborate-on-g-suite/
What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things?
IBM Resilient CTO and security guru Bruce Schneier takes a look at the security risks of the Internet of Things in his latest video. He brings up an interesting and rather disconcerting point, IoT devices tend to do critical things like turn on and off power or drive your car, so preventing hacking is even more critical with IoT than typical computers.
During the writing of this article, I noticed that Bruce Schneier and other cybersecurity experts at IBM are offering a free webinar today on the overall subject of cyber security that you might also be interested in:
December 6, 2018, at 12:00 PM: The Resilient End of Year Review: The Top Cyber Security Trends in 2018 and Predictions for the Year Ahead
Bruce Schneier, CTO at IBM Resilient and Special Advisor at IBM Security, provided an overview of the IoT security threat in a recent IBM video:
What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things?
IoT devices are just computers so all the threats that we’re used to from the computer world get transferred into any IoT device. In addition, they tend to be low cost, not well designed, built offshore, so they have more vulnerabilities. They tend to be deeply embedded in networks and organizations so they have a lot of access. They often control physical processes.
They turn on and off the power, they drive your car, they’re medical devices, which means the effects of a hack can be much more dangerous. On the one hand, they’re exactly the same as computers. On the other hand, because of how they’re made and what they can do, they’re very different than computers.
How Will IoT Security Evolve in the Coming Years?
These are low-cost consumer devices in many cases and there’s not a lot of money or even market demand for security. I think two things will happen. I think there will be more security in some of the more expensive devices.
Of the cheaper devices, there will be other things that you could purchase to go on your network that will monitor them. We don’t really have them yet but I think that’s where the future is going. We have to assume there’ll be lots of cheaply made insecure IoT devices in every network. How do we get security on top of that?
Click Here to Kill Everybody
Schneier has a brand new book out that goes into the security risks of IoT in depth called, Click Here to Kill Everybody: Security and Survival in a Hyper-connected World.
Here’s how Bruce Schneier describes the IoT threat:
Everything is a computer. Ovens are computers that make things hot; refrigerators are computers that keep things cold. These computers—from home thermostats to chemical plants—are all online. The Internet, once a virtual abstraction, can now sense and touch the physical world.
As we open our lives to this future, often called the Internet of Things, we are beginning to see its enormous potential in ideas like driverless cars, smart cities, and personal agents equipped with their own behavioral algorithms. But every knife cuts two ways.
All computers can be hacked. And Internet-connected computers are the most vulnerable. Forget data theft: cutting-edge digital attackers can now crash your car, your pacemaker, and the nation’s power grid.
The post What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things? appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/ibm-resilient-security-iot-bruce-schneier/
[Infographic] 2019 Predictions & Trends for Fearless Marketers
2018 brought value over volume and evidence of fearless marketing all around the world. It brought marketers a seat at the revenue table. Now, the real question is: what are we going to do with it all? New beginnings, and therefore a new year, are always exciting to me. There’s a new calendar to fill with meetings, personal goals to crush, and ambitions to chase after. And of course, there’s also writing the previous year for a good six weeks before I stop having to say the date out loud as I write (Febru-ar-y 10, 2018 2019).
Around the office, the last quarter of the year is one filled with hope, planning, and pressure—pressure to deliver on your goals, set new ones, and finish the year strong. It’s a time when everyone at Marketo likes to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and outline our critical path to success for the coming year. Don’t forget to reflect on your past years’ successes and failures. Reflection is an important part of any planning period.
In our annual predictions piece, our global marketing team uncovers the best nuggets of wisdom they had to offer about what to expect with AI, digital marketing, and more. The highlights are below and will be sprinkled throughout our content in early 2019.
As you plan for your year, keep these predictions & trends in mind:
The post [Infographic] 2019 Predictions & Trends for Fearless Marketers appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/aifHEpT5iPA/infographic-2019-predictions-trends-for-fearless-marketers.html
5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV
These days, brands that want to be competitive in their niche will first have to accept two indisputable truths—most people prefer videos over every other type of content and consumers are spending more time on their mobile devices than ever before. In fact, one study showed that 69 percent of internet users watch digital media on their smartphones.
Brands should take advantage of this trend by making the most of digital media. One effective way of doing this would be through applications like IGTV. Instagram’s latest feature perfectly combines consumers love of watching videos with the strong appeal of social media.
IGTV is short for Instagram TV. Instagram users can now make their own channel where they can upload vertical videos. Unlike the short video clips of Stories, IGTV videos can run for up to an hour. This gives companies a new and novel way of marketing their product and developing their brand. Videos can be viewed on Instagram, but IGTV also has its own app that can be downloaded on laptops and other mobile devices.
Why Use IGTV
There are several key reasons why your brand should be using IGTV. For one, IGTV is designed specifically for use on mobile devices—in a vertical format and full screen. It’s also very intuitive. Videos play as soon as the app is opened, so you don’t have to browse or search long for what you want. The selected clips are based on the user’s interest. However, your followers are automatically linked to your video content. This means that you’ll already have a built-in audience that you can grow.
Utilizing IGTV can also mean great things for your business. Aside from pioneering a rising format, vertical videos via IGTV will also help you connect to your target market. It will also be easier for your brands to be discovered by potential clients. IGTV’s format is optimized for mobile devices, making it convenient for Instagram users.
More importantly, IGTV is developed around Instagram. This means you will have instant access to more than 1 billions active users on the social media network. The company is also considering implementing ads on this new platform, which makes now a good time to hop on the bandwagon.
5 Ways to IGTV to Boost Your Business
1. Give New Life to Previous Content
IGTV gives businesses the chance to utilize the content they already have. You can reuse the most popular videos that you have posted on Facebook and YouTube. Another way would be to live-stream previous recordings. You can also convert listicles, tips, and how-to blog posts into IGTV videos. This approach can help you reach a new audience while followers will be given a fresh look at an old topic.
2. Offer Exclusive Content
Use your IGTV channel to share exclusive content with your followers. Providing them with special content on a regular basis will help you to build a dedicated audience. You can share a behind-the-scenes look at product development and distribution, upload interviews with experts, or stream company events like expos, speaking engagements, and social gatherings.
3. Engage Directly With Customers
One of the best ways to engage customers is to talk to them directly while providing the information they need. When you show clients that your company is open and ready for answering questions and hearing concerns, you’ll build trust. You can do this by hosting a Q&A session. Use the questions sticker in Instagram stories to gather common customer questions and answer them in a video.
4. Share Your Expertise
Tutorials have become very popular on most social media platforms. With IGTV allowing users to post longer videos, your tutorials can be more detailed. Post videos that teach users new skills or explain processes. For instance, an eCommerce store that sells cameras can teach users how to set up lighting equipment and offer tips for optimizing photo quality.
5. Turn the Spotlight on Loyal Customers
Consumers are likely to believe their fellow customers even more than a well-executed ad. Take advantage of this by featuring some of your loyal customers on IGTV. They can tell viewers in their own words why they prefer your brand. You can even take it a step further by showing how they use your product or services.
IGTV is an effective method of sharing high-quality content with your present clients and target demographic. If your brand already has an Instagram account then you’re guaranteed IGTV followers immediately. This will ease the pressure of building an audience and leaves you free to develop better content that will boost your business.
[Featured image via Instagram]
The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Brand with IGTV appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-brand-with-igtv/
Monday, December 24, 2018
People Without Google Accounts Can Now Collaborate on G Suite
Google has a new beta feature that will allow people without a Google account to work on G Suite documents. This will make sharing and collaboration easier and hopefully entice more people into giving G Suite a
Working on a project with different people is already a challenge, but things can become more complicated when some members use different platforms. Google wants to alleviate this dilemma by giving non-G Suite users a PIN number that will allow them access to Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Privacy settings will be determined by the account holder.
Google opens G Suite file access to non-Google users: https://t.co/4mygGUN3Ca pic.twitter.com/986DISbgCG
— PCMag (@PCMag) December 18, 2018
Google announced in an official blog post that they are “introducing a beta for an easy pincode identity verification process that will enable G Suite users to invite non-G Suite users to collaborate on files.”
Users will send their Google guests a pin code through their email. When the “visitor” clicks on the access link provided, they will see a login screen that will send a verification code to their inbox. Once the code has been activated, the visitor can view, comment, and edit Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
File owners will have total control on the access and sharing permissions. They can also track any changes made to the file and they have the ability to revoke access. Admins will have control of every external sharing made and audit usage.
According to the instructions on the tech giant’s Support page, administrators can set permissions by domain or department. There are also options for limiting what can be shared outside of whitelisted groups and domains.
The PIN feature is only available to select companies. Businesses that want to try out this new feature would have to sign up to become beta testers. They would also select the non-G Suite using organization they are working with. However, there is no guarantee that every company that signs up will be able to access the feature. Google will have to check every site to ensure that they’re legal. The company would then have to add a non-G Suite domain to a whitelist before the feature can work.
This new feature could open more doors to Google. Companies might be more amenable to signing up for G Suite since it allows users more freedom to work together with non-Google users. But whether Google’s new offering will make a dent on Microsoft’s hold on professional suites remains to be seen.
The post People Without Google Accounts Can Now Collaborate on G Suite appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/people-without-google-accounts-can-now-collaborate-on-g-suite/
What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things?
IBM Resilient CTO and security guru Bruce Schneier takes a look at the security risks of the Internet of Things in his latest video. He brings up an interesting and rather disconcerting point, IoT devices tend to do critical things like turn on and off power or drive your car, so preventing hacking is even more critical with IoT than typical computers.
During the writing of this article, I noticed that Bruce Schneier and other cybersecurity experts at IBM are offering a free webinar today on the overall subject of cyber security that you might also be interested in:
December 6, 2018, at 12:00 PM: The Resilient End of Year Review: The Top Cyber Security Trends in 2018 and Predictions for the Year Ahead
Bruce Schneier, CTO at IBM Resilient and Special Advisor at IBM Security, provided an overview of the IoT security threat in a recent IBM video:
What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things?
IoT devices are just computers so all the threats that we’re used to from the computer world get transferred into any IoT device. In addition, they tend to be low cost, not well designed, built offshore, so they have more vulnerabilities. They tend to be deeply embedded in networks and organizations so they have a lot of access. They often control physical processes.
They turn on and off the power, they drive your car, they’re medical devices, which means the effects of a hack can be much more dangerous. On the one hand, they’re exactly the same as computers. On the other hand, because of how they’re made and what they can do, they’re very different than computers.
How Will IoT Security Evolve in the Coming Years?
These are low-cost consumer devices in many cases and there’s not a lot of money or even market demand for security. I think two things will happen. I think there will be more security in some of the more expensive devices.
Of the cheaper devices, there will be other things that you could purchase to go on your network that will monitor them. We don’t really have them yet but I think that’s where the future is going. We have to assume there’ll be lots of cheaply made insecure IoT devices in every network. How do we get security on top of that?
Click Here to Kill Everybody
Schneier has a brand new book out that goes into the security risks of IoT in depth called, Click Here to Kill Everybody: Security and Survival in a Hyper-connected World.
Here’s how Bruce Schneier describes the IoT threat:
Everything is a computer. Ovens are computers that make things hot; refrigerators are computers that keep things cold. These computers—from home thermostats to chemical plants—are all online. The Internet, once a virtual abstraction, can now sense and touch the physical world.
As we open our lives to this future, often called the Internet of Things, we are beginning to see its enormous potential in ideas like driverless cars, smart cities, and personal agents equipped with their own behavioral algorithms. But every knife cuts two ways.
All computers can be hacked. And Internet-connected computers are the most vulnerable. Forget data theft: cutting-edge digital attackers can now crash your car, your pacemaker, and the nation’s power grid.
The post What Are the Security Risks of the Internet of Things? appeared first on WebProNews.
from
https://www.webpronews.com/ibm-resilient-security-iot-bruce-schneier/
Sunday, December 23, 2018
[Infographic] 2019 Predictions & Trends for Fearless Marketers
2018 brought value over volume and evidence of fearless marketing all around the world. It brought marketers a seat at the revenue table. Now, the real question is: what are we going to do with it all? New beginnings, and therefore a new year, are always exciting to me. There’s a new calendar to fill with meetings, personal goals to crush, and ambitions to chase after. And of course, there’s also writing the previous year for a good six weeks before I stop having to say the date out loud as I write (Febru-ar-y 10, 2018 2019).
Around the office, the last quarter of the year is one filled with hope, planning, and pressure—pressure to deliver on your goals, set new ones, and finish the year strong. It’s a time when everyone at Marketo likes to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and outline our critical path to success for the coming year. Don’t forget to reflect on your past years’ successes and failures. Reflection is an important part of any planning period.
In our annual predictions piece, our global marketing team uncovers the best nuggets of wisdom they had to offer about what to expect with AI, digital marketing, and more. The highlights are below and will be sprinkled throughout our content in early 2019.
As you plan for your year, keep these predictions & trends in mind:
The post [Infographic] 2019 Predictions & Trends for Fearless Marketers appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/aifHEpT5iPA/infographic-2019-predictions-trends-for-fearless-marketers.html
How to Survive and Thrive This Holiday Season and Beyond
Some businesses reportedly get 18 to 20% of their annual sales between Thanksgiving and the cut-off date for Christmas delivery, so there is pressure and monetary incentive to make sure those few weeks run as smoothly as possible. Owners must keep up with demand while managing depleted budgets, employees’ holiday vacation time, and the ever-increasing costs to keep up with it all.
All that said, the holidays can be a boon for business. Black Friday, named for the day when retailers move out of the red and into the black, promotes spending across the board, from gift shops to restaurants and B2B to B2C organizations.
Here’s how businesses can make the most of the holiday season so you can keep it in mind for next year. You don’t have to wait though—many of these tips can be implemented now for a financially stable start to 2019.
B2B Tips and Tricks
According to a 2017 Harvard Business Review report, “the number of people involved in B2B solutions purchases has climbed from an average of 5.4 two years ago to 6.8 today.” Competition is stiff, but savvy B2B businesses can stand out from the crowd by following this advice:
Move Pipeline Up in the Year
When businesses focus on boosting sales numbers early in the year, they can turn increased holiday revenue into a bonus, rather than a necessity. No profits are ever promised so this strategy can help safeguard against any negative holiday season surprises.
Digital agency PMG advises B2B companies to plan strategic launches: “Try to avoid launching big-splash branding campaigns or any campaigns backed by a significant investment during November and December. These would be better scheduled at the top of the new year or between summer and fall. The campaign is likely to have a better impact on your marketing strategy and hit your KPI goals outside of peak holiday season.” And if businesses still have open pipeline from these launches going into November or December, they would do well to close as much as possible by the 20th of each month to avoid haggling with prospects during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Focusing on Converting Existing Opportunities Over Driving New Leads
Especially at the end of the year, it can be more efficient and fruitful to nurture existing opportunities than to try to create net new leads that likely won’t close by the end of the year. B2B organizations are selling to other businesses that are also scrambling to balance budgets by the end of the year, so they likely won’t be as motivated to explore new business opportunities. They will, however, want to tie up any loose ends to deals they have been considering, and get time- and money-saving solutions in place by January. This means that they may be more ready, willing, and able to convert if the relationship has already been established.
Make the Most of End-of-Year Budgeting
Businesses with outstanding budgets will likely need to spend the balances before Dec. 31. So focus the last of those dollars around closing deals for this calendar year by identifying those lead sources that close quickly, and those with longer sales cycles that can close in the following year. Put a holiday pause on the channels that won’t move the needle before the end of the year, and funnel that money into another channel that is more likely to deliver quick wins, especially when bolstered by extra financial support. “It’s important to be tactical about which channels you’re investing in for your holiday media mix,” PMG notes. “Costs spikes for programmatic, social and native channels are inevitable as retailers up their bids in hopes of getting in front of more customers.”
B2C Tips and Tricks
B2C companies have the advantage of casting a wide net to consumers eager to spend during the holidays. But at the same time, consumers have countless businesses to consider spending with as they shop. Here’s how they can shine during the holiday season:
Use Social Media
Knowing that companies may head to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote the latest specials or flash sales, consumers will likely be even more tuned into social media during the holidays than they are the rest of the year. Plus, they’ll have shopping in the back of their minds at all times, always keeping an eye out for gift ideas and stocking stuffers for friends and family. Companies that choose to create campaigns that fulfill customer needs instead of adding to the holiday noise will succeed over those riding the coat tails of the holiday season. They evoke emotions and promote sharing, sometimes even connecting people with their loved ones, or partnering with a charitable organization.”
Seasonal Decorations and Attractions
Sometimes all it takes is a little holiday spirit to attract customers during the holiday season. B2C businesses should consider adding some holiday promotions and decorations to get everyone in the spirit of spending, from adding seasonal decor to giving discounts or special gifts to anyone who spends over a certain amount.
Host a Holiday Event
B2C companies should consider hosting a holiday party that aligns with their brand. An after-hours gathering or daytime soiree can encourage customers to show up, bring friends, and take advantage of exclusive deals for attendees. People who experience memorable moments with the brand are likely to become loyal customers for life.
The post How to Survive and Thrive This Holiday Season and Beyond appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/sZVVwTtETiU/how-to-survive-and-thrive-this-holiday-season-and-beyond.html
28 Remarkable Sales Stats Leaders Need to Know for 2019
It’s that time of year when sales, marketing, and business pundits share predictions for what’s to come in 2019. You can hardly open a website, newspaper, or social media site without reading someone’s forecast.
Everyone has their own opinion for what the year ahead holds. These opinions vary widely, many times contradicting one another. This leaves sales leaders scratching their heads trying to figure out where the opportunities are for their organization and what they need to prepare for going forward.
To cut through the opinions and projections, with research from the RAIN Group Center for Sales Research, we share cold hard facts from buyers, sellers, and sales leaders.
Here is what to keep in mind as you prepare for the year ahead:
The Sales Stats You Need to Know
- Buyers report that 58% of their meetings with sellers are not valuable.
- The number one factor separating sales winners from the closest second-place finisher is the winner educated the buyer with new ideas and perspectives.
- Only 36% of sales organizations have individuals with the sales skills to consistently bring new ideas to their buyers.
- Value driving sales organizations are much more likely to:
- Grow revenue: 90%
- Have higher win rates: 54% compared to 46%
- Experience lower undesired turnover (i.e. losing top sales talent): 27% compared to 39%
- Only 17% of companies report that their sales training is effective.
- Top performers are nearly 2X more likely to rate their sales training as effective.
- Top performers are 1.6X more likely to have good or excellent investment and focus on sales training.
- 66% of top performing sales organizations prioritize developing sellers to be valuable to buyers versus only 39% of companies outside of the top performer category.
- 77% of elite performers, 61% of top performers, and only 32% of the rest agree that they are effective in maximizing sales to existing accounts.
- 65% of top performers agree that their sellers have the skills needed to drive account growth, versus 43% of those who do not fall in the top performer category.
- 70% of companies have existing accounts willing to collaborate.
- 77% of top performers agree that making phone calls to existing accounts is an effective prospecting tactic.
- 66% of companies do not believe their managers have the skills needed to manage and coach sellers.
- Elite performers are 2.4X more likely to agree that sales managers are effective at maximizing selling energy.
- Only 27% of companies agree that they have processes to coach their strategic account managers to be most effective.
- 28% of companies agree that they are effective at holding strategic account managers accountable.
- Only 25% of companies agree that they build effective plans to grow and protect strategic accounts.
- 82% of top performing sales organizations agree that they set challenging sales goals.
- 100% of top performing sales organizations meet their sales goals.
- 100% of the top 5% of salespeople have written goals, compared to only 16% of the bottom 5%.
- 71% of companies do not believe their sellers manage their time and day effectively.
Placing Value at the Center
There’s a trend that ties many of these findings together: value. Value is not only one of the 9 keys to B2B sales success, but also at the center of the sales competency wheel.
Want to achieve greater sales results in 2019? Put value at the center of your sales and account development process. Infuse value in everything you do, and watch what happens.
The post 28 Remarkable Sales Stats Leaders Need to Know for 2019 appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/YI6EI5B1vPQ/28-remarkable-sales-stats-leaders-need-to-know-for-2019.html
How to Improve Lead Generation with Microsurveys
What Are Microsurveys?
Generating marketing qualified leads is one of the highest priorities for innovative marketing professionals. However, over 50% of marketers admit struggling with lead generation. If this sounds familiar, then you probably also know that the key to generate well-qualified leads and move them through the funnel faster is to get to know them better and use the data to drive smarter marketing campaigns. One idea is to use data enrichment tools. However, they won’t give you the information about goals, challenges, pain points, and interests of your prospects. That’s why you need to conduct surveys. Unfortunately, lengthy and un-engaging questionnaires often experience low response rates.
Truth be told, most of us don’t enjoy taking surveys if we’re honest. But as marketers, we somehow still believe they’re going to answer our 10 plus-question forms.
People are busy, and they don’t like getting emails with “Do you have five minutes to answer our survey?” questions. They expect you to respect their time. Does this mean you should give up on surveys? Absolutely not!
Customer feedback is essential for running effective smart campaigns and converting leads into customers. You can gather insights faster and more efficiently if you forget about questionnaires and leverage microsurveys instead.
A microsurvey is a very brief form of a survey that usually consists of up to three questions, and can be fully answered in under one to two minutes. Simply put, it is quick to create and short to answer. You can embed it in your email, on your website, or in your mobile app.
How Do Microsurveys Differ from Traditional Questionnaires?
Along with digital transformation, how we conceptualize and execute surveys changed. Everything in our communication is trending toward micro; from five-minute videos toward six-second stories and long forms into short surveys. The extended customer journey brings the opportunity to focus on in-the-moment research. Using microsurveys at different moments of the buyer’s journey lets us find out more about our prospects, personalize our campaigns, and convert leads into customers faster.
The problem with questionnaires is that you can’t make them a smooth part of your communication because by default, they are placed on separate landing pages. A microsurvey can come in the form of a short email survey or a widget floating directly on your website, as well as in your mobile app. In a micro-email survey, the first question should be embedded directly in your email. It improves response rate by eliminating the first step of traditional surveys, which is only pasting the link to your survey and asking your audience to take it.
What Are the Benefits of Their Implementation in Marketing Automation?
In marketing automation, receiving survey results fast is very important. You can choose a tool that smoothly integrates with your engagement platform and sends results in real-time. This way, you can act on feedback quickly by automating smart campaigns. Such a solution also saves your time, enabling you to keep all the insights saved in your prospects’ individual profiles, in one database.
Still, the biggest benefit of microsurveys is that they enable you to connect with prospects precisely at the moment they interact with your website in a given way, or at a specific moment after they receive your email. All this makes your surveys relevant, as you can achieve a much higher response rate than in the case of questionnaires.
Microsurveys tend to be more focused and targeted than traditional research. If you can only inquire about a couple pieces of information at once, you focus on asking more precise questions. Your survey insights become more in-depth and meaningful, so your work doesn’t go to waste. Initially, some marketers assume that a short study means less information, but in reality, it is quite the contrary. Microsurveys open the doors to more frequent interaction with current and potential customers, which aligns perfectly with a longer and more complex customer journey, and opens up the possibility to run broader research.
Generating Leads with Microsurveys
To incorporate microsurveys in your lead generation and nurturing strategy, you should start by looking for touchpoints during your customers’ journey. These points of interaction are the perfect opportunity to gather some of the most valuable insights. These, in turn, can be used to convert contacts into hot MQLs. While every customer journey is a little different, there are some typical, recurring moments when asking for insights seems very natural.
Pain Points
The first step to identify MQLs is asking your first-time website visitors about the challenges and problems they want to solve with your product. You can quickly learn the answers if you target a microsurvey, and embed it directly on your website. It is wise to place it on a high-traffic landing page, like your homepage, because that’s the first touch point they interact with. The same website survey also allows you to ask for their contact details, like email, and other relevant information, such as the industry or department they work at.
Relevant Content
Once you identify your visitors’ pain points, you can automate smart campaigns with relevant content about solutions to their challenges. Of course, this is not the end of your research. Remember to add microsurveys to your email campaigns to get even more valuable information. Ask about the kind of content, topics, and formats they need, and create them. Maybe they’d like to read a case study with someone who faced similar challenges, or maybe they prefer a full guide ebook with some theory, best practices, and use cases? Find out and deliver content tailored to their needs. Use microsurveys to create an excellent experience.
Once you provide your audience with educational content, you can also ask about their budget, when will they be ready to buy, or who’s in charge of the purchase decision. Their answers will help you assess if they are ready for the sales pitch.
Sales Enablement
Moving further, there’s finally a step when people browse through your pricing page. But what actions can you take if they don’t complete the purchase? One option is to embed an exit survey to your website and ask, “What’s stopping you from completing the purchase?” This question gives you invaluable insight into what’s blocking your potential customers from buying from you and gives you the opportunity to take the necessary steps to convert them into customers. If they are not sure how to use your product, offer them a demo, or a training course. Offer them a discount or a free trial if your survey participants feel that the price is too high. If they are thinking about choosing your competitor, send them a solid case study with an important customer. Act on their feedback to adjust your offer, and create a “wow” effect.
If someone signed up for a trial to test your product, you can—and should—send them an email satisfaction survey, like NPS, to find out whether they like your product, and if they are going to convert into customers. The results will show you who is ready to buy your product and is likely to be your promoter. It’s a good practice to run NPS research regularly, for instance once per quarter, to find out how the level of their experience changes in time.
How to Target Your Microsurveys
The power of microsurveys is that you can target them very precisely. You can interact with your prospects exactly at the moment they are engaged in any action on your website, or when they are reading your emails. You can survey visitors as soon as they land on your website. All types of visitors can be surveyed—new, returning, or known names in your marketing automation platform— as well as those coming from a specific source. You can also embed survey questions in your smart email campaigns to continuously gather insights. Targeting your surveys is the key to getting quality feedback.
Expand Your Reach Across Digital Touch Points
What is great about microsurveys is that you can also use them to run your research across all digital touch points. It means that you can reach your prospects exactly where they are, at the moment of their engagement—no matter where they are. Note that not every one of these channels will be good for your case. Be sure to A/B test to determine what works for you. Some groups of customers are more likely to respond to email surveys, while some prefer to answer questions when they are using your mobile app. There is no “one size fits all.” Remember to integrate microsurveys with marketing automation software to quickly act on feedback. Taking action on received insights is the key to generate hot MQLs.
Microsurveys for Customers to Improve Customer Lifecycle
Even after you’ve successfully converted MQLs into SQLs, and finally, into customers, there’s still a lot you can do to improve your customer retention. Don’t stop gathering insights once they become customers. Use surveys to delight your customers and to show that you care.
In your email campaigns, ask your clients about additional features they would like to find in your product. If you’re receiving similar feedback, that information will help your product team create something your customers are looking for. You can also ask about other types of products or services they need and automate smart campaigns with a tailored offer.
An interesting survey use case, which will help you improve your customer’s experience is measuring their satisfaction after a specific interaction with your company, such as a customer service experience. You can do that by sending them an email survey just after a customer service case is closed. This will help you identify strong and weak points during the support process, as well as assess the performance of the support team.
Surveys are a great way to glean information that can contribute to important business decisions. Be sure to share your results with your entire team.
Do you gather feedback from your prospects and measure your customers’ satisfaction? Have you ever used microsurveys, or are you using longer form questionnaires? Share your opinion and your use case below!
The post How to Improve Lead Generation with Microsurveys appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/kI1GGUz3Bhg/how-to-improve-lead-generation-with-microsurveys.html
Solving Sales & Marketing Alignment Challenges with Insights from 80 Marketing Leaders
Marketers around the globe have issues aligning with their sales teams to create a true partnership. But there are ways to ease the burden and create a working partnership that creates a better customer experience. At our recent Marketing Nation Engage event, marketing leaders gathered to learn. One of the most significant opportunities we found was in creating a sales and marketing partnership to better facilitate alignment.
Here’s what marketing leaders find most challenging about sales and marketing alignment and what they recommend to solve these problems:
Accountability
Being a marketer can be tough. Not only does marketing have a full plate of responsibilities to fulfill, but they’re also expected to keep sales in a happy place. Marketing often generates lots of high-quality leads, only for them not to be followed up on by sales.
Holding sales accountable starts with set responsibilities, education, and SLAs. If it remains an issue, marketing can run reports on sales follow up, and bring it to the attention of sales leaders if necessary. Another way to get sales to pull their weight is to frame alignment in terms of things they want: better leads, a smoother process, and more deals closed.
Lead Definition
Another problem marketing teams face is generating leads only to turn around and hear sales claim that they would have gotten them anyway, greatly undermining the department’s efforts and credibility. This problem stems from a common lack of distinction from sales and marketing leads. Does sales know what an MQL is, and do they care? You have to get stakeholders together regarding the implementation of technology and establish what each team will own. Everyone must buy in, from the CFO to the CRO, head of sales, and CMO.
There is also a big change when you can move from lead generation to account-based marketing. Teams can unlock success by working together upfront, crafting a joint strategy for target accounts, and figuring out how marketing can help sales get into them. Practicing ABM forces sales and marketing to be aligned if they want to achieve results.
Lead Nurture
Marketing needs to drive lead nurture, not just single activity interactions. It can be tempting to hand over leads to sales too early after a single engagement or form-fill. Scoring leads helps prevent premature handoff by assessing readiness and providing prioritization. Take the time to learn and evaluate prospects and their engagements to that sales has the proper insights and the right content to reach out. Ultimately, until leads are sufficiently qualified, sales will not be interested. Having sales and marketing sitting next to each other helps facilitate these communications.
Measurement
If you can’t define and quantify how marketing helps sales, your contributions are meaningless. Marketing success should be measured based on revenue and pipeline attribution, which will come from closed deals from inbound leads. To get there, both teams must be upfront about what has worked (and what hasn’t), along with what needs to be followed up on by the sales team.
Inputting Data
Sales buy-in can be an issue because they don’t always get automation. They’re not always involved in data inputting and often have limited experience. For instance, getting sales to update Salesforce can be a considerable challenge. If done properly, Salesforce data can illuminate marketing contributions to sales. To get ahead of this, you need to educate early on and come up with quick wins for them. For instance, hold weekly meetings with Salesforce dashboards, giving reps the chance to run through who their leads are, how they’ve communicated with them, and when meetings are occurring.
Sales + Marketing Alignment = Partnership = Success
Keeping sales happy can make or break the success of marketing automation, and thus the effectiveness of marketing, so getting to a state of alignment is crucial. Only when sales and marketing are on the same page can you maximize customer-centricity, creating a seamless journey from lead to customer.
The post Solving Sales & Marketing Alignment Challenges with Insights from 80 Marketing Leaders appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.
from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/ho4SqFH6O0A/solving-sales-marketing-alignment-challenges-with-insights-from-80-marketing-leaders.html