"Contentric" Circles

Our first ever B2B Inspiration Tour comes to a to a close tomorrow in Seattle, and this is one event you don't want to miss! Where else can you hear about cutting-edge research on the state of demand generation from Mathew Sweezey and SiriusDecisions’ Jason Hekl, and be inspired by stories of real-life client success using today’s advanced tools and strategies?

And even better--this half-day event is FREE!

Our first three events were a huge success, with hundreds of marketers in Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco coming out to learn about the newest industry trends and research, and to share...

Although much of the interactive world was focused on SXSW in Austin this week—and then New York for the Galaxy S 4 launch—the news did not slow down for a moment. Luckily, the Content Marketing team at ExactTarget is here to help you stay on top of what’s important!

We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories that caught our eye this week:

Facebook Working on Incorporating the Hashtag (Wall Street Journal)

Samsung Galaxy S 4 Compared (Mashable)

Facebook Unveils Revamped Timeline (MediaPost)

Wh...

We all know how hard it is to keep up with breaking news in the world of cross-channel marketing. Luckily, the Content Marketing team at ExactTarget is here to help!

We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories that caught our eye this week:

Face-Lift at Facebook, to Keep Its Users Engaged (New York Times)

Google Plus Announces Redesign One Day Before Facebook’s Announcement (AllFacebook)

Facebook Admits Teens are Tiring of the Social Network; Turning to “Cooler” Apps (UK Daily Mail)

16 Ways...

If you're looking for a new job and you happen to be in Austin for the weekend, Pizza Hut just might have an opportunity for you.

On Sunday, March 10, the pizza chain will be at SXSW searching for a new social media manager--or, as they call it, "Manager of Digital Greatness." Of course, there's an interesting twist: each interview will last just 140 seconds. Yep, that's less than 3 minutes to convince an interviewer you're the best candidate for the job--because if you can sell yourself in 140 seconds, you can probably sell the company in 140 characters on Twitter.

When I first heard about this...

We all know how hard it is to keep up with breaking news in the world of cross-channel marketing. Luckily, the Content Marketing team at ExactTarget is here to help!

We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories that caught our eye this week:

Facebook Buzz About “Best Picture” Oscar Nominees is Way Up This Year (Mashable)

17 (Mostly Failed) Brand Tweets from the Oscars (Convince & Convert)

What Makes Streamers Abandon Video Content? (eMarketer)

How to Tell a Visual Story (Even You, B2B) (Marketing...

The Burger King Hack (and Jeep, too!)… the “Harlem Shake” viral craze… the end of Hotmail… and mobile, mobile, and more mobile! It’s practically impossible to keep up with the news in the world of cross-channel marketing.

Luckily, the Content Marketing team here at ExactTarget is here to help! We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories that caught our eye this week:

Jeep, BK Hacks Shine Light on Twitters’ Treatment of Marketers (Ad Age)

STUDY: How Are Top Brands Using Instagram? (AllFaceboo...

You've launched your mobile program, and fine-tuned to increase customer engagement. Your mobile program is finally in full swing, and you’re looking to create highly personalized messages that are consistent across all areas of your business. Since you know your customer lifecycle well, why not seize the opportunity to streamline interactions using mobile?

Here are some ideas to create a truly engaging mobile experience in months 7-9.

Empower customers to interact with your brand in real-time. Mobile doesn’t have to be a one way conversation—a simple text response allows subscribers to tell...

Once you've got your mobile program up and running, you want customers to feel engaged and have an opportunity to interact with your brand on the spot. And as your mobile efforts mature, it’s critical to provide relevant and dynamic information that keeps subscribers wanting more.

Here are some ideas to help spark real-time customer engagement in your second three months.

Increase real-time mobile interactions. Mobile isn’t just about gaining email opt-ins anymore, so it’s important to continue growing your program in other ways. Consider creating a mobile voting campaign or text-in survey to...

When you’re just starting to put your mobile strategy into action, email is probably your bread and butter for reaching customers. At this stage, using mobile to beef up your email list is a good first step—but there’s plenty more you can do to get your mobile program off the ground!

Here are some ideas to help jump-start your mobile efforts during the first few months.

Grow your email opt-in list via mobile. If gaining email opt-ins is your goal, then create plenty of opt-in opportunities via text message—like, “Text JOIN and youremail@address.com to 12345 to subscribe to our program”—or add an...

Ever wonder whether anyone is actually listening to the messages you communicate through email and social media? Try making an unwelcome change to your most popular product and you just might find out!

That’s exactly what happened last week when bourbon distiller Maker’s Mark made a cross-channel announcement that they would reduce the alcohol content of their signature bourbon from 45% to 42% (90 proof to 84 proof), in order to avoid shortages in the face of increasing demand. The company first approached its most loyal customers (called “Ambassadors”) via email, then followed up with a letter...

“Nemo” the blizzard… the end of Hotmail… the Grammys… opinions on Twitter Vine… and meteors! It’s practically impossible to keep up with the email, mobile, and social media news as it happens.

Luckily, the Content Marketing team here at ExactTarget is here to help! We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories that caught our eye this week:

Starbucks Pushes “Snow Day” on Facebook, Twitter (AdWeek)

7 Social Media Lessons from the Grammys (cNet)

Content Marketing with Instagram: 5 Takeaways from...

STRATEGY OVERVIEW
Social and mobile go hand-in-hand—literally. According to our Mobile Dependence Day report, nearly 60% of smartphone owners in the United States use their phones to visit social networking sites daily—and, in some cases, “constantly throughout the day.”

Make sure you’re taking advantage of all that mobile activity on Facebook, Twitter, and other popular social media sites.

HOW TO PUT IT IN ACTION
This strategy really starts with social—so that’s where we’ll start, too:

1. First, gain a thorough understanding of best practices for marketing on Facebook and Twitter. For tips, check...

In the fast-moving world of cross-channel marketing, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the news as it happens. Luckily, the Content Marketing team here at ExactTarget is here to help! We’re always on the lookout for fresh, interesting content, to help you stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends.

Here are a few of the top stories, posts, and other content that caught our eye this week:

World Internet Stats: Websites, Email, Social Media, and More (Marketing Profs)

Case Study: Where's the Best Place to Put Your CTA? (Unbounce)

10 Tools for Creating Infographics and Visualizations (SEOmoz)

9...

STRATEGY OVERVIEW
Regardless of whether you decide to implement SMS into your cross-channel marketing mix, mobile adoption affects other elements of your campaigns—especially email. And, there’s a lot to consider when building mobile-friendly email campaigns:

• Knowing your audience. Sure, more and more people are using mobile. But are your subscribers?
• Optimizing content and design for context. It’s best to think about the environment your email is being viewed in, not the specific device being used or email client sending the message. For example, mobile users are more likely to be...

Social sign-in made headlines (at least in the world of online marketing) late last year when eMarketer reported that Facebook is the most popular source of social sign-ins. Our own Susan Marshall commented on this in her post, “The Power of Social Login.”

The takeaway for marketers? You may be losing prospects if you don’t offer social sign-in.

But for me personally… I have to admit that social sign-in kind of freaks me out. Let’s just say I’m not comfortable with the level of sharing that often accompanies those little “Sign In Using…” buttons.

I understand the benefits—I can easily share...

Today’s consumers are mobile—there’s no way around it. They’re constantly on-the-go, sending and receiving communications of all types, and they expect that information will be (literally) in-hand at all times. This week I’ll be providing more tips and instructions to build a mobile program that complements your cross-channel strategy and promotes consumer engagement.

These tips might seem simple, but remember – powerful mobile marketing doesn’t have to be complex!

STRATEGY OVERVIEW:

In order to remain top-of-mind and drive overall campaign success, it’s essential that you engage consumers across...

STRATEGY OVERVIEW:
Providing superior service for your customers should be your number one priority. But keeping your customers satisfied can be challenging and requires ongoing maintenance. That’s why SMS can be an invaluable weapon in your marketing arsenal during those times when it’s necessary to get a quick communication out to your customers.

By launching an SMS response program, you make your customer service representatives available to assist your most critical customer interactions and provide a more convenient experience for those choosing to accept assistance via SMS. It’s a win-win...

STRATEGY OVERVIEW:
Account activity alerts allow organizations to send convenient updates to their customers’ mobile phones. Customers can then request specific message types like automatic payment, direct deposit confirmations, overdraft alerts, and more.

This type of alert has become a principle mode of communication for many financial organizations including banks, credit unions, and investment firms, but is also critical for retailers and other organizations that maintain loyalty memberships.

HOW TO PUT IT IN ACTION:
Account activity alerts are driven by subscriber data like account numbers,...

Today’s tip is similar to yesterday’s use case, and it provides another great opportunity to build your subscriber base. The difference is the channel in which you deliver your communications—instead of email, you send an SMS message!

STRATEGY OVERVIEW:
If you’re looking to transform your mobile messaging program, launch an outbound (mobile-terminated or “MT”) SMS messaging program. This type of program is the first step in delivering targeted, timely, and contextually relevant marketing communications to a subscriber list via text message.

Companies or organizations looking to launch a mobile...

There’s no doubt that today’s consumers are mobile. They’re constantly on-the-go, sending and receiving communications of all types, and they’ve come to expect that information be (literally) in-hand at all times. This week I’ll be providing tips and detailed instructions to build a mobile program that complements your cross-channel strategy and promotes consumer engagement.

These tips might seem simple, but remember – powerful mobile marketing doesn’t have to be complex!

STRATEGY OVERVIEW:
Using SMS to grow your email subscriber list allows you to gain permission from consumers at the most...