How Online Tracking and Bloated Ad Tech Impact the Customer Experience

The retail landscape is more crowded than ever. Nearly every day, a new brand pops up seeking consumer attention and buy-in across the globe, and this intense competition has fostered some questionable practices in the world of digital advertising. Hungry for impressions, retailers and online brands have invested billions into powerful advertising technology with the ability to collect very personal information on each customer in order to deliver them extremely, almost dangerously, targeted ads. As the retail experience shifts away from brick-and-mortar stores and hones in on e-commerce, retailers of all sizes will continue to spend egregious amounts to capture consumer sentiment.

Spotlight

VCCP

VCCP is an international integrated communications agency, founded in 2002 on the principles of simplicity, collaboration, un-preciousness and integration around ideas rather than channels. We are the challenger agency for challenger brands. Put simply, we exist to transform the fortunes of our clients by challenging and disrupting the categories they operate in. With offices in Berlin, London, Madrid, Prague, San Francisco and Sydney, VCCP produces award-winning work for clients including O2, comparethemarket.com, easyJet and BMW Motorrad.

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Advertiser Platforms

Top CRM Tools for Customer Engagement and Maximizing ROI

Article | April 5, 2024

Read this article for an in-depth analysis of top CRM tools that empower businesses to enhance customer engagement, boost ROI, better understand customer needs, and drive significant growth. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Understanding Customer Engagement 2.1 Key Perspectives on Metrics to Improve ROI through CRM 2.2 Role of Engagement in Customer Retention: An Expert Analysis 3. Top CRM Tools for Managing Customer Engagement 3.1 Pipedrive 3.2 ClickUp 3.3 Copper 3.4 Nutshell 3.5 Nimble CRM 3.6 Close 3.7 Insightly CRM 3.8 Sugar Sell 3.9 Workbooks CRM 3.10 Maximizer 4. Final Thoughts 1. Introduction In the growing digital age of intelligence and innovation, leveraging customer relationship management (CRM) tools has become indispensable for businesses aiming to enhance customer engagement and maximize return on investment. These top tools in CRM help streamline interactions and provide invaluable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and needs. This article explores the top CRM tools that can help businesses implement CRM to forge stronger customer relationships, enhance their marketing strategies, and foster companies to drive growth and innovation. 2. Understanding Customer Engagement Customer engagement transcends basic interactions between a company and its customers. It encompasses the emotional, psychological, and behavioral responses that customers exhibit toward a brand over time. This complex construct is significant as it connotes a proactive relationship where customers choose to interact with the brand beyond contractual obligations. 2.1. Key Perspectives on Metrics to Improve ROI through CRM Advanced metrics to measure customer engagement go beyond traditional indicators to provide deeper insights into customer behaviors and preferences. These metrics include: Customer Lifetime Value: An estimation of the total value a customer is expected to generate during their relationship with a brand. This CLV metric helps businesses understand how much they should invest in maintaining or expanding relationships with individual customers. Social Listening: The process of monitoring digital conversations to understand what customers are saying about a brand online. This metric is crucial for gauging sentiment and engagement in real-time, allowing companies to quickly respond to customer needs or market shifts. Heatmaps: Visual tools that show how users interact with a website, including what they click on, how far they scroll, and what areas they spend the most time viewing. Heatmaps are essential for understanding engagement at a granular level, enabling optimizations that enhance user experience and retention. Event-Triggered Analytics: This involves tracking and analyzing actions taken by users in response to specific events or campaigns. It helps in understanding how particular activities influence engagement and can guide more personalized customer interactions. Customer Health Score: A metric that combines various indicators of customer retention, engagement and satisfaction, such as product usage frequency, support ticket incidents, and feedback scores, to predict future engagement levels and potential churn. 2.2. Role of Engagement in Customer Retention: An Expert Analysis Deeply engaged customers represent a significant asset to any company. Their ongoing interactions with a brand reinforce and deepen their loyalty, making them less likely to switch to competitors. From a business perspective, enhancing customer engagement leads to various strategic benefits: By analyzing engagement patterns, companies can predict future buying behaviors and preferences, allowing for better inventory management, personalized marketing, and more accurate sales forecasts. Highly engaged customers often become brand advocates. They share positive experiences and recommendations with peers, effectively acting as a powerful marketing channel. This word-of-mouth marketing can significantly reduce acquisition costs and increase market penetration. Engaged customers typically require less support and are more familiar with the brand's processes and products. This familiarity reduces the cost and effort needed for customer service and leads to smoother transactions and interactions. Engaged customers provide continuous feedback, whether through formal surveys or informal comments across communication channels. This feedback is invaluable for continuous product and service improvement. 3. Top CRM Tools for Managing Customer Engagement CRM plays a crucial role in almost all businesses and ventures. A strong hold on CRM entails a good sales and marketing strategy. Below are some of the top CRM providers to choose from according to varying needs of businesses. 3.1 Pipedrive Pipedrive is a renowned sales CRM platform designed to optimize customer relationship management processes, enabling businesses to streamline interactions, enhance data management, and improve customer experiences across various stages of the customer lifecycle. Its features include: Lead and pipeline management, workflow and marketing automation, and comprehensive reporting, Pipedrive provides businesses with the tools necessary to manage leads effectively. It automates key sales activities and gains valuable insights into customer behaviors and sales performance. As a cloud-based solution, Pipedrive offers flexibility and accessibility, allowing teams to work from anywhere and ensuring that all employees operate from the most current data. 3.2 ClickUp ClickUp is among the best CRM tools and revolutionary all-in-one productivity platforms that streamlines business operations by integrating essential tools such as AI, project management, document collaboration, and more into a unified system. The platform provides: Enhancement of the entire customer lifecycle, from lead tracking to customer onboarding, through its advanced CRM capabilities, which include customizable workflow visualizations, automation of sales processes, and comprehensive data management tools. ClickUp supports robust collaboration features that allow seamless integration across departments, ensuring that every team member is aligned and productive. With its ability to replace disparate workplace tools and create efficiencies, ClickUp helps organizations save significant time each week, fostering a more productive work environment. 3.3 Copper Copper is a distinguished CRM platform designed to integrate seamlessly with Google Workspace, enhancing the efficiency of relationship management for businesses. As the only CRM recommended by Google, Copper optimizes workflows by enabling users to manage leads, track communications, and access files without leaving their Google apps. Key Features: Real-time updates and contextual information across Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive, ensuring that all customer interactions are streamlined and more productive. Copper empowers businesses to enhance customer relationships and drive revenue with features like direct contact addition from Gmail and Calendar, automatic file synchronization, and comprehensive visibility into communication histories. 3.4 Nutshell Nutshell, one of the top CRM tools, is a comprehensive platform that simplifies and enhances B2B operations in CRM and email marketing. It is designed especially for teams that prefer to avoid juggling multiple sales and marketing tools. Important Characteristics: Nutshell integrates seamlessly with prominent business tools, offering functionalities such as automated sales processes and advanced contact management, all accessible through its native mobile apps. The platform also features Nutshell Marketing, launched in 2021, which allows users to create, send, and measure the impact of marketing emails and automated drip sequences directly within the CRM. The integration ensures that marketing efforts are closely aligned with sales activities. 3.5 Nimble CRM Nimble is a streamlined and intuitive CRM platform for small businesses and solopreneurs utilizing Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Nimble combines CRM functionalities with contact management, social media insights, sales intelligence, and marketing automation into a cohesive relationship management tool. Distinctive Advantages: The platform enhances productivity by providing comprehensive company and contact insights directly within users’ email inboxes and across multiple workspaces, including Gmail and Outlook. Designed to cultivate and nurture relationships rather than manage sales, Nimble facilitates the organization of contacts, calendars, and communications in one accessible location. Its capability to integrate with over 100 apps enhances its utility, providing users with powerful tools for lead capture, pipeline management, and generating actionable insights through customizable reporting features. 3.6 Close Close, one of the best CRM software, is a dynamic CRM platform that caters to small business teams and solopreneurs, particularly those embedded within the Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace ecosystems. Distinguished Features: Seamless integration of CRM functionalities with advanced communication tools, sales intelligence, and marketing automation, all designed to enhance user productivity without the complexity of manual data entry or an intricate UI. It is highly acclaimed for its user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness and is consistently recognized as a leader in CRM solutions. Close supports a range of essential business tools directly within the user's existing workspace, including email, calendar sync, and task management. 3.7 Insightly CRM Insightly is a cutting-edge top CRM tool designed for modern businesses of all sizes, aiming to enhance customer relationships and accelerate growth. Insightly has quickly become a leading platform in the CRM sector, backed by significant venture capital investments totaling $38 million. Peculiar Features: Known for its user-friendly interface and quick setup, Insightly offers extensive customization options tailored to various industry needs, ensuring a swift return on investment at a competitive cost. The platform integrates seamlessly with popular tools such as Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, enhancing productivity without the need for constant switching between applications. With features like opportunity tracking, workflow automation, project management, and advanced email marketing, Insightly provides comprehensive tools to support marketing and sales teams in fostering deeper customer engagement, streamlining communication, and driving sales efficiency. 3.8 Sugar Sell SugarCRM’s Sugar Sell stands out as a sophisticated CRM solution that liberates businesses from the inefficiencies of traditional CRMs by providing a high-definition customer experience without the typical hassles. Unlike conventional platforms that often involve tedious manual entry and limited functionality, SugarCRM eliminates blind spots, busy work, and roadblocks, enhancing overall business efficiency. The platform offers: Unparalleled customizability and control, particularly with its on-premises deployment option, Sugar Enterprise, which allows for deep customization to be tailored to specific business needs. SugarCRM is designed to increase the understanding of customer needs, thereby improving conversion rates, revenue, customer satisfaction, and retention. It includes powerful tools like SugarBPM for process automation and real-time alerts for dynamic account management, ensuring that every customer interaction is maximized for engagement and efficiency. 3.9 Workbooks Workbooks is a versatile top CRM software platform tailored for growing companies seeking to streamline business operations and enhance customer engagement. It provides an extensive suite of services that encompasses not only the traditional realms of sales, marketing, and customer service but also integrates advanced functionalities such as marketing automation, event management, order management, invoicing, and supplier management. Its prime features: It is available at a cost significantly lower than that of major competitors, typically ranging from 50-70% less. Workbooks are designed to cater to various industries, including media and publishing, business services, manufacturing, technology, transport and logistics, and accounting, making it a flexible and affordable solution for businesses aiming to optimize their comme.rcial operations and customer interactions. 3.10 Maximizer Maximizer, a global leader in customer relationship management solutions, offers comprehensive CRM tools to optimize sales, marketing, and customer service operations. Key Characteristics: The platform stands out for its user-centric design that integrates seamlessly with essential applications like Outlook and offers extensive customization options to fit various sales processes. With a strong emphasis on actionable insights, Maximizer enables sales leaders to effectively monitor, guide, and enhance team performance, ensuring accountability and achieving revenue targets. Its robust suite of features includes advanced analytics, pipeline management, and automated workflows to boost productivity and foster authentic customer relationships. 4. Final Thoughts Selecting the right CRM tools can significantly enhance customer engagement and maximize ROI by automating workflows and providing detailed analytics to guide decision-making. The future of CRM tools is likely to be shaped by the following trends: AI can analyze data more deeply to provide insights, predict customer behavior, and personalize customer interactions. Ensuring seamless customer experiences across all channels, whether online, in-app, or in-person, will be crucial. With increasing concerns over data privacy, CRM tools that prioritize secure data handling will be more in demand. These technologies could be used to enhance customer experiences, especially in fields like retail and real estate. As businesses continue to grow and prosper, CRM tools will play a pivotal role in shaping successful customer engagement strategies. By deploying emerging technologies and focusing on customer-centric approaches, companies can ensure sustainable growth and a strong competitive edge.

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Advertiser Campaign Management, CMO Strategy

Strategies for Overcoming Implementation Challenges in CRM

Article | June 3, 2024

Unlock the full potential of the CRM system with expert strategies and address issues and challenges in CRM implementation through tactical solutions for customer engagement and business success. Contents 1. Introduction to CRM Implementation 2. Challenges in CRM Implementation 2.1. Data Migration and Integrity 2.2. Scalability 2.3. Data Security and Privacy 2.4. Cost Overruns and Budget Management 2.5. Inadequate Training and Support 2.6. Integration with Existing Systems 2.7. Measuring ROI and Performance 2.8. Mobile Compatibility and Remote Access 2.9. Data Quality Management 2.10. Vendor Reliability and Support 3. Future Proofing CRM 1. Introduction to CRM Implementation Implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) system requires precise alignment with corporate objectives, rigorous system selection, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement to ensure seamless integration into business operations. Successful CRM implementation is a continuous journey of adaptation and improvement, central to building strong customer relationships and achieving business growth. The key strategies for successful CRM implementation that emphasize the importance of meticulous planning, customization, and ongoing evaluation to fully harness the system's potential will be presented below: Strategies for successful CRM implementation: Avoiding the Challenges Strategic Alignment: Begin with a clear CRM strategy that aligns with the business goals, ensuring the system supports customer engagement and growth objectives. System Selection: Conduct a thorough evaluation of CRM platforms, focusing on scalability, integration capabilities, and customization options. Choose a solution that fits the company’s unique business needs and technological infastructure. Stakeholder Engagement: Secure buy-in from all levels of the organization through effective change management practices. This involves clear communication, setting realistic expectations, and involving key users in the implementation process. Customization and Data Integrity: Tailor the CRM to business processes while ensuring data accuracy through a thorough audit and cleansing of existing customer data before migration. Training and Support: Develop a structured training program tailored to various roles within the organization, complemented by ongoing support to enhance user competency and adoption rates. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Establish metrics to evaluate CRM performance, with regular monitoring and feedback mechanisms to continuously refine and improve the system's effectiveness. 2. Challenges in CRM Implementation The selection of a CRM platform aligns with and propels business objectives forward. Integrating this system within the existing technological infrastructure without disrupting workflow, comprehensively training staff across diverse functional areas, and maintaining impeccable data integrity are just the tip of the iceberg. Each of these components presents its own challenges, demanding a nuanced approach and a depth of understanding that transcends primary operational considerations. The CRM industry’s market value is going to grow at a significant growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% from 2024 to 2030, as stated in Grand View Research. Strategically overcoming these barriers necessitates a blend of foresight, expertise, and meticulous execution. Some of the common challenges in CRM implementation are listed below: 2.1. Data Migration and Integrity The implementation of a new CRM system, the consolidation of data from diverse sources, or the merger with another entity calls for data migration. Regardless of the circumstances, it is imperative that organizations comprehend and meticulously manoeuvre through this procedure. A primary obstacle encountered during data migration pertains to the assurance of data integrity during the transfer process. Data inconsistencies and inaccuracies can significantly affect customer relationships, decision-making, and overall performance. While taking technical factors into account, organizations must also consider the potential repercussions for their consumers and employees. Change can be intimidating and upheaval-inducing, particularly when it pertains to data that is indispensable for the execution of daily activities. It is critical to establish protocols and procedures to ensure continuous data management. This encompasses routine evaluations and examinations, in addition to explicit protocols for data input and upkeep. Ensuring the veracity of data and preserving the integrity of CRM systems are both dependent on data governance. 2.2. Scalability Scalability in CRM is a complex challenge that goes beyond simply managing an increasing volume of customer data. It requires a harmonious blend of technological, human, and strategic elements. At the heart of scalability is the need for a flexible infrastructure. Here, cloud-based systems play a pivotal role as they provide the adaptability necessary to accommodate growth without significant modifications. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning further enhances scalability by offering predictive analytics and automation to streamline operations. Moreover, a strategic approach to data management, emphasizing rigorous governance and integrating diverse data types, is crucial for maintaining data integrity and leveraging information for personalized customer engagement. Encouraging an innovative culture within organizations, along with investing in ongoing learning and development for teams, ensures both the workforce and the CRM system can adapt and expand. Achieving scalability in CRM necessitates a multifaceted strategy prioritizing flexibility, intelligent data use, and an environment conducive to continuous improvement and innovation. 2.3. Data Security and Privacy Integrating customer relationship management systems into businesses marks a pivotal advancement in leveraging consumer data for marketing, strategic planning, and analysis. However, this evolution brings data security and privacy challenges to the forefront. The complexities of data-driven methodologies within CRM systems necessitate a strategic and comprehensive approach to uphold data oversight and maintain consumer trust. Ensuring optimal data oversight within CRM implementations requires balancing data utilization for business growth and safeguarding consumer privacy. Organizations must adopt a rigorous policy framework compliant with data protection laws and emphasize customer privacy as a cornerstone of their operations. A privacy-first culture is essential, transcending legal requirements to embed data privacy into the organization's DNA through clear data policies, ongoing training, and a structure that prioritizes privacy at its core. Additionally, leveraging advanced technology, including encryption and AI, is paramount to fortifying data security as an essential defense layer to complement policy measures. During 2022, the worldwide number of malware attacks reached 5.5 billion, an increase of two percent compared to the preceding year.. Forming strategic partnerships with industry peers, regulatory bodies, and cybersecurity experts is a proactive step toward enhancing data protection standards. These alliances provide valuable insights and foster a collaborative approach, strengthening an organization's privacy strategies and contributing to industry-wide improvements. 2.4. Cost Overruns and Budget Management Overcoming obstacles in CRM implementation, particularly financial ones, requires shifting from traditional budget management to a proactive, agile approach. The complexity of CRM systems often leads to escalating costs, posing significant challenges. These can stem from a lack of proactive planning, early underestimation of change management efforts, and insufficient stakeholder involvement, leading to scope creep and budget overruns. To counter these primary challenges organizations face when implementing a CRM, a multifaceted strategy focusing on strategic reserve planning, agile budgeting, and data-driven decision-making is needed. Strategic reserve planning involves detailed risk assessment and allocation of funds for identified high-risk areas, moving away from a generic contingency fund approach. Agile budgeting allocates resources in cycles, matching the project's iterative nature, allowing for more flexible and responsive financial management. Data-driven decision-making utilizes CRM-generated insights for informed budgeting, enabling proactive adjustments. Cultivating a culture of financial agility that is supported by executive sponsorship and enhanced financial literacy among non-finance staff ensures that financial awareness permeates all levels of the organization. 2.5. Inadequate Training and Support Addressing the deficit in CRM training is crucial for maximizing the system's potential and ensuring successful implementation. With adequate training, employees may fully utilize CRM features, leading to underperformance and failing to achieve the desired return on investment. The consequences of inadequate training extend beyond mere inefficiency; they can lead to data inaccuracies, user resistance, and a negative perception of the CRM system, compromising its integrity and effectiveness. 74% of companies say CRM software gives better access to customer data. To overcome these challenges, organizations need to adopt a tailored approach to training that addresses the diverse needs and learning preferences of their workforce. CRM systems evolve, introducing new features and updates that require ongoing training to ensure users remain proficient. Providing accessible training resources, user forums, and communities for knowledge sharing are key strategies for fostering a culture of continuous learning. Proactive support efforts, such as regular user surveys and the establishment of superuser advocates, can help detect and resolve problems early, maintaining the CRM's efficacy. 2.6. Integration with Existing Systems Integrating a CRM system within an organization transcends mere technological implementation and requires an understanding of existing legacy systems and cultural dynamics. The question of challenges in CRM implementation and how to solve them will remain persistent until the blending of the new with the old, ensuring the CRM coexists with and enhances the organization's ingrained processes and cultural fabric. Successful integration requires a holistic approach, encompassing data management, process adaptation, and, most importantly, human factors. Moreover, data governance and the strategic use of ETL tools and data warehousing are crucial for seamless data integration and utilization. The future of CRM integration lies in adaptable, scalable solutions that balance customization with sustainability, as exemplified by the rise of SaaS and cloud-based platforms that offer flexibility and innovation while minimizing infrastructure costs. 2.7. Measuring ROI and Performance Unlike traditional ROI metrics, CRM's value encompasses both tangible outcomes, such as increased sales, and intangible benefits, such as customer loyalty and brand reputation. Calculating CRM's ROI necessitates cross-functional collaboration, recognizing that value is not solely derived from sales enhancements but also from cost reductions in customer service and improved interdepartmental communications. CRMs have been shown to increase conversion rates by up to 300%, revenue by 29%, and sales team productivity by 34%. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are fundamental in guiding CRM strategies toward achieving organizational goals. Continuous monitoring of these KPIs enables organizations to adapt quickly to market changes and customer behaviours. User feedback, coupled with data-driven analyses of usage patterns and customer interactions, paves the way for targeted system optimizations. 2.8. Mobile Compatibility and Remote Access The strategic adoption of mobile CRM empowers modern businesses with real-time customer engagement from anywhere. Still, it also brings challenges such as security concerns, user adoption hurdles, device and platform compatibility issues, data synchronization needs, and cost considerations. Ensuring the security of customer data against the increased risk of mobile device loss, theft, or compromise is critical, necessitating stringent security measures like two-factor authentication and data encryption. The mobile CRM market size was USD 32.8 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 56.2 billion in 2032, growing at a rate of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032. Additionally, ensuring that mobile CRM is compatible across various devices and operating systems is essential to avoid user experience and productivity setbacks, which calls for optimization across platforms. Maintaining data integrity demands regular synchronization processes and protocols for resolving data conflicts. Furthermore, mobile device procurement, software licensing, and maintenance costs must be carefully balanced against the long-term benefits of increased efficiency, enhanced customer engagement, and streamlined operations. 2.9. Data Quality Management The critical importance of data quality in CRM systems forms the bedrock of modern customer-centric business strategies, transcending mere technological upgrades to become a central operational necessity. The advent of AI and machine learning technologies has provided CRM systems with the capability to actively monitor and correct data quality issues, learning from system modifications to prevent future data degradation. This marks a shift towards viewing data quality management as a continuous, integral process rather than a series of isolated tasks. The International Data Corporation (IDC) states that during 2020, the amount of data that has been created, captured, and replicated across the world will be more than 59 zettabytes, and over the next 5 years, the world will create more than three times the amount of data compared to the previous 5 years. To maintain data quality, an agile management strategy that adapts to the dynamic nature of data and market changes is essential. This requires infrastructure and personnel that can respond swiftly to evolving data needs. Overcoming obstacles in CRM data quality management is not solely a technological endeavour. It is a comprehensive strategy that integrates technology, culture, and governance. Organizations that prioritize and invest in data quality can establish themselves as industry leaders, leveraging their CRM systems as a vital component of their operational and strategic success. 2.10. Vendor Reliability and Support Implementing a CRM system is a collaborative effort that requires prioritizing vendor reliability over traditional evaluation methods. It's about focusing on the vendor's ability to deliver on promises, foresee integration challenges, and adapt strategies to meet the client's unique needs. This process calls for a partnership that spans the entire implementation process, from design and data migration to user training and change management. This approach encourages customization and ensures the sustainability of the CRM solution, making each stakeholder an integral part of its success. For effective vendor selection, it's crucial to evaluate their technological roadmap, update their history and assess the strength of their partnerships. Also, service level agreements, support team interactions, and feedback from existing customers should be reviewed. The goal is to foster a relationship beyond transactions, promoting continuous engagement and growth for both parties. Ensuring vendor reliability involves a rigorous assessment of their product development methodologies, commitment to risk management, and quality of customer service. Agile development practices, adequate customer support, and proactive risk management strategies indicate a vendor's commitment to maintaining a durable and flexible system, differentiating genuine partners from mere suppliers. 3. Future-proofing CRM As organizations strive to harness CRM systems' full potential, they are confronted with challenges ranging from data integrity and scalability to data security, privacy, and vendor reliability. Overcoming these difficulties in CRM implementation requires a cohesive approach integrating meticulous planning, agile methodologies, and a commitment to fostering a data-driven culture. The strategies for CRM implementation to address the challenges with foresight and precision enable organizations to unlock the transformative power of CRM systems. This, in turn, enhances customer engagement and drives sustainable business growth. The future of CRM is dynamic and promising, with technology playing a pivotal role in transforming how businesses understand, interact with, and deliver value to customers. By embracing AI, prioritizing data privacy, and creating seamless omnichannel experiences, companies can leverage CRM systems to meet and exceed customer expectations. As we move forward, the emphasis will be on using CRM as a tool for managing customer relationships as well as a strategic asset for driving customer success and business growth.

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Advertiser Platforms

Dominate with Branding and Advertising in Your Business in 2021

Article | March 12, 2024

So, you have created a great product or service but still it’s not giving back the result you were expecting. The point here is, no matter how much you publicize the greatness of your product or service, that alone won’t guarantee success. In the consumer marketplace, you must also establish a unique, memorable, trustworthy profile by capturing consumers’ attention. The key to accomplishing this is Branding and Advertising. The advertising industry is made of companies that advertise, agencies that create the advertisements, media that carries the ads, and a host of people like copy editors, visualizers, brand managers, researchers, creative heads and designers who take it the last mile to the customer or receiver. Let’s see the difference between Branding and Advertising, and then, we’ll see what is Brand Advertising.

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Brand Marketing

Why are high performance websites crucial for SEO?

Article | January 19, 2021

Search engine optimization is one of the most important subdomains in digital marketing where organisations try to get visitors from search engine ranking pages to their website. The most vague approach by businesses is to just post content on their website, create backlinks of it and expect to rank number one on the targeted keywords. However the reality is that search engines consider a lot of factors in ranking a web page such as website’s loading speed, responsiveness for mobile device compliance, good user experience, rich snippets, keyword frequency in content, interest of visitors in content and then comes in the turn for backlinks and domain authority. Why SEO is Mandatory for Websites? SEO requires continuous efforts everyday due to 3 major factors. First is search engines rank the latest content on top most position at first and later on adjust the rankings according to other parameters. The second issue is changes in google’s algorithm bi-yearly which has the tendency to suppress the rankings of all web pages of a website. The third is your competitors who are creating better content to outbeat your website. We need to understand that a business can put in limited efforts on content marketing and backlinking, depending on their budget. The above mentioned factors are continuously vanishing the results derived from their previously made efforts so the high performance websites, customizations and rich snippet integration to ramp up the performance of complete websites. In one of our previous experiences we have seen web pages jump up from 3rd page of google search to 1st page in a day after deploying a faster version of the website. The initial journey of SEO can be done placidly with content management systems initially but later on comes the saturation point where to procure more traffic either we have to increase workforce or add more integrations. These integrations are very costly on a content management system for a website with huge user traffic that’s why such businesses should build their custom websites and get access over source code. To do so they can outsource the project to a software development company, hire developers from an offshore company or hire their own in house developers. One more factor that contributes in converting leads to customers is user experience which can only be improved with tracking user behaviour, user feedback and testing new UI improvements done on the basis of suggestions. The same journey is followed with any new functionality built after users demanded it via feedback. The above mentioned points suggest the conclusion that high performance websites and technical teams can help businesses to derive exponential growth in traffic if the SEO and technical team work hand in hand.

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Spotlight

VCCP

VCCP is an international integrated communications agency, founded in 2002 on the principles of simplicity, collaboration, un-preciousness and integration around ideas rather than channels. We are the challenger agency for challenger brands. Put simply, we exist to transform the fortunes of our clients by challenging and disrupting the categories they operate in. With offices in Berlin, London, Madrid, Prague, San Francisco and Sydney, VCCP produces award-winning work for clients including O2, comparethemarket.com, easyJet and BMW Motorrad.

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Display Advertising, Social Media Advertising

MyTradeZone.com Joins Certified Trade Mission to Hong Kong to Explore Business Expansion Opportunities in Asia

MyTradeZone | November 28, 2023

MyTradeZone.com, a trade and Social Networking for businesses, is pleased to announce its upcoming visit to Hong Kong from December 4th to 8th, 2023. Bachir Kassir, founder of MyTradeZone, will join a delegation of American companies to Hong Kong as part of a U.S. Department of Commerce Certified Trade Mission organized by IBS Global Consulting with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the U.S. Commercial Service. The delegation, comprising a diverse group of American companies, aims to foster cross-border partnerships, explore export opportunities, and deepen economic ties between the United States and Hong Kong. The visit to Hong Kong presents an exciting opportunity for MyTradeZone.com to expand its global reach, tap into new markets, and establish key connections with Hong Kong's dynamic business community and trade associations. With Hong Kong's strategic location as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, robust financial services sector, and reputation as a major international trade hub, this visit holds immense promise for American enterprises looking to navigate the Asian market. Led by Tonya McNeal-Weary, Managing Director at IBS Global Consulting, the delegation will engage in a series of high-level meetings, networking events, and industry-specific forums during the five-day visit. These activities are designed to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. and Hong Kong businesses across various sectors. [MyTradeZone.com] is a disruptive business networking platform, and is like an always open trade show: • Businesses: Add company profile page. Showcase products & services. Network locally and around the world • Event Organizers, Trade Associations, & Networking Groups: Provide value-added offering to members & sponsors in a public or private setting • Creators & Group owners: Monetize your creations via peer-to-peer payment enablement • Advertisers and Marketers: MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers • Business Professionals: Grow your professional network, chat, connect, follow, takes notes, share and collaborate As an official member of the delegation, MyTradeZone will have the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into Hong Kong's business landscape, explore regulatory frameworks, exchange best practices, and forge lasting relationships with key stakeholders. Additionally, the itinerary includes tailored site visits to cutting-edge facilities and industrial parks, showcasing Hong Kong's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The visit to Hong Kong aims to enhance trade cooperation and seeks to highlight the enduring friendship between the United States and Hong Kong. As both economies continue to recover from the challenges posed by the global pandemic, this visit becomes even more crucial in reinvigorating trade ties and promoting long-term economic growth. About MyTradeZone.com MyTradeZone is a social networking platform for businesses. We are working on the next thing to disrupt business networking. MyTradeZone is a forward-thinking B2B media technology company reshaping how businesses connect and network. MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers. MyTradeZone is also a perfect companion offering to trade show organizers and networking groups offering value added benefits to both members and sponsors.

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Advertiser Platforms

Stagwell (STGW) and MNTN Partner to Forge a Unified Performance Marketing Ecosystem for Brands

PR Newswire | January 12, 2024

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, is partnering with connected TV (CTV) advertising leader MNTN to broaden the market of performance advertising for brands. With the partnership, brands will now have access to a comprehensive set of buying solutions that combine the best of MNTN's Performance TV platform with Stagwell Marketing Cloud products, providing added streaming, performance PR and performance influencer capabilities in a one-stop shop. Stagwell and MNTN's strategic partnership allows for a more unified approach to brand and performance media, offering brands access to advanced technologies and a comprehensive suite of tools enabling brand campaigns on television to now seamlessly coexist with other digital channels. "For too long, brand and performance media have battled to co-exist in an industry that worships creative ideas and measurable metrics separately," said MNTN President and CEO Mark Douglas. "Now Stagwell's performance-focused clients can see their brand campaigns at work through MNTN Performance TV and not only qualify but quantify results of traditionally less measurable media." "Stagwell believes all media is performance media, and our partnership with MNTN is our next step in creating an integrated ecosystem of technology and media solutions that enable speed to market, improved outcomes, and ultimately, scaled brand performance for clients," said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. "In combination with SMC tools, including social, streaming, and PR capabilities, brands can now attach metrics to their big marketing ideas in a granular way." Meeting Client Demands The partnership between Stagwell and MNTN Performance TV addresses the growing importance of performance advertising for modern brands, offering a comprehensive suite of buying solutions that feature cutting-edge targeting, measurement, and automated optimization technology. The collaboration introduces an innovative approach to television advertising, offering brands metrics that matter together – reach and revenue. Expanded Toolset MNTN clients will now benefit from an enhanced suite of tools, incorporating products from the Stagwell Marketing Cloud. This includes: PRophet, a generative and predictive AI platform for PR professionals Koalifyed, an influencer discovery and campaign management platform ReachTV, the largest streaming television network targeting travelers in airports Together, Stagwell and MNTN aim to meet the evolving needs of modern brands in a performance-driven landscape. Stay tuned for insights from Stagwell's Mark Penn and MNTN's Mark Douglas at CES next week, where they will discuss the power of this collaboration. Brands and/or journalists interested in connecting on the ground should contact ces2024@stagwellglobal.com for more information. About MNTN MNTN is the Hardest Working Software in TV, bringing unrivaled performance and simplicity to Connected TV advertising. Our self-serve technology makes running TV ads as easy as search and social and helps brands drive measurable conversions, revenue, site visits, and more. MNTN is one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2023 and was recently named one of the Next Big Things in Tech for its upcoming VIVA creative suite. For more information, please visit https://mountain.com/. About Stagwell Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

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Ad Tech and Martech

Inuvo's IntentKey AI Powers the Privacy-First, Post-Cookie Era

GlobeNewswire | January 11, 2024

In the wake of Google's phase out of third-party cookies starting in January 2024, Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of marketing technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that serves brands and agencies, has announced its continued commitment to a cookieless future with its IntentKey AI, outlining the ways its technology can already work around Google’s changes. IntentKey, powered by a large language model, creates cookieless audience models by leveraging over 25 million AI-identified concepts that represent consumer intent signals across the web. These concepts are used to understand why an audience is interested in a product and why URLs are visited. IntentKey models help marketers reach their audiences in today’s post-cookie landscape. "Google’s fast timeline, closing cookies by the end of 2024, has caught some marketers off guard, but Inuvo has been preparing for a while. IntentKey can align, predict, and activate audiences across platforms without relying on cookies or other trackers,” said Inuvo CEO Richard Howe. “As the industry moves rapidly toward a cookieless reality, IntentKey stands ready to power more relevant digital experiences through ethical data practices and intended audiences - not identity-based audiences." Featuring Non-Personal Identifying Information (NPII) that maintains consumer privacy and prevents personal data exposure, IntentKey enables brands to securely connect with high-intent audiences in the moment audiences signal readiness to engage. This approach eliminates the need for cookies to create audience models. IntentKey has delivered performance that beats incumbent media by up to 67%. With the demise of the third-party cookie in 2024, led by Google and Apple, IntentKey stands ready to power the next generation of digital marketing through privacy-forward, cookieless audience models that provide both faster and more accurate audience targeting capabilities to drive results. To learn more, visit inuvo.com. About Inuvo Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

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Display Advertising, Social Media Advertising

MyTradeZone.com Joins Certified Trade Mission to Hong Kong to Explore Business Expansion Opportunities in Asia

MyTradeZone | November 28, 2023

MyTradeZone.com, a trade and Social Networking for businesses, is pleased to announce its upcoming visit to Hong Kong from December 4th to 8th, 2023. Bachir Kassir, founder of MyTradeZone, will join a delegation of American companies to Hong Kong as part of a U.S. Department of Commerce Certified Trade Mission organized by IBS Global Consulting with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the U.S. Commercial Service. The delegation, comprising a diverse group of American companies, aims to foster cross-border partnerships, explore export opportunities, and deepen economic ties between the United States and Hong Kong. The visit to Hong Kong presents an exciting opportunity for MyTradeZone.com to expand its global reach, tap into new markets, and establish key connections with Hong Kong's dynamic business community and trade associations. With Hong Kong's strategic location as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, robust financial services sector, and reputation as a major international trade hub, this visit holds immense promise for American enterprises looking to navigate the Asian market. Led by Tonya McNeal-Weary, Managing Director at IBS Global Consulting, the delegation will engage in a series of high-level meetings, networking events, and industry-specific forums during the five-day visit. These activities are designed to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. and Hong Kong businesses across various sectors. [MyTradeZone.com] is a disruptive business networking platform, and is like an always open trade show: • Businesses: Add company profile page. Showcase products & services. Network locally and around the world • Event Organizers, Trade Associations, & Networking Groups: Provide value-added offering to members & sponsors in a public or private setting • Creators & Group owners: Monetize your creations via peer-to-peer payment enablement • Advertisers and Marketers: MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers • Business Professionals: Grow your professional network, chat, connect, follow, takes notes, share and collaborate As an official member of the delegation, MyTradeZone will have the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into Hong Kong's business landscape, explore regulatory frameworks, exchange best practices, and forge lasting relationships with key stakeholders. Additionally, the itinerary includes tailored site visits to cutting-edge facilities and industrial parks, showcasing Hong Kong's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The visit to Hong Kong aims to enhance trade cooperation and seeks to highlight the enduring friendship between the United States and Hong Kong. As both economies continue to recover from the challenges posed by the global pandemic, this visit becomes even more crucial in reinvigorating trade ties and promoting long-term economic growth. About MyTradeZone.com MyTradeZone is a social networking platform for businesses. We are working on the next thing to disrupt business networking. MyTradeZone is a forward-thinking B2B media technology company reshaping how businesses connect and network. MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers. MyTradeZone is also a perfect companion offering to trade show organizers and networking groups offering value added benefits to both members and sponsors.

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Advertiser Platforms

Stagwell (STGW) and MNTN Partner to Forge a Unified Performance Marketing Ecosystem for Brands

PR Newswire | January 12, 2024

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, is partnering with connected TV (CTV) advertising leader MNTN to broaden the market of performance advertising for brands. With the partnership, brands will now have access to a comprehensive set of buying solutions that combine the best of MNTN's Performance TV platform with Stagwell Marketing Cloud products, providing added streaming, performance PR and performance influencer capabilities in a one-stop shop. Stagwell and MNTN's strategic partnership allows for a more unified approach to brand and performance media, offering brands access to advanced technologies and a comprehensive suite of tools enabling brand campaigns on television to now seamlessly coexist with other digital channels. "For too long, brand and performance media have battled to co-exist in an industry that worships creative ideas and measurable metrics separately," said MNTN President and CEO Mark Douglas. "Now Stagwell's performance-focused clients can see their brand campaigns at work through MNTN Performance TV and not only qualify but quantify results of traditionally less measurable media." "Stagwell believes all media is performance media, and our partnership with MNTN is our next step in creating an integrated ecosystem of technology and media solutions that enable speed to market, improved outcomes, and ultimately, scaled brand performance for clients," said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. "In combination with SMC tools, including social, streaming, and PR capabilities, brands can now attach metrics to their big marketing ideas in a granular way." Meeting Client Demands The partnership between Stagwell and MNTN Performance TV addresses the growing importance of performance advertising for modern brands, offering a comprehensive suite of buying solutions that feature cutting-edge targeting, measurement, and automated optimization technology. The collaboration introduces an innovative approach to television advertising, offering brands metrics that matter together – reach and revenue. Expanded Toolset MNTN clients will now benefit from an enhanced suite of tools, incorporating products from the Stagwell Marketing Cloud. This includes: PRophet, a generative and predictive AI platform for PR professionals Koalifyed, an influencer discovery and campaign management platform ReachTV, the largest streaming television network targeting travelers in airports Together, Stagwell and MNTN aim to meet the evolving needs of modern brands in a performance-driven landscape. Stay tuned for insights from Stagwell's Mark Penn and MNTN's Mark Douglas at CES next week, where they will discuss the power of this collaboration. Brands and/or journalists interested in connecting on the ground should contact ces2024@stagwellglobal.com for more information. About MNTN MNTN is the Hardest Working Software in TV, bringing unrivaled performance and simplicity to Connected TV advertising. Our self-serve technology makes running TV ads as easy as search and social and helps brands drive measurable conversions, revenue, site visits, and more. MNTN is one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2023 and was recently named one of the Next Big Things in Tech for its upcoming VIVA creative suite. For more information, please visit https://mountain.com/. About Stagwell Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

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Ad Tech and Martech

Inuvo's IntentKey AI Powers the Privacy-First, Post-Cookie Era

GlobeNewswire | January 11, 2024

In the wake of Google's phase out of third-party cookies starting in January 2024, Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of marketing technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that serves brands and agencies, has announced its continued commitment to a cookieless future with its IntentKey AI, outlining the ways its technology can already work around Google’s changes. IntentKey, powered by a large language model, creates cookieless audience models by leveraging over 25 million AI-identified concepts that represent consumer intent signals across the web. These concepts are used to understand why an audience is interested in a product and why URLs are visited. IntentKey models help marketers reach their audiences in today’s post-cookie landscape. "Google’s fast timeline, closing cookies by the end of 2024, has caught some marketers off guard, but Inuvo has been preparing for a while. IntentKey can align, predict, and activate audiences across platforms without relying on cookies or other trackers,” said Inuvo CEO Richard Howe. “As the industry moves rapidly toward a cookieless reality, IntentKey stands ready to power more relevant digital experiences through ethical data practices and intended audiences - not identity-based audiences." Featuring Non-Personal Identifying Information (NPII) that maintains consumer privacy and prevents personal data exposure, IntentKey enables brands to securely connect with high-intent audiences in the moment audiences signal readiness to engage. This approach eliminates the need for cookies to create audience models. IntentKey has delivered performance that beats incumbent media by up to 67%. With the demise of the third-party cookie in 2024, led by Google and Apple, IntentKey stands ready to power the next generation of digital marketing through privacy-forward, cookieless audience models that provide both faster and more accurate audience targeting capabilities to drive results. To learn more, visit inuvo.com. About Inuvo Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

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Events