With sales growth the biggest challenge for business leaders in 2011, many say they are planning to deploy cloud technologies this year, hoping to shorten sales cycles and acquire new business, according to a survey from Hatsize. more

So far in our crash course on conversion, we covered the economics of conversion, why homepages aren't the best way to get results, and how to effectively use landing pages and calls to action to boost conversion. Our final installment covers page optimization and testing. more

Previously in our five-day crash course on conversion, we covered why homepages aren't the best choice for conversion success. Now, learn the five benefits of landing pages—and how to keep ad-to-page message alignment. more

In part three of our five-day crash course on conversion, you'll learn why your homepage is likely not the right choice for conversion success—and four reasons why you might want to forego using it as your landing page. more

Mobile Web traffic to high-traffic e-commerce sites grew more than 300% during the 2010 online holiday shopping season over levels registered during the same period a year earlier, according to a report by Conductor. more

How do people convert? In simple terms, they interact at a designated conversion point. They do this—and are triggered to do this—by a call to action. In part two of our five-day crash course in conversion, learn how to effectively use a call to action. more

Conversion is the mechanism and process of pouring targeted consumers into, through, and out the other side of the marketing funnel. That is the essence of "Clicking Me Softly." Convince, don't coerce. Guide, don't deceive. In day one of this crash course, we'll explore the economics of conversion. more

Rebalancing your marketing investments is the way to sustainable, predictable, and profitable growth. That's why it's crucial to analyze where your budgets are going and identify where the biggest returns on spend are. more

With Valentine's Day here, I'm reminded that marketing is like dating. You have to attract leads and differentiate yourself from the competition. Steer clear of these five mistakes, and build long-term relationships with your customers. more

It's that time of year again. Valentine's Day is looming, and you're still alone. But are you marketing yourself well enough? Make these simple tweaks to any website—including your online dating profile—to improve success. more

Any successful B2B marketing strategy "involves the integration of email marketing," Maria Pergolino asserts in a post at the Marketo blog. Whether designed for lead generation or nurturing leads and repeat buyers, carefully crafted email campaigns and messages can still achieve optimal results, she notes. To help B2B marketers keep email as a ... more

Tradeshows remain one of the most effective ways to market your brand. But it's essential to understand who your key targets are—and aren't. Implementing a well-thought-out engagement strategy will lead to qualified customers and increased event ROI. more

As companies embrace the idea of aligning their decentralized sales and marketing teams, they sometimes make counter-productive decisions. To successfully align Sales and Marketing—and, ultimately close more deals—dodge these five common mistakes. more

Sales and marketing best-practices are universally desirable—but, too often, elusive. Here are seven solid best-practices that address the misalignment between Sales and Marketing and help increase sales. more

Whether you're just beginning to present to audiences, or are a veteran speaker—becoming a speaking champ requires attention to detail. Begin with these nine, nuanced tips to master your speaking skills. more

In anticipation of stronger business conditions, more than one-half (52%) of digital and direct marketing executives plan to increase hiring in the first quarter of 2011, up from the 41% who said so in the previous quarter, according to a survey from Bernhart Associates. more

When it comes to tradeshow participation and building brand awareness, having a well-defined communications strategy before, during, and after the event is crucial to maximizing your return on investment (ROI). more

"In today's economic climate, content syndication is one of the lowest risk lead generation vehicles there is," writes Howard J. Sewell at The Point. "At our agency, the programs we negotiate for our clients are almost all performance-based," he says; that is, "they guarantee a minimum number of leads at ... more

Studies show that online video improves email click-through rates, sales conversions, and search engine rankings; it's no wonder marketers are funneling more budget dollars into this tantalizing medium. Learn eight ways to make your video content last 18 months. more

Though B2B marketers report most of their new sales coming from current customers, only one-half (55.4%) say their companies have departments that focus primarily on customer retention, according to a survey by Loyalty 360 and SAS. Among those with formal loyalty programs, most are using traditional channels such as surveys ... more

Although content marketing spans across industries and company sizes, B2B marketers recognize the need to improve the effectiveness of their efforts, according to new MarketingProfs research of B2B marketers. Our analysis of the survey data reveals a dozen recommendations for creating relevant content that will have a direct impact on ... more

"As a seller, when you approach a big company, you are most likely more concerned about your fears than theirs," writes Barbara Weaver Smith in an article at Selling to Big Companies. But big-company buyers are often fearful of their own decisions, she argues—especially the decision to do business with ... more

In an Internet business environment that expects immediate results, online marketers have overlooked the power of SEO, or organic search, as a top revenue-generating channel. It can also teach you how to run your business in a smarter way. more

"Let's face it, buying today is different than it used to be," says Ardath Albee in a recent post at the Marketing Interactions blog. Products and solutions are growing in complexity, she notes, but buyers have far less time to consider their options. How can B2B marketers better meet the needs ... more

Retailers, marketers, and service providers are at an ideal point to capitalize on a massive opportunity to elevate the classic brick-and-mortar shopper experience by embracing emerging mobile technologies. Don't miss the opportunity to use these budding technologies to evolve the customer experience and boost profitability for your company. more