My colleague Martha France recently wrote about how marketing organizations are being asked to do more than ever to contribute to operational effectiveness company-wide. This expanded role requires investments in talent and advanced, often complex, software systems. Choosing the right marketing technology for your organization is essential, but it’s only part of the equation. How you staff, configure and manage these systems correlates directly with the value your organization derives from the technology, which ultimately impacts competitive advantage and the return on your investment.

Tags: manufacturing marketing, marketing ROI, marketing budget, MRM, marketing technology, Insurance Marketing, marketing resource management, marketing operations, risk management, marketing resource management investment, financial services marketing, Competitive advantage, marketing staff, marketing technology buyers' resources, franchise marketing

Today’s technology helps us address our goals of working smarter, faster and better. But even with the latest innovations, are there activities that Marketing continues to spend too much time on? And are these activities getting in the way of Marketing’s ability to contribute strategically to the organization?

Tags: marketing process optimization, bank marketing compliance, MRM, marketing strategy, marketing technology, marketing resource management, CRM, financial services marketing, strategic bank marketing, market research

Marketing organizations at many financial institutions continue to struggle to participate in—and influence—the strategic decision-making processes in their organizations. This is a recurring theme in our discussions with clients, which is why we often examine it on this blog (see Bank Marketing’s Strategic Impact and Future Ready Bank Marketing).

Tags: marketing strategy, strategy, financial services marketing, strategic bank marketing, market research

Planning for long-term success while addressing short-term goals isn’t easy for a bank marketing organization. It can feel like a tug-of-war between two opposing forces. A Deloitte Insights post about The Future-Ready CMO put it this way: “Effective marketing leaders often live in two realms—the present and the possible.”

Tags: marketing strategy, financial services marketing

If you’re not already aware, the U.S. Postal Service is ringing in the new year with a postal rate increase. Beginning January 27th, the price of a first-class stamp will go from $.50 to $.55, the largest jump since 1991, when the rate went from $.25 to $.29.

Tags: USPS, direct mail marketing

In its 2018 Banking Outlook report, Deloitte’s Center for Financial Services talks about the multiple challenges banks face as they aim to transform into “more strategically focused, technologically modern and operationally agile institutions.” Among the challenges Deloitte identifies are: complex and diverging regulations, legacy systems, disruptive models and technologies, new competitors, and an often-restive customer base with ever-higher expectations.

Tags: marketing strategy, financial services marketing

How would you characterize the strength and effectiveness of your marketing organization? Do you have the right talent, martech tools and focused strategy required to compete at the level necessary to grow within your industry?

Tags: human resources, marketing technology, marketing as a service, marketing staff, martech, MaaS

Technology’s role in transforming marketing cannot be understated. Digital channels, automation and a multitude of platforms have helped expand the marketer’s role, requiring expanded skillsets and increased IT investments for successful execution of marketing plans. Yet most marketing teams remain understaffed and overburdened. It is in this environment that marketing as a service (MaaS) has emerged.

Tags: human resources, MRM, marketing technology, marketing resource management, marketing as a service

Relationships have always been at the core of bank marketing success. While face-to-face transactions and handwritten notes have largely given way to mobile deposits, online bill paying, emails and texts, knowing and connecting with your customer on a personal level is as important as ever.

On the path to building lasting customer relationships, bank marketers must distinguish themselves from ever-increasing competition. There’s also the pressure to rise to elevated consumer expectations that are based on the streamlined, personalized experiences perfected by companies like Amazon and Uber.

Tags: brand consistency, local marketing, financial services marketing, banking customer experience

Whether you’re a bank with local branches or a franchise business with multiple locations, local sponsorships offer a powerful way for your local representatives to build relationships and visibility in the communities they serve. Sponsorships are effective because supporting local sports teams, charitable causes, the arts and other cultural organizations puts your brand in front of the customers and prospects you most want to reach at the local level.

Tags: brand consistency, local marketing, legal and regulatory compliance, franchise, financial services marketing, community sponsorship, local advertising