Mobile banking is still in its infancy, but researchers and analysts are already forecasting its prevalence in the not-too-distant future. Despite the optimism, some variables have banks and their customers slow to fully embrace all the possibilities of mobile banking. Still, the technology offers major upside for marketers in the financial services industry. But in order to capitalize, they first need to know the details.

Tags: mobile marketing, tablets, mobile banking, mobile e-mail, mobile optimization, mobile wallets, smartphones, marketing campaign, financial services marketing

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when e-mail marketing was becoming the aging dinosaur of Internet marketing. Sure, businesses still used it as a marketing tool, but it was much less exciting than the ever-dynamic possibilities social media was offering up and, in many industries, it became background noise – part of the routine mix, but nothing more special than anything else. And then smartphones entered the picture, and all of the sudden e-mail didn’t wait for users to get home and fire up their computers; it tracked them down to wherever they were.

The rise of mobile e-mail

Tags: mobile marketing, tablets, mobile e-mail, open rates, mobile optimization, smartphones, messaging, email marketing

As we discussed in a previous post about the emergence of the Chief Digital Officer, there is a growing gap in what marketing, advertising and PR professionals have been trained to do and what they are ideally expected to do in their roles. New technologies demand new skills, and as businesses learn to harness those technologies in different functional areas, the job descriptions of marketers are evolving past traditional notions.

Tags: digital marketing, ROI, talent gap, data analysis, chief digital officer, advertising technology, MRM, marketing resource management, local marketing automation

A new month means new opportunities to connect with clients in meaningful ways through creative multichannel campaigns. Here are a few ideas to help you capitalize on all of the positive energy April and the turn of the season from winter to spring have to offer.

Tags: marketing ideas, QR code, insurance, marketing campaign, PURL, direct mail marketing, social media, financial services marketing

Tags: digital marketing, marketing news, facebook, Twitter, vine, china, online advertising, android, google adwords, iOS, social media

The wallet goes digital
As smartphones take an ever-more prominent role in our daily lives, there’s one emerging trend that financial institutions should pay particular attention to. The concept behind the “mobile wallet” is, on its simplest level, the idea of storing digital versions of credit and debit cards on a smartphone instead of carrying hard copies in a bulky, physical wallet. If a consumer wants to purchase something using their Google Wallet app, they simply tap the back of their phone on an NFC terminal (basically a scanner) at the point-of-purchase and the transaction is complete.

While the real upside of mobile wallets is yet to be truly realized (like automatically selecting the card with rewards points you didn’t even know were available for purchasing a particular item), the technology is far enough along that key players in the tech industry are moving in on what should intuitively be financial and banking market share. According to a study by Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, Level-Up, Square, PayPal, Google and Apple are the tech giants best-poised to beat major banks and credit card companies to the proverbial profitable punch.

Tags: branding, mobile marketing, mobile wallet, financial services marketing

Part of any marketer’s role (and any executive’s role, really) is to identify emerging industry trends and separate those with real staying power from the mere flavors of the week. This is particularly difficult when it comes to tracking emerging digital resources. For example, while experience would suggest Twitter is the second-most utilized social networking tool, a new report states that Google+ has actually overtaken Twitter in percent of market-share and active users.

While social media is just one example, the point is that while these individual trends can be tough to predict, one thing is clear: digital marketing mediums are not just here to stay; they are ever-expanding. And their growing prevalence means new challenges that stretch well beyond the confines of the marketing department.

Tags: digital marketing, CDO, MRM, marketing technology, marketing resource management

In today’s era of digital marketing, content is king. But context is key to successfully personalizing messages for your diverse target segments. Communicating effectively in today’s marketing environment demands segment level personalization – but all too often, personalization and scale are seen as competing ends. If personalization seems complex, do not dismay. You can personalize your message at scale, reduce cost inefficiencies and improve conversions in the process. Here are three guidelines:

Tags: PURLs, Variable Data Printing, VDP, Pesonalization, QR Codes, MRM, marketing resource management

Part of the Marketing Organizational Leadership Series

Tags: branding, Marketing Organizational Leadership

Whether looking to celebrate Mardi Gras or finding warmer climate climes to escape the deep chill of February, it’s a sure bet that travel will be on the minds of many this month. For tourism and travel providers, attracting customers requires breaking through the ad and promotion clutter to help potential customers find your offering.

QR codes can help.

Tags: mobile marketing, QR code, Travel