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.

A client recently asked me, “Why should I consider including direct mail in my marketing mix? And if I were to use direct mail, how would I track it in a meaningful way?”

You may have asked yourself these very same questions. With the shift to less expensive, metric-rich digital channels, many marketers abandoned mail as a way to reach customers and track engagement.

But marketers are always looking for the most effective ways to break through to media overloaded consumers, which is leading a growing number to revisit direct mail, particularly as part of a multichannel marketing strategy.

Hats off to the team at Franchise Update Media for a terrific Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference last week in Atlanta. The Vya team came away from the event with some great connections and an instructive view into the realities faced by today’s franchise marketers. Here are just some of the powerful insights and recommendations we heard from those who are on the frontlines of franchise marketing. 

Experts estimate today’s US consumer is exposed to as many as 10,000 brand messages a day. More than ever, marketers need to deliver relevant messages, through multiple channels, with enough frequency to gain recognition and engagement. Every consumer touchpoint counts. Which means the quality of marketing campaigns is critical to breaking through the noise.

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.

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.

With the recently signed executive order requesting a review of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Trump administration has taken a first step toward potential regulatory relief for banks and financial services companies. Experts and influencers on both sides of regulation are already fiercely debating the merits and failings of the current law and any possible rollback of it. At this point, the result of such a review is uncertain. What is clear is that change is most definitely in the air.

Despite digital marketing’s dominance in today’s marketing mix, printed materials continue to play a vital role for end-product manufacturers. From product manuals, operating procedures and material safety data sheets, to price books and hang tags – there are certain applications that demand printed materials.

Running a local franchise business requires a broad skillset. From day-to-day operations management, customer service, accounting and business planning, to HR, inventory control and facilities management—franchise business owners wear many different hats. For many franchisees, one hat that never seems to fit quite right is that of marketer.

That’s not to say that franchisees lack an understanding of the importance of marketing and promotion to the success of their business. In fact, in a recent survey of franchise SMBs by local media researcher BIA/Kelsey, franchise owners reported more than half of their business is derived from promotions.

If you’ve been managing your creative projects with IBM’s Marketing Operations OnDemand (MOOD) system, previously known as Unica Marketing Operations OnDemand, you might be feeling abandoned since IBM announced it plans to end support for the product on June 30, 2017.

Instead of feeling abandoned, how about feeling supported? Vya has a great alternative for MOOD users. Our Vya creative production systems enable users to seamlessly route, approve and track progress on creative projects. Even better, we just announced a new release of the system with an upgraded user experience and enhanced reporting capabilities.