Getting consumers to talk about and share their positive experiences with your brand, product or service with other people is the Holy Grail of marketing. It’s called word-of-mouth (WOM), and it’s one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. It’s estimated that word of mouth drives $6 trillion in annual global spending and is responsible for as much as 19% of purchases.

Tags: brand advocacy, marketing campaign, direct mail marketing, MRM, Insurance Marketing, marketing resource management, local marketing

This year’s Franchise Customer Experience Conference (FCXC) brought together industry leaders, innovators, and experts from every corner of the franchise industry. The 3-day event was jam packed with informative workshops, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and of course networking. I’m excited to share my top 3 takeaways from FCXC 2023 that highlight the trends and strategies that are likely to drive customer experience and innovation across the franchise industry in the year ahead and beyond.

Tags: marketing campaign, customer experience, local marketing, franchise marketing, multi-brand marketing

We know from our work with distributed organizations in industries like banking and financial services, franchising and insurance, that corporate marketers often look for ways to make marketing easier for their frontline operations. Automated marketing campaigns and services – like managed social media, set-it-and-forget-it direct mail campaigns, and lead transfer programs – are great examples. These services make it easier for frontlines to execute locally customized, recurring marketing campaigns. But managing and administering these services can be a drain on corporate marketing resources.

Tags: digital marketing, marketing campaign, direct mail marketing, MRM, Continuity Campaigns, social media, marketing technology, Insurance Marketing, marketing resource management, local marketing, marketing operations, local marketing automation, financial services marketing, franchise marketing

When it comes to driving business growth in distributed organizations, the importance of local marketing campaigns cannot be overstated. How quickly you get campaigns to market across your footprint, your system or your regions is critically important for staying ahead of the competition or for responding to changing market conditions.

Tags: marketing campaign, MRM, marketing technology, Insurance Marketing, marketing resource management, local marketing, marketing operations, local marketing automation, financial services marketing, marketing technology buyers' resources, franchise marketing

 

Our Guest: Tom McEntee

Company: NBT Bank

Website: nbtbank.com

Tags: branding, marketing leadership, corporate culture, local marketing, marketing operations, marketing talent, financial services marketing, community sponsorship, Bank Marketing Today by Vya, podcast, data-driven marketing, in-house vs external marketing agency, commercial bank marketing

A primary goal of industry conferences is to make important connections – with customers, prospects, partners, peers and others, who can help you advance your business goals. So, it was great to be doing just that – after more than a year away from the in-person event circuit – at the recent Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, in Atlanta.

Tags: employee engagement, brand consistency, QR Codes, direct mail marketing, local marketing, franchise marketing, data-driven marketing, Actionable Marketing Data, Restaurant marketing

Technology has made it easier than ever for distributed organizations to execute marketing campaigns at the local level. With marketing resource management (MRM) systems, programs can be centrally managed by corporate marketing to maintain control over things like brand standards, custom requests, messaging, regulatory compliance, and approvals, while also empowering local teams to customize campaigns to provide greater relevance to their local customers.

Tags: campaign management, marketing campaign, MRM, marketing technology, Insurance Marketing, marketing resource management, local marketing, financial services marketing, distributed marketing, franchise marketing

Even though 2020 may feel like the year of “going nowhere,” the truth is, many organizations are moving in new directions with speeds and efficiencies never seen before. The question for many is whether the crisis-driven changes they are making are temporary, or will they last as companies emerge from the challenges brought on by the pandemic?

Tags: marketing process optimization, local marketing, marketing operations, franchise, streamline marketing, distributed marketing, franchise marketing, flexible marketing

These days, flexibility is a powerful tool for maintaining balance and navigating uncertainties. This applies especially to marketers who may be managing campaigns across multi-location businesses, facing dynamic local market conditions.

Tags: brand consistency, local marketing, streamline marketing, distributed marketing, flexible marketing

At this time of year businesses often assess their performance of the past year and determine priorities for the year ahead, while looking at the broader trends that may impact their future success. Among these trends in 2020 is a focus on humanizing interactions and experiences in an increasingly digital world.

Tags: corporate culture, marketing strategy, local marketing