Benchmarking: How-to articles covering the latest marketing tactics, tips, and strategies.

• Nonprofit Benchmarks: Email, Social, Audience, Fundraising [Infographic]Vahe Habeshian
  Online nonprofit fundraising is on the rise, with explosive growth in sustaining gifts and a larger audience of supporters reached via social networks, according to an analysis of leading US ...
  Benchmarking, Email, Email Marketing, Facebook, Metrics, Non Profits, Research Summaries, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter
• Five Common Errors in Marketing-Performance Evaluation and MeasurementJonathan Lewis
  Although the exponential increase in the availability of customer and business data has enhanced our ability to measure success, it has also increased our chances of misunderstanding and misinterpreting it. ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Behavior, Customer Insight, Data, Digital Theory, Marketing Dashboards, Measurement, Metrics, Web Analytics
• Driving Direct Sales With Social MediaDavid Klein
  Although social media is a relatively new marketing channel, there is fairly strong consensus that it can help with business growth. What few people realize, though, is that you can ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Acquisition, Customer Engagement, Customer Relationships, Digital Theory, Direct Marketing, Marketing Automation, Sales, Social Media
• Four Lessons From the Co-Founder of OfficeMax [Slide Show]Christian Gulliksen
  As co-founder of OfficeMax, Michael Feuer learned a thing or two about launching and running a successful company. Here are four of his invaluable lessons on empowering your employees, building ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Engagement, Management, Marketing Inspiration
• Strategy First When Integrating Social Media and Direct MarketingDebra Ellis
  The path to social-media success is filled with sinkholes that cost you time and relationships. Clearly defining your plan, documenting the process and details, and revising the plan as needed ...
  Benchmarking, Brand Loyalty, Customer Loyalty, Direct Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Metrics, Social Media, Testing
• Go Shopping: It's a Cool Way to Check Out the Competition
  You spend a lot of time ensuring the best-possible experience for every customer purchasing your product or service. You've trained a friendly, knowledgeable staff, and you use customer feedback—both positive ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Experience, Recession
• Three Key Investments for Improving Marketing Effectiveness and AccountabilityLaura Patterson
  Over half of the responding companies to a recent survey indicated that the biggest barrier to an effective measurement strategy is a lack of budget and other resources; fewer than ...
  Benchmarking, Marketing Budgets, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tips
• Tips for Comparing Your Site to Competitors: Do You Stand Out?
  In a post at the SEOmoz blog, Laura Lippay asks, "What makes your site different? Remarkable?" Stumped? Well, one great way to determine how your site stacks up against the competition is ...
  Benchmarking, Marketing Tips, Search Engine Marketing
• 7 Key Steps to Turning Your Big Idea Into a Big SuccessMike Sprouse
  If you're passionate about something and you have an idea that just won't go away, now is the time to explore it and to make something remarkable happen. Here are ...
  Benchmarking, Creativity, Marketing Smarter, Marketing Tips
• How to Be Successful With New Web InitiativesChristian Shea
  One of the traps that many organizations fall into when launching a new Web initiative is putting the focus of the project on new technology or new functionality. Instead, you ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Engagement, Management, Targeting

Benchmarking: Podcasts containing in-depth interviews with smart marketers from all walks of life.

• How to Build a Testing Culture: Justin Rondeau of Which Test Won on Marketing Smarts [Podcast]by Matthew Grant
  Testing your online campaigns, landing pages, forms, website, and so on can't be an every-now-and-again thing. Testing must be iterative and ongoing if it is to produce results. Which means, among other things, that your organization must institute a culture ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Behavior, Data, Digital Marketing, Interactive Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Smarts, Measurement, Metrics, Testing
• Did You See That? EyeTrackShop's Jeff Bander Talks Eye Tracking on Marketing Smarts [Podcast]by Matthew Grant
  Before we can effectively communicate with our customers, we need to get their attention. According to Jeff Bander of EyeTrackShop, this means that when evaluating the effectiveness of our ads or calls-to-action or emails or whatever, we need to answer ...
  Benchmarking, Customer Behavior, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Smarts, Measurement, Online Marketing, Research, Web Analytics

Benchmarking: Online seminar broadcasts from the best minds in marketing

• Using Market Frameworks to Analyze Your CompetitionBroadcast on 2/21/2013 with Sean Campbell
  In this PRO seminar, you'll learn how to use market frameworks to understand your market and analyze your competition, understand your own strengths, and uncover weaknesses you may not even know you have.
  Benchmarking, Management, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tips, Positioning, Pricing, Product Marketing
• Ten Best Practices for Performing Competitive TeardownsBroadcast on 7/26/2012 with Sean Campbell
  You'll learn the do's and don'ts of acquiring competitors' solutions, methods to perform the teardown effectively and fairly, and how you can use the results to improve your marketing and sales collateral.
  Benchmarking, Brand Management, Brand Positioning, Market Research, Marketing Strategy, Positioning, Product Management
• Go Beyond Google: How to Gather Free B2B Competitive IntelligenceBroadcast on 2/4/2010 with Sean Campbell, Scott Swigart
  Discovering insights about your B2B competitors requires tools, tips and some of your time. But not necessarily your money.
  B2B Marketing, Benchmarking, Marketing Strategy, New Media
• Demolish the Roadblocks on Your Website: Clearing a Path for Customer Action, Sales and LoyaltyBroadcast on 1/21/2010 with Gerry McGovern
  Traditional marketing is about getting attention. Web marketing is about giving attention. There’s a world of difference between the two.
  Benchmarking, Management, Market Research, Marketing Budgets, Social Media, Website Design, Websites
• The Naked Truth: Insights from Our Social Media Marketing ResearchBroadcast on 1/14/2010 with Tim McAtee, Roy Young
  Get the Full Monty on what 5,140 marketers are doing with social media in this look at our newest research results.
  Benchmarking, Management, Market Research, Marketing Smarter, Social Media
• Seven Fast-Acting Methods to Drive B2B Revenue NowBroadcast on 5/14/2009 with John Coe
  Is your B2B sales force stalled right now? As a marketer, it's up to you to help them overcome economic obstacles in meeting today's revenue goals.
  B2B Marketing, Benchmarking, Customer Acquisition, Customer Relationships, Customer Satisfaction, Lead Quality, Marketing Tips, Sales
• How to Craft a Winning Business Case for Your Marketing InitiativeBroadcast on 4/16/2009 with Pat LaPointe
  What does it take to get a business case approved these days? A thoughtful, comprehensive approach and a more credible financial framework than you’ve likely used before.
  Benchmarking, Collaboration, Management, Marketing Plans, Measurement, Metrics, Writing
• Green to Gold: Why Smart Companies Are Going Green (Even in a Recession)Broadcast on 2/12/2009 with Andrew Winston
  Why are the world's biggest, toughest, most profit-seeking companies talking about the environment? Simply put, because they have to. You should, too.
  Benchmarking, Branding, Green Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Metrics, Recession
• Mobile Marketing: How to Harness the Power of the Small ScreenBroadcast on 11/20/2008 with Michael Foschetti
  Mobile is becoming a powerful and personal channel for direct response marketing.  Have you added it to your mix yet?  Learn how!
  Benchmarking, Branding, Customer Engagement, Customer Relationships, Email Marketing, Measurement, Mobile Marketing, New Media, SMS, Word of Mouth
• Crash Course #8: Email - The Power Channel in Direct Marketing TodayBroadcast on 2/15/2007 with Regina Brady
  Permission-based email is not only here to stay, it’s become a driving force behind the way companies communicate with prospects and customers. You'll get an insightful look at this thriving marketing communications channel.
  Benchmarking, Copywriting, Customer Acquisition, Direct Marketing, Email Lists, Email Marketing, Metrics, Sales

Benchmarking: Marketing downloads for the busy professional

• Benchmark Report: Marketing ROI (Year 3)
  In this 2007 survey, the third annual on ROI, respondents who use ROI for their marketing efforts expect greater growth and enjoy greater confidence from their senior management than respondents who don't use ROI.
  Benchmarking, ROI
• Marketing Metrics How-To Guide
  Metrics is the guiding light of your marketing efforts. Without measurements, you're operating in the dark. Make sure you are tracking the right metrics, and get tips on interpreting the data with this comprehensive guide.
  Benchmarking, Marketing Dashboards, Measurement, Metrics
• Competitive Analysis Template
  A thorough competitive analysis is a critical component of a solid marketing plan. It is an exercise that will provide you with valuable insights to guide the development of your business strategy. This 20-page template will make the project quick and easy, and you can end up with a leg up on your compeition.
  Benchmarking, Market Research, Measurement