Question

Topic: Research/Metrics

Tool For Managing And Tracking Marketing Plans

Posted by Anonymous on 3/5/2004 at 6:29 PM ET 250 Points
Should I use excel? Too dry, can't show creative work effectively but good for metrics, lead tracking and RoI.
Should I use word? Not great at calculating, too text based. Good for formulating text and useful for strategy development
Should I use powerpoint? Great for showing creativity and presenting results. Not great as management tool
Should I use MS project? Too difficult to use and change. Good tracking and corelationship tool.

Where can I find a good tool to do all of the above?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 3/6/2004 at 1:24 AM Accepted
    I don't get exactly what you are trying to do.

    Are you trying to measure the effctiveness of your strategy, and show that to the team/management/stakeholders?

    Or are you trying to track production items, artwork, approvals, tec.

    If the former, I would use any kind of a Balanced Scorecard approach.

    This is one area in which I specialise, and it's the foremost tool for strategy implementation and measurement. Works across all aspects of the busienss. Providing the scorecard is designed right in the first place.

    Balanced Scorecard can be automated to feed from all your existing systems (wheatever they are) and will link to all your collaboration documents too. The usual way is via a specially created data cube.

    Or you can simply run it on an Excel spreadsheet, if your measures are not complex or compound.

    For larger automated systems (which can double as real-time tactical tools, btw) I use Pulsesuite software from Primed Online www.primedonline.com which is extremely good, although not cheap. It's a medium to large enterprise tool, really.

    Do you have a Balanced Scorecard in place for the business? If not, have you heard of the Kaplan/Norton books? Worth a look, or check out www.bscol.com

    Good Luck

    Chris
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 3/6/2004 at 1:39 AM Member
    And here's another one that looks like it might suit.

    https://www.orbisglobal.com/index.asp

    No idea about price though...

    take care

    Chris
  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 3/6/2004 at 3:56 PM Accepted
    I would be very surprised if you found a single tool that works better than using the combination of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Project.

    What's wrong with using them all? They all have their specific purpose and they perform these well.

    Like marketing tools they have their limitations, but like integrated marketing, they each leverage each other to a level of more functional value than when used by themselves.

    What specific problem(s) do you have that is not being addressed by them?

    I'll offer to work through this one with you if want to give more specifics or an example.
  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 3/6/2004 at 4:08 PM Member
    O.K., the append feature discussed this week would be nice right now.

    mbarber mentioned ACT!, and I agree that configuring it in the manner described would work well.

    Just remember ACT! can be cumbersome and very limited leading to frustration and a alot of exporting of data, but if you just want a tracking/reminder system it works well.
  • Posted by telemoxie on 3/16/2004 at 4:29 PM Accepted
    Thanks for your question, I have a similar need...

    You might want to check out:
    https://www.web-based-software.com/

    After looking at a number of those packages (some of which appear very good for collaborative efforts) I'm planning to:

    - use Excell to create status reports
    - print to PDF files to distribute the information

    Good luck!
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