From the Olympic Games, to the London Symphony Orchestra, to local dog shows... there seems to be no limit to what companies can sponsor in an effort to build their brand. The real challenge executives face is to devise sponsorship strategies that are on-target, cost-effective and (most crucial) do the ... more

In the first half of this two-part series, the author examined what has changed in the realm of technology spending, and studied factors that motivate different companies to buy during depressed economic cycles. In this final installment, find out how to exploit these motivators to pry dollars out of tight ... more

In the introduction to "Business: The Ultimate Resource," author Daniel Goleman makes the case for including "business intelligence" among other forms of intelligence that are now studied, ranging from Howard Gardner's breakdown to the work that Goleman furthered in emotional intelligence. How does business intelligence differ from other identified intelligences? more

Here’s the thing about the RIGHT small agency – it can get your work done, it can think big, and it can deliver improved ROI or reduced acquisition cost. At least...that's the opinion of some. more

There was a bit of disconnect between what was happening on the vendor floor and what was happening at the podium at the CRM Expo in NYC last month. more

One of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal is a good old-fashioned customer testimonial or two. Here's how to convince your customers to toot your horn for you. more

echnology will get you only so far these days. Responsiveness gets you further. When a customer e-mails you, get back to them. Immediately. Now. Pronto. Drop everything. more

You’ve been working on your brand new web site for months — the graphics look great, it’s user-friendly, easy to navigate, takes your prospects where you want them to go, and so on. Now you have to get qualified visitors to your site, and (more importantly) keep them coming back. ... more

E-mail is abused by innocent victims, just as alcohol, drugs and food are. Here's a 12-step program for the electronically afflicted. more

Just as you don’t like to be let down or mislead, neither do your customers. Although it may be tempting to make claims of greatness or leadership to stand out in a cluttered marketplace, it will not lead to long-term success and customer loyalty if you can’t deliver. more

Supply chains and marketing channels are being redrawn as e-business, consolidation, and integrated supply alter the relationship between manufacturer, distributor and customer. How can manufacturers best leverage their existing industrial channels to grow in this era of uncertainty? more

If you’re looking to advise people in Web commerce today, it’s best to look where money is being made. There is such a niche, a niche that has transformed its industry just as the Web promised it would. That niche is travel. more

Flash is a powerful tool that offers developers huge capabilities. Until recently, developers mostly utilized Flash's strengths to create complex animations or fast-loading movies. However, the most recent versions of Flash offer developers power that's far beyond the tool's original scope. more

In this day of celebrity brands, and branded cities, it is not only becoming common, it is becoming essential, for senior executives to build and communicate their personal brands to expand both individual and corporate success. Here's how. more

Before you get your heart set on optimizing a certain keyword or keyword phrase for optimal search engine placement, consider doing three things. more

There’s a little Web secret that can help you kick off relationship-building with a visitor’s first stop at your site. Tuck some personal stuff in the nooks and crannies on your site. more

The Rules" is a controversial US book detailing how to ensnare a husband by employing a strict code of conduct. Coincidentally, the guide provides an inadvertent object lesson for businesses struggling to achieve CRM. more

In today's economy, many large technology and professional services firms are failing. Even worse, you hear about two unproductive firms merging together to combine assets into one large unproductive IT firm. What can you do about it? more

Questions of e-mail format stir up a flurry of interest among online marketers. In addition, how marketers wish to send e-mails may vary considerably from what consumers want. more

Many of us still have annual sales projections that are based on backroom conversations with unsubstantiated forecast logic or rolled forward from last year's commitment to investors, compensation plans that haven't changed in years and sales support departments who are not assigned a sales quota. Does this sound uncomfotably familiar? more

Based on the links pointing to your site, the search engines either increase or decrease how relevant your site is for particular keyword searches. Obviously, you want to increase your site's relevancy, right? more

What's the value of loyalty programs – both to consumers and to the issuers of the cards? more

In today's turbulent global business environment, there is no better time than now to put effective global leadership traits into place. What are those traits? Here are the top 10. more

In our combined years of experience, we’ve discovered quite a bit about what works, and what doesn’t, in the email marketing arena. More than that, we’ve also divined the true secret of marketing via electronic mail. more

The party is over. The gluttonous technology buyers of the '90s are on strict diets and are not stopping by our candy stores anymore. Selling technology will require nothing less than completely refocusing your marketing efforts and adapting to leaner customer appetites. more