2017

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Chairs are Dead—and Other B2B Marketing Hogwash

Pointclear

In 2015, I wrote this blog for Sales & Marketing Magazine: Dead is Dead (in Sales & Marketing). It seemed like, suddenly, a lot of things were dying: cold calling was dead; telephone prospecting was dead; outbound marketing was dead … many said that even marketing was dead. Maybe I was just sensitive. I mean, I grew up at a time when Paul McCartney was supposedly dead (he, thankfully, lives on).

B2B 156
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10 of the Best Ads from November: Elves, Llamas, and a Business Cat

Hubspot

If you think November is too early to be dreaming of sugarplum fairies and hanging the stockings with care, then consider this your official warning: this post is heavy on the holiday cheer. To everyone else, hello. November brought us a delightful crop of festive ads, including the much-anticipated annual Christmas spot from UK retailer John Lewis -- which dependably goes viral every year.

Follow-up 154
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Trending Sources

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11 Analytics Experts Share Their Favorite New Features of GA and GTM

ConversionXL

Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager are tools that most marketers use on a daily basis. New stuff is added to both of them all the time. What’s something new and useful that was added in 2017 the top experts love? In no particular order. #1: Krista Seiden, Google. My favorite GTM release of the year is hands down the two new triggers released in October 2017: Scroll Tracking & Element Visibility.

GTM 133
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Best of 2017: Top 10 Blog Articles of the Year

SBI

What a year it’s been. The Sales Tech space has grown dramatically as evidenced by the publication of our 2017 Sales Tech Landscape with 500 solutions. The buzz words for the year were predictive analytics, AI, ABM, ABS, and Coaching. Here are some of Smart Selling Tools stats for 2017: Published over 100 articles on our blog. Hosted 17 of our own webinars and participated in about a dozen others.

Sales 0
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How to Improve Email Deliverability and Optimize Each Send

Learn how to optimize email deliverability and drive greater email ROI. What lands your email in the customer’s inbox? Understanding those factors, otherwise known as email deliverability, is critical to getting the most return on your campaign investments. But the “rules” around which factors land you in the spam folder aren’t always easy to keep up with.

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6 Things Good Lead Generation Vendors Do Right (That You May Be Doing Wrong)

Pointclear

There’s plenty of mediocrity in lead generation—both in-house and outsourced. However, there are a lot of things good insourced operations and lead generation companies do well. While lead generation (or teleprospecting) is not rocket science, there are a lot of moving parts in a well-run lead generation machine. Failure to execute and coordinate all of the moving parts leads to poor results.

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Cadence—Multi-touch, Multi-media, Multi-cycle Marketing Multiplies Results

Pointclear

For one client, it takes 9.82 touches to engage with a prospect. The result of these touches is what we call a disposition: PointClear's term for completing contact with a decision maker or company (some programs lend themselves to dispositioning by contact and some by company). This approach yields a 5% lead rate. Our leads are equivalent to what SiriusDecisions calls a Level 4 or 5 lead—well-qualified leads.

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More Trending

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5 VR Marketing Examples That You'll Want to Steal for 2018

Hubspot

The holidays are coming, and I'm feeling cheerful. So, I'll do you a solid: I won't lecture you on the importance of incorporating virtual reality into your 2018 marketing strategy. But, in the spirit of giving, I will share the following fun facts: By 2020, the economic impact of virtual and augmented reality is predicted to reach $29.5 billion. By the end of 2017, the combined total of VR software and hardware from Sony, Oculus, HTC, and others is predicted to reach 5.1 million units.

B2B 101
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The Ultimate Guide to Writing LinkedIn InMails That Get Results (With Examples)

Hubspot

What if you tripled your typical email response rate? People are three times likelier to reply to a LinkedIn InMail message than a traditional email -- so if you’re going to reach out, an InMail might be the way to go. What Is LinkedIn InMail? You can only send LinkedIn messages to your first-degree connections. To contact someone who’s not in your network, you’ll need to send an InMail.

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23 Motivational Songs to Get You Pumped in 2017

Hubspot

Prospecting for sales leads. not the most fun thing in the world. There’s no question that it’s incredibly important, but researching dozens of companies every day in the hopes of finding a few good fits isn’t the most titillating task. So we’re here to help. We’ve compiled the ultimate pump-up playlist to keep you sharp and focused while you pan for gold.

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13 Email Examples That Totally Nailed Personalization

Hubspot

If you're anything like most people, you can probably rattle off 100 different things you'd rather do than dig through your inbox. It starts to feel like a chore, because what's in there isn't very interesting. In fact, only 21% of consumers reported that they've received a memorable promotional email in the past two months, according to a study by Litmus.

Follow-up 101
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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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Brand Strategy 101: 7 Essentials for Strong Company Branding

Hubspot

Let's say you've come to the difficult realization that quite frankly your brand -- if you can even call it that -- is all over the place. Or perhaps worse, you have a defined brand, but you're noticing that it just doesn't seem to mesh with who you really are and what you really do. Don't panic. Before you get all hung up on what shade of green to use for your logo or what tone you're going to use when engaging with people on Twitter, you need to step back and take a look at the big picture.

Up-sell 101
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75 Mind-Blowing Sales Statistics That Will Help You Sell Smarter in 2017

Hubspot

Every time I think I've gotten a grip on the weird, wonderful world of sales, I learn something new that forces me to change my perspective and question my beliefs. Like just 17% of salespeople think they're pushy -- compared to 50% of prospects. And along similar lines, only 3% of buyers trust reps. The only professions with less credibility include car sales, politics, and lobbying.

Sell 101
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8 Popular Sales Methodologies Summarized

Hubspot

Best sales methodologies. SPIN Selling. N.E.A.T. Selling. Conceptual Selling. SNAP Selling. The Challenger Sale. The Sandler System. CustomerCentric Selling. MEDDIC. Salespeople are very aware of their quotas and the need to reach them. However, they're not always clear on the steps they should take. That's where sales methodologies come in. Top Sales Methodologies to Consider.

Sales 101
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7 Habits of Highly Effective People [Book Summary]

Hubspot

7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is a self-improvement book. It is written on Covey's belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions. In order to change a given situation, we must change ourselves, and in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.

Start-ups 101
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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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40 Sales Interview Questions to Recruit the Best Reps in 2017

Hubspot

Sales job interview questions. An effective interview question digs into the salesperson's skills, knowledge, experience, personality, and/or motivation. It helps reveal whether they'll be a good fit for the role, culture, and objectives. To build a strong sales organization, it’s imperative to find people who can hit quota, handle rejection, and be persistent without turning aggressive.

Sales 101
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How Frequently Should I Publish on Social Media? A HubSpot Experiment

Hubspot

Social media can be an overwhelming place -- even for the experts. Which networks should they use, what should they write, how frequently should they post, and does the time they post really matter? I analyzed HubSpot customer data for one week during the month of June -- comprised of a total of roughly 10K different accounts on each different platform, as well as 15K posts to Linkedin company pages, 25K posts to Facebook business Pages, and nearly 60K posts on Twitter.

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56 Email Etiquette Tips to Avoid Writing Sloppy Emails

Hubspot

You may have heard, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That might be true in some aspects of life -- but over email, sweating the small stuff is exactly what you should be doing. Business email etiquette. Email etiquette rules dictate what’s appropriate and what’s not when you’re sending a message to a prospect, business partner, coworker, manager, or acquaintance.

Follow-up 101
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What Makes Good Copywriting? 6 Characteristics of Top-Notch Copy

Hubspot

Mad Men fans everywhere remember the pivotal first scene where we learn just how talented Don Draper is at his job. Faced with an almost-impossible copywriting task, he rose to the occasion to solve a huge problem for his client, Lucky Strike. In spite of research warning customers of the dangers of cigarettes, Draper delivered the iconic slogan -- "It's toasted" -- to differentiate the brand from its competitors.

Angle 101
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1st, 2nd, and 3rd Party Intent Data: Which Is Right for You?

How do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party intent data compare? 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data each have specific advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to four factors: accuracy, cost, control and quantity. This infographic explains the pros and cons of each and helps you understand which one is best for meeting your business objectives. Intent data can be a great way to fill your pipeline and close more deals.

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22 Companies With Really Catchy Slogans & Brand Taglines

Hubspot

Keep it simple, stupid. We don't mean to offend you -- this is just an example of a great slogan that also bears the truth of the power of succinctness in advertising. It's incredibly difficult to be succinct, and it's especially difficult to express a complex emotional concept in just a couple of words -- which is exactly what a slogan does. That's why we have a lot of respect for the brands that have done it right.

Campaign 101
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5 Effective Sales Prospecting Techniques You Should Be Using

Hubspot

Though many salespeople despise prospecting, it’s an important part of sales. Unfortunately, the majority of reps use ineffective and outdated sales prospecting techniques, instead of the effective practices that could actually lead to a higher volume of better qualified leads (and make them more partial to prospecting). Just like every other aspect of the sales process, you need to put in the effort and focus required.

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5 Less Annoying Alternatives to "Please Find Attached"

Hubspot

Between ebooks, case studies, data sheets, proposals, and contracts, you probably send email attachments on a daily -- if not hourly -- basis. And that means you might be using the common phrase “Please find attached.” Other variations include “Attached please find,” Please kindly find the attached file,” Please find the attached file for your reference,” “Enclosed please find,” and the ultra-wordy, “Please find attached herewith.”.

Quota 101
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How to Work with Influencers: The Ultimate Guide

Hubspot

How much digital content do you consume on a daily basis? It’s tough to put a number on that, isn’t it? Here’s an even tougher question: How much of that content do you genuinely trust -- especially when it comes to an investment in a product or a service? According to Twitter , if you really only trust your friends and family for this information, you’re part of the majority.

Trust 101
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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

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10 Jobs Artificial Intelligence Will Replace (and 10 That Are Safe)

Hubspot

The other day at work, my colleague, HubSpot Marketing Director Ryan Bonnici, sent around a link on Slack -- to a website called “ Will Robots Take My Job ?”. We were thrilled to learn marketing managers had only a 1.4% chance of our jobs being automated or replaced by robots and artificial intelligence. And although I breathed a sigh of relief that writing has only a 3.8% chance of being automated, it made me think about job roles that weren’t so lucky.

Sales 101
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The Ridiculously Successful Way to Introduce Yourself Over Email

Hubspot

How to introduce yourself over email. Write a compelling subject line. Tailor your greeting to the industry and situation. Make your first line about them. Explain why you're reaching out. Provide value. Include a call-to-action. Say thank you. Writing an email to a stranger is easy. Writing an email to a stranger that gets a response? Not so easy. The typical professional gets so many messages on a daily basis it’s a feat if they even open yours -- let alone reply.

Referrals 101
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20 of the Best Website Homepage Design Examples

Hubspot

You never get a second chance to make a first impression -- that’s why your homepage is undoubtedly one of the most important web pages on your website. For any given company, the homepage is its virtual front door. If a new visitor doesn't like what they see, their knee-jerk reaction is to hit the "back" button. That's right -- unfortunately, a lot of people still judge a book by its cover.

Start-ups 101
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8 of the Top Marketing Challenges Marketers Face Today [New Data]

Hubspot

Every marketer faces different challenges. Although we typically share similar goals, some teams are stuck on hiring top talent, while others are having trouble finding the right technology for their needs. Whatever the case may be, there’s always at least one area that you can stand to improve. In other words, there’s always room to optimize the various components of your strategy and turn your marketing into an even more effective revenue generator.

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How to Leverage Intent Data for Better Outcomes

Speaker: Susan Spencer, Principal of Spencer Communications

Intent signal data can go a long way toward shortening sales cycles and closing more deals. The challenge is deciding which is the best type of intent data to help your company meet its sales and marketing goals. In this webinar, Susan Spencer, fractional CMO and principal of Spencer Communications, will unpack the differences between contact-level and company-level intent signals.

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HubSpot’s Marketing Team Worked Remotely for One Week. Here’s What We Learned.

Hubspot

Think about the last time you were on a conference call with someone in a different location. Did you run into any communication challenges -- technical, or otherwise? Did you find yourself trying to speak up but failing to get a word in? If there were multiple people on that call, did you find that everyone was able to participate? Remote meetings are becoming increasingly commonplace.

Meeting 101
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32 Free Online Marketing Classes to Master Your Marketing Skills

Hubspot

I don't know about you, but I miss going to school. I miss taking notes, studying, and most of all, learning a ton of new skills. That's not to say I don't learn a lot on the job here at HubSpot -- because I absolutely do. But sometimes, there's nothing quite like listening to a lecture, taking notes, and doing homework. Given the frequency at which new technologies and software are developed, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up your knowledge by only reading blog posts and ebooks.

Start-ups 101
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15 Common Logical Fallacies and How to Spot Them

Hubspot

Logical fallacies -- those logical gaps that invalidate arguments -- aren't always easy to spot. While some come in the form of loud, glaring inconsistencies, others can easily fly under the radar, sneaking into everyday meetings and conversations undetected. Having an understanding of these basic logical fallacies can help you more confidently parse the arguments and claims you participate in and witness on a daily basis -- separating fact from sharply dressed fiction.

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How to Repost on Instagram: 4 Easy Ways to Reshare Content

Hubspot

Where most social media feeds are almost distractingly busy -- full of photos, videos, and text updates from friends and brands you follow -- Instagram is different because you can only look at one post at a time. And while this simple, clean interface makes to easy to focus on the beautiful photography and interesting videos on Instagram, it also leaves something to be desired: the ability to easily repost other users' content.

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The Next Level of Sales Enablement: Sales Content Management

Speaker: Deniz Olcay, Senior Director of Product Marketing, and Jake Miller, Senior Product Marketing Manager

Modern Sales Content Management (SCM) platforms have become table stakes in the world of sales enablement. Sellers need one-stop access where all of their sales content is stored, organized, deployed, and measured. Today’s modern SCM platforms achieve just that. However, these various platforms also have key differences. In this value-packed webinar, Deniz Olcay and Jake Miller will unravel and debunk the top three SCM myths and explain how to get the most from your SCM solution.