Empowering Marketing Service providers
January 2014
D E T N WA Seven ways to build your list of new suspects Sure, you’re busy, but are you relevant? Make it personal Is it that time again?
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LinkedIn, Facebook and the slew of other similar sites provide an excellent opportunity to connect with people and groups of suspects you want to target. January 2014 Publisher mark potter creative director
P2
Publisher’s Thoughts Signs
brandon clark marketing manager taylor knowles MANAGING EDITOR michael j. pallerino ART DIRECTOR brent cashman
Editorial board chris petro GlobalSoft tom moe Daily Printing dean petrulakis Rider Dickerson david bennett Bennett Graphics
P4
Best of Canvas Notes Make it personal
P6
Marketing Insights P12
Wanted Seven ways to build your list of new suspects
P18
Sure, you’re busy, but are you relevant? P24
Is it that time again? Three ways to make your annual sales meeting pop
tony narducci O’Neil Printing CANVAS, Volume 6, Issue 1. Published bi-monthly, copyright 2014 CANVAS, All rights reserved, 2180 Satellite Blvd., Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30097. Please note: The acceptance of advertising or products mentioned by contributing authors does not constitute endorsement by the publisher. Publisher cannot accept responsibility for the correctness of an opinion expressed by contributing authors.
CANVAS P1
Publisher’s thoughts
Signs
H
appy New Year. Time to put the cookies away and get back to work. A new day awaits. The most astute business people will embrace emerging trends and dare to try new things. As we embark on a new year, I’m always reminded of how quickly things change. It seemed like only yesterday that there were three TV channels and rotary phones. Heck, I remember my first mobile phone, which really wasn’t mobile. It just sat in my car in a large case. I only used it for emergencies or if I was paged. OMG! Pagers. Do you remember those things? That was big-time technology.
You can’t stop change. In fact, you can’t even slow it down. So, do yourself a favor this year and immerse yourself in your community and embrace trends.
The truth is that in a very short amount of time, things can change dramatically. Just look at these signs: • We went from those Neanderthal pagers to a powerful computer that sits in the palm of our hands. • Thanks to smartphones, GPS systems in our cars already are obsolete. • Almost more than half of the U.S. population now favors same-sex marriage, up from less than one-third in 2003. • A majority of Americans (52 percent) now favor legalizing marijuana, up from 17 percent in 1991. • 36 percent of Americans, ages 18 to 31 now live in their parents’ home, the highest share in at least four decades. • 40 percent of all American households with children include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of the family’s income, up from 11 percent in 1960. • The United States is home to a record 40.4 million immigrants. • The internet is the main source of national and international news for 50 percent of Americans, up from 13 percent in 2001. You can’t stop change. In fact, you can’t even slow it down. So, do yourself a favor this year and immerse yourself in your community and embrace trends. In other words, put down that pager and listen closely. Study the changes. It wlll not only make you more in tune, but you’ll become a more joyful participant in the world, too. We are proud to bring you this fun, new issue of CANVAS Digital. Our cover story, “Wanted – Seven Ways to Build Your List of New Suspects,” offers a great way to start engaging your communities and building relationships that endure any and all changes. In turn, our second feature, “Sure You’re Busy, But Are You Relevant,” is a big deal. It strikes at the core of what CANVAS is all about – not mistaking being busy for progress. Providing value by connecting deeply with your clients is the only sustainable advantage. Enjoy the issue and have a fantastic new year.
Mark Potter, Publisher P2
CANVAS January 2014
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Make it pers
onal.
g Warmest Re
ards,
Mark Pot te r Follow me @
P4
CANVAS January 2014
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market insights
A snapshot of the trends defining our industry
Mobile men
Today, more men are purchasing smartphones than women. According to SeeWhy’s “The Roles of Gender, Geography and Age in Mobile Commerce” study, 22.2 percent of men have made a purchase on their smartphones compared to 18.2 percent of women. But fear not; analysts involved with the report said these roles could soon change as women become more comfortable with mobile. For example, the report found that 57 percent of women made an online purchase in the last year, while only 52 percent of men had done so.
Social media advertising underperforms
Did you know
in providing business value to companies, according to Forrester Research’s “Q3 2013 North American and U.K. Digital Maturity Online” report. Forrester found onsite rat-
star
ings and reviews were rated No. 1 in providing the greatest business value to compa-
nies, followed by search, email, branded communities and blogs, and online display advertising. LinkedIn was rated No. 8 out of 13 channels, and YouTube was No. 10, followed by Google+, Twitter and, in last place, Facebook, the report found.
No B
The percent of brand advocates that use email to share branded information, according to research from SocialTwist. Facebook was used for sharing by 41.8 percent of advocates, while 2.6 percent said they used Twitter, the study found.
factor here
elieve it or not, a recent study from The Boston Consulting Group found consumers trust celebrity and athletic endorsements less than every other method of brand promotion (only 15 percent in the United States), including digital and traditional advertising, and company-sponsored social media. So, whom do they trust? The most reliable endorsements come from what their family and friends have to say offline about a brand followed by what they say online. Other trusted sources of information are Google and other search engines, preceded by product reviews and expert opinions.
P6
CANVAS January 2014
market insights
e n o dright
A snapshot of the trends defining our industry
Content marketing
If you use it – and use it correctly – content marketing can be a beautiful thing. According to the “2014 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends – North America” report, 90 percent of B2C marketers are using content marketing today, compared to 86 percent last year. But just how are they using it? The study, produced by the Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs, delves into the distinctions between effective and non-effective marketers. Three of the most interesting findings include:
32 percent 60 percent 85 percent of B2C marketers feel they are effective or very effective with their content marketing efforts
of the most effective B2C marketers have a documented content strategy, compared with 12 percent of those deemed least effective
of the most effective B2C marketers have someone who oversees content marketing strategy, compared with 50 percent of their least effective B2C peers
There is a realization that content needs to focus on the entire buying cycle and not just the end of the buying cycle.
BOOK REC
– Bob Murphy, managing partner at Movéo Integrated Branding, on why marketers are using branded content for strategies such as community engagement, thought leadership and how-to videos
P8
Leading So People Will Follow So,
what
does
it
really take to lead in today’s
By Erika Andersen
leading in a way that creates loyalty, commitment and results.
ever-chang-
Step by step, Andersen lays out six key attri-
ing business land-
butes – far-sightedness, passion, courage, wis-
scape? Erika Ander-
dom, generosity and trustworthiness – and gives
sen, one of Forbes’
you the tools for developing them. This innovative
most popular blog-
book offers a practical guide for building the skills
gers and a success-
to become a truly “followable” leader. Leading is
ful business coach, explores the six leader-
filled with examples from forward-thinking orga-
ship characteristics that inspire followers to
nizations such as Apple, NBC Universal, Union
fully support their leaders.
Square Hospitality Group and MTV Networks.
“Leading So People Will Follow” lays out
Using self-assessments, real-world examples
a proven framework of how new leaders and
and concrete tools, “Leading So People Will
veterans alike have increased their capacity for
Follow” is a must-read as we head into 2014.
CANVAS January 2014
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market insights
A snapshot of the trends defining our industry
Strong and getting stronger Survey highlights the growing power of content marketing It is no secret that thought-provoking and inspiring content can subtly influence marketing conversations and improve the perception of your company, your brand and your products. And according to BtoB’s recent “2013 Content Marketing: Top Tools, Benchmarks and Metrics for Success” study, marketers are making it a stronger part of their ongoing strategies. Here’s what they feel content marketing’s key strengths are:
54 27
percent Can improve lead generation
percent Can help nurture leads
P10 CANVAS January 2014
40 21
percent Can make a brand a trusted source
percent Can improve search engine optimization and create more relevant touch points with prospects and customers
Identifying suspects
Seven ways to build your list of new suspects
E
very sales organization
and sales process begins with identifying a group of legitimate suspects – people and organizations who may one day do business with you. They aren’t prospects yet. You don’t know if they have a legitimate need for what
P12 CANVAS January 2014
By Dave Kahle
you sell or if they are even qualified to make that decision. That determination comes later. But in order to get a group of prospects, you must create a list of suspects. Here are seven ways to build that list:
CANVAS P13
Wanted
No. 1: Get referrals from your customers The best way to meet a prospect for the first time is to get introduced by someone you both know and respect. But before that can happen, get the name and details for the person you want to meet. That means you must ask current customers for referrals. The best way to do this is face-to-face. Have a conversation about your products/services and their satisfaction with them, and then ask them specific questions to generate a list of names. This will direct their thinking in more productive routes and acquire more referrals.
No. 2: Rub shoulders with groups of them If you have precisely defined your target markets, spend some time thinking and researching this question: “Where do groups of them go?” The answers can vary from trade fairs and association meetings to other suppliers. If you can identify where they go, you can inquire about a list from someone who organizes or administers that event or meeting place. Or you can just show up and collect business cards.
The best way to meet a prospect for the first time is to get introduced by someone you both know and respect. No. 3: A dvertise in publications and websites they view There is a reason why advertising has been around for so long. Market yourself in publications or websites they view. Offer something free or inexpensive, and then collect the names and details. A person who responds to your ads has an interest in what you offer and takes one step closer to being a prospect.
No. 4: Partner with someone who sells something compatible to them The key here is “compatible.” Again, if you’ve done a thorough job of describing what the ideal suspect looks like, ask, “What
P14 CANVAS January 2014
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Wanted
LinkedIn, Facebook and the slew of other similar sites provide an excellent opportunity to connect with people and groups of suspects you want to target.
else do they buy?” or “With who else do they
No. 6: Conduct seminars
do business?” This should lead you to compa-
By holding a free or inexpensive seminar, you en-
nies, and eventually people, with a vested inter-
gage with people interested in your product and/
est in sharing their lists with you in exchange for
or service. These are people who are willing to in-
something of value from you.
vest time and money. This has the added benefit that you position yourself as a valuable source of
No. 5: T ake a survey or send a newsletter to a larger list
information as well.
If you want to find “sales managers of mediumsized agencies who supervise six or more sales-
No. 7: U se social media to unearth them
people,” take a survey or send a newsletter. This
LinkedIn, Facebook and the slew of other similar
will give the sales managers the opportunity to
sites provide an excellent opportunity to con-
respond to something that’s suitable for them.
nect with people and groups of suspects you
Those who respond fall into the category of sus-
want to target. Each of these mediums offer a
pects you want.
wealth of resources.
Dave Kahle has trained tens of thousands of B2B salespeople and sales managers to be more effective in the 21st Century economy. He’s authored 10 books, and presented in 47 states and eight countries. To sign up for FREE sales course, visit The Sales Resource Center.com. You also can sign up to get his free weekly Ezine. LINK TO SALES RESOURCE: https://www.thesalesresourcecenter.com/free-courses.html LINK TO EZINE: http://www.davekahle.com/mailinglist.html
P16 CANVAS January 2014
E n c o u r a g i n g
c r E at i v E
m i n d s
Founded in 1996, The Electronic document scholarship Foundation (EdsF) is a charitable, non-profit, that engages in programs designed to attract the best and brightest to the industry. By granting scholarships, fostering education, promoting research, recognizing leaders, encouraging innovation, and garnering and disseminating knowledge, we are helping build the next generation of digital content and delivery professionals. SCHOLARSHIPS
RESEARCH
EduCAtIOn
EdsF’s scholarship program makes it possible for students to receive the education necessary to pursue careers in the document management and graphic communications industry. What sets EdsF apart from other Foundations is the international scope of our operations.
EdsF sponsors academic research grants and partners with major industry research firms to provide businesses with cutting-edge data on trends in the document management and graphic communications industry. since 2001, EdsF has provided 30 research grants, developed a grant/mentor program and published over 25 white papers.
Through recognition of leading educators and educational programs worldwide, EdsF continues to build awareness about career opportunities in the industry, while ensuring that businesses have a talented pool of applicants to recruit.
more than ever before, there is a critical need for individuals and companies to support the future of the document management and graphic communications industry. EdsF’s scholarship program enables students to receive the education necessary to pursue careers in the industry, while providing much needed assistance in offsetting the ever increasing financial burden. Please join us as we work together to provide our future business leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to shape our industry for years to come.
The Electronic Document Scholarship Foundation For more information visit www.edsf.org or call +1 817.849.1145
Relevance
Sure, you’re busy, but
W
are you relevant
e marketers spend billions of dollars to get people to buy a product, embrace a brand, follow a candidate or join a cause. Are these campaigns, ads, initiatives, programs and social media efforts as effective as we’d like them to be? To be honest, many of us hope for better results than we achieve. Most of us need to
P18 CANVAS January 2014
find a better way to forge deeper bonds with the people we hope to influence. We would benefit from a single, reliable guiding principle to ensure that all of our marketing and communications efforts make a sustained impact. I’ve thought about this a lot, and I can sum that guiding principle up in a single word: relevance.
By Andrea “Andy” Coville
CANVAS P19
Sure, you’re busy, but are you relevant?
Webster’s defines relevance
That’s where the emotional part of relevance comes in. If your
as “being practically and es-
product, service or idea resonates with a customer – if it truly
pecially socially applicable.”
means something to them – then the relationship will be deeper,
That’s a good start, though
longer-lasting and more profitable.
most people misread the defi-
For example, a Gen Y shopper is twice as likely as a Boomer to say
nition, understandably over-
their favorite retailer delivers an experience that they’d like to share,
emphasizing the “practical.” It
according to our research. This “shareability” underscores the new
is certainly true that whatever
social experiences this cohort is seeking both offline and online.
you are offering must solve a
Although sharing after shopping is not particularly practical, share-
customer need and do it well.
ability is what’s required to be relevant to Gen Y.
But practicality is not enough.
That’s just one way relevance encompasses more than the mere-
Customers are becoming pro-
ly practical. And it’s an example of how relevance goes deeper
gressively fickle and spoiled.
than other objectives marketers have aspired to, e.g., engage-
Superior execution merely is
ment, eyeballs, alignment and stickiness. Relevance incorporates
the price of entry, not some-
the power to change not only minds but behavior – like choosing a
thing that will secure customers’
store, buying something there and sharing the experience online.
long-term loyalty.
This power is especially critical in an era when it’s so easy to switch
Facing a staggering range of alternatives, people will connect with whatever is most meaningful to them. What seems most important. What is most relevant.
to another brand, company, product, candidate or cause.
That was then. This is now. When the world was a simpler place, organizations offering a product, candidate or cause were in the driver’s seat. People had far fewer choices than they have today, whether it was the type of wine you wanted to buy, where you wanted to get your news or anything in between. If an organization had a good story, product or service, that was typically enough to earn a sale, vote or commit to a cause. Today’s world is more complex. People constantly are bombarded with commercial messages. They have an expanding universe of options and new ways to select them. There are terabytes of information at their fingertips, and
P20 CANVAS January 2014
networks upon networks to discover their friends’ preferences and
something wonderful with her
experiences with the things they are considering. They are cynical,
own hands and competing with
and they are careful about who and what they will connect with.
her friends as teammates. Sud-
Fortunately, people still are eager to connect to something.
denly, geometry has become
Facing a staggering range of alternatives, people will connect
relevant. The new behavior is re-
with whatever is most meaningful to them. What seems most
dedicating herself to learning it.
important. What is most relevant.
The key to understanding relevance is remembering that
So what exactly is relevance?
it is spawned by many factors
I believe relevance is that which provides meaning in our lives.
beyond logic. For example,
Relevance is the full experience of a product, brand, candi-
everyone knows on an intel-
date or cause. More than just an intellectual experience that
lectual level that smoking is
changes minds, it’s an experience that changes behavior and
harmful, but that information
sustains that change. The new behavior could be buying a prod-
is insufficiently meaningful to
uct, supporting a candidate, telling a friend about what you have
a person who relishes nico-
discovered, donating to a charity or losing weight.
tine’s calming effect, or whose
Consider the first-year high school student who challenges her
friends and family who smoke.
teacher: “How exactly is geometry relevant to my life?” Her grades
Unfortunately, many organi-
suffer until she discovers the thrill of student robotics competitions
zations have no idea whether
that reveal a promising career path in science. Suddenly, geometry
they are relevant or, worse,
has meaning. It has come in the form of the elation she feels building
they don’t know how to find
Sure, you’re busy, but are you relevant?
out. Fortunately, there are
How the four pillars work
ways to quantify your rel-
Here’s how these four pillars work in practice. Imagine it’s raining and
evance because it is as much
you have no umbrella.
science as art. As we’ve shown
Thinking tells you that you need to buy one.
in our various research proj-
How does each umbrella feel in your hand? Sensory consider-
ects, it can be measured.
ation is every bit as important as the thinking.
Although there’s a lot to it,
Now, if everyone in your profession carries a black umbrella,
you can start assessing and
you might not find relevance in a pink one with a unicorn on
improving your relevance by
it. That’s a community consideration. So you want a black one,
investigating what we call the
but which one? It may be important to you that the umbrella
four pillars of relevance:
was designed with sustainability in mind, that it comes from a
Thinking. Clearly, your prod-
local retailer, or is the same brand your father and grandfather
uct, idea, candidate or cause
carried. These emotional elements reflect one’s values.
must make logical sense to
The opinions of people your customers respect has always been important, and the Internet has made finding out what they think far easier than ever before.
customers before it triggers the behavior change you seek. Sensory appeal. How does the object you are selling look, feel, taste, smell and sound? Given two devices that perform equally well, surgeons always will choose the one that feels better in their hands. And, of course, users of Apple products rave about their look and feel. Community considerations. The opinions of people your customers respect always has been
As you can see, relevance is a profound concept with major implications for any marketing program. In fact, it might be your most urgent marketing imperative today, one that needs to be built into both your over-arching strategy as well as your tactics. What makes it worthy of an organization’s full attention? First, it focuses on results: the behavior change. Oldschool concepts of awareness and engagement are the potential means, not the end. Relevance is about the
important, and the internet has
ultimate goal, triggering the
made finding out what they think
desired behavior.
far easier than ever before.
Second, relevance is right for the times. The world has
Values. What is deeply im-
moved beyond buzz, flash,
portant to the person you are
glitz, shock, schlock and
trying to reach? What do they
decibels. It wants substance. It wants authenticity.
feel strongly about? Caring for
Third, people are awash in choice about how to spend their
friends and family is the most
money and entrust their loyalty. If you aren’t relevant, they will
important thing to Americans,
go somewhere else.
our research shows.
So, let’s get to work.
Andrea “Andy” Coville is CEO of global marketing firm Brodeur Partners.
P22 CANVAS January 2014
business insights
sales meetings • by Greg Coticchia
Is it that time again? Three ways to make your annual sales meeting pop
Y
ou hate it. But then again, you love it. That annual sales meeting. During the year, your company’s sales team spends its time meeting with people to help get deals done and drive revenue. And now so are you. It's a new year – time to hit the reset button and do it all again. What is it about this ritual? Is it effective? Can we make it better? More interesting? How about shorter? There is no better time than now (January) to reevaluate the structure of your annual sales meeting. The pipelines are drained. Deals have closed. Hope springs eternal, as they say, for the year ahead. It’s time to set new sales goals. Get introduced to new people. Learn from your mistakes. So, how can you jazz up that sales meeting? Here are three things you can do to make this year’s meeting – and your sales efforts – better than last year’s meeting:
No. 1 – It’s a sales meeting, people Try to remember this: Why is the vice president of sales, CEO or the head of marketing organizing the meeting? Let them plan the company party. Regardless of who leads
P24 CANVAS January 2014
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Produced by:
business insights
sales meetings
The focus of your sales meeting is to improve the company’s ability to “go to market” to meet its financial goals. ...That’s the agenda. While it’s good to thank
No. 3. – Set your product plan roadmap
them for their efforts (the
This must be presented
annual sales awards) and
in the context of a com-
share stories of who had the
petition or better yet
toughest client, let them tell
– how we all win. Who
you what your customers
really cares about when
want. Think of them as cus-
Feature X and Feature Y
tomers. Ask them what
are coming? If you’re in
they need from you
sales, you want to know
to make their jobs
how these features fit on
more
the road map. Will they
the charge here, remember, it should be all about sales.
efficient
and successful.
beat or match your competitor? Will they shorten
No. 2. – Match marketing needs with sales deliverables
the sales cycles? Will they overcome an ob-
Don’t let marketing ramble on about its de-
to the prospect?
jection? Will they provide differentiated value
partment to-do list. In the end, it’s all about hitting the sales numbers for everybody. Work
Remember, the focus of your sales meet-
on matching up the sales forecasting cycle with
ing is to improve the company’s ability to “go
what’s in the marketing goodie bag. Show mar-
to market” to meet its financial goals. Think
keting what you’re adding to help shorten a par-
through that process. That’s the agenda. If it’s
ticular stage and how you will hold yourself ac-
anything, it’s just a nice party. And, did you
countable to your quota.
need that?
Greg Coticchia is an award-winning technology executive with more than 25 years experience in high-tech products and services. Recently, as CEO and co-founder of eBillingHub, he grew the company from inception to establishing it in a leading market position that led to its sale to Thomson Reuters. He currently teaches both business-to-business marketing and entrepreneurial leadership at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business.
P26 CANVAS January 2014
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9 J Press
9Acuity LED 1600
J Press
Acuity LED 1600
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7/10/13 10:2