A Multichannel Mobile Dependency
Most of the time my mobile device is physically in my hand or within a quick reach away. When I work out or go running, it is faithfully strapped to my arm. When I drive it is sitting patiently in …
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What Counts and What Gets Counted
Accountants and business leaders move up through the ranks not just because they know how to interpret financial reports (though that helps), but because they understand how organizational systems are designed, and how people respond and perform within those systems.
In …
Develop Your High Potentials into Results-Driven Leaders
High potentials usually have good ideas, but what transforms a high potential into a genuine leader is the capacity to move agendas and get results. Ideas must be implemented. Samuel Bacharach believes that leadership is about “executing” and getting things …
Asking the Right Questions is Your Smartest Investment
The success of any organization—whether private corporation or philanthropic foundation—begins with a clear understanding of customers and their needs. If you want to make an impact in your organization, regardless of your current role, this knowledge is essential. How can …
Insightful Big Data Conversations
Many executives have read the articles touting that 90% of all data has been created in the past several years. While this news is exciting for data junkies like me, I think it opens the door to a new set …
Measuring and Improving Business Performance
Management reporting systems are like power tools. They can help organizations measure and improve their performance, motivate workers, and achieve strategic goals quickly and effectively. But if you aren’t careful, it’s easy to make big mistakes, and maybe even injure yourself in …
The Rise of the Millennial Consumer
Millennials (those born between 1980 and 1995) are the fastest growing consumer group and in 2013, they accounted for 60% of the population. They’re responsible for $1.6 trillion in consumer spending each year. And this is all just before they …
Engagement is the #1 KPI
Traditional KPIs—or Key Performance Indicators—include things such as new customers, new subscribers, turnover rate and so on. However, how your community is engaging with your online marketing content—opening emails, commenting on blog posts, downloading eBooks, registering for webinars—is an important …
What is Old HR Tech Costing Your Company?
For decades, HR spreadsheets were really the only option for managing employee data. Only lately have companies (especially smaller companies) had options for managing HR data. Because technology allows you to keep employees states—even countries—away, you should also use the …
Get Proactive About Customer Success
As more and more companies have embraced the recurring revenue business model, it has become easier for customers to try new products and services (sales), and conversely, just as easy for them to leave if they aren’t realizing value (churn). …
Our Customers are in Control: 5 Factors for Success
Until recently, the most significant developments in customer service have been those envisioned and implemented by organizations—e.g., 800 numbers, routing systems, web-based services, multimedia capabilities, and real-time analytics, to name just a few. But we are now seeing a fundamental …
David vs. Goliath: Compete Like A Dollar Store
Walmart is a retail Goliath. The company operates:
11,000 stores in 27 countries,
E-commerce websites in 10 countries,
630 U.S. Sam’s Club warehouse stores,
And grocery stores through 3,267 Supercenters and 322 Neighborhood Markets.
Enter the dollar store. It doesn’t look like much from the …
Prediction for 2014: The Internet of Things
Recurring revenue is highly disruptive and rapidly changed the face of business in 2013. Adobe and Audi are among the big names that have jumped onto the subscription model, and we’re sure there are more to come. What’s next for …
Maximize Social Media ROI with Strategic Planning
If you feel challenged to measure ROI of social media, you are not alone. But you can measure ROI in social media. Gone are the days of faith-based investment. In the year 2014, social media have been around long enough …
Prediction for 2014: The Subscription Economy
After sitting down with some of the industry’s top executives at Dreamforce ’13 in San Francisco, it became pretty clear that some big changes are on the horizon for 2014. One that most agreed will play a major part in …
The Major Flaws of Customer Journey Mapping
Customer journey mapping is a popular exercise that many marketing executives consider an essential tool for understanding customer buying behavior. In the era of the “enlightened customer” how relevant are theses maps in understanding and building a customer centric organization? …
Best Practices for Virtual Communication and Meetings
Did you know that almost 10% of the present-day workforce telecommutes from home? The likes of AT&T, Accenture, and P&G have opted for a remote working system by partially eliminating their traditional offices. While there are obvious benefits associated with …
Pay Matters – But Does it Pay Off?
Subtleties matter
Asking “What matters about pay?” is quite different than asking “Does pay matter?”
The former question makes you think. The answer is hard, and is not the same for every culture, company or individual. The latter question is simply answered …
The Art of the Pivot in Agile Marketing
What does the MVP (minimally viable product) really mean and what do you look for in your company to know when you really have a market ready product? Click here to view The Art of Pivot in Agile Marketing video.
Our Favorite Reads of the Week: Alchemy, Bad Brainstorming, & 15% Passion Time
Too much content, too little time? No worries, I’ve gathered some of the latest and greatest resources from industry top performers. This week, everyone is talking about innovation and creativity and I found some gems from Forbes, Minnesota Public Radio, …