Blog
(page 13)
2012
July
Empowering channel partners
Why providing partners with tested marketing materials works better than lead incentives or additional marketing funds.
Channel marketing best practices (2012)
Channel marketing best practices including transparency, trust-building, partner support, and daily analytics monitoring.
May
How companies like General Motors get value from Facebook
Why GM pulled their $10 million Facebook ad spend while keeping content investment, and what it means for social media marketing.
To bundle or not to bundle
Resolving conflicts when suppliers are asked to market channel partners' bundled solutions containing multiple vendors.
39 ways to make it easier for channel partners to work with you
Thirty-nine ideas from a channel workshop on making it easier for partners to work with you, organized by category.
March
Megamergers and the future of channel marketing
How megamergers in telecom led to channel marketing improvements including smartphone apps and cloud infrastructure.
Marketing effectiveness in 2012
An analysis of 2011 B2B marketing metrics showing declines in website, SEO, and email effectiveness, with recommendations for social media and new tactics.
Managing brand reputation in social media
B2B social media risks illustrated by the McDonald's hashtag fiasco and lessons for channel marketers.
Sharing in channel marketing
Effective channel marketing through sharing ideas, leads, marketing expenses, and technological resources with partners.
February
Listening to customers for channel sales
How interviewing customers about their experience can identify problems and improve sales outcomes.
Active channel management for stronger partnerships
Four tips for actively managing channel partnerships covering relationship health, differentiation, value demonstration, and purchasing obstacles.
Working with channel marketers on social media
Social media plays a critical role in channel marketing. How to collaborate effectively with channel marketers on social media efforts.
Channel partner program success factors
Core components of successful channel programs including minimizing complexity, adding value, and knowing when to move on.
Building email lists for B2B companies
Registration-gated downloads are the most effective email list building tactic for B2B companies, according to Marketing Sherpa research.
January
Email marketing ROI in channel programs
Email marketing ROI statistics showing $43.42 return per dollar spent, countering concerns about spam and wasted effort.
B2B Facebook pages worth copying
A review of Jeff Bullas's post highlighting examples of B2B companies using Facebook effectively.
Ad retargeting as a marketing tool
How ad retargeting works and why it remains underused despite high return rates for bringing visitors back to your site.
Review: IDC paper on Data.com
Critical review of IDC's Data.com paper covering data-driven marketing stages and customer data integration.
Effective social media for small business [case study]
How a small business used social media to boost brand visibility through scheduling, community management, and content techniques.
Content syndication and SEO
Addressing misconceptions about syndicated content and SEO, including why properly syndicated content helps rather than hurts search rankings.
Welcome to the Zift Solutions blog
Introduction to the Zift Solutions blog covering channel management best practices and partner program insights.