March Marketing Madness

March Marketing Madness!

Got your brackets filled out?

Should be an entertaining month of basketball with upsets, Cinderellas and, maybe, Kentucky going undefeated.

Honeycomb client Ostrato just put out a fun video to celebrate the NCAA Tournament. Click the image to watch...

Digital Marketing Trends to Watch Out for in 2015

Another good read about the trends affecting marketers this year... Digital Marketing Trends to Watch Out for in 2015, Clickz

Matt Weiss, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Havas Worldwide  

If I have to suggest what digital marketers should focus on in 2015, I'd say one word: "ideas." First- and third-party data, personalization, omni-channel, multi-channel, collaboration, platform infrastructure, dark digital, connectivity, mobile, and on and on. 

The list of buzzwords and subject matter will no doubt relate to the rapid adoption of mobile and how we connect with consumers in an age of personalization. But I'd like to point to something entirely different, something that may or may not make headlines that are buzzworthy. One word: Ideas. Regardless of the who, what, why, or how of marketing, there will always be "ideas." Powerful. Motivating. Insightful. Brilliant. Expansive. 

Without a platform-level idea to drive unification across marketing activity, marketers are left with tactics, tricks, and one-offs. For me, 2015 will be the year of the idea-powering activity across paid, owned and earned channels. "Ideas" will motivate consumers to action and create a competitive durable advantage for those marketers who understand what lies at the center of a buzzword-driven marketplace.

21 Digital Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2015

Wow. Pretty much a who's who of marketing luminaries share their outlook on 2015...from Top Rank Blog, 21 Digital Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2015.

Just one-

Tim Washer @timwasher – Senior Marketing Manager, Social Media, Cisco Systems
As brands strive to create authentic connections online, especially with Millennials, more will understand that a clever laugh or the vulnerability of silliness is the most efficient path to earning trust and loyalty. Mark 2015 as the year of humor in digital marketing.

Seven B-to-B Marketing Trends That Will Shape 2015

I read an interesting prediction article in AdAge, Seven B-to-B Marketing Trends That Will Shape 2015

Data and automated messaging are hot topics, but b-to-b marketers say their marketing must get more personal in 2015. "We need b-to-b to be more human," said Andy Goldberg, global creative director at GE.

The seven trends.

1. Great storytelling
2. Less Data, more emotions
3. Shareable content
4. Holistic user experiences
5. Consumerization
6. Reprioritizing marketing
7. Connecting technologies

The Disconnect Between Marketers and IT Buyers

Great article from MarketingProfs, "The Disconnect Between Marketers and IT Buyers." Lots and lots of good charts all pointing how marketers still need to better align their content creation plans with the actual needs of IT buyers.