Email remains a key communication vehicle for marketers. As many as 38% of companies using strategic email marketing reported a boost in ROI, according to MarketingSherpa. But to remain competitive in the email space, companies must deliver relevant content at the right time. This Email Guide will help companies improve email engagement with customers, by sharing 4 key messaging strategies.

In order to achieve social business maturity, organizations must follow a 5-step process consisting of: discovery, experimentation, evangelization, pervasiveness and realization. During his webinar presentation, Ray Wang of Constellation Research will guide attendees through this process. He also will share social commerce best practices and some recent social business study findings.

As many as 74% of shoppers conducting product research on their smartphones complete the purchase, according to a recent Google study. Retailers must embrace mobile to meet the expectations of today’s tech-savvy shoppers. A properly executed mobile strategy can help retailers create a more personal customer experience and increase the bottom line. This white paper will analyze the key focus areas for mobile success: IT infrastructure, security and store flow.

As social media and mobile technology contribute to the frenzy around retail special events, companies must take a closer look at how they approach these activities. One unfortunate mishap could change a brand’s image for the long term. Today’s loss prevention professionals need to consider three key factors when planning future events: 1) technology implications; 2) the roles of all stakeholders; and 3) mitigating overall risk.

Inside the store, today’s tech-savvy shoppers are looking for an advanced, interactive and seamless experience at every step — particularly at the shelf edge. Impulse buys comprise close to one third (29%) of in-store purchases today. This E-book will guide retailers through the process of maintaining and improving customer acquisition, through 7 key steps, which include using mobile technology, presenting compelling content and accessing a unified, cloud-based system.

While the term “cloud computing” may be relatively new, the concept has been around for a while. It basically means “computing performed via the Internet.” With that in mind, it may be easier for companies to comprehend the ability to move into the cloud. This white paper clears up all the confusion about the meaning of the cloud and explains how companies can move their processes securely and efficiently into this world of Internet computing.

The endless capabilities of the Internet and smartphone technology have provided shoppers with nearly limitless access to product information, reviews and recommendations. As a result, shoppers have heightened expectations of the in-store experience, and the information available from store associates.

Findings from a recent customer survey reveal that 75% of consumers will walk out of a store or buy less if there aren’t enough knowledgeable associates available. Furthermore, customers that received helpful insight from an associate had a basket size 31% larger than customers who had not.

U.S. eCommerce sales are expected to grow at a 10% compound annual growth rate through 2014, according to Forrester Research. Forrester also predicts that mobile commerce will reach $31 billion by 2016. As more consumers veer towards cross-channel shopping strategies, retailers are scrambling to keep pace. But first, retailers must understand how omni-channel commerce will impact the distribution and fulfillment side of the equation.

Because today's consumers are using multiple channels to research, browse and buy, today’s leading retailers must meet them at their channels of choice and enable efficient, convenient and consistent cross-channel activities.

In a new white paper, Aberdeen Group is providing direction for retailers looking to engage today's shoppers. Titled: Analyst Insight: Customer-Centric Retailing 101 - Customer Intelligence and Engagement Strategies, this in-depth research report investigates the state of customer-centricity within 100 retail organizations.

The enormous impact of social media and mobility has created a profound shift in consumer behavior by shifting the balance of power in the retailer-customer relationship. To add to this, ongoing economic uncertainty coupled with heightened consumer expectations of their retail experience have today’s retailers adjusting to a new “normal” squeeze on their operations.

In today’s competitive retail environment overflowing with daily deal and flash sale sites, retailers are challenged to optimize marketing initiatives across channels. To grab the attention of digitally savvy shoppers that tap into mobile and social media to obtain information and share retail experiences, retailers are wise to take a “Crawl, Walk, Run” approach to cross-channel marketing.

In 2011, more than 90% of multi-channel retail sales came from within the store. This revenue base is now under attack by the proliferation of smartphones and comparative shopping apps used within the store by consumers who want the best experience and price.

In this on-demand webinar, guest speaker Peter Sheldon of Forrester Research and Eric Newman of Digby discusses this opportunity and shares insights into how a retail branded rich app can change the game in the retail store by enabling retailers to engage with their customers like never before.

New Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be accessed via the cloud or in-house and offer better ways to leverage data and manage the supply chain more effectively. By combining both structured and unstructured data into an intuitive system, retail organizations are able to better manage merchandising, pricing, marketing and a variety of IT projects. A 7-step process will help merchants down the road to successful and advanced BI.

Seeking tax assistance prior to an audit may save companies time and money. For example, the amount of time spent calculating sales taxes with a government audit is almost twice the amount of time spent on the same task without an audit (12.7 hours vs. 6.8 hours). Third-party tax assistance could take the form of client training, tax software and process re-engineering.