Social CRM – the integration of social media with customer relationship management (CRM) strategies – is the next frontier for organizations that want to optimize the power of social interactions to get closer to customers. Download this 2-part series from the IBM Institute for Business Value to learn how to leverage social media effectively for growth.

This white paper from IBM and NYU Stern School of Business offers a look at retailing in the past and a glimpse at what retailing will look like in 2020, outlining the implications for retailers today. To succeed, retailers must rethink their strategies and points of differentiation; the customers of 2020 will require it.

This white paper examines the role social media can play in presenting a more strategic view of customer data and how the right combination of technologies can deliver insight to help companies more effectively meet perpetually shifting consumer demands expressed through, and influenced by, these dynamic communication channels. Discover the implications of social media for marketing and sales, as well as IT. And learn the how and why social media tools and applications can be integrated with existing technology investments.

The explosive growth of social media has motivated marketers to implement new strategies in order to communicate with brand advocates and prospective customers. However, merchants are challenged to pinpoint loyal customers and leverage effective messaging strategies across these networking channels.

The dramatic increase in consumer online sharing has created a new opportunity for brands to identify highly-engaged, loyal customers and turn them into “social advocates” – who, in turn, refer the brand, products and services to their friends. This is the foundation of a social referral program which drives new high-value leads and sales through trusted referrals.

 
Are you constantly jumping from project to project with barely enough time to breathe? When continually pressed for time, how do you efficiently and effectively measure your email marketing programs? Let us help you.

Discover the campaign performance gauges every online retailer should include in their email marketing and the factors that determine how your marketing efforts stack up.

As retailers face more intense competition to attract and retain customers, they are working to find unique and innovative ways to improve customer interaction. Two key strategies that help achieve that goal are enhancements to customer relationship management (CRM) programs and analysis of customer feedback. Close to 40% of retailers recently surveyed state that changing customer expectations is one of the most difficult external challenges moving forward in the next 3 years.

 
To win in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, retailers must target marketing messaging to individual shoppers. Faced with a seemingly infinite number of offer combinations to the same web of shoppers and households, merchants are wise to use wide-scale shopper data to help determine the right marketing mix, outside the realm of their own selling channels.

 
Today’s shoppers are becoming more interconnected, instrumented and intelligent. From smartphones to tablet devices, they have access to a vast amount of information anytime and anywhere. As a result, they’re seeking a memorable and compelling experience across channels, rather than static information and promotional messages.

These developments have shaken the consumer electronics world. Many consumers, in fact, are beginning to care less about the consumer electronic device itself, and more about the experience it delivers. Although this presents manufacturers with a prime opportunity to connect with customers, organizations also are faced with the task of revamping their value chains, marketing approach and customer service.

EMV is coming to the U.S. but many retailers remain confused and concerned about the meaning and potential impact of this new type of payment approach. The bottom line for EMV is the security factor: because every card contains its own microprocessor chip, EMV cards are impossible to counterfeit economically.

With the exponential growth of both unstructured and structured data, retailers must determine how to capture and analyze that information in order to institute successful business practices. A visibility strategy is a key component of merchants’ move toward long-term success in an era of the growth of new and different types of multi-media content. The best visibility strategy will include 4 components: 1) leverage data from existing systems; 2) conduct frequent audits; 3) build effective processes; and 4) establish an information clearinghouse.

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