Allocating your resources in the right direction [SERVE•ival Part Two]

Allocating your resources in the right direction [SERVE•ival Part Two]

Crises often put businesses in one of two scenarios. They are either suddenly thrust into survival mode or, in some cases, the disruption of the crisis creates a growth opportunity. Regardless of how a crisis impacts a business, marketing and communication teams need to be ready to strategically allocate resources in the right direction, make quick decisions, and communicate clearly and frequently.  (more…)
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Brightside Chats Podcast: Jennifer Zick on branding and marketing through crisis

Brightside Chats Podcast: Jennifer Zick on branding and marketing through crisis

How should brands show up in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis? Should every business take the same approach to content and messaging? And what good things could happen for brands through all of this? These are just some of the topics discussed in a recent conversation between Authentic CEO, Jennifer Zick, and Justin Keller, a podcast host and brand leader in Houston, TX. (more…)
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Assessing your brand’s opportunity to serve [SERVE•ival – Part One]

Assessing your brand’s opportunity to serve [SERVE•ival – Part One]

When crises hit that disrupt life for businesses and communities, marketing and communication teams must react quickly and strategically to determine the best path forward for the brand. If marketing teams choose the wrong path, they risk coming off as careless, disingenuous, and opportunistic. Customers and employees have increasingly high expectations of brands, and failing to navigate a crisis the right way could be all it takes to lose once-loyal stakeholders. (more…)
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Own your brand — Why you need to invest more in the marketing assets you control

Own your brand — Why you need to invest more in the marketing assets you control

Every business, no matter its size, type, or revenue, has limited resources to direct toward marketing. Unlimited marketing budgets don’t exist, and that’s especially the case for the small to midsize businesses we work with at Authentic. When resources are limited, a company must invest in creating brand value through owned marketing media and assets (e.g., website, blog, content). These assets are essential to building marketing programs that deliver returns. (more…)
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Beyond lead generation — marketing’s role as a strategic revenue partner across the customer lifecycle

Beyond lead generation — marketing’s role as a strategic revenue partner across the customer lifecycle

Growing businesses often think new lead generation should be the primary — and sometimes only — objective of marketing. This mindset fails to recognize the strategic role marketing can play to generate revenue across the full customer lifecycle, particularly through nurturing and engaging existing customer accounts, and how important that is for driving growth. Marketing should be partnering with sales far beyond the closed win to ensure the company’s brand stays top-of-mind and shows up consistently for customers. (more…)
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Getting real about demand generation: Expectation vs. reality

Getting real about demand generation: Expectation vs. reality

Demand generation. These two words often cause anxiety for B2B marketers because they frequently come attached to unrealistic expectations. Business leaders tend to think that creating demand is solved by executing a few digital marketing tactics or implementing a marketing automation tool. In reality, demand generation is much more complex. (more…)
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The many dimensions of marketing

The many dimensions of marketing

Most business leaders understand that marketing should help get more “at bats” through lead generation efforts, but many organizations miss the opportunity to engage marketing to its full potential. Beyond lead generating programs, marketing can and should be instrumental in client retention, growth, loyalty, advocacy, as well as other business strategies in product or service innovation, employee recruitment / retention, change management communications, and more. (more…)
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