Keeping data clean is at the core of compliance and competitiveness, says Stuart Huke. And the professionals who are focused on data quality are now at the top table of businesses across the UK and Europe – thanks to the GDPR spotlight.
Organisations are aiming to futureproof and broaden their own technology landscape– but they should avoid focusing on innovation for innovation’s sake, says Tomas Salfischberger. When it comes to marketing technology, make the most of what you’ve got – deploy digital optimisation instead of re-engineering the entire process. Focus on software that can be integrated into mission critical systems to make sure you are getting the most out of your data; streamlining the customer journey and delivering truly personalised experiences. Here’s how:
GDPR non-compliance will cost those who risk it up to 4% of global turnover. But even without GDPR fines, most marketers know that dirty data hits the bottom line. Royal Mail research has revealed what brands and agencies are doing to plug the ‘leaky bucket’ of customer churn – to cleanse, validate and improve the quality of the data they hold. Jim Conning examines the findings.
Sit up and take notice, says Tim Haynes – the latest news headlines surrounding alleged data misuse will mean even brands that collect and use data ethically and in good faith will struggle to persuade customers to trust them. Here’s some practical advice on building consumer trust – and how to put marketing ‘skulduggery’ firmly into the past.
Does the deluge of data sometimes make you feel like you are fighting for air? Box clever, says Tyler Greer, ensure your data strategy planning and the insights you are gathering are punching in the right direction: data that is correctly verified is thus good data – providing insights that guide our targeting; clearer understanding of audience behaviours that drive higher performance campaigns. Here’s how and why you should get the good data.
First, computer cookies as data collectors and now AI, bots and myriad automation – they are all bringing a level of ease and convenience to our lives as consumers; offering targeted ads, using our locations and preferences for relevance, saving us our valuable time. But they also offer unease and concern . . . followers or stalkers, assistants or snoopers? Just how far can technology – and brands and even governments – go when it comes to gathering and using data? It’s all about ethics, says Steven van Belleghem, delving into the great privacy & technology debate.
We are currently witnessing a period of immense change within marketing, says Anoma van Eeden. Consumers are far more aware of the ways in which brands are communicating with them and more savvy in determining and dictating their own customer experience – so here’s how the Mazda customer journey was made unique to the individual, bringing a fully connected and personalised experience.
It is now generally agreed that the process of analysing data is key to successful marketing. Collecting data from happy and consenting customers is fine, but putting that data to good use – identifying trends, optimising campaigns and examining effectiveness in detail – is still a skill that many marketing departments lack. How skilled is your data scientist? …What’s that? You don’t have one, just a regular marketer trying to keep all the balls in the air (and dropping a few)? Find out why the science of data is so important – as is the need to fill that specific role.
Dubbed ‘Direct Marketing 4.0’ and ‘Data Directed Marketing’, smarter data insight is achievable if you follow that modern approach, says Phil Andrews. Here, he describes the process required to take advantage of real-time digital markets; combining the depth and rigour of direct marketing with the reach, personalisation and real-time dynamic approach of digital.
The arrival of the digital age has flummoxed many marketers – some of whom still call decade-old technology (such as smartphones) new tech. Three-quarters of the web’s sites are inactive, full of graveyard content, and there’s a deluge of data as yet unprocessed. Get with it and pick up the pace, says author Minter Dial; don’t let your business get left behind. Look to the future . . .