Immediate Release

Why digital marketing needs a reboot

Old habits die hard. While consumers are out there spending countless hours on social networks, file-sharing applications, chat, community sites, buying stuff, selling stuff and using multiple devices, some of us “tradigital” old fogies are still reaching for our beloved toolbox of the past in the hopes of getting their attention. While online user behavior tells us that people respond well to simplicity, we labor to create complexity in the form of experimental navigation and sites that take forever to load. It's time to come to terms with how people really use the web and how we can harness the true power of digital.

Read the full article from Ad Age Digital.

CMOs must be a part of cost-cutting talks

Today, cost cutting mostly lives in the domain of the finance people, often with the assistance of large management consultancies. Although these approaches can be very effective at saving money and improving an organization's performance, they all too often lack a critical perspective that, if considered, would lead to even better decisions. Approaches that emphasize decision-making criteria based on supply-side capacity and productivity ignore another equally critical perspective: demand-side growth, revenue and brand value. Here the CMO should be bringing a strong and clear perspective to bear and having a major voice in the companywide cost-cutting decision-making process.

Read the full article from Advertising Age.

Survey: Better data, measurement abilities, and ROI metrics boost marketing performance

Want to take your performance to that ideal level of highly effective and efficient marketing? It takes better access to detailed data and ROI discipline, but it also comes along with greater growth and better levels of budgets, according to a recently released study. The study found that most marketers (75%) are making progress in diverse areas of marketing ROI and measurement capabilities, but many continue to struggle with some basic measurements required for managing and improve marketing's contribution to business objectives. Overall, more marketers rated their measurement abilities as negative than positive.

Read the full article from MarketingProfs.

Read the news release on the Lenskold Group/Kneebone 2008 Marketing ROI and Measurement Report.

Download the full report (free registration required).

[ via e-Connect ]

Back to School time

It's time to get ready for Back-to-School! Cover the Uninsured Week events and activities will be held across the country to help enroll eligible uninsured children in low-cost and free health care coverage programs.

FREE Back-to-School materials are available for pre-order, including fans, bookmarks, lapel stickers and information cards. Place your order today!

You may also download free planning materials, including: Health and Enrollment Fair Planning Guide; Guide to School Based Outreach; Guide to Working with the Media; and more. There are also templates, toolkits and guides to assist with your planning.