How service heterogeneity is impacting engagement
Marketers have long known the importance of standardising products to assure quality and consistency. For services, however, standardisation is much more complex.
Report: What do marketers look for in the right vendor?
Report reveals what modern marketers look for when choosing potential vendors
Choosing the right vendor can make or break a marketing strategy, so it’s no wonder marketers are more scrupulous than ever before.
New global research released by Hotwire and Vanson Bourne surveyed 1000 global business decision makers including around 100 from Australia, to find out which information sources prove to be effective in helping to investigate potential vendors.
The study, The Changing Face of Influence, found almost half of marketing respondents look for vendor customer stories and case studies, direct customer references either via phone or visit as well as vendor thought leader opinion pieces before making their decision. Other factors considered included external peer opinions and independent consultant opinions.
Hotwire Australia managing director, Alexis Wilson, said despite the information overload many decision makers are experiencing, it’s clear marketers are still looking for the proof in the pudding – customer references.
“The IT industry is relying heavily on their colleagues and industry analysts to point them in the right direction,” she said. “Interestingly, thought leadership pieces are proving to be highly influential in both fields, which supports the efforts many organisations are putting behind content marketing, blogging, and CEO profiling.”
When assessing the effectiveness of different information sources, the report also revealed some key differences between IT and marketing decision makers. Marketers got most value from thought leader/opinion pieces (52 per cent), customer case studies (46 per cent), direct customer references (35 per cent) and business press opinion pieces (35 per cent).
IT decision makers sought external peer opinions (50 per cent), internal peer opinions (48 per cent), analyst research (46 per cent) and independent consultant opinions (44 per cent) were most valuable.
“The survey demonstrates there are clear gaps between the information marketers and IT leaders are looking for, and the information that is actually helping them make decisions,” Wilson added. “Marketers are clearly impacted by industry experts who can think through and implement forward-thinking concepts, while IT leaders are highly influenced by their peers’ actions. Arguably, to ensure our businesses are thinking innovatively, we should be combining these to form strategic decisions.”
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia, or check us out on Google+: google.com/+CmoAu
I was in need of an urgent loan for my business and to settle a debt i owed a business partner in Europe, i tried to apply for a loan but...
Nikita Nikki
CMO interview: Data-driven marketing at a home loan provider
I was in need of an urgent loan for my business and to settle a debt i owed a business partner in Europe, i tried to apply for a loan but...
Nikita Nikki
What this creative director really thinks of CMO tenure and digital change
Back in 1968 Holden began an appeal to customers who have an interest in competition. It did this with the introduction of the HK GTS 32...
Ben Tate
Marketing professor: For Holden, brand nostalgia ain’t what it used to be
Your blog post is really good and informative. Thanks for taking time to provide us this useful information with us.Auto wrapping uaeADF ...
Yes Machinery
Image intelligence:10 must-see infographics for marketers
A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing this marvelous information.I have taken in numerous things from your post
digitech Classes
Lumen CMO strives to make the brand synonymous with anti-ageism