When 90% of consumers believe an online review is more compelling than input from a salesperson1, it's important to take advantage of reviews when it comes to your brand's holiday strategy.

The term search engine optimization, aka SEO, is one that most marketers generally nod their heads toward. In fact, according to a Fleishman-Hillard and Harris Interactive Annual Global Study, “89% of customers begin their buying process with a search engine.” We know the value of this popular marketing channel, and we understand the importance of including it as part of our overall marketing strategy, but why is it that SEO is still a giant mystery to most marketers?

The marketing industry is shifting toward a customer-centric, solution-seeking, data-driven model and marketers are encouraged to follow suit. Marketers have to know how to crunch numbers, spot trends, spark interest, make changes, and make connections - all while surpassing the competition.

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from our most recent eBook, "The Path to Becoming a Visionary Marketing Leader," which explores four of the biggest marketing trends through the eyes of four marketing visionaries. To read the full eBook, click here.  As marketing leaders, one of our primary jobs is to position our business for the future. To do this, we keep tabs on marketing trends and opportunities, and take action when we see something that could help us create lasting competitive ...

Let’s face it, nothing is more unnecessary (or redundant) than talking about your website on your website. As content marketing and a host of other inbound strategies rule modern marketing conversations, it becomes less and less likely that one landing page is sufficient enough to spread the word about a new aspect of your business to the masses. Creating a static website page assumes that your customers are curious enough to be on the lookout for new developments and roam your site at their ...

It’s rush hour in Big City, USA and every route into the city is blocked with gridlock traffic. What’s the hold up? It appears that a few drivers have decided to aimlessly follow the vehicle in front of them instead of obeying actual traffic signals. Some drivers are even looking in their rear-view mirror to determine their next turn. Others have become so infatuated with their reflection that they bump into the nearest obstacle.