This question was posed to both clients and colleagues through two separate surveys - first via Survey Monkey in an email blast, and then through Linkedin. While I had to change the answers somewhat for the Linkedin Survey as it only allows for four – the results are similar.

According to those who replied 'Lead Generation' is the most important challenge facing their organization this year. Or, as stated in our client survey; Increasing the effectiveness of outbound and inbound marketing. This came as no surprise as achieving a better ROI from our marketing dollars has and always will be the primary goal of marketing.

What did surprise me was that more seemed interested in increasing their outbound marketing effectiveness (e.g. direct mail, ads, email marketing, trade shows) over their inbound efforts (e.g. SEO, PPC, Social Media). In this economic environment I assumed that everyone was looking to invest in more cost effective inbound marketing. But as I compared our business I realized that our sales support the results. Mystique still sells more outbound marketing services compared to inbound. However, inbound marketing sales are growing at a quicker pace so the answer may change next year.

Regardless, the best thing about meeting the challenge of increasing the effectiveness of your marketing is that success will solve your number two challenge.

Happy New Year.

Paul Bies



President,
Mystique Creative


Client Survey (via Survey Monkey) Completed: 44
Linkedin Survey Completed: 7

My kids have never known a world without the Internet. We live in a world that integrates our lives with the Internet, and it’s now an acceptable part of our lifestyle.

How did it happen so fast?

Social Media for one! Those who once called themselves ‘computer-illiterate’ are Tweeting and Facebooking like fiends. With the ease of use, social media is now able to harness not just the youth but the fastest growing demographic – the 55-65 year olds. Especially the females who now know how easy it is to use a computer and aren’t afraid to use it to the nth degree! Funny thing is, social media is a term which is extremely young. Go figure!

Smartphones also have pushed the boundaries of the new digital revolution. We have them with us all the time. Broadband wireless, once the denizen of the IT department or the home office – sits inside an iPhone or Blackberry. Now we can shop anywhere, anytime. We can communicate with the world whenever we want to. I bought wrist-watches for my kids this Christmas – wrong move. They have phones or iPads which can tell the time for them. Throw out that old alarm clock too. Who needs one anyway. A vibrate here, a favourite song there.

The way we search on the Internet has also evolved. Google, Yahoo and Bing now give us instant searching based on our trends and our locations. Google Maps show us where to go. Integrate these with social media and smartphones, and you suddenly realize that your digital immersion is now not a luxury, but a necessity.

Online advertising is pushing ‘normal’ media out of the way. For the business owner, it’s time to get on the global social media bandwagon and keep afloat amid a sea of competitors who are scrambling to keep up with you. As real-time speeds of communications and analytical tracking are evolving, it’s no longer important to have just a website or blog. Now it’s an absolute necessity.

By targeting your prospects through the use of social media techniques integrated with your online presence, lead generation has more meaning to the growth of your business.

Frank Beecham
Webguy
Mystique Creative

Mystique Creative loves to hear from our customers. We put passion into every aspect of our business, and it gives us great pleasure to hear that our efforts are paying off.

Congratulations to Shereen Daghstani of CIBC who won the iPod Touch for participating in our Customer Feedback Survey.

Thanks to all who took part. Your answers will help us better serve you and all clients in the future.



Paul Bies



President,
Mystique Creative

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Does your brand reflect the outstanding company you are?
We'd love to speak to you about your specific branding initiatives.

Doris Bies



Vice President Sales
Mystique Creative

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