MarketCapture Newsletter
Covering strategic and tactical marketing issues faced by software and other high-tech executives
issue 11   February 2003  
 
New Year's Resolution Survey Results
It’s February – do you still remember your New Year’s resolution?

As promised, we are sharing the results of the survey we conducted at the end of 2002.  Hopefully, it will inspire you to revisit your own resolutions and make them happen.  Let us know how you do!  
 
Your top rated resolution (31% of the votes) for 2003 is to engage in a dialogue with your customers to ensure your products and services address their needs.
 
Close behind in second place (25%) is defining clear, value-based, differentiating positioning and messaging and use them consistently throughout your marketing communications.
 
Third and a bit at a distance (13%) is establishing a process that allows product management to have complete visibility and control over product development.
 
I see a clear line connecting these top three resolutions.  As the technology boom has gone bust, many of us feel the need to better connect with our customers and ensure we deliver value rather than technology and hype.  These are admirable resolutions.  We look forward to continue the conversation around these topics and hear how you go about accomplishing these goals as the year goes by.
 
Many of you expressed a desire to vote for more than one resolution and pointed to the merits of additional items on the list.  I can identify with the sentiment, since I had hard time casting my own vote...  To be honest, I was surprised that nobody voted for measuring the results of every marketing activity and dollar spent and use these results to choose how I spend my budget moving forward.   Maybe it’s because you all do it already??  I hope so!

[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
Here is the complete tally of the survey results, along with a suggested reading material for each of the topics:
 
I will engage in a dialogue with my customers to ensure my products and services address their needs.

31%

The Perfect Crime
I will define clear, value-based, differentiating positioning and messaging and use them consistently throughout my marketing communications.

25%

The art of Positioning
 
B2B Branding
I will establish a process that allows product management to have complete visibility and control over product development.

13%

The Perfect Crime
I will build a prospect database that strives to include every company and relevant contact in my target market.

6%

Know Your Customers - By Name!
I will provide my customers with tangible experiences to make them quickly confident about my ability to help them solve their needs.

6%

Accelerated Proof
I will clearly define the roles of marketing and sales and their mutual expectations.

6%

From Leads to Sales
I will use permission-based and relevant communication to establish and maintain dialogue with prospects and customers.

0%

The Fallacy of Qualified Leads
 
B2B Branding
 
I will measure the results of every marketing activity and dollar spent and use these results to choose how I spend my budget moving forward.

0%

Marketing by the Numbers
Other

6%

 
 

READERS' CORNER
Dave McNamara from Green-Tech Assets shares the sentiment for focus on customer needs, but adds a few commendable resolutions of his own. Here are Dave’s resolutions for 2003:
  • I will remain focused on the company's target customers, their needs, our solutions, revenue, and profitability.
  • I will measure performance against quantified goals on a weekly basis.
  • And we will hire only quality hard working people.
Thanks, Dave, for sharing these with us!

Back to Newsletter Cover
IN THIS ISSUE
From Leads to Sales
Want Happy Customers? Coordinate Sales and Marketing
Overcoming Vendor Resistance
New Year's Resolution Survey Results
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