How to get the Most Out of Your Marketing Automation Software

Marketing Automation Software: Great Things Can Happen

– The key to successful marketing is to get the right message in front of the right prospect at the right time. It may sound simple, but with the dizzying array of options available in Inbound Marketing it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what is important. Marketing Automation Software can make this nearly impossible job easy. Marketing Automation Software simplifies and automates Inbound Marketing tasks, while measuring the results to help you quickly and easily fine tune and better target your efforts.

Marketing Automation Software can:

• Increase and Monitor Traffic
• Improve Lead Generation and?Conversions
• Streamline Campaigns
• Track and Nurture Leads
• Generate Custom Landing Pages
• Integrate with Your CRM
• Improve ROI
• Reduce Costs
• And more

Marketing automation platforms can help create and guide your Inbound Marketing efforts for better success. But businesses must follow certain best practices to get the most out of Marketing Automation Software.

Develop Goals Measured by Marketing Automation Software

If you do not know where you are going, chances are, you will never arrive. Marketing Automation Software is a great tool for tracking and measuring the impact, or lack thereof, of your Inbound Marketing and website Calls-to-Action. Set an Inbound Marketing strategy that includes measurable goals and use your software to develop a plan to achieve those goals. Each goal should be clearly defined, weighed and ranked according to its importance to your overall business needs.

For instance:

(1) Increase Traffic by 50%

(2) Improve Lead Generation by 30%

(3) Improve Conversions by 75%

(4) Shorten Sales Cycle by 25%

Integrate Marketing Automation Software with CRM?

Marketing and sales are closely related functions that must work together to achieve the best results. Your Marketing Automation Software program is designed to help marketers manage the communications involved with acquiring leads and maintaining customers.

Customer Relationship Management software is designed to help sales manage the tasks and processes involved with turning leads into sales, and sales into repeat customers. With their obvious areas of overlap, the two tools must work together to obtain the best results. Integrate your Marketing Automation Software with your CRM system, to effortlessly keep sales and marketing in alignment.

Train Staff to Fully Utilize the Marketing Automation Software

Many businesses have made the mistake of purchasing and rolling out software without a clear end-user strategy. Your end-users are the employees that will use the software, and they must have the proper training and practice prior to roll-out to achieve success. Your end-user strategy should:

• Identify employees using software
• Detail training required for each staff
• Define timeline for rolling out software

You should also reduce staff resistance by taking the time to explain the reasons and benefits behind the new system to create buy-in. You can also consider adding incentives, like a company-hosted lunch, to get staff excited and on the road to embracing these changes.

Select the Right Marketing Automation Software

The most important step for getting the most out of your Marketing Automation Software is to select the right software provider and program options. While it seems like there is a new Marketing Automation Software cropping up every day, for the most part, the tried and true?market leaders have?each developed products that are designed to meet the needs of a fairly narrow market segment. In addition, certain software may perform?better than competitors in certain areas, like email marketing. Find?the right Marketing Automation Software for your business by?downloading our free ebook “A Guide to Choosing Marketing Automation Software”.

Marketing Matters Inbound?is an inbound marketing firm specializing in online conversions, content?strategy, call-to-action mapping and traditional media placement. Our experience in?B2B digital?marketing?andtraditional media?allows us to deliver results through a strategic media mix. We believe in?aligning and merging marketing and sales/operations for optimal return on your marketing investment.