A survey of nearly 250 marketing top marketing executives revealed an overall increase of spending of 9.1% over the next 12 months but… the survey also revealed that integration is still a long way off.
Conducted by Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the twice a year survey “collects and disseminates the opinions of top marketers in order to predict the future of markets, track marketing excellence, and improve the value of marketing in firms and society.”
And just as I did with the Trends In Social Advertising Survey by Brian Solis and The Pivot Conference, I am once again… going behind the numbers. My natural curiosity must come from watching all those mystery and copy shows growing up… is there such a thing as too much Columbo?
Nah…
Anyway, while I am happy to report that overall marketing spending is expected to increase over 9% over the next 12 months as per the survey findings – there are some intriguing, if not disconcerting, additional findings form the survey I want to bring to your attention.
The first one has to do with the overall spending increase itself. Look at the chart below…
Now, you’ll see the aforementioned 9.1% increase but look at the trend from the February to August for each of 2010 and 2011. I realize it’s only two years we’re talking about but why the up and down from February to August each year? When the CMOs were asked in February about spending were they coming off poor holiday, end-of-year numbers and thus indicated via the survey they don’t plan on spending as much as they indicated a few months later in August?
It is with heavy hearts that the members of The Social CMO Crew for the first time say farewell to one of our own and much too soon.
Why are we surprised that governments and organizations are lining up to control ideas and the way they spread?
Bloggers are amazing people who add a great deal of value to my life and work – and in my social media saturated work/life, that means a great deal! 
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council, a global executive affinity group controlling more than $200 billion in annual marketing spend worldwide, has announced a multi-channel, multi-format publishing initiative that will deliver an in-depth and engaging peer-driven quarterly print journal and digital formats for web, mobile, tablets, like the iPad, and mail delivery to members and subscribers worldwide. The first edition of PeerSphere, the official journal of the CMO Council, will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Through some recent debate about which social tools are best and why, I have been listening and reflecting on how my own business has been impacted. It is one thing to spend your time researching and writing and another to spend your time helping 20+ clients win everyday in this 24/7 viral world we live in. The challenge is surfing through it all to find what works for you and your business. Time will limit what resources companies can dedicate to the social channels. I think some channels are better for certain businesses. Digital and social don’t mean a “one size fits all” strategy. 
Join us for The Four Hats of The Social CMO webinar for a unique look at four roles emerging marketing leaders can embrace as they evolve to become Social CMOs!
A Comscore report revealed that only 6% of smartphone users scan QR codes. That equates to approximately 14 million users in the United States.
Marketers used to be able to get away with intrusive advertising, placing online ads as pop-ups, highly distractive Flash animations, and a variety of other methods designed specifically to grab shoppers’ attention. However, consumers have changed and are no longer enticed by ads (or other marketing tactics) that interrupt them… it’s as though they now have a built-in attention spam filter that automatically blocks the ads from their awareness.
Let’s hire a ringer!