Blog - Decisioning & Real-time Interaction Management

We sit down with Alex Yoder, EVP, Analytics at Merkle to focus on the critical role that data plays in the ability to deliver personalization.

Today, marketers are on the cusp of a new wave of channels driven by the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.), and over-the-top (OTT) media services. Creating additional silos for every new channel is not a scalable solution, so the need to integrate them with a single, omni-channel strategy is essential

In our last post we focused on organizational readiness to delivering personalized experiences. Many organizations are realizing that personalization should be a strategy and not simply a marketing tactic.

We all know great creative when we see it; the power of cultural meaning through a universal truth that is also personally relevant. I love that moment, the “aha” — when a brand’s proposition and its story are in sync. Those moments are few and far between today, with the vast majority of advertising considered boring, non-engaging, and even worse — irrelevant.

People interpret personalization in various ways. At Merkle, we think about personalization as an ongoing exchange, not just a one-time project.

I can't stress enough how important it is to always be testing in your marketing campaigns. Whether it be creative, audience, format, or offer, developing a test and learn plan with your client is a necessity if you want to keep growing and evolving. Here are some tips on how to get started, along with key milestones for planning.

Targeting and personalization are key components of online marketing. By tailoring your marketing messages for the individual visitors to your website, instead of making them overly-generalized for a broad audience, you can increase the chances that they will become a customer and a repeat customer.

Here are four keys to maximizing your role as a valued digital messaging partner.