The Basics Of Marketing Automation Systems

By Tammie Caldwell


Marketing automation includes technology and software platforms made to assist marketing departments their organizations be effective in marketing their products on multiple online channels. Such platforms include social media, websites, and email. These platforms automate some repetitive tasks performed online. A command is fed on the software to repetitive do the assigned task rather than have someone do the task every time an action is needed online. This sums up the fact the Marketing Automation systems are very vital.

The process starts when marking individuals or the department involved in marketing specifies what outcome they would like to have from any process or task that touches on marketing. The software picks up the commands, makes a quick interpretation, and implements them as needed. It is efficient and not prone to error as humans are. In the recent past, such systems have been used to analyze behavior online and its effect on overall results. Cloud hosting enables clients to use the platform as a service.

Marketing automation comes in three distinct categories, The first is all about collecting relevant information from interactions with the prospects. Marketers refer this as marketing intelligence. The software is used to track visitor behavior online by use of codes. It tracks people interested on company products in the website, social media, and those emailed by the sales team. It also measures the intent to buy.

Examples of tracking includes recording the link that was clicked in an email, search terms that visitors used to access a website, a forum thread that was followed or a social media group that has so many followers. Buyer behavior can be tracked by use of such links for a product x. This feedback helps the retailing team develop programs that are in line with the interests of the prospects.

There are marketing automation software that take over from the above. Its principle work is to guide the prospects down the funnel until they become hot prospects. Using set stages, they pick interested prospects and selectively gives them information until they get to warm up to the product. Prospects are scored by their behavior and the right mix given to nurture them.

There are sales cycles used in the process. The most common ones include B2G (Business-to-government, B2B (Business-to-Business), and B2C (Business-to-Consumer). Marketers use these platforms to mix the traditional email retailing with a structured process of business. They do not have to chase customers that are not interested in a product, but keep in contact to those who are warming up to the products.

Some platforms are meant to ensure automation of internal retailing processes. These are referred to as workflow automation platforms. In most cases, the sales cycles are delay by the internal component that takes some time to be accomplished. Such processes include planning, budgeting, internal collaboration, development of retailing calendar among others. They check on anything that involves internal marketing process.

The rules that these programs follow are set by a CRM administrator. On their part, the platforms trigger other process to be implemented by other programs or by the sales team. These may be sending newsletter, emails, and uploading some marketing files. Marketing automation makes retailing faster and is less prone to human error.




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