MarketStar Blog

As we wrap up the year, let's look at B2B trends. Digital lead generation channels continue to rise in popularity with B2B marketers while more traditional methods fall to the wayside, according to a research report released recently by research consultancy Software Advice.

I read an interesting article about Comcast ramping up to enter the SMB services space. We all know Comcast (or Xfinity – whatever) delivers cable and internet, but now they will be rolling out IT services, including tech support, network configuration, cloud-based backup solutions and a slew of other things. I’m sure this is NOT a great prospect for traditional VARs and MSPs already struggling in the tepid economy.

Outsourcing is an age-old concept. If you hire someone to clean your home or repair your car, you are outsourcing tasks that take too much valuable time or that you aren’t qualified to handle. Outsourcing in business works the same way. Outsourcing specialty services such as accounting, staffing, or tax preparation is more cost-effective and allows you to hire the most skilled talent available. So why don’t more organizations consider sales outsourcing?

Outsourced Sales Leader Launches Digital Solutions

Orange you glad Pantone is celebrating such a fun, bright color this year? We sure are.

From Leonardo DiVinci to Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, there is a sweet spot at the intersection of Science and Art where incredible impact occurs. Each of us will define that magical moment in somewhat different terms depending on the challenges and opportunities we're confronting. When we are able to consider both the quantifiable and definable, with the potential of an artist's unfiltered creativity, we find solutions to even our most precarious challenges.

Congratulations to our Chief Information Officer, Julie Simmons, who was honored today by Utah Business magazine as one of this year’s “30 Women to Watch." Our senior executive was awarded this afternoon with other Utah women business leaders in a special luncheon at the Grand America hotel in Salt Lake City.

I have the privilege of a weekly interaction with a high-functioning autistic child we'll call Ryan. Ryan enjoys our time together in his own unique way. A few weeks back Ryan and I connected over a very unexpected topic – Mentos. When Ryan gets his mind on a topic it consumes him and this particular day his mind was consumed by the idea of a Mentos bombs. Ask him any question, "Ryan what did your mom make for dinner last night?" and his response: "MENTOS BOMBS!!!"

Traditionally, marketing and customer service have worked independently of each other, but in today’s world, separating these two departments makes it harder to deliver excellent customer experience. And when it comes to deciding whether to continue doing business with you, quality of experience is exactly what customers will consider first.1