"So how can your organization begin the process of sales acceleration?

• The first step is to break down the departmental and data silos present in your organization by having all teams work from one set of data, one set of goals and one set of measurements.
• Another shift from traditional prospecting is the need to make sense of all interactions, both online and offline, that influence the buyer journey. This disconnect between offline and online worlds is what is frustrating customers . 
• In addition to knowing your data and establishing a connected identity, companies must use the right tools to generate that holistic and consistent customer view. 
• Finally, companies must develop the right analytics to find truth and meaning from the data and surface those insights into the systems and the workflow of the people or sites that should take the next best action."

A new study from Data as a Service company Synthio and Ascend2, a research-based marketing firm, shows that B2B marketers are aware of critical issues within their data-driven marketing strategies, but are not prioritizing a solution. While more than half (51%) of respondents said that integrating data across platforms was a critical challenge, only 37% said that it was an important objective in their data-driven marketing strategy.

The study, which surveyed more than 100 B2B marketers, aimed to gain deeper insights into the challenges and effectiveness of data-driven marketing strategies. Similarly, 37% said enriching data quality and completeness was an important objective to them even though 46% said it was a critical challenge.
A clear majority of B2B marketers (88%) stated that the implementation of a data-driven marketing strategy is “complicated” to some extent, while about half (45%) said it is “extremely complicated.” The majority (93%) of respondents noted they outsource all or part of their resources to implement a data-driven marketing strategy.

1. Compete on Value, Not Price
2. Carve Out a New Submarket
3. Connect Content Marketing to the Sales Pipeline
4. Explore Alternative Marketing Channels
5. Reward Existing Customers for Their Loyalty

We are experiencing an historic moment where we have more data than ever. We are overwhelmed by data. Yet, although the data volume continues to burgeon, companies often struggle to harness it. Indeed, the way they take decisions isn’t really changed over the past decade. We’re not able to use the data we have. Or at least, we use data, but they do not influence our decision as one might expect. Identifying patterns that enable you to make the right decisions at the right time is what could really make the difference.

Massive data volume generated from a side. The inability to decipher that data chaos and pull out actionable insights from the other side. This is where Artificial Intelligence comes in as a connecting link. One of the techniques widely used to reach Artificial Intelligence is Machine Learning. Machine learning relies on two key elements: algorithms and data sets to train those algorithms.

Here are the top 5 reasons your marketing needs to be data-driven.

• PERSONALIZATION
• ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
• OPTIMIZED MARKETING CHANNELS
• INCREASED CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND LOYALTY
• CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Rule one: Chose quality over quantity

Rule two: Set measures for success

Rule three: Build the 360 view of the customer

Rule four: Don’t be afraid to try something new  

Rule five: Keep an open mind

Crawl, walk, run: three steps to establishing an effective DMP As digital marketers we're all too aware of the importance of data. For example, the typical. Marketing topic(s):Big Data. Advice by Gavin Llewellyn.

1. Platforms, technology, and data are improving

These concerns are part of the reason why, as of late 2015, more than half (57%) brands have not yet implemented a DMP and most (61%) were not going to implement one in the coming year. What may alter this trend, however, is that marketers are becoming increasingly aware of the data-driven platforms and technology that is available and realize that they are improving.

2. Marketers are increasingly using data to improve performance

Along with catering for new marketing strategies, the improvements in platforms, technology and data also help marketers understand what is and what is not working. 

3. Through combining first- and third-party data, marketers will be able to allocate budget more effectively

While it sounds like a complicated strategy reserved for only those 43% of companies who have implemented a DMP, combining first- and third-party data is actually straightforward to do with the major advertising platforms.

DDM investment boosts revenues, execs say

"Abundant data is better data. Everything about it is more delicious. Here are the trends in the kinds of data we are using to drive our businesses.

• From smaller samples sizes to larger sample sizes
• From self-reported input to behavioral input
• From less-recent to more-recent data
• From data collected at one point in time to data spanning months and years of data
• From periodic to real-time collection
• From qualitative to quantitative data
• From strangers to prospects and customers"

Marketing leaders must create a data-driven marketing culture and organize the required people, processes and systems. They need to eliminate data silos and create a single source of truth - a 360-degree view of customers to reliably and efficiently target the right message, to the right person at the right time.

Not every company can afford to have full-time people dedicated to analysis. Hence let me make optimal recommendations for three types of companies.

If you are a handful of employees small business, here's your balance between data capture, data reporting, data analysis: 05 | 20 | 25.

You are a small business, I get it, you only have a part of one resource dedicated to data. No problem. Ensure that part-time resource is spending their time with a 05 | 20 | 25 balance. At your size, you'll still win with data.

If you are a numerous employees medium sized business that is growing at a ferocious pace, here's your DC | DR | DA balance: 10 | 25 | 65.

Lastly, if you are a massive employees corporation here's your DC | DR | DA balance: 15 | 35 | 50.