Podcast interview. The road to success can be an arduous struggle, but it can be a lot more manageable when you have some help. This week on INSIDE Inside Sales, Darryl welcomes the President of Virtual Causeway and literal rock star, Rick Endrulat. Darryl and Rick go over the common misconceptions regarding the outsource business [...]
It’s Labor Day and I hope you are enjoying some leisure time before getting back into the fray. Some people welcome September and change, while others dread it. Which camp are you in? It’s tough to know if we are coming or going sometimes, so while you’re reading, enjoy this classic from the Clash! Here [...]
We are dangerously close to Labor Day! With schools re-opening, the economy rebounding – are you feeling optimistic? I sometimes wish the summer would last forever – but the renewed energy and focus associated with September can be invigorating. Need an energy boost? Listen to this while you read through today – perhaps it’s just [...]
Can you believe August is almost over? I hope you’ve had a chance to get away (even if you couldn’t fly away) and enjoy this summer – I doubt it’s one any of us will ever forget. Are you planning that final Labor Day getaway? Here’s one of my favorite Lenny Kravitz songs as you [...]
With the social distancing, and (at times) forced solitude, have you learned something new or rekindled a previous interest? I have a guitar hanging in my office and there are times when a little ‘noodling’ helps calm and reset me. Give the Foo Fighter’s Times Like These a listen as you read through for some [...]
Who doesn’t love a good summer vacation? Do you measure it by the warm weather, time spent outdoors, or reading that novel? As marketers we sometimes feel that tension of trying to keep things moving through the summer - how do we keep things rolling so we don’t see a dip in our activity during [...]
Ever felt like you’re in the eye of a hurricane? With the conflicting opinions swirling around reopening, the pressure for companies to recover, and the stock market seemingly spinning in circles, it feels like the storm is all around you. But we’re going to get through this together. So as you read through, listen to [...]
Don’t let your demand generation take a summer vacation! One of my clients made an interesting request the other day – they asked if we could increase our marketing and demand generation efforts for them during the months of July and August. And not just a small increase in activity, but something pretty substantial. Now, [...]
What’s your current theme song? Soundgarden’s "Outshined", and the line “I've kept the movie rolling” has been a kind of motto for me through these crazy times. Makes me think back to the first Lollapalooza concert tour – summer of 1991… 29 years ago! Sadly, that was Jane’s Addiction's farewell tour. Since I’ve recently shared [...]
What’s your getaway pleasure? In the summer heat, I want to be on the lake - it makes me feel insulated, safe, and at peace. As we see economic re-openings progressing (and regressing) across the continent, it feels like waves rolling in and out on a windy day. So while you read on, listen to [...]
The temperature soared last week. But as a Canadian, I use up all my ‘weather complaining tokens’ during the winter. So grab a caffeinated drink and listen to this summer classic from Don Henley as you read on. Or if you want the espresso version, try this cover. Here is what the experts are saying, [...]
I admit it - I’m a fan of holidays! And yes, I was on the water this past weekend! Hope you got to take a breather too. To get you back into the B2B swing of things in the office gently, listen to this '90s Alt-Rock classic from Jane’s Addiction as you read on. Here [...]
There’s something about water that I find relaxing, refreshing, and contemplative. When I need to think, sometimes I just take the boat out and stare at the water. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about what comes next, and how our clients move strongly into the marketplace. Here is what the experts are [...]
I hope you were able to take part in #MakeMusicDay on the weekend – a great cause, and we all could use a little more music in our lives right now! Is your B2B drumbeat still getting louder? How are you and your teams coping with your own sales and marketing ramp up? Here is [...]
What’s new in the B2B space this week? How are you and your teams coping with your own B2B sales and marketing ramp-up? It feels like the drumbeat is finally starting to get a bit louder in the marketplace. With the economy opening further, many of my clients are eager to continue ramping up their [...]
Its been such a busy week! I admit that I didn’t make it to the drive-in – maybe the next staff meeting? There's lots to discuss, so grab your popcorn or coffee, and let’s get right to it! Venture Funding During the Pandemic As someone that works with many tech companies, I find it encouraging [...]
Critical Success Factors for Business Recovery and Growth After the downturn, now what? Businesses are looking for insight into strategies they can implement to help them recover and ultimately grow – from concrete demand generation ideas and tactics to high-level growth strategies. In this brief webinar, we’re bringing together two experts who will share practical [...]
Can you believe it's June already? As yet another sign of the strange times we’re living in, last week I happened to see a story from Entertainment Weekly about how a low-budget horror movie had become America's No. 1 film. How? Drive-ins! With typical movie theaters closed and the postponement of major blockbusters, it’s led [...]
Maybe I’m an eternal optimist, but I really am seeing the B2B market pushing for recovery. Prior to March, B2B sales and marketing activity was at an all-time high. And luckily, it seems that businesses are looking to get back to those levels. What are you seeing? Here is what the experts are saying, and [...]
I've been waking up early a lot lately. And this week I saw the sun rise over the water and couldn't help but think about it symbolically - the promise of a new day. As the economy starts to open up globally, similarly, I’m sure we’re all hoping for the promise of better times! I’m [...]
REGISTER NOW! Critical Success Factors for Business Recovery and Growth After the downturn, now what? Businesses are looking for insight into strategies they can implement to help them recover and ultimately grow – from concrete demand generation ideas and tactics to high-level growth strategies. On May 27 at 2:00pm, we’re bringing together two experts who [...]
It's snowing here this morning. Yup. Snow. And not just a little. Sure, it will only last for the day, but it feels like a HUGE setback. We're all looking forward to warmer weather, sunshine, and better times...but the snow just seems like a huge kick in the...ahem. You know what I mean. But on [...]
“Call Me After COVID” Sound familiar? It’s what our sales teams have been hearing for a while now….but it seems like we’re getting less of this. The economy is getting ready to kick back up – and we may be seeing signs of recovery. What are your teams seeing? Here is what the experts are [...]
Here is the latest update for you – if it's valuable, please forward it to your colleagues. And please share your findings back – I’d love to hear from you! Here are some takeaways from the past week: 1. Deal Volume and Sales Response Rates are Down - HubSpot has been providing some great real-time [...]
I’ve recently witnessed some marketplace changes that I want to share with you. This past week our client teams have noticed that response rates and live conversations with B2B prospects have picked up considerably. Of course, I am hoping this trend continues. Are your sales teams finding the same? Here are some takeaways from the [...]
As I process everything going on these days, I find myself reflecting on past experiences as I push forward. What is the role of change now? Here are some takeaways from the past week: 1. Your Brand New 100% Inside Sales Organization! When I started Virtual Causeway in 2001, it was mainly due to a [...]
I usually don’t listen to webinars ‘live’ but this one was different. As someone who helps to manage and implement webinar strategies for our clients, I rarely attend them live. I typically wait for the replay or recording. Today I watched a timely and thought-provoking webinar hosted by Gartner and TOPO: COVID-19 – Strategic Sales [...]
This webinar is designed for SAP Partners. Join Rick Endrulat and Marlene Keay for ‘Webinars that Boost Sales: Virtual Causeway's Webinar Program for SAP Partners'. In this brief 12-minute webinar, learn how you can leverage webinars to generate demand for your SAP solutions and how SAP contributes to support your effort. You'll learn Why use [...]
What a week it’s been! I wanted to remind you that you’re not alone. As I’ve been talking to clients, partners, and vendors this week, I realized that I need to share more. I can add value to the business community by sharing what I am seeing in the market – so I wanted to [...]
Lead machine webinar coming in hot! Join Rick Endrulat for ‘5 Simple Steps to Building an Integrated Lead Engine to Grow Sales’. In this 20-minute webinar, learn how to build your own complete targeted content marketing process that effectively generates qualified B2B sales leads. You'll learn A complete lead producing process The role of content [...]
When it comes to digital B2B marketing, most people immediately think of B2C and the flashy tactics used to grab the attention of prospects. Businesses have been selling to businesses for a very long time. It's only until recently that B2B has been taken to a whole new level with advancements in digital marketing and [...]
Need more marketing sales leads now? Learn how to, not just create an eBook, but a Lead Magnet that grows demand for your sales funnel. Discover helpful information and tips for creating an effective Lead Magnet eBook. Download our free guide to create your Lead Magnet eBook. Download Free Guide
This Worksheet is a companion piece to ‘Create a Lead Magnet with an eBook and Boost Sales!’ PDF guide. Refer to that guide for helpful information and tips to create an effective Lead Magnet eBook. This worksheet is meant to help organize and outline your eBook effectively. Download our free worksheet to help you plan [...]
A lead is a potential contact, individual, or organization that expresses an interest in your goods or services. Typically, the marketing department is responsible for generating these leads to pass onto the sales department to pursue and convert. Leads are important for any organization; they are what will eventually (hopefully) turn into a sale. Having [...]
@c_blazquez posted this great infographic (by Anna Vital) about startups on twitter based on Paul Graham's essay: Startups in 13 Sentences. https://twitter.com/c_blazquez/status/892327223285493761 We thought we would provide our own take on Paul’s 13 Sentences on Start-ups. Pick good co-founders There are so many challenges that come along with starting a business. Many entrepreneurs find that [...]
Long after all the other social media giants have adopted video sharing features, LinkedIn has finally jumped on the bandwagon. The business-centric social media network will now let users take and upload videos with the updated in-app camera or upload clips from their phone’s camera roll. Currently, LinkedIn says the native video feature is currently [...]
Social media started out at as a tool to communicate and stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues. Eventually, it became popular among business-to-consumer companies to help find and communicate with their customers. Today it has become an integral part of any businesses marketing strategy and B2B is no exception. When reading about social [...]
https://myleadagency.wistia.com/medias/njxf7akd9q?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 Snapchat started trading on the New York Stock Exchange on March 2nd, 2017, offering 200 million shares at $17 each. By 12:00pm ET, their price had risen to $25.38 per share. That all sounds really great for Snapchat, but it doesn’t really help you at all. So, instead of continuing to bore you with [...]
Sales leads are what drive your business. You probably have a bunch of them pouring in already, but are they good, quality leads? Traditional sales and marketing strategies tend to focus on casting a wide net and capturing as many leads as possible instead of focusing on the good ones. If you’re not getting the [...]
We have all encountered spam at some point or another while scrolling through the web or sifting through your email inbox. Some people - and even software - are really great at identifying it and dealing with it, but some are not. While nobody likes receiving spam, the fact is many businesses are actively sending [...]
Sales calls are something that many people tend to avoid. Customers can now learn everything they need to know about a product through friends, industry peers and online research. Having to listen to sales pitches from overly preppy salespeople can sometimes become irritating. While trying to reach quotas and encourage a sale, salespeople often forget [...]
What would you say your most crucial selling tool is in your day-to-day business? Chances are you don’t consider Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to be such a big deal. The reality is, along with 75% of other companies, you’re a fool to think so and you’re missing out. *Here’s the actual title of this [...]
Search engines are the primary method of navigation for most Internet users. For great search engine optimization, a good rule of thumb for any B2B firm’s content strategy is to present itself as a credible expert. It’s not enough to just have a good strategy for creating optimized content, but you must also create valuable [...]
Snapchat started trading on the New York Stock Exchange on March 2nd, 2017, offering 200 million shares at $17 each. By 12:00pm ET, their price had risen to $25.38 per share. That all sounds really great for Snapchat, but it doesn’t really help you at all. So, instead of continuing to bore you with financial [...]
And hope that everyone catches it like the Flu. The Internet is bursting at the seams with content and information. It is important to stand out so you are getting the most out of your B2B marketing strategies. I recently read a book called Contagious by Jonah Berger, Professor of Marketing at The University of [...]
For those who have little-to-no graphic design skills. You’re in good hands because I am a pro... Not really but they tell me I’m pretty good. There has probably been a time where you had wished you knew how to whip up a quick graphic for your marketing campaign. Whether it’s an advertisement, a graphic [...]
Hop on the bandwagon, you're missing out! Last year we saw the importance of visual content, such as video, emphasized by the changes that took place across almost every major social network such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Most notable were the launch of Facebook and Instagram’s live feature, Facebook’s pre-roll video ads, and [...]
We focus on Business-to-Business (B2B) activities specifically related to sales, marketing and market research for the high-tech industry. We understand our customers' businesses and work with each client to address specific business pain points. By leveraging our industry-specific management expertise, our strong labor pool of highly educated employees, and leading-edge demand center technology, we are [...]
For the seasoned B2B Marketer tasked with filling their sales funnel in a hurry, on a budget, and under a magnifying glass, understanding how lead generation has changed from 3, 5, or 10 years ago is essential. Tactics have changed. Terminology has changed. Timeframes have changed. Technology has changed. Can somebody please break down today's [...]
http://myleadagency.wistia.com/medias/on3zng6nqd?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=400 You'll love this fast-paced, information-packed recap of the top 10 takeaways we learned at Dreamforce 2016. If you're trying to stay on top of the trends, best practices, quick wins, and proven tactics then you'll want to watch this webinar. Whether you attended, or not, our panelists summarize what you need to know [...]
Overcome complacency. Achieve Marketing stardom. The biggest killer for any marketing department, marketing campaign, or marketing professional can best be described using one word — complacency. I’m guilty of it. If you’re honest with yourself, so are you. There is just so much going on in our day-to-day lives, not to mention the non-stop meetings, [...]
The Manager, Global Demand Generation Solutions, is a multi-disciplinary role that provides the opportunity to maximize team management, client management and analytical skills, and is a responsible for leading the Client Services, Business Development and Marketing Services teams to generate revenues and achieve individual, team and organizational goals. Looking to take your career to the [...]
Top 5 things you can do to stop the whispers. Any Marketer who has been on the job for more than a few months will have experienced this. Of course, most sales professionals can claim the same thing. Isn’t it interesting how you never really hear that about Development or Finance or even Human Resources? [...]
I’ve written about it before, and I’ll write about it again. It’s a popular discussion among us Marketers, not to mention a source of frustration. Every time I reach out to my network of respected marketers, looking for inspiration on what to write about, it’s almost the first thing they mention. It’s so bad I [...]
One of the things I enjoy best about being a veteran marketer (that’s “marketing” for saying I’m old) is that I’ve had the chance to mentor and develop a lot of young marketers. It’s something I think I’m good at. It’s definitely something I take a lot of pride in. I consider it one of [...]
One of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had, as a veteran Vice President of Marketing, was getting consensus on how a lead is defined. This challenge occurred in almost every single organization I’ve ever been engaged with. Even more interesting, when you interview the key stakeholders in an organization and ask how a lead is [...]
Companies that personalize marketing interactions see significant benefits in pipeline progression and closed deals. But marketers face a number of obstacles that keep them from effectively personalizing their processes at scale. Join us to learn how the combination of the right marketing automation with the right data, all natively integrated with Salesforce.com, delivers on the [...]
In this relaxed webinar full of laughter and real-world examples, three veteran professionals come together to share: how have they used video; how have they overcome internal objections; how they have done it on a shoe-string budget; how they have used it to create sales pipeline and thought leadership, and when should you self-produce rather [...]
Recently at Dreamforce, Salesforce.com (SFDC) asked Virtual Causeway's president, Rick Endrulat, to reveal to the world how his company uses Data.com, how clean data is critical to his company's success, and how he utilizes the various products from SFDC in his company's day-to-day operations. This brief video offers a good insight into the challenges that [...]
The biggest challenge any revenue-generating professional will face is connecting with a customer — via email, phone, social media, or in person — and actually getting them to listen. It has become a ‘skimming’ society with too many priorities competing with too little time. The customer has issues and they’re looking for solutions. The window [...]
Lead nurturing is a critical aspect to any revenue creation program. It's not enough to do a one-and-done campaign. Not everybody is ready to purchase immediately, and since you do not know when they might be ready to move forward it's imperative you stay top-of-mind with your target consumer. In this fun webinar, we discuss [...]
Demand generation isn't enough anymore. Truthfully, it never has been but that has partially been forgotten in the marketing renaissance we find ourselves in currently. The truth is, you need to close those deals and you need to hit your revenue targets. If you want to learn a trick or two about how you can [...]
Have you ever downloaded some content by completing an online form? Have you noticed that your phone rang minutes later, and it was somebody from the firm whose content you just consumed? Creepy, eh?! Nobody likes that. Don't do it. However, what you should do is join us in this webinar for a great discussion [...]
There is a fervour around Content Marketing these days. Everybody is doing it. The problem is, most of it is not ever consumed. It misses the mark. It doesn't engage. And the sad part is that the content creators have invested time and money for something with zero return. That's why it's critical that you [...]
There are two schools of thought. Veterans will declare that outbound marketing creates leads and builds relationships. Contemporaries will claim that inbound marketing is what engages prospects and brings in new business. The fact of the matter is they're both right, and they're both wrong. The truth is — you need both. Join us for [...]
Everyday, each of us sees them, yet very few of us know much about them. I am talking about display ads (formerly called banner ads), Unlike search ads that rely on someone typing a keyword into a search engine, those running display advertising platforms learned how to show ads to people based on the context [...]
KLS Financial had great lead flow prior to engaging with us. Their issue was converting those leads into paying, happy customers. Working together, we mapped their Buyer's Journey, determined the right content, the right messaging, the right nurturing, and the right tools to engage, educate, and close their leads into recurring revenue streams. Listen to [...]
Just Fix It had worked previously with Virtual Causeway on multiple Outbound Marketing campaigns, but they wanted to up-their-game. Together, we implemented an aggressive Inbound Marketing program, combined with Salesforce.com and Pardot for a complete CRM and Marketing Automation solution designed to nurture and convert their leads into paying customers. Listen to Doug Palubiski as [...]
Athena Software has a vision to change the world, but they needed a fresh perspective on how to go-to-market. They engaged Virtual Causeway to review their messaging, competitive positioning, Buyer's Journey, content, marketing automation, and sales enablement. From that, a fresh approach was introduced and the rest, as they say, is history. Listen to Dana [...]
Going to Dreamforce September 2015? So are we!!! Rick will be presenting at a session called “Deliver Personalized Marketing with Pardot and Data.com” you do NOT want to miss it! More Details
Without integration, CRM misses the mark. It's a bold statement but, for most organizations, it's true. Whether it be a standalone accounting system, a custom database application, or a collection of spreadsheets with mission critical information, every organization has islands of data. CRM allows for a single version of the truth, but to get to [...]
Too often, marketing and sales have been separate and misaligned silos of activity. This has weakened the demand generation process and caused both organizations to lose credibility. The primary responsibility of the sales leader is to drive sales and maintain a robust sales pipeline. The primary job of marketing is to support sales by driving [...]
Inbound marketing is hot. However, it has not removed the need for outbound tactics — marketing directly to your audience, whether through mail, email or phone continues to have considerable value for both B2B and B2C organizations. Outbound marketing gives companies greater control over the delivery and timing of their message than inbound marketing can. [...]
We all get stuck in our routines. That has never been more true then when it comes to traditional sales and marketing programs. However, sometimes, you need to change it up. You need something fresh. Check this article out to learn of four different tactics you may not yet have considered. Download Whitepaper [...]
Studies have shown it costs, on average, $10 per contact to clean a contact record when you do it in bulk. However, it only costs $1 per contact to clean a contact as it's submitted in real-time. Often, the biggest impediment to having clean data is having the budget necessary for the job. In this [...]
For most people, summer is a time of year to slow down and catch up. Buyers are often on vacation and difficult to connect with. At least, that's the belief. Or, perhaps we should say, that's the myth. Join us as we bust this myth and discuss how you can use the summer season to [...]
While Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is mature, understood, and relatively predictable, advertising in social media is a completely different thing. Some call it the wild wild west. Grandiose claims are made but often the results pale in comparison. What's a person responsible for pipeline to do? Join us as we discuss the pros and the cons of [...]
Most marketing programs have grand ambitions and lofty goals, however they're typically grossly underfunded, if they're funded at all. That's the reality of today's lean, mean demand generation machine. In this webinar we discuss how you can make your marketing dollars go farther, create more content, and be delivered faster with fewer hurdles, obstacles, and [...]
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is an interesting game. Google continually changes the algorithms, hiding much of the data Marketers required to be successful. Other provides such as Bing or Yahoo may not have the audience you're seeking. When social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin provide interesting advertising alternatives, you start to wonder if PPC still [...]
At the foundation of every great campaign is a killer list. If your lists are holding you back from the success you deserve, then maybe it's time to fix the problem. In this webinar we share some amazing tips and tricks to improving your data without resorting to questionable tactics.
An often under-utilized tool in the content creator’s tool-bag is the interview. A good interview shouldn’t be very difficult to produce, and should be engaging and informative. It’s an easy tool to get industry leaders on your site and build your reputation as an industry leader. The only catch is that they have to be [...]
Being able to create a strong, engaging presentation isn’t an easy task. There are a thousand things to consider, from the topic, to the gear you’ll need, to the medium you’ll use to present the topic. The one thing that shouldn’t be a problem is whether or not you’re able to make the presentation engaging; [...]
Building a marketing plan is a lot like the first time you go to a gym. There’s some apprehension, some indecision, and as a whole you may not be entirely sure what to do. It seems simple enough, and seemingly everyone is doing it, but maybe you just don’t know where to start. That’s what [...]
I think of myself as someone usually on the front-end of the technology adoption curve. When I first studied Geoffrey Moore’s “Crossing the Chasm[i]” in business school, I remember completely identifying with those technology Innovators. Or, at the worst, I thought I might be an Early Adopter. Well – here it is – and I [...]
As the market for marketing automation grows - platforms such as Pardot, Marketo and Eloqua help large businesses drive revenue by converting leads into customers. The marketing automation industry realized there was a market for small companies and thus gained popularity Act-On, Infusionsoft, and Nurture. What does this mean for you as a business leader? [...]
Popularity and Effectiveness of Digital Marketing One of the most important aspects in marketing is content marketing. In order to have a great content marketing strategy, we have to write – and write LOTS! As marketers, we have a natural tendency to want to grow our business fast and write in every outlet possible. [...]
I’ve been a marketer for a long time, much of that spent as a senior executive. I’ve had large teams, small teams, and no teams. I’ve made many mistakes. I’ve even had employees come into my office to stage pseudo-intervention, asking me to trust them to do their job rather than micro-manage them. What I’ve [...]
Working in sales, you are familiar with the gatekeeper. In my experience, I have learned the gatekeeper can be your best friend or your worst enemy. They will let you through to your target contact or bluntly tell you the target contact is not interested. Today, most gatekeepers have absolute power over the phone, e-mail [...]
A B2B Marketer’s Word Jumble....Leads vs Deals What do leads and deals have in common? Well....same letters, different order? The image of a word jumble comes to mind - remember the word jumble? You would see it in the newspaper? I’m sure you can play it online somewhere....(Note to self – look for an online [...]
Earlier on, Rick wrote a post about WHY we are blogging - the end result - content. Blogs are everywhere! There are literally (figuratively) dogs writing blogs. Not kidding - check it out (Alfies Blog). With the saturation of the blog market - ever get stuck thinking about WHAT to blog about? Here are some [...]
