In order to run a successful lead management process and demand gen, it is imperative for companies to respond personally to each prospect in the buying process. However, due to the sheer volume of most marketing campaigns, it is has become harder for companies to identify and respond to each sign of buyer manually. Enter marketing automation; a platform that helps marketers streamline their leads generation, segmentation, customer cycle marketing, lead nurturing and lead scoring, customer retention cross-sells and up-sell, and marketing ROI measurement.
If you are looking for a platform that will help you reach out to your target customer and prospects with the right message at the right time, then you should really consider choosing an effective marketing automation system. When used correctly, a marketing automation system can be a productive tool. It can even allow small businesses with limited staff to run complex marketing campaigns and increase their revenue. Marketing automation enables companies to connect with each of their clients in a highly personalized fashion in a timely manner.
However, with numerous marketing automation systems cropping up with nearly every sunrise, choosing the best system can be somewhat challenging. Thankfully, this article provides you with some valuable tips on how to choose the best marketing automation systems and their benefits.
What to Consider When Considering Marketing Automation System
Before you begin your hunt for the best marketing automation system, it is important to do some research to know what to look out for. Below are some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best marketing automation system. For our recommendation for the best marketing automation software, take a look at Ontraport here.
Pricing
Pricing is a prime factor when it comes to choosing the best marketing automation tool. This is because most automation tools are priced on a sliding scale with additional costs for add-ons and training. Make sure you understand the pricing structure because they can become outrageously pricey very quickly if you are not careful.
Usability
Another important factor to consider is usability of the marketing automation system. Even though marketing automation are inherently complex, there are some that are favorably user-friendly. Some marketing automation tools will steeper learning curves than others. Remember; the less intuitive the system is, the more you will have to pay for training, and the more the steeper the learning curve will be.
Integrations With your Existing Software
You must be extremely careful when choosing a marketing automation. Many people overlook how best a system will integrate with their existing software only to learn the hard way later on. Don’t be in the list of people that have signed up to a marketing automation system only to release one month down the line that it is not compatible with your CRM.
Benefits of Marketing Automation Systems
The benefits of marketing automation can be truly phenomenal. A system that allows you to create successful marketing campaigns and then automates the process will definitely help you turn your target customers to delighted customers. Here are some of the benefits that you enjoy thanks to choosing an effective marketing automation with a piece of software like Ontraport.
Productivity
One of the key benefits of marketing automation systems is increasing the productivity. They do this via simplifying marketing tasks and operational routines. Marketing automation systems will effectively eliminate the need for the repetitive manual process by offering automated solutions. This saves time and increases productivity because the personnel at the marketing department will put increased focus on other important tasks that require strict manual monitoring.
Customer Retention
For a company to grow, there should be some sort of balance between customer acquisition and retention. However, more effort should be placed on customer retention. What would be the point of acquiring new customers, if you won’t keep them for long? Marketing automation can play a significant role in retaining customers. This is because it comes with marketing intelligence that offers relevant insights into customer’s intent. This will help you ‘predict’ your customer decision as well as need; hence, respond accordingly.
Tracking and Monitoring
The success of any marketing campaign can only be verified by having data that can be measured. You should have data that can be gleaned via precise tracking and monitoring. Marketing automation helps you kill two birds with the same stone. It will not only help you track marketing expenditure but also help in monitoring responses to your marketing campaign.
Relationship Marketing
Relationship marketing is important in every business. For the uninitiated, relationship marketing is a form of marketing that often focuses on achieving high customer satisfaction. This, in the long run, plays a focal role in customer retention.
Conclusion
Evidently, the business competition has reached cutthroat levels. The marketing landscape is no different. If you want your company to remain competitive, relevant, and profitable, you should embrace the use of marketing automation to ensure that your brand is always at the forefront of your customers’ minds.
