JAZD Markets, Inc.

Marketing-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a technology-driven platform that allows marketers to gain access to large networks of qualified buyers on demand using self-service tools. Marketers can do anything from powerful sales prospecting to educating customers at no risk and no obligation in adaptable platforms where they can routinely change marketing and brand positioning messages.

As business-to-business marketing focuses more on using technology and less on creative, the argument for using MaaS platforms becomes more compelling. Self-service means low cost. Transactional payments mean efficient pay-per-use. Budgets are controllable. Return on Investment gets easier to measure. You can take steps toward relationship marketing in a more cost-effective manner than through traditional channels.

Traditional ways of driving marketing campaigns that include using print, tradeshow advertising, billboard exposure and others channels involve high labor costs, long process times and expensive creative work, and ROI is less readily apparent. The unqualified reach that often comes with using these tactics over vast audiences is expensive. You can isolate wasted reach with MaaS. You can test audiences and decide early in the marketing spend if you are getting good rates of return.

Marketing-as-a-Service revolves around the ability to lighten financial burdens on marketing budgets while zeroing in on target audiences.

But, the relationship with a MaaS supplier should be the same as it would be with any supplier of traditional marketing services. While MaaS is self service, choose providers that support strong customer service. Make sure you can always call someone at the company if your account is not functioning correctly or you need to change the way you derive value.

Make sure also that metrics reporting is simple and easy to understand. You should be able to see in one screen what your marketing dollars are producing. For example, if it’s lead generation, make sure each type of lead is defined. From beginning to end, you are accountable for your firm’s marketing dollars; make sure your Marketing-as-a-Service supplier is accountable as well.

Video adds immediate value to any marketing campaign. It’s an engaging means of communication and if done well can enjoy a life long after its initial marketing campaign is completed.

Here a few suggestions where to use a video after its campaign has run its course.

• Social Media: Don’t forget to update your corporate Facebook or Twitter status to include a link to your video and a quick sentence telling your fans what they’ll get out of watching it. Include it on your company’s LinkedIn page. You could add a link and a call to action in your status or you could create a discussion forum for your customers based on the subject of your video.

• Newsletters/Emails: What benefit to customers does your video spotlight?  Create a newsletter or an email campaign around this topic and send it to your customers and prospects down the line.

• Blog: Embed your video in a blog on the same topic. Including video to a blog not only adds content value, it also adds value from a visual standpoint.

• Other People’s Blogs: Add a google alert on the subject of your video and see if you can find people writing about a similar subject. Leave a thoughtful comment – no dry marketing speak allowed – along with a link to your video.

• Press Releases:Don’t forget to include your video in a press release! Studies have shown press releases with video included see more views. It’s great for SEO purposes as well.

Have other ideas on where to post video? Let us know in the comment field below – we always love feedback!

JAZD Supplier’s Space: Information and News Addressing the Supplier’s Point of View.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a real buzz word right now. Are you trying to navigate your way through this confusing maze of finding the right mix of online exposure and web advertising to make your marketing dollars return a better than average ROI?  How do you measure your success? It is increased traffic? Or does get down to certain number of qualified leads to make this investment worthwhile?

Most companies in the life sciences and healthcare industries are using online product catalogs to drive traffic to their website. Some companies find this to be an insufficient way to get to the desired goal of getting real buyers to purchase product. Marketers are now tasked with providing metrics to prove the value of listing their company in an industry directory.

JAZD markets’ team of SEO professionals have spent the last year researching this problem and how it directly affects these markets. Based on their findings, they have begun to build a comprehensive program that will extend the value of the online product catalog. Using cutting edge technology, they will be able to attract qualified buyers in both the JAZD life sciences and healthcare product catalogs by fall 2009.