Marketing In A Post-Pandemic World
Late last year we passed the four-year mark since the arrival of COVID-19, a sober event that reshaped our world in unprecedented ways, including in
Newsjack Your Way To Media Coverage
“Help, I’ve been newsjacked!” Likely, you won’t ever make that cry on a darkened street corner since newsjacking isn’t something that’s done to you; instead,
How SMEs Can Be The Marketer’s Best Friend
In today’s competitive business landscape, companies are constantly seeking ways to stand out from the pack and establish themselves as industry thought leaders. One invaluable
6 Marketing Technology Trends To Watch In 2024
Those of us in marketing understand that two things move quickly: technology advancements and changes in customer expectations. These two aspects inform what we believe
PRSA Releases New Guidance on AI
As Artificial Intelligence technologies continue to be introduced into the mainstream, knowing how and when to use them is a hot topic, especially among PR
From Hype to Heart: Mastering Authenticity In Marketing
How many times have marketers been given the advice to “be authentic”? Authenticity is a buzzword that seems to pop up in every strategy meeting
Why PR Is Essential For Internal Teams Too
To be competitive, companies of all sizes invest in external public relations to build brand reputation, establish thought leadership, and engage with potential customers. However,
What We’re Thankful For This Thanksgiving (Video)
With the holiday season approaching, our Carabiner team is taking a moment to reflect on what they’re thankful for and what truly matters. We also
AEC Shadow Summit: Advancing the Science of Building Technology
Last week, Carabiner CEO Peter Baron and I were given a glimpse into the future of building technology at the 2023 AEC Shadow Summit in
6 Marketing Nightmares (And How to Avoid Them)
It’s nearly Halloween, so we’re setting the stage for some major chills in the form of marketing and PR nightmares. Warning: They could happen to
6 Best Practices for Mastering Omnichannel Marketing
Desktops, tablets, and smartphones, oh my… In our fast-paced digital landscape, customers are interacting with brands across multiple channels, creating a need for seamless customer
Venture Atlanta 2023: New Energy & All Things AI
The 16th annual Venture Atlanta 2023 is now in the books, having heralded new technologies and trends to watch as well as a high-energy experience
Why Integrity In Marketing Is So Important Right Now
There is little denying the use of artificial intelligence will only proliferate as it continues to reshape the way we work, communicate, and create. Already,
How to Build Stronger Relationships with B2B Prospects
According to research firm Forrester, over the past three years, the total number of interactions that buyers require in order to make purchase decisions has
Should Your Press Release Go On The Newswire?
The first goal of any news announcement is to disseminate it to the broadest audience in an efficient manner, which is why newswire services have
What It Takes To Be A Thought Leader
Thought leadership—it’s a buzz phrase frequently used when talking about company goals and ambitions, but what does it really mean, and even more, what does
Carabiner Is A Sponsor Of The 2023 National Cyber Summit
We’re pleased to announce that Carabiner Communications is a Bronze Sponsor of the 14th annual National Cyber Summit, taking place September 20-21 at the Von
Carabiner Now Offers Market Research In Partnership With Stable Kernel
We’re pleased to announce a new service to our clients through our partnership with the market research arm of software development firm Stable Kernel. Savvy
From Views to Customers: Why Video Marketing Is A Game-Changer
With its ability to tell stories and captivate viewers, video has emerged as an extremely effective communication tool. In fact, the highest-ever proportion of marketers
Amplify Your Message With These 7 Press Release Best Practices
The art of effective communication holds power, and the press release remains a tried-and-true method for disseminating news and capturing attention. In fact, we’ve talked
InnovATL: Fueling Atlanta’s Innovation Ecosystem
By now, you may have heard about the recent launch of InnovATL, a new initiative developed in collaboration with Startup Atlanta, Venture Atlanta, and the Metro
Staying Sane In The Workplace: 5 Steps For Reducing Stress
The modern workplace can be a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, so it’s little wonder that stress can take a toll. For example, as a marketer, you
Making the Case for Case Studies
Case studies are one of the most powerful tools available to B2B marketers. They provide an opportunity to boost company credibility and trust through third-party
May Is Mental Health Month: Q&A with John Letter of Proem Health
May is Mental Health Month, and it’s a reminder that every day, people are struggling with an array of mental health issues such as depression,
Climb The Search Rankings Through Effective SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an important tool for businesses to improve their website visibility, enhance credibility, and reach new customers. As more buyers rely
Age Tech Innovations and Emerging Solutions
I recently had the privilege of attending the Age Tech Challenge Innovation Showcase, a pitch competition featuring early-stage companies offering solutions for older adults. Organized
How AI Impacts Marketing Content Creation
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past months, it’s likely you’ve heard about the breakthrough advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). As this emerging
6 Ways to Enhance Your Blog Content
While blogging is an important part of any successful online marketing strategy, writing blog posts is a task many marketers dread. The average blog post
How to Create Effective CTAs
Even the most engaging marketing content can fail to achieve its goals if it isn’t clear about what it wants the audience to do next.
Inform Your Marketing Programs With Buyer Personas
A buyer persona is a representation of your ideal customer based on market research and gathered data on existing customers. When done properly, it can
5 Ways to Wake Up Sleepy Social Media Efforts
With social media now a firmly established tool in the marketing arsenal, most B2B marketers dedicate a solid amount of time to posting to at
7 Key Marketing Trends for 2023
Hard to believe it’s January—and for many of us, time to compile a new marketing plan to guide activities and expenditures for the year ahead.
Should Your Business Be Utilizing Market Research?
When it comes to understanding your market, research is vital. While you may have some pretty solid assumptions about who your target audience is and
Are Awards Submissions Worth It?
For the most part, the answer is “yes.” When your product or company receives such recognition, it means that an objective third party has vetted
Thinking of Buying an Email List? Better Think Again.
Email marketing is popular in all its forms, from outright promotional offers to informational e-newsletters. In fact, 81 percent of B2B marketers say the latter
Why Your 2023 Marketing Planning Should Start Now
We’re heading into the final lap of 2022—which means the need for a 2023 marketing plan is looming. Such endeavors can fill many marketers with
Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Q&A With Wendy Ellin
Wendy Ellin is a workplace productivity consultant, international speaker, and the #1 bestselling author of the book “Working From Home…How’s That Working For You?” Wendy
6 Ways to Garner Greater Attention for Your Next Press Release
We’ve touted before the benefits of press release dissemination. Not too long ago, releases were considered a thing of the past, jilted in favor of
Is Video the Winning Part of Your Next Business Proposal?
We all pretty much understand by now that video is a desirable component of a marketing strategy. Such content is highly engaging, with viewers retaining
Should Your B2B Be On Instagram?
While Instagram is a perennially obvious choice for consumer-focused companies and influencers, B2Bs may be wondering whether the social channel holds any marketing benefit for
The Continued Rise of B2B Influencer Marketing
While influencer marketing has been big in the consumer world for a while, it’s also on the rise in B2B arenas. In either case, influencers
5 Things B2Bs Must Know for Better Media Relations
There is a common misconception about what media relations is and what it entails. While social posts, news releases, and blog posts are sources of
High Bounce Rate Got You Down? (And What to Do About It)
A bounce rate sounds like a happy thing, and a high bounce rate should be even more fun, like a kid jumping on a trampoline
“Five Bs” for Better Social Media Engagement
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last 15 years, you’re probably not surprised by this statement: Social media is firmly entrenched in
Hear Us Out: 7 Tips for Starting Your Own Podcast
While activity on some social platforms has reached a saturation point, podcasting continues to be on the rise. In 2021, there were 850,000 active podcasts,
The Role of Digital Automation in Reducing Demands on Healthcare Staff
I recently attended the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Digital Health Leadership Summit, which brought together experts to address some of the current challenges and
4 Reasons Why Your Digital-Marketing Campaign Didn’t Perform
In my line of work, I talk to a lot of potential clients about their marketing goals, and lead and revenue generation are almost always
What’s the Secret to Winning Business?
Carabiner video director Lisa Whitman has spent 30 years exploring the stories of people, companies, and brands. While working with clients, she’s learned two simple
What Is the Metaverse, and Does It Have a Role in Marketing?
The metaverse is being talked about everywhere, and it seems as though every Big Tech company wants to put down stakes in it, from Facebook
Carabiner #7 on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2022 List of Largest PR Firms
Pardon us as we toot our own horn! We’re pleased to announce our #7 ranking on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2022 list of largest Atlanta public
Why Credibility Marketing Is Right for Right Now (Part 2 of 2)
In part one of this post, we introduced the concept of credibility marketing. This is something that is becoming increasingly important as audiences are being
4 Ways to Reduce the Heartbreak of Customer Churn
Does it cost more to land a new customer or retain an existing one? While statistics show that the cost of customer acquisition can actually
Why Credibility Marketing Is Right for Right Now (Part 1 of 2)
When I talk with prospects, they’re typically trying to find ways to differentiate themselves and gain the attention of their audience. If I ask what
Creating a Social Media Content Strategy
Most B2B companies are on at least one social platform, but many are just not getting the results they want. They’re hearing about other businesses
5 Ways to Get the Most from Working with a Marketing Firm
As we head closer to 2022, many companies may be considering working with a marketing agency next year to make progress toward their visibility and
Giving Thanks with Thoughts of Gratitude
Some of the best memories are made around the Thanksgiving table with friends and family together. So, we asked our team at Carabiner to share
Improving Healthcare Outcomes and Lowering Costs Via Remote Patient Monitoring
The COVID-19 pandemic made especially clear the need for telehealth services that can be used to care for people outside of traditional healthcare settings, such
Venture Atlanta 2021 Offers Greater Diversity, Disruptive Solutions
It was a refreshing change for this year’s Venture Atlanta with a return to an in-person conference. After nearly 18 months of being apart, it
6 Tips for Making Your Virtual Conference More Engaging
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual conferences and events have become commonplace. And while they can never really take the place of in-person events,
Watch Our Webinar Replay: How to Build Better Business Opportunities on LinkedIn
Over the years, our agency has led corporate programs on how to optimize LinkedIn to grow your network and build more authentic relationships. We recently
Carabiner Communications Partners with the Plexus PR Group
We have some big news to share—Carabiner Communications has partnered with the Plexus PR Group, a prestigious international network of associated communications agencies! Our agency
How a Dumpster Truck Got Me Thinking About Website Effectiveness
Our basement recently flooded, leaving quite a mess and lots of household items ruined. We had some tossing out to do—so much so that I
5 Tips for Being a Stellar Podcast Guest
It’s estimated there are over 2 million podcasts with more than 48 million podcast episodes available as of this month. Podcast popularity is at an
The Ongoing Power of the Press Release
Not that long ago, press releases were considered by PR professionals to be passé, particularly in our digital times when news can be disseminated over
Why B2B Companies Need a Social Strategy
Social media use remains high as people continue to rely on it to connect with family, friends—and yes, brands. In fact, it’s extremely likely that
Getting Started with LinkedIn Advertising
While LinkedIn advertising can be costlier than other platforms, the results can be substantial. For instance, LinkedIn is 277 percent more effective than either Facebook
4 Resourceful Ways to Repurpose Content
No lie—marketers create a lot of content. But do you ever wonder if that great blog post you wrote gained traction with as many people
3 Tips for Giving Virtual Event Fatigue the Boot
The pandemic has brought with it many changes, including the temporary halting of in-person meetings due to social distancing requirements. While Zoom videoconferences and webinars
Clubhouse: The Next Big Thing for Virtual Networking
We’ve talked before about ways to use LinkedIn to grow your business connections online. However, there’s another social network you’ll probably be hearing more about.
Why Traditional PR Is Coming Back in Vogue
We are firmly planted in the digital age, with email, social channels, websites, and online advertising a mainstay of the marketer’s toolbox. It’s been this
How to “Kondo” Your Marketing: Declutter, Refresh, & Reenergize
Spring is the time when we think about starting off with a fresh, clean slate. This is why we’re revisiting one of our most popular
5 Steps for Planning a Paid Social Campaign
Paid social campaigns are a popular way to reach audiences in places where they are spending time online, such as on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
Why Buyer Personas Should Be at the Heart of Your Marketing Strategy
Marketers tend to think they know their prospects, but how well do they know them really? With the increasing role of marketing automation and a
Take Your Online Networking to the Next Level with LinkedIn
Trade shows and conferences are canceled for the foreseeable future. Networking groups have moved to Zoom. But you still have a powerful tool at your
Two Great “Gifts” for More Effective Marketing
As marketers, don’t we deserve a little something for ourselves under the tree this holiday? Give yourself a gift that can help you better reach
The Carabiner Holiday Luncheon Went Virtual This Year
It’s great to get together, even if it’s virtually. From our team to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Media Training: Not Just for CEOs Anymore
Traditionally, only C-level executives were put through the rigors of media training. After all, they’re the ones at the top of the food chain and
Venture Atlanta Engenders Spirit of Entrepreneurism, Even in All-Digital Format
I really appreciate that in the face of adversity, this year’s Venture Atlanta pivoted to become Venture Atlanta Live Online and delivered its first-ever, all-digital
Carabiner Is Now In Nashville
Big news! We recently opened our new Nashville satellite location and are excited to bring our full-spectrum marketing and PR services to this growing city.
Do You Know Your Get-It Score? Find Out—It’s Free
In this new video, agency lead Peter Baron talks about our Get-It Score assessment that helps determine how well your prospects “get you” in terms
5 Website Fails That Can Make Your Prospects Click Away
For B2B companies, having a website has long been an obvious requirement. But simply having a website is now no longer enough. The visitor experience
Out-of-the-Box Thinking: Why Creativity is Vital for Business
In the British town where I grew up, there’s a well-known story about how a young boy helped to get a double-decker bus unstuck from
Creating More Meaningful Interactions in a Virtual World
4 Ways to Create More Meaningful Online Interactions
These days, our business interactions have shifted almost exclusively to the digital environment. Here are 5 things you can do to make your online communications more meaningful.
A Message From Our Founder
If you’re a subscriber to our newsletter, you probably noticed that we put a pause on distribution over these last several months. Like pretty much
Introducing Our New Service: Two-Minute Vid
Do you want an engaging video for email or social channels, but aren’t quite sure what to say in it? Our new Two-Minute Vid service delivers a script written just for you that ensures your message sells.
How to Deal With Disrupted Sales
A lengthened sales cycle and restrictions on face-to-face meetings have dramatically impacted how salespeople get their jobs done. Here are 3 things to do now to adjust to selling in this time of social distancing.
TAG Summit 2020: Engage, Innovate, and Transform
Another successful TAG Summit is in the books. Find out who made this year’s list of the Top 10 Innovative Companies in Georgia, and learn about the trends and insights that caught our attention.
The Why and How of Analyst Relations
Should You Consider Working with an Industry Research Firm?
Technology B2Bs can benefit from working with industry analysts in several ways, but paid relationships can be expensive. How do you know if these relationships are right for you, and what are the best ways to get optimal results?
6 Tips for Building Better PowerPoint Presentations
When you create a PowerPoint presentation, you want your slide deck to be as professional looking and engaging as possible. After all, your brand and company image are in the spotlight. We’re sharing six easy tips to help your next presentation shine.
If You Don’t Have Video in Your 2020 Marketing Plan, You Might Be Missing Out
Did you know that video marketers get 66 percent more qualified leads per year? Still, many businesses are concerned that video production falls outside their budget. While it’s true that professional videos can be costlier than static content, they can also be more affordable than you might think.
How to “Kondo” Your Marketing: Declutter, Refresh & Reenergize
What do New Year’s and spring have in common? They’re both times when we think about starting off with a fresh, clean slate. This is why we’re revisiting one of our most popular posts from earlier this year, which relies on wisdom from organizing consultant Marie Kondo to help marketers re-energize their marketing toolbox. Good reading before the new year.
Millennial Marketing: 4 Tips for Engaging Our Most Connected Generation
There’s a reason Millennials are nicknamed the “Selfie Generation” and the “Always-On Generation.” They’re by far the most digitally connected group our nation has ever experienced. As marketers, how do you reach and engage them? Read our blog to find out.
I am thankful for…
This time of year is when we reflect on the things for which we’re most thankful. Learn what our team members are grateful for this
Join Carabiner’s Thanksgiving Table
Our very own Peter Baron shared his favorite Thanksgiving dish, turkey. Our team has pulled together a complete meal so add these ingredients to your
Happy Thanksgiving from the Carabiner Team
From our team to you, we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! Hear from Carabiner’s own Peter Baron. Click to watch what he has to say in our latest video.
5 Tips for Getting More from LinkedIn
If you’re a business executive—or a part of any kind of business—having a LinkedIn profile is basically a requirement, and it should be. The social
12th Annual Venture Atlanta Offers New, Different Perspectives
Another Venture Atlanta is in the books! This year was filled with new, exciting perspectives and further solidified Venture Atlanta as the Southeast’s premier investor showcase. Check out our key takeaways from this year’s sell-out event.
5 Tips for Better Social Networking
Do you find networking with a room full of strangers to be nerve racking? You’re not alone. So how do you relax and make successful connections? Check out our 5 tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your networking events.
Future Watch: 5 Trends That Will Impact How We Do Business
Our firm is celebrating its 15th year in operation this month! In honor of this milestone, we can’t help but think of the future. Check out our latest blog highlighting 5 trends that will impact how we do business and how we market products and services in the coming months and years.
Carabiner Communications Celebrates 15 Years: An Infographic
In celebration of our 15th anniversary, join us as we take a trip down memory lane. Check out our infographic to see the tech milestones and pop culture events that took place the year our agency was born.
6 Tips for Better Email Marketing
Email marketers are in constant competition for subscribers’ time and attention. How do you break through the noise? We’ll give you a hint: it’s time to get personal. Read our blog to learn more about the golden rule and 6 email best practices to ensure your messages get the attention you want.
Why “Doing Good” Is Good for Business
There’s no end to the things companies can do to make a positive social impact. But where do you begin? For most, it’s as simple as integrating social responsibility practices in your organization. Find out how you can get started with our three quick tips.
Why You Should Care About Social Selling
Social selling should be a critical part of your sales process these days. And, if you aren’t social selling, chances are you’re leaving money on the table. Read to learn more about social selling and how it fits into your overall strategy.
4 Things to Know About the Niche World of Medical Device Marketing
When marketing medtech solutions – and medical devices in particular – it’s important to consider key factors that can be more of a challenge than marketing other types of technology products and services. Read to find out the four things you need to know about the niche world of medical device marketing.
Email + Social = The New BFFs
Email vs. Social—which one is more important and will generate the most revenue? The short answer, both! It’s no longer a question of which one to use, but how to use them together effectively. Find out how you can combine them to generate brand awareness and build customer relationships.
Bad Reviews, Layoffs, Data Breaches: A Crisis Communications Checklist for Marketers [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Roses are red. Violets are blue. Do you know what to do when a crisis finds you?
By definition, a crisis is a time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger. Often, it’s also when a difficult or important decision must be made, and made quickly. Intense, right?
Introducing Our Newest Offering: Video
At Carabiner, we’re always striving to deliver the most effective tools to help our clients boost their marketing and sales results. We’re pleased to announce that we now offer full-service video strategy and production.
How to “Kondo” Your Marketing: Declutter, Refresh & Reenergize
Tidying expert Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, Netflix star and author, developed the KonMari Method™, a way to transform your home by gathering possessions by category and keeping only those items that “spark joy.” Kondo’s advice is taking the world by storm. But what does all this have to do with marketing?
Dear Customer: Will You be Mine?
Have your marketing automation practices hit a rough patch with your customers? Are you having a hard time breaking through with your messages? How did we get to this digital marketing plateau, and more importantly, what can you do about it?
Infographic: A Road Trip Mapping the Last 14 Years of Storytelling
Storytelling is integral to the success of delivering marketers’ messages. Carabiner takes a look back at the last 14 years to see how B2B marketing has changed and how we consume information has evolved.
Wireless Pundits Cover What’s Hot
Atlanta’s Wireless Technology Forum held its annual analyst event in mid-November. Four experts were on hand to share emerging trends, disruptive forces and the latest innovations in mobility.
Gratitude
Fall has finally arrived—no small feat in the Southeast! Our founder and principal Peter Baron reflects on all the things in his life he is thankful for. We hope his list inspires you to pinpoint the things in your life that you appreciate.
Venture Atlanta 2018 Connects, Energizes the Tech Startup Scene
Venture Atlanta 2018 broke attendance records with over 1,000 attendees — and more than 250 investors from over 160 funds nationwide. Here’s our take on the eleventh annual conference and why we’re already looking forward to Venture Atlanta 2019.
The State of StartupsSM in the Southeast Report is Out!
We’re excited to share the results of our client, BIP Capital’s, The State of StartupsSM in the Southeast report. The report’s purpose is to deliver a comprehensive overview of the venture capital and startup ecosystem in this region.
Get Ready for Venture Atlanta 2018!
Venture Atlanta, the Southeast’s premier venture conference, is where the region’s most promising tech companies meet the country’s top-tier investors. Now in its 11th year as the region’s largest investor showcase, the conference takes place October 16 – 17 at the Southern Exchange in Atlanta. Read why we’re pretty excited about this year.
Building Trust in a Skeptical World
Companies today are faced with the ever-growing challenge of gaining buyer trust. With a digital environment filled with scams, credit card fraud, trolls and bots, consumers have reason to be skeptical. What does this mean for brands trying to gain trust?
Is the Marketing Pendulum Swinging? (Part 2 of 2)
In Part One of this series, we looked at the rise and possibly the decline of email marketing due to the sheer overload of business emails currently being sent and received each day. Is one quaint tactic – which gives marketers the ability to stand out from the competition – making a comeback?
Is the Marketing Pendulum Swinging? (Part I of 2)
According to a survey of 244 marketers, 45 percent of respondents said email was one of the most effective online tactics for lead generation. But, with the average office worker receiving more than 120 emails a day, has email marketing plateaued? Is the marketing pendulum swinging away from email, and its total reliance on hard data?
Former ATDC GM to Help the Coastal Empire Grow to the Next Level
In 2015, I published a Q&A with Jennifer Bonnett, the founder and Chief Chick for the women’s entrepreneurial organization StartupChicks, and the ATDC acting general manager at the time (she went on to become ATDC’s general manager). In May of this year, she was named vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA). We know she will be a huge benefit to the entrepreneurial community in Savannah and we wish her all the best in her new endeavor! The following originally appeared in a blog post for Venture Atlanta.
Lunch + Learn: How to Build Your Brand and Grow Your Business
Join us at Thrive Coworking space in downtown Alpharetta on May 15 from 12 – 1:30 PM for a catered Lunch + Learn as PR experts Peter Baron and Kathy Berardi cover how to build your company’s brand. Please RSVP by May 14.
How Disruptive Is Blockchain in B2B & Beyond?: A Panel Discussion with the Pros
In speaking with top professionals across B2B and B2C, we came to discover just how disruptive blockchain is quickly becoming. Read on to learn firsthand how these professionals predict entire industries will shift from healthcare to supply chain.
The Value of Brand Ahead of a Company Sale
Our firm’s founder Peter Baron speaks with Evelyn Ashley and John Monahon, hosts of the podcast show “In Process: Conversations about Business in the 21st Century,” about what company leaders need to consider from a marketing and branding standpoint prior to a potential sale.
Tech Innovation From the Peach State: How ‘Bout Them Apples?
Here’s what our Founder Peter Baron took away from The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Summit 2018, held last week in Atlanta – where innovation hasn’t stopping growing.
Micro-Influencer Marketing in Healthcare
Healthcare marketing can be a challenge when gatekeepers surround decision makers. Read how we helped a healthcare client leverage a micro-influencer strategy to amplify a CEO’s voice and build trust.
Five Signs It’s Time for a Rebrand
Whether your company is young or well established, sometimes events change. Perhaps your customer needs have evolved, or your service offering has changed. Here are five signs it’s time for a rebrand.
Seven Ways to Grow Customer Love
Complacency is a killer in any relationship. Here are a few suggestions on how you can turn up the heat to transform your “average” customer relationship into everlasting love.
2017 Tech Gift Guide: Get Your Geek On
Our 2017 tech gift guide and personal favorites of our founder, principal and chief geek, Peter Baron.
We’re Checking It Twice: 2018 Checklist for Marketers
As marketers are making plans for 2018, here are some of the important programs we think they should consider combining to their core campaign elements to get the most impact on lead generation in the coming year.
Bring Something New to the Table
If you’re looking to bring something new to the table this Thanksgiving, try one ― or all ― of these recipes from our team members. We know you’ll like them enough to share with your friends and family, too. Enjoy!
How PR Helps Build Trust
A harsh reality for today’s CMOs is lack of public trust in most brands, and it’s infiltrating into many of their organizations’ marketing channels. Fake news. Digital ad fraud. Brand safety. Data breaches. The list goes on and on. Proven public relations tactics adapted for the digital world can be your biggest ally in winning trust — and achieving credibility — for your products or services.
The (Unrequited) Love Affair Between PR and Sales
It’s the same old love song popularized by Janet Jackson in 1986: “What have you done for me lately?” Sometimes it feels to those in the PR world that they’re consistently trying to prove value in a monetary, quantitative way. But because they’re in the business of credibility and trust – they are balancing two things that cannot be directly measured with a solid line to sales growth. Or can they?
10 Years of Venture Atlanta. What a Ride!
With a decade of Venture Atlanta behind us, we reflect on another amazing event that took place last week. Venture Atlanta has witnessed so much in the last 10 years including helping secure over $2 billion in funding awarded to date and it’s been thrilling to watch Venture Atlanta grow, tech companies thrive and the Southeast rise in national startup status. Read our summary of some key highlights and observations from the two-day event.
It’s Here! BIP Capital’s State of the Industry Report
We were so excited to see the results of our client, BIP Capital’s, The State of Startups in the Southeast™ report. This report delivers a comprehensive overview of the venture capital and startup ecosystem in the southeastern United States.
The B2B Buying Disconnect: What Buyers Trust, and Don’t
Trust is of higher importance for your brand than ever before. It has become increasingly difficult to answer the question, “who can you trust?” We share three sources of information that still hold a strong sway over buyers.
Merging High Tech with High Touch
A recent McKinsey study suggests that 45 percent of knowledge work activity can be automated – a startling statistic for those of us with knowledge-based careers. How can marketers stay ahead of the automation trend? Here are four ways you can leverage your human strengths to get better results for yourself and your organization.
What B2B Can Learn from B2C
B2B marketers must adapt to the changing ways their target customers interact in the online world. To help, we offer B2B PR pros three best practices from their B2C counterparts that reflect the changing ways businesses make their purchasing decisions.
Infographic: Highlights from the Last Dozen B2B Storytelling Years
What are the big communications trends over the last 12 years? Our newest installment of the B2B Storytelling Infographic picks up in 2014 and shows the trends that shaped corporate communications, and what lies ahead for 2017.
In the Exit Game, Support the Brand Promise
Peter Baron, founder and principal of Carabiner Communications, speaks with Evelyn Ashley and John Monahon of Trusted Counsel about the importance of a brand promise, and how to deliver on it.
In the Exit Game, Brand Reputation Matters
Segment 3 of In Process podcast about PR and marketing considerations before selling a business. Peter Baron, founder and principal of Carabiner Communications, speaks with Evelyn Ashley and John Monahon of Trusted Counsel about the significance of brand reputation at the time of sale.
In the Exit Game, Don’t Bench the Promoters
Segment 2 of In Process podcast about PR and marketing considerations before selling a business. Evelyn Ashley and John Monahon of Trusted Counsel interview Peter Baron, Founder and Principal of Carabiner Communications, about the importance of not leaving the PR and marketing teams on the bleachers when an exit is being planned.
In the Exit Game, Don’t Forget About Branding
Peter Baron, founder and principal of Carabiner Communications, speaks with Evelyn Ashley and John Monahon of Trusted Counsel about the role of brand equity when considering a business exit.
Put Social Selling to Work
Learn how to put social selling and content marketing to work for your business, making your social network a driving force behind bringing leads through the sales pipeline.
Goofy Goggles, and a Strange Finnish Word
The 2016 ATDC Startup Showcase reinforced that with each generation of technology, we seem to be getting closer to sales and marketing solutions that are easy to implement, available to smaller companies and quicker to generate results.
Driving with an Eye to the Future
As technology drives us ahead, Peter Baron provides advice to the marketing strategist on embracing new ideas and keeping an eye towards the future, considering both sides of the coin and the tech impact on long-range plans for business.
Are You Ready for the New Year? Top Trends Shaping Your Marketing in 2016.
With 2015 quickly winding down, we have taken a look at what’s in store for marketers as we move into next year. We turned to some of our favorite reads for insight into the trends that will shape your marketing in 2016.
One Chief Chick: Q&A with ATDC’s Jennifer Bonnett, Founder of StartupChicks
I recently sat down with technology entrepreneur and ATDC’s acting general manager, Jennifer Bonnett, to learn what it’s been like to grow her career from software developer to CTO to startup community catalyst, and more.
Modern Marketing Needs Modern Sales
Are you embracing a modern marketing approach while your sales team struggles to keep up? It’s important for marketing and sales to align around how they communicate with leads. Consistent communications that help prospects solve their problems will win more often than not. Here’s how to modernize your sales team to support pragmatic marketing efforts.
Buyers Are Moving Out of the Traditional Sales Funnel—How You Can Still Reach Them with the Right Content at The Right Time
The traditional buying cycle is no longer a linear process. Online marketing content has empowered buyers to take a DIY approach to researching and evaluating products without interacting with sales until later stages of the buy cycle. By properly predicting what your prospect wants, and how they desire to interact with online content, it’s still very possible to reach them.
Three Ways to Use Video This Holiday Season
The holidays are an ideal time for communicating your gratitude or well wishes for a joyful season to your clients, partners, prospects and other key audience members. Using video is a sure way to emotionally resonate with your target audience. Here are three quick-start ideas on how to use video in your holiday communications.
Eight Things to Know About Your Prospects
Today, marketers are digging deeper into understanding their buyers by learning more than what’s on the surface. Identifying characteristics beyond a simple profile can give you insights that can ultimately sharpen marketing messages, streamline your selling process, and optimize your marketing dollars so efforts aren’t wasted on selling the wrong message to the wrong audience.
What’s Your Go-To Lead Source?
Marketing automation and CRM solutions provide insightful metrics, however, it’s important for you not to rely solely on these numbers when it comes to your lead generation program. Why it’s critical for you to understand your lead sources well, including both the quantity and quality of leads.
Three Golden Rules for Effective Content Marketing
These days, we know that content is essential for building your business. But what kind of content should you create? Infographics or web-based video? Case studies or white papers? Which work best?
Active Learning, Local Involvement, and Beer: Q&A with Entrepreneur, VC Bill Jones
In the 30 years that I’ve worked in the tech and life science sectors in Atlanta, I’ve met some really smart people. In my “B2B Visions” series of posts, I am taking the opportunity to introduce you to some of them. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing a conversation I had with Bill Jones of local VC firm, TechOperators.
Lead Gen & Video Marketing: The Top Three Questions B2Bs Should Be Asking
In my discussions with marketers about their content plans and lead generation strategies, I find that many ask generalities about the video production process, yet don’t inquire about the actual role of video in the B2B sales and marketing food chain. Here are the top three questions marketers should be asking of themselves, their teams and their video marketing specialist in order to develop content with impact.
Don’t Pooh-Pooh Podcasts Just Yet
Podcasting has been around for more than a decade, but it just hasn’t caught the same explosive fire as Facebook or Twitter. However, the podcast’s time may have finally come. If your B2B brand has been ignoring the podcast as a viable content marketing tool, it might be time to reconsider.
Do You Have a Lead Guide?
Have you ever gone on a hike and lost your way? The best way to avoid getting lost is to have a guide. A guide could be a simple map or it may include a person who’s intimately familiar with the territory. The same is true when you align your marketing and sales teams around a lead management program. If marketing and sales get lost, it becomes quite scary for everyone.
The Most Bang for Your Buck: Create Fireworks with a Strategic, Integrated Marketing Mix
Nothing says Fourth of July like fireworks, especially those large-scale displays at theme parks and shopping malls. If you pay close attention to such displays, you’ll notice that you’re not seeing just one type of pyrotechnic, but a multitude integrated together for maximum impact. Like pyrotechnicians, marketers increasingly understand that just one form of outreach is no longer adequate for fully grabbing the attention of busy buyers these days.
Four Marketing Lessons from Television’s “Golden Age”
When I immigrated to the United States from the United Kingdom 34 years ago, I quickly realized that while we share some things in common culturally, in reality, a common language separates us! One of the first differences I noticed, and that still persists today, is how many American pop culture references—from television, movies and sports—creep into business conversation.
5 Tips to Produce Interview-Style Videos Like a Pro
Year over year, use of video among B2B U.S. companies is steadily climbing. The 2015 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends survey found that 76 percent of B2B companies in North America are using video, compared to 63 percent the year before. Clearly, savvy marketers are incorporating video into the marketing mix and reaping the benefits. But it’s not always easy to get it right.
My Name is Marketing, and I’ll Be Your Server
When you dine at restaurants, good servers will converse with you to learn more about your tastes so they can recommend dishes that appeal to you. Unless you are a regular customer, it’s unlikely that they know enough about what you like to provide you with a tailored recommendation. Fortunately, B2B marketing and sales representatives don’t have this problem.
Social Media and SEO Go Together Like Peas and Carrots
Since the first of the year, I’ve been fortunate to be part of teams launching several new B2B brands. While our clients were familiar with the need to optimize their new websites for search, they were surprised to learn that SEO was equally important within their social media channels. For new brands entering an already competitive marketplace, SEO is vitally important.
Keep Marketing Momentum Going In Between the “Big Stuff”
We all have them—those periodic major announcements that give us something to really blow our horns about. But what do you talk about in the lull between the “big stuff” like new product launches, key customer wins or industry partnerships? To augment those major announcements you have a time or two each year, it’s important to generate a secondary, regular flow of interesting content to keep your marketing momentum going in between.
B2B Video Doesn’t Have 2B Boring
I recently saw a fantastic infographic that illustrates how video is becoming an exploding medium for b2b marketers in 2015. With dramatic statistics—like 70 percent of b2b marketers are starting to use video, and 58 percent of them describe their previous experience in video marketing as successful—it’s clear more b2bs will soon be going “in front of the camera” to reach their customer audiences.
Integrated Content Campaigns Can Help Your Customers Find You
Do you remember playing hide ’n’ seek or catch ’n’ kiss when you were a kid? If you really wanted to get caught, you’d make it easy for your friends or that cute girl or boy to find you, right? Now that you’re a sales or marketing whiz, don’t you wish your customers could find you as easily?
Overcoming Sales Obstacles
Sales development representatives (SDRs) face challenges every day to connect with prospects and convince them to take some type of action. Actions can include viewing
Salesforce’s State of Marketing Report Delivers Key Insights, Recommendations for 2015
Earlier this year, Salesforce released its 2015 State of Marketing Report that delivers marketing insights from over 5,000 global marketers. The comprehensive report is a
…And What About Google+
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve conducted a number of competitive social media audits for clients, and the single, most-asked question in our strategy
A “TIP” for Keeping Your Video Resolutions in 2015
Today, we’re featuring a guest blog from Kathy Berardi of Red Clip Video, a strategic multi-media services partner to Carabiner. If you’re focused on incorporating video into your marketing
B2B Visions: Fuel Mobile Marketing through the Power of Where
In my earlier blog post, “Warming Up for 2015,” I talked about focusing on what you do best and leveraging resources to help you succeed
Sales-Driven Marketing
How does marketing come up with all of those creative campaigns that deliver compelling content that resonates with prospects? Do marketing professionals develop these ideas
Creating and Enhancing Customer Loyalty in 2015
No matter the type of business, there is a universal need for customer loyalty. Most sources, in fact, estimate that it costs between four and
Happy Holidays from Carabiner Communications!
Happy Holidays from everyone at Carabiner Communications. We hope your holidays will be filled with joy and laughter through the New Year.
Warming Up for 2015
It’s the time of year when people like me dust off their crystal balls, peer in for a look at what lies ahead, and share
This Year B2B Buyers Increasingly Relied on Social Media. So What’s Your Plan for 2015?
As social networks have become more entrenched in business-to-business (B2B) communications and have garnered more widespread acceptance as viable marketing channels, has your company developed
Why Every Brand Needs a Story that Pops
Today, Kathy Cabrera from Red Clip Video shares a video interview she conducted with iconic Hollywood storyteller Richard Walter, chair of the UCLA MFA Screenwriting program. In the
Scrapping Strategic Tactics in Favor of Tactical Strategy
In a previous post, I suggested that the nature of “messaging” has changed so dramatically that the traditional messaging document, chock full of pre-launch analysis,
Key B2B Marketing Takeaways From Coke’s CMO Replacement
What does Coca-Cola replacing its CMO have to do with B2B marketing? Based on just the headline, you could conclude that this news is irrelevant
Planning Your 2015 Content Marketing Strategy
A funny thing happened recently when I was attending one of my son’s baseball games. My husband was out-of-town due to work, so I decided
This Ain’t Your Mama’s Meme: How B2B Marketers Can Successfully Tap into this Trend
As B2B companies continue to look for ways to stay relevant and top of mind amid the sea of information and content being generated daily,
Smart Video Marketing at B2B Trade Shows
Today, we’re featuring a guest blog from Kathy Cabrera of Red Clip Video, a strategic multi-media services partner to Carabiner. Kathy shares her insights on smart video
Developing Content that Converts
Why does that white paper you spent hours and hours developing not resonate with your prospects? How come that video you produced yielded so few