Merlin Francis

2012 is almost here and as I prepare myself to celebrate the holiday season with my family and friends, I can’t help but think of all the things I would like to achieve in the coming year. I think most B2B marketers would agree that for us, it feels like…

We all know that marketing is critical to our business success, because it helps us showcase our offerings to the world in a way that it is enticing. Enticing enough for them to trust our story and invest in us.   But have you ever wondered, where does the process…

The B2B buying process has undergone a sea change in the last decade or so. Access to product information, customer feedbacks, industry opinions etc. has made it easier to research on a company and how well its offering fit the requirements of the buyer.   However, the overload of information…

Recently, I watched this TED video by Eli Pariser where he warns people about the long term implications of Internet's 'Filter Bubbles' and how personalized search on the Internet might be narrowing our worldview.   Pariser presents a strong case of how we get trapped in a 'Filter Bubble' and don’t…

If I were to ask you - name the most important marketing asset of your company, how would you reply?   Website?   Blog?   Facebook page?   Would you be surprised if I  say, your Company's most important marketing assets are its employees.   Maybe not, isn't it true,…

Valentine's day is round the corner and the season of expressing love is right here. Everyone wants to be loved, you, me, brands, companies, employees, buyers, vendors, just about anyone and everyone you can think of. But the point is can you make someone fall in love with you, your…

Recently I had been on a short vacation to the Western Indian State of Goa. Known for its beautiful beaches, seafood and hippie culture, Goa is very popular with International tourists.   Every year thousands of tourists from all over the World visit Goa during October and Feb. Around the…

Top 5 Questions to Guide You in Content Development for Online Marketing   The online content marketing space is mostly under-estimated and frequently under-utilized. Online content marketing is not just about making a decision to adopt a new approach to promote a business. It is about strategizing the approach in…

Every company which has marketing and sales departments has at some point, witnessed the famous - sales and marketing fight and blame game - more commonly known as the sales and marketing mis-alignment.   If we look closely one of the most significant reasons for this sales and marketing divide…

The last two years have not been great for the Public Relations industry Worldwide. Considered a ‘frill’ addition for business, public relations agencies, had to face a lot of hardships in the name of recession, from fee cuts to contract pre-closures to working for a non-fee just to retain the…