Monday, August 12, 2013

Are Our Metrics Focusing on the Right Things?



It seems like every other email newsletter I receive has articles regarding metrics about social, mobile, engagement, likes, content views, GRP’s and the like.  And I’m not disputing the point of each of these are important in their own universe…. And if you can connect them, all the better.

However, let’s go back to the fundamental reason for marketing.
“All marketing investments, across ALL areas/functions/businesses, etc. is to do one thing…SELL”
     
If the above weren’t true, why would the board of directors, management and shareholders agree to marketing budgets?  Marketing is a fundamental investment with both short and long-term financial goals.  Short-term – sell product immediately, drive leads for sales, increase eCommerce traffic…. Long-term – build the brand, create advocates for the brand, drive high value leads, increase price, etc.

Which brings me to my concern…it seems to me we’ve taken our eye off the ball on the metrics which truly matter and support the reason for marketing investments.  So what top-level investment metrics should we regain focus on?  My key ones include:       
1.  Incremental Gross/Net Revenue per total marketing dollars spent
2.  Customer Acquisition Cost
3.   Both #1 and #2 but revenue per marketing employee
4.  Customer Cross Sell Ratio
5.       Recency/Frequency/Monetary Value customer model – check out Don Libey’s extensive research on this model
6.       Customer Satisfaction Levels – get down to specific detail items you’re working on and track them consistently
7.       Customer Lifetime Value
8.       Marketing Investment Payback Time
9.       Customer Attrition Rate
10.   Customer Segmentation Model and Marketing Investment

Certainly, I have additional ones I could list, but keeping things simple--the above 10 help focus your investments, strategy and executions on the things which matter.  In addition, when the boss calls you in the office, you speak management language vs. the marketing babble.


Scott

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