5 Essential Marketing Metrics You Need to be Watching

Creating and executing a good online marketing plan is only the beginning of the process. Once you have the plan in place, you need to monitor essential metrics to determine what kinds of changes will need to be made to improve the plan. This will allow you to improve your current marketing plan's effectiveness and create better marketing programs in the future.

Engagement

For websites such as Entrepreneur.com , which offer a great deal of information, engagement is a very important metric. For a website, engagement is measured in how long users stay on your site and how many pages they look at. If you have users looking at several pages for long periods of time, then your material is effective. If users are bouncing around various pages and leaving after a few seconds, then you need to improve your content.

Repeat Traffic

This is a marketing metric that can be applied to online and offline plans. It is simply the measure of how often people come back to your site, or your business, and engage the features you have to offer. For a website owner, this would be measured in visitors that come back often and spend time on the site. For a retail business owner, this would be how often people return to the store to purchase products.

Cost Per Lead

The marketing experts at a website such as DentalMarketing.net place a premium on maximizing the cost per lead for their clients. If a company is spending $10,000 per month and getting 100 leads, then the cost per lead is $100 each. The goal is to lower that cost per lead while still getting quality prospects.

Focus

In marketing, focus means that the plan is getting consumers to react in a way that is consistent with the plan's intentions. If a shoe company puts together a marketing plan to sell its latest basketball shoe, but tennis shoe sales go up instead, then the plan needs to be re-examined and re-worked.

Conversion

What is your marketing plan trying to do? Are you trying to get people to sign up for a newsletter? If so, then you need to compare the traffic you get to the number of people who register. The higher your conversion rate, the more successful your campaign will be.

Make no mistake about it. The days of the CMO who is not fluent in metrics, analytics and spreadsheets are long gone by. The internet has made it relatively simple to measure metrics and if you aren’t measuring your marketing metrics, the competition will pass you by, leaving you in the dust. Remember, it’s vital that these marketing metrics are measured every day. In order to get the most out of your metrics, you need to have projections in place that can be compared to actual results. That will let you know how well your marketing plan is actually working.

The Benefits of Expat Health Insurance: Why not Having a Policy in Place Could Spell Disaster for you and your Family

Expatriate medical insurance is a must for people that live or work abroad. It ensures that no matter how basic or expensive your local medical facilities are, you can still expect to receive world-class treatment regardless of your location.

When you move abroad, you are rarely given access to free medical treatment from the relevant government and healthcare system, which means that you need to fund your own. The standard of healthcare may be poorer than what you have come to expect from your own country, even if you are given full or partial access to it.

Potential problems upon returning

Expat health insurance is designed to address all these concerns. Recently, more and more people have chosen to invest in expat insurance to cover them for their return to the UK too. This is because you’re likely to be classed as a non-resident by the NHS once you have been away for a certain period of time. If you have a medical problem once you return to the UK, you may be handed a bill for any treatment.

The government has recently brought in a series of strict guidelines around free NHS treatment in a bid to eradicate the problem of ‘health tourism’ – a trend involving non-residents heading to the UK for free medical care. This means that those regarded as former or non-residents may now find it harder than ever to secure free healthcare after a spell away – especially if they are not declaring the UK to be their permanent home.

International cover

However, some expatriate health insurance ceases to apply when a person re-enters the country, essentially placing them in no-man’s land. For this reason it’s advisable to invest in an international healthcare plan which remains in place no matter where you are in the world – including the UK.

Some countries don’t offer a public medical service or an equivalent to the NHS at all. More and more people worldwide are therefore investing in health insurance policies to cover them. Many countries that do have a free or subsidised medical service in place are finding it harder and harder to deliver the service that is needed.

Access to world-class hospitals

Some countries have various health risks attached to them and can be so dangerous to visit that not investing in the relevant insurance is virtually unthinkable. An international private medical insurance can grant you access to a well-facilitated hospital with the standard of care that you will have become accustomed to.

Some people take risks by not signing up for international health insurance only to find themselves faced with a costly medical emergency whilst they are away – that they may simply not be able to pay for. This explains why the insurance is so valuable even if the chances of you needing treatment are low.

The old adage that ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’ is particularly true when it comes to international medical insurance, so make sure you talk to a dedicated broker such as expatriatehealthcare.com first before making the move abroad. If you aren’t covered by expat medical insurance but find that you need it, the results could be catastrophic or even fatal.

AUTHOR BIO: Nick Manfield is a freelance writer specialising in insurance. He’s lived abroad for several years and blogs frequently on the expat experience. In his research for this piece, he visited several websites, including http://www.expatriatehealthcare.com/

Aftermarket Insurance: The Low Down

Insurance companies, just like everybody else, are always looking to save money. Whenever we have to make repairs, we have the choice of choosing generic or aftermarket products instead of purchasing parts and spares made by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). OEM parts are generally more expensive.

However, before making such a decision, which will probably be made for purely short term gains, you should check if the insurance coverage in the car’s insurance policy will change. In the event that either you or your mechanics choose to install aftermarket parts or spares, you should notify your insurer, else there is a large chance of the coverage changing on discovery of such changes. Insurance companies do not have to insure after markets or can choose not to insure them, hence they prefer it, as it means they save money.

Of course, there are plenty of very high standard aftermarket parts which can be found which are actually better parts to use in cars. In case the car is pretty old, then there is no choice but to use aftermarket parts so when purchasing used cars from car dealers in St. Louis, make sure you check the parts and see how many of them you will have to change or repair.. Tom Torbjonsen who hosts America’s Car Show says that eighty percent of auto body shops use aftermarket parts. The only problem is consistency, aftermarket parts are sometimes at par with OEM spares, sometimes better and sometimes worse but they can generally be found faster than OEM spares.

It is also correct that aftermarket parts save owners a significant amount of money. The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies has said that in 2012, aftermarket parts cost 26 to 50 percent less than OEM parts. This difference saves car owners between $1.5 billion to $2.4 billion each year. 

Types of Coverage Available

Let us discuss some of the basic terms of coverage that are available to car owners. There are usually four broad categories of insurance and they are listed below:

• Bodily Injury (BI) Liability: This sort of coverage pays for medical and legal expenses and judgments going against you where there is an accident that you yourself are responsible for and there has been injury or death of another in the accident. 
• Property Damage (PD) Liability: In case your car causes damage to the property of other people, this coverage covers the damages that the vehicle causes. This is limited to only property though and such property generally means other cars or someone’s yard, fence, house, etc.. 
• Collision: This covers the damage to your vehicle from a collision regardless of the person responsible for the collision. This sort of insurance comes with an out-of-pocket deductible before coverage kicks in. 
• Comprehensive Physical Damage: In case hail, fire, brimstone, theft or vandalism leaves your car damage, then this is the insurance that appears as the night in shining armor. Deductibles also apply for this form of insurance and the insurance payout will be limited to the value of the car before the damage was sustained. 

In almost every state in the United States, licensed drivers are guided by mandate to have auto insurance and liability insurance. There are other types of optional packages such as Medical Payments Insurance that cover the medical bills of you and your fellow passengers after an accident regardless of who’s at fault.

Another of the optional packages is the coverage of aftermarket and performance part called Custom Parts and Equipment (CPE) policy. Therefore, after purchasing a car from a used car dealer in St. Louis, it would be advisable to opt for this sort of insurance package. People who have comprehensive auto insurance or collision insurance are generally provided around $1000 in coverage under CPE. Aftermarket parts are defined by such packages as permanent part that improve the look and the performance of the vehicles but they aren’t installed by the manufacturer themselves.

Bio:
Nick Jones is an automotive journalist who has been writing about cars and whatever they entail for the past twenty years. Being an avid fan of the world of aftermarket upgrades himself, Nick has always been following the insurance packages that go along with aftermarket parts and also on any special offers offered by car dealers in St. Louis and around the area.

Questions to Ask When Shopping Auto Insurance

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Insurance is a complicated matter. As a consumer you need to be meticulous enough and clever in choosing the best auto insurance to save your money, effort and time. It’s much reliable to meet an insurance agent for you to discuss stuffs well than comprehending the written agreement on your own. It is necessary for you to sustain questions when shopping auto insurance to have the best guarantee that actually meet your needs as well. Not by far, auto insurances right now are widespread there are some who provide a low coverage rate while some offers higher percentage but the service is on high-class base too. Auto supply insurances offer the same services but there are specializations of assistance that are involved for them to catch more clients. They allocate some duties that are really trustworthy while some are just damping the consumer’s money in their pockets but doing nothing, you must also avoid Auto insurance scams.

Auto insurance agents will not give you coverage of all the details about their services unless you will ask questions, they will not offer you discounts or low rates if you only let your mouth open and hang without getting information’s. It’s a wiser choice if you prepare some list of questions before choosing and purchasing auto insurances. Knowing the answers ahead of time gives you the best deal. Consumers who meet their agents for deliberation usually receive better services.

Here are lists of questions that we would like to impart with you;

1. What are the discounts that are qualify for you?

Features in your automobile are given a primary importance, for your auto insurers to give the best credit and discounts that is suitable for you. These features are; anti-theft device, car alarm, and air bags.

2. How much your premiums will be?

You need to find out the exact premium best ensemble for you, what determined your premium is your age, the type of your automobile, and your address. Take note, if you pay lump sum, insurer will give you lower discount than monthly payments.

3. Does your policy cover original manufacturer parts?

Some parts of your automobile is not guaranteed original from the manufacturer, there are some instances that parts of your auto are not original often some are aftermarket parts only.

4. Are you getting all the discounts that your auto insurer offers?

You can get all auto insurance discounts if you meet these requirements;

• +If your car is Eco friendly
• +If you are a member of professional organization
• +If you don’t drive long distance
• +If you are other committed other insurance policy with the same company
• +If you are graduate of college
• +If you park on garage

5. Do you have collision Coverage?

It is a coverage regarding payments for hazard effect to your vehicle due to accident

6. Do you have comprehensive Coverage?

It is a coverage base on Natural phenomena (floods, tree bragging, earthquake etc.) as well as theft.

7. How much your insurance company will pay to cover the loss for your totaled Vehicle?

This is about the depreciation value of your car. You need to ask queries about what is the exact amount will you get if your car depreciates.

8. How much liability insurance car do you need?

The value of the asset you are protecting provokes the liability insurance that you need.

9. How car insurance Works?

You need to know the role of car insurance companies, in what way they can work for you, and what kind of service they may render on your behalf. More about auto insurance news you can visit autoclap.com.

What Sets Business To Business Marketing Apart

Marketing to business customers can shorten the time it takes for a company to reach its sales goals. One business to business (B2B) sale could yield a company $100,000. Those revenues generally come if a company sells products in volume or if a company sells its products at a top dollar price. Yet, just as it is with business to customer (B2C) sales, companies won't generate enough sales to get or keep their bottom line in the black until enough customers become aware of them.

In addition to being aware of a company, customers need to "trust" a company before they purchase a product or service. Door to door sales and other direct sales steps like cold calling are options open to companies that are looking to land more business customers. However, these B2B marketing solutions take time, not exactly what some businesses, particularly small businesses that are led by solopreneurs have lots of. Advanced digital solutions may be these entrepreneurs best choice.

Advantages companies gain with digital B2B marketing solutions include email marketing, event management, website visitor tracking, campaign management, social marketing, including social publishing and social profiles. The challenge comes in when companies have to actually sit down and choose one or more B2B marketing solutions.

Points to consider when reviewing the marketing programs are whether or not companies that sell the programs offer training to companies that buy the software from them. The complexity level of the programs is another factor to consider, as is the potential for businesses to customize the programs. Additionally, some marketing solutions have built-in web forms, forcing businesses to use their forms.

This could turn business prospects off, creating the impression that a company's marketing forms are owned by the firm the software is leased or purchased from. To keep their personal message and logos in front of prospects, companies should look for B2B marketing solutions that let them customize web forms they use. For example, B2B marketing solutions from salesfusion are compatible with a range of web forms.

Other features to measure are lead capture, including Internet lead capture, video hosting and lead routing. Entrepreneurs shouldn't assume that these tools will meet their marketing needs. Instead, they should watch live demos of the marketing solutions. They should also have their in-house marketing managers meet with sales leads at firms that sell B2B marketing solutions so they can ask the firms' sales leads questions about the products.

These steps save companies money and time. They also reduce the risks companies take as they market to other businesses. And reducing these risks is paramount to a company's success. As Wikipedia shares, "One of the characteristics of a B2B product is that in many cases it is bought by a committee of buyers. It is important to understand what a brand means to these buyers."

Furthermore, "Buyers are usually well-versed with costing levels and specifications. Also, due to constant monitoring of the market, these buyers would have excellent knowledge of the products too. In many cases the purchases are specification driven. As a result of this, it is vital that brands are clearly defined and target the appropriate segment." It takes targeted marketing for companies to set themselves apart from the competition.

Why Is a Company's Brand so Important?

In the fast paced technological world of business, it is essential that your company understand the necessity for establishing a brand. You may be asking yourself "why is having a brand so important to the success of your business?".

In reality, a brand is what encompasses nearly every aspect of your business from your name, logo, and website to how you communicate your products and services. In short, it's what your company represents to your current and future customers.

Developing your company brand will necessitate participation from all segments of your company’s operation. One of the more effective ways to insure total cooperation is to develop a corporate incentive program to reward benchmarks achieved in your branding campaign.

Brand Image Creation

Gone are the days when a company could simply rely upon a TV commercial or a radio advertisement to simply showcase their product or service. The standard now is full scale exposure on social media and a company’s website. Update your website so that customers will have access to blogs that supply information on products and services that they want more information on.

Unleash Social Media

If your company is not involved in social media, then you are seriously handicapping your company’s growth and missing out on countless opportunities to expand your client or customer base. Downsize your company’s print and TV/radio advertising campaign and use Twitter and Facebook to reach more prospective clients in local and national markets. With Twitter alone, you can build the brand and image so that readers will follow updates in product or service and take part in an ongoing corporate incentive program that showcases seasonal deals or coupons.

Facebook is another brand development vehicle that must not be overlooked. By posting new services/products and inviting readers to “Like” you on your Facebook page, each Facebook friend will automatically receive all of your special deals and updates and posts. More importantly, they can link directly to your website as well.

Create Emotional Effectiveness

For the 21st Century customer, their whole experience is developed and even lived through interactions on the internet. This means that they will likely never walk into your business before they see your website or Facebook or Twitter page. This means you have to use your brand to allow them to feel and even visualize in a positive way who you are. So again, employees participating in community programs for the needy should be showcased on your social media pages as well as on your website.

Employees love being portrayed in a positive light and it is a great corporate incentive program for building terrific company morale. Remember, a brand is an image as well as a feeling that is imprinting on a prospective customer one click at a time.

Brand Recognition

You have succeeded when your company's brand is viewed as unique and has created a steady flow of attention to your website and social media pages. Improve your company’s valued place in the market by creating your brand as soon as you can.