New Tools to Promote One-on-One Communication

From Snapchat’s questionable redesign to Pinterest’s active user growth, social media’s triumphs and woes are continuously in the news. These platforms use cutting-edge technologies to manage their networks. Similarly, “old-time” marketers are utilizing sophisticated algorithms for their databases. From direct marketing to email marketing, high-tech is adding value.

Quad/Graphics, a leading marketing solutions provider, recently launched Accelerated Insights, a new virtual technology platform to test direct marketing creative and formats before a single piece is mailed. At a fraction of the cost of traditional mail testing, the new platform lifts response rates, increases reliability, and shortens time to market. Accelerated Insights’ sophisticated persona matrix combines with demographics and emotional characteristics to predict what will motivate someone to act on a client offer. It can test up to 20 content variables in one pass. Clients save up to 90 percent in costs and reduce the testing time to 60 days. When speed to market and accuracy are both vitally important, Quad/Graphics’ new testing platform is a valuable tool for marketers to further explore.

In the continuous innovation department, 3M ups the ante with the unveiling of its new indestructible Post-It Extreme Notes. In the toughest conditions, dependable communication is critical. Yet, most workers outside the office need to rely on non-verbal communication or unconventional and unreliable materials to write notes on scraps of paper, wrappers, and receipts. The Post-It Extreme Notes are ultra-strong and easily affix to rough surfaces. They are useful in job situations, such as construction, foodservice, and manufacturing and in tough home areas, such as freezers, boiler rooms, garages, and bathrooms. Withstanding extreme elements, from snow to 120 degrees weather, these notes also remove cleanly. Writing a note to communicate to co-workers while on the rough jobsite or on the go has never been easier.

A leading email marketing solutions provider, Constant Contact, is also upping its technology to make it easier and faster to drive effective email marketing results. The announcement of its next generation editor and automated segmentation drives efficiencies and ease of use. The objective is to create more engaging and personalized emails that propel action. Email communication is a big component of the outbound and inbound communication that brands rely upon. Operating via its leadership strength in the marketplace, Constant Contact’s new Action Blocks editor and click segmentation are two features that will optimize the email creation and dissemination experience.

What new software or technological breakthroughs do you see in the communications field?

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Sharon Gee is a consultant and marketer who specializes in helping global companies, start-ups, and small businesses thrive. A strategic thinker, Sharon supports CEOs and business leaders reach their goals through research, innovation, customer analysis, communication, and social media prowess.