Sword and the Script

DECEMBER 22, 2020

Many of the blog posts published here are based on survey research, analytical studies or other sources of data. Every entry links to both the article I originally wrote – and to the underlying source, report or survey. The list below is broken into four sections: Marketing statistics from 2020. Marketing Statistics from 2020.

Survey 173

Survey Marketing B2B Study 173

Sword and the Script

MAY 26, 2020

72% of communications professionals say partisan politics makes their job harder, according to third annual JOTW Communications Survey for 2020 The majority of professional communicators say partisan politics has complicated communications for brands and businesses. The complete survey is freely available for download as a PDF on SlideShare.

Survey 117

Survey Measurement Public Affairs Storytelling 117

Sword and the Script

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

3 statistics from the newest B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends report shows the “subscribed audience” is missing from most content marketing efforts. I had a chance to be a judge for the annual content marketing awards hosted by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) this year.

Content Marketing 119

Content Marketing B2B Marketing eBook 119

Cision

DECEMBER 5, 2017

That’s where your content marketing efforts come into to play. On top of crafting compelling content, the most prominent challenge is driving engagement from targeted audiences. According to HubSpot’s 2017 State of Inbound, the top challenge marketing faces is generating more traffic and leads. That’s precisely 2.34

Infographics 235

Infographics Case Study Content Marketing Video 235

Sword and the Script

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Surveys show earned media is still the most credible; exec appreciation and collaboration with PR improved during the Coronavirus Regular readers know these pages are filled with surveys and statistics. Recently I went back through all the write-ups I’ve published on surveys and boiled the results down to these ten.

Survey 94

Survey Industry Leadership Study 94

Deirdre Breakenridge

JANUARY 7, 2016

Content marketing will be more than just a trend to watch in 2016. Creating and distributing consistent and relevant content is considered a proven strategic marketing approach that attracts and retains an audience and drives customers to action. Here is my Q&A with Lisa Davis, Director, Marketing, at Marketwired.

Survey 90

Survey Marketing Content Marketing Measurement 90

Sword and the Script

OCTOBER 6, 2015

If content marketing was a self-evaluated college class, marketers would give themselves a “C.” That’s my sense after reading the new B2B Content Marketing 2016 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends – North America report. The annual report is a joint effort between MarketingProfs and the Content Marketing Institute.

Content Marketing 60

Content Marketing Survey B2B Marketing 60

Cision

JANUARY 10, 2018

However, once you taste success in your new endeavor, aim to cement your position as an emerging thought leader in the industry, with a focused content marketing strategy. This means that a solid content marketing strategy will do wonders for your brand messaging.

Branding 254

Branding Brand Web Content Marketing 254

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

JUNE 21, 2018

The data is often derived inexpensively from behavior surveys or flash polls, or it may already exist within the company’s own research unit. Yet it can yield real insights for inclusion in a thought leadership program for key executives. Data makes great thought leadership.

Storytelling 189

Storytelling Data Data-Driven PR Infographics 189

Sword and the Script

MARCH 10, 2019

Some 47% of respondents said they’ve observed more PR work being taken in-house, according to the 2019 JOTW Communications Survey (full report embedded below). This year’s survey polled 223 communications and public relations (PR) professionals. The second annual survey was conducted by yours truly in collaboration with Ned Lundquist.

Survey 95

Survey Media Relations Corporate Communications 95

Sword and the Script

MARCH 6, 2018

As such, the annual PRWeek salary survey provides good benchmarks. I’ve reviewed this salary survey and others , for many years including detailed looks at the 2016 and 2017 results. The 2018 survey was based on responses of 1,053 communications professionals and here’s how the numbers stack up. Caveats to the PRWeek Data.

Survey 112

Survey Agency Report Corporate 112

Deirdre Breakenridge

MAY 8, 2017

Almost four in 10 respondents to a survey of corporate communications, marketing and industry leaders for CommunicationsMatch’s new PR and Communications Agency Search Report said they were looking to hire new agencies in 2017. A Guest Post by Simon Locke, Founder & CEO, CommunicationsMatch TM. In fact, the opposite is true.

Agency 223

Agency Survey Social Media SEO 223

Sword and the Script

MARCH 19, 2018

A new survey of primarily corporate communications professionals identified the hottest trends and tactics in PR – and perhaps those that aren’t so hot too. Respondents said storytelling, content marketing and thought leadership will be more important over the next 12 months. 67% said thought leadership.

Survey 70

Survey Trends Communications Storytelling 70

Sword and the Script

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

The “Brand Finance Investment Analyst Survey” polled more than 200 financial analysts who “cover publicly listed companies in the United States and United Kingdom.” To understand how analysts factor marketing into their assessment and valuation of the companies they cover. The survey had three findings that stood out to me: 1.

Financial 141

Financial Marketing Survey B2B 141

Sword and the Script

NOVEMBER 15, 2016

If the B2B community feels overwhelmed by the volume of content, then B2B marketing might feel overwhelmed by the volume of content marketing studies. The trends suggest to me that content is still very much a form of currency bartered in exchange for attention. 1) Content Requirements at Every Stage of the Sale.

Content Marketing 60

Content Marketing Study Marketing B2B 60

Cision

APRIL 26, 2017

Cision’s annual survey of more than 1,550 North American journalists and influencers reveals key findings on how journalists use news releases and multimedia to tell better stories.

Infographics 266

Infographics Branding Brand Video 266

Sword and the Script

JUNE 27, 2017

What does it take to implement content marketing effectively in a B2B organization? It’s not an easy question to answer broadly because: a) every team has its own dynamics; b) every organization has constraints and limitations, and c) every vertical market has its own unique characteristics. 1) Hands on marketing leadership.

Content Marketing 67

Content Marketing B2B Marketing Leadership 67

Waxing UnLyrical

MAY 15, 2018

As communicators, we are sometimes holed up in self-imposed exile creating content for others to deliver on ever-shrinking budgets. A recent survey conducted by Ned Lundquist’s Job of the Week (JOTW) in partnership with Sword and the Script Media, LLC sought to find out the true status of our industry. Or are we? Let’s hit it.

Survey 81

Survey Industry Communications Corporate 81

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

JULY 6, 2016

Breaking through with quality material will become more difficult as content marketing approaches a saturation point. To be shareable, content must be optimized, so fluency in SEO basics is a necessary skill. Thought leadership isn’t just for B2B brands.

SEO 204

SEO Analytics Measurement B2B 204

Tribe Builder Media

APRIL 9, 2019

Why is it that content marketing is touted as one of the best online marketing strategies for business exposure? OK, that’s great, but exactly how do you go about perfecting the art of content marketing ? Content marketing resources… lots and lots of resources —that’s how!

Resources 65

Resources Content Marketing Marketing Leadership 65

Solo PR Pro

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

We have heard the drumbeat of the importance of content marketing for years. Long before it was labeled “content marketing,” communications pros were utilizing the tactic in client work. Content Marketing is a valuable tool in the communications arsenal. Demonstrate thought leadership. Build trust.

Content Marketing 62

Content Marketing Marketing Measurement Resources 62

Onclusive

JUNE 23, 2022

Communicators can offer data from media monitoring, social listening, media relations and campaign measurement, while marketers can contribute the results of focus groups, customer surveys, promotions and other tactical activity.

Strategy 195

Strategy Marketing Measurement eBook 195

Sword and the Script

DECEMBER 4, 2018

of studies and surveys – some of which I had a hand in producing – dissecting the results and connecting dots where it looks appropriate. As we close in on the year’s end, I looked back over these marketing and PR statistics in an effort to surface those points that in some way, shape or form, help to summarize 2018 as a year.

Survey 103

Survey Marketing B2B Content Marketing 103

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 29, 2017

Marketing may be underestimating the impact of thought leadership on sales, according to a comprehensive study published in June 2017 by Edelman and LinkedIn. The study concluded thought leadership “attracts invitations to bid (RFPs), earns buyer preference by building trust, directly contributes to wins, and can even impact pricing.”.

Leadership 65

Leadership B2B Study Marketing 65

Sword and the Script

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Thought leadership is usually associated with top-of-the-funnel as far as marketing outcomes are concerned, but there’s evidence to suggest it meets the needs of existing customers. Studies have shown that somewhere around one-fifth of companies identify related metrics such as customer retention as a content marketing objective.

B2B 60

B2B Leadership Customer Service Content Marketing 60

Sword and the Script

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

The Edelman Trust Barometer is an annual survey that examines the “volatility of trust in social institutions” around the world. This year the survey was conducted in 28 countries and obtained 1,150 respondents per country. In reviewing the study, I think it has implications for business in public relations and content marketing.

Content Marketing 67

Content Marketing Marketing Journalism Financial 67

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 25, 2015

In July 2015, the CMO Council released a report based on a content survey conducted with syndication platform Netline. Content marketing is maturing slowly and steadily. About half of all respondents label their content marketing maturity as either “high performance engine” (12%) or “steadily paced and planned (34%).

Survey 60

Survey Content Marketing Report Corporate 60

Sword and the Script

JUNE 9, 2020

Three-quarters (75%) of PR said so this year, according to the 2020 JOTW Communications Survey. Next year, when we conduct that same survey, I bet the results will look similar. That’s what content marketing is all about. Too many confuse content marketing with marketing content.

Media Relations 109

Media Relations Media Survey Pitching 109

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 15, 2023

B2B buyers say they want quality content that demonstrates you understand their industry, and their company and helps them to build a business case to buy your tech product One of the reasons content marketing is so important to B2B companies is the fact that the last person a buyer speaks to is a salesperson.

B2B 115

B2B Study Survey Software 115

Sword and the Script

DECEMBER 20, 2022

“Data and the use of data will become the great divide between marketers producing content and content marketing. Those companies that can take data, do a deep dive, and understand what the data tells them will see more success in achieving their goals from content than those who look at simple analytics.

Marketing 186

Marketing Content Marketing Data Social Media 186

Sword and the Script

JANUARY 10, 2017

If you blog about marketing – especially with any semblance of frequency – you are in fact among a fair small group. That’s one surprising conclusion I drew from a survey of 850 bloggers by ConvertKit. There are more blogs focused on personal development than any other topic, according to the survey.

Survey 60

Survey Blogging Corporate Analytics 60

Sword and the Script

JUNE 7, 2016

For the purpose of satisfying curiosity, marketing surveys are a useful vehicle for research. To that end, this post summarizes five recent market research surveys worth of a purposeful poke and pry. Marketing skills the CMO needs on the team. Also see: The CMO Survey with Social & Mobile Marketing Takeaways.

Survey 60

Survey Marketing B2B Infographics 60

Sword and the Script

NOVEMBER 12, 2016

This week includes survey data and salient points from two subject matter experts on the topic. Most B2B marketers (64%) create buyer personas and many use these for content segmentation (33%). Another 54% said they relied on current customer interviews, while approximately 52% used marketing team recommendations.”

B2B 114

B2B Marketing How To Survey 114

Cision

NOVEMBER 15, 2016

Here are three others: Executive thought leadership; Influencer marketing; and. Contributor marketing. Executive Thought Leadership. Thought leadership” is one of those terms that makes marketers roll their eyes. Influencer Marketing. digital) and ‘dot-photos’ (.photos) photos) to name a few.

Trends 120

Trends Leadership Small Business Analytics 120

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 14, 2018

The 2018 State of the Media report by Cision is an annual survey of reporters that offers some insight. The company maintains and sells access to an online media contact database, which serves as the population from which the survey sample is drawn. The survey suggests reporter views of the top challenges they face is splintered.

Survey 101

Survey Report Media B2B 101

Sword and the Script

JULY 24, 2018

The surveys have started. There’s are several industry organizations that field annual surveys about content marketing and they are gearing up. Last year, the data overwhelmingly found every business says they are doing content marketing. 2) You don’t treat content marketing is its own channel.

Content Marketing 63

Content Marketing B2B Marketing Exercises 63

Sword and the Script

OCTOBER 11, 2022

A survey of comms pros finds the top three reasons clients hire outside help are an extra pair of hands, outside objectivity and advice and expertise in a niche. That’s according to 53% of the 483 communicators that responded to the 5th Annual JOTW Strategic Communications Survey for 2022 ( summary and highlights ).

Agency 138

Agency B2C B2B Survey 138