We asked nine experts how a company with an existing martech stack could smoothly integrate marketing automation. Here’s what they told us.
1. Integrate Marketing Automation with Dynamic Reporting
Jason Vaught, Director of Content, SmashBrand
You must quantify the impact that marketing automation has on your business. Therefore, integrating marketing automation with a dynamic reporting system improves your workflow because it tells you what’s working and what isn’t. I’d strongly advise that marketers begin by creating a flywheel between their automation and reporting processes to get strong data points that enable optimization and growth.
2. Leverage Middleware for Seamless Integration
I would consider the implementation of middleware. It acts as a software layer, facilitating communication and data management between technologies. Middleware can help integrate marketing automation software with technologies, ensuring data transfer and promoting a smooth workflow among diverse teams.
3. Combine Tools for Personalized Emails
Justin Silverman, Founder and CEO, Merchynt
A combination of ClickUp, Zapier, OpenAI, and Gmail is used to send highly personalized welcome emails when a new client signs up and fills out our onboarding form on ClickUp. Highly personalized messages have been launched at scale thanks to the combination of these tools, which significantly aids in creating a better brand experience.
4. Examine Processes for Effective Marketing Automation Integration
Lauren Carlstrom, COO, Oxygen Plus
Integrating marketing automation with other existing technologies can be achieved by examining your marketing processes. At O+, automation was integrated into our data collection and analysis tools to create a seamless flow of events. This was done to speed up the process and focus more on the actual creation of marketing campaigns, ensuring the best possible experiences for our customers.
This involved a lot of testing to ensure accurate results and valuable data. Once everything was sorted out, it improved our marketing team’s efficiency and enhanced marketing personalization.
5. Use Prompts & Structured Workflows
Nick Sforza, Founder and Digital Marketer, Opvital
Integrating marketing automation with other technologies in a company is key to creating a seamless workflow. My advice? Use prompts and structured workflows. Start by mapping out how different technologies – like CRM, analytics, and email marketing tools – interact with each other. Then, establish clear prompts within your automation software to trigger specific actions based on data from these systems. For instance, when a new lead is added to the CRM, the marketing automation tool can be prompted to send a personalized welcome email. By structuring these workflows, every piece of technology works together smoothly, ensuring no opportunities are missed and every interaction with customers is meaningful and timely. This approach has streamlined our processes significantly, making marketing efforts more efficient and effective.
6. Incorporate CRM, AI, & Social Media
Samantha Odo, Real Estate Sales Representative and Montreal Division Manager, Precondo
Picture this: CRM integration. Your CRM system is the heart of your operations, right? Now, imagine syncing it with marketing automation. Leads are captured seamlessly, interactions are tracked effortlessly – it’s a match made in tech heaven. You’re not just managing relationships; you’re nurturing them with precision.
Now, let’s sprinkle in a bit of AI. Predictive analytics can be a game-changer. By analyzing data from both marketing automation and CRM, you get insights into future trends and customer behavior. It’s like having a personal assistant whispering, “This is what your clients will love next.”
Email campaigns are the bread and butter of marketing. With automation, you can create personalized journeys based on customer behavior. Now, tie in analytics tools to measure open rates, click-throughs, and conversions. It’s like having a GPS for your emails – guiding you to success.
Oh, and social media! Use automation to schedule posts, track engagements, and keep the conversation flowing.
7. Track Campaigns with Call Analytics
Ben Lau, Founder, Featured SEO Company
By integrating marketing automation with call-tracking and analytics tools, companies can track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns through phone-call conversions. This often-overlooked approach provides valuable insights into customer interactions. By analyzing call data, companies can optimize marketing efforts and drive better results. For example, a company running a radio-advertisement campaign can use call tracking to measure the number of calls generated by the campaign and the quality of those calls. This data can then be used to fine-tune the advertising strategy, targeting specific radio stations or time slots that generate the highest-converting phone calls.
8. Choose Flexible Platforms for Two-Way Sync
Sarah Politi, Founder and Managing Director, Jade & Sterling
Our core strategy revolves around selecting a flexible marketing-automation platform and establishing seamless two-way data sync with key systems, particularly CRM. This integration not only centralizes customer data but also automates lead handovers, ensuring a cohesive transition from marketing to sales. We prioritize personalized customer journeys by leveraging integrated data, tailoring campaigns based on comprehensive insights. By integrating analytics and reporting tools, we provide a holistic view for strategic decision-making. This unified approach extends to integrating communication channels, fostering cross-functional collaboration between marketing, sales, and IT teams. In essence, our focus is on creating an interconnected ecosystem that optimizes efficiency and aligns with overall business objectives.
9. Work Backwards from Your Desired Outcome
Matthew Ramirez, Founder, USMLE Test Prep
The best way to integrate marketing automation with other existing technologies in a company is to first identify the desired outcome, and then work backwards to determine the various steps that are necessary to achieve that outcome. This process often involves mapping the customer journey and identifying the different touchpoints along the way where automation can be used to streamline the workflow. For example, if the desired outcome is to increase sales conversion rates, then it may be helpful to first identify the various ways in which customers interact with the company (e.g., website, emails, social media, etc.). From there, you can identify the different touchpoints along the customer journey where automation can be used to drive conversions (e.g., lead scoring, personalized content, drip campaigns, etc.). By mapping the customer journey and identifying the various touchpoints along the way, you can better understand how automation can be integrated with other existing technologies.
Ready to improve your company’s martech stack through marketing automation integration? Get in touch with us today for expert assistance.