Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

I think we’ve looked at the very essentials of data visualization, and the post from DB Friends is going to help you to avoid making common mistakes when it comes to visualizing your data. The tools in this post can definitely attract many opinions, so if you feel like you’ve got something to say – leave a comment and we’ll take it from there.

Regular business folk who have trouble operating today's high-powered data visualization tools are the targets for a new offering unveiled today by Birst....

Birst Visualizer is the company's first foray into the world of data visualization tools, which have already solidified themselves spots in the big data tool belts of many of the world's largest companies. But instead of going straight up against giants like Tableau, QlikView, or TIBCO Spotfire, Birst wisely chose to attack the problem from a different angle, which is the guided approach.Users begin interacting with new software using a simple Google-like query interface. A sales manager can start typing "sales for Califor..." and before she's even done typing, Birst Analyzer will automatically rummage through the database, pull up the most recent sales data for California, and pop it into a bar chart.

It's a novel approach, and one that could possibly garner the fast-growing San Francisco company another big burst of sales of its own.There are about 25 different visualizations in the first release of software, ranging from basic bar and line charts to maps and trellises to colored bubbles. The software picks the visualization that it thinks best matches the query....

In my previous article I discussed the importance of ensuring that your data is clean and processed before attempting any form of data visualisation. Here I will share some really awesome tools that (once your data is clean and ready to use) you can have at your disposal to create mind-blowing representations of the facts and figures. Here is a list of tools, some more open and adjustable than others, that add value to your raw data and can be used as a source of inspiration and design when approaching the visualisation process....

In today’s “content-age,” the creation of data is as simple as hitting “submit” on a blog entry or uploading a video to YouTube – anyone can do it, and practically everyone is doing it, causing content growth to increase at astonishing rates. In fact, just last year, there was enough digital data created to fill a stack of DVDs that would stretch all the way to the moon and back! In light of this, companies are realizing the importance of creating increasingly strong and engaging content that will rise above the waffle and hopefully have some kind of tangible impact. But what kind of content are companies finding most impactful?...

Like it or not, your surroundings inform the special little bubble you live in. Just when you thought you couldn't be stereotyped, well, here are some handy maps that define each state by the brands they Google the most.

The results are pretty fascinating, too, from the obvious to the surprising. I had no idea Grand Marnier was so popular in Delaware, or that American Eagle was so in vogue among West Virginians. Less surprising results are Microsoft in Washington and Disney in Florida.

Where it gets super interesting is when competing brands bubble up in adjacent states, like Jose Cuervo and Patron in Arizona and New Mexico, or Dodge and Chevrolet in Montana and North Dakota....

In my previous article I discussed the importance of ensuring that your data is clean and processed before attempting any form of data visualisation. Here I will share some really awesome tools that (once your data is clean and ready to use) you can have at your disposal to create mind-blowing representations of the facts and figures.Here is a list of tools, some more open and adjustable than others, that add value to your raw data and can be used as a source of inspiration and design when approaching the visualisation process....

Our goal as savvy email marketers is to look beyond the lure of the one-time conversion and strive to build an ongoing relationship between consumers and our brands. Why is this goal so important? Because it’s been proven through many a marketing study that engaged customers become loyal customers and loyal customers are the most valuable segment in any list or database.

This type of highly engaged, loyal customer typically has higher overall lifetime value than the casual consumer. They’re also more likely to be an evangelist, introducing new customers to your brand in a very personal way and building the next layer of loyal customers.

But, how can you help to build a stronger bond with your customer base? In my last article, I outlined ways to stimulate an unengaged audience by increasing the relevancy of your email creative by including more dynamic content. Sharing relevant content demonstrates to customers that we know them as individuals and are dedicated to providing them with useful information, products or services. Using historical and behavior data is a great way to present content that’s tailored to their individual needs and preferences, but you also need to engage with your audience on an emotional level in order to achieve the goal of creating a true brand-loyal customer....

Let’s explore four creative ways in which email marketers have used data as a platform to build creative that forms a bond between their customers and their brand....