If there is one sales issue that stumps most individuals responsible for new business, it is the prospect who presents an ill defined problem and has little or no budget.

The basic question you and the CFO must agree to is how much the average sale is worth to you and how much the company is willing to pay for a new contract or sale.

I thought I would share some great websites that offer up-to-date online demographic data. Much of this information was compiled by Steven Fox, a member of MENG that caters to high level marketers from all industries.

The heavy hitter's primary toolMy network friend and I were discussing the status of advertising agency hiring in the US these days and how things have changed for both the good and the bad. We think this problem applies to any B-to-B sales involving high level corporate services.

Mr Rapp thinks as I do that direct marketing envelopes all media including broadcast, print, direct mail, freestanding inserts, the online medium, email and cell phone marketing

Borrowing heavily from my marketing peers, this compilation looks to the future of marketing. Some of the comments contradict each other because the comments come from a number CMOs who are MENG members.

For the first time in three years of taking this survey, research shows that the predominant driver for CMOs is marketing ROI.

Only a few years ago we rode horses to the store. Then came trains, planes and automobiles. After a while, mail order became the rage as retailers considered it stealing its customers.

Direct marketing consultants are loth to provide response information on specific campaigns because they are simply inaccurate and rarely useful. Inexperienced clients tend to interpret such estimates and accompanying caveats as a response prediction or commitment.