Independent research firm concludes that email marketers are poised to be industry leaders in cross-channel marketing

New research shows email marketers are two times more likely than all other marketers to integrate customer data across all channels

News provided by

Experian Marketing Services

Oct 27, 2014, 02:10 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Experian Marketing Services, maturity in cross-channel marketing is low and, despite the adoption of multiple channels in marketing programs, integration and coordination do not occur consistently. The global research study, entitled The Road to Cross-Channel Maturity, also found that marketers seasoned in email, more than any other digital channel, are in a position to be the ones to lead the transition to the cross-channel marketing era.

A complimentary copy of the study can be downloaded at Experian Marketing Services' Website. Please visit http://ex.pn/ZDxdEQ.

In particular, Forrester Consulting found that marketers around the world struggle to integrate data sources and adopt effective data-management practices. Only 24 percent of marketers surveyed said they use contextual data and customer data for a real-time view across channels.

Sophisticated email marketers demonstrated significantly higher rates of data-usage best practices, which was twice as much as the average respondent.
Practices among marketers in Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries demonstrated the highest prevalence of this mature use of customer data at 36 percent, with China leading the pack at 47 percent. APAC also led other regions in overall cross-channel marketing maturity.
Seventy-five percent of marketers that Forrester Consulting identified as "sophisticated marketers" use data in real time.

In the study, Forrester Consulting states "...an email can provide a consumer with information or incentive to engage with other channels. As one of the most reliable, consistently used channels, email has an opportunity to be more than another transaction-driving medium... With cues from email, marketers can better provide interactions in other channels and touch-points."

The Forrester Consulting study recommends that marketers identify where email is most relevant and influential in the customer's path to purchase and then incorporate additional channels along the path that tie all the communications together.

To understand marketers' maturity in cross-channel marketing, Experian Marketing Services commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate digital marketers' attitudes about, experiences with and challenges related to cross-channel marketing, as well as the role email marketing has and will have in delivering cross-channel interaction. Forrester Consulting surveyed nearly 500 digital-marketing executives in various industries in North America, Europe, Asia and South America, including decision makers responsible for search, email, social, Website, mobile and display marketing strategy execution. It also conducted in-depth interviews with senior executives in the United States and Canada.

A Webcast about the study conducted by Forrester Consulting and commissioned by Experian Marketing Services is available to view on demand at http://ex.pn/1Ftjhyx.

About Experian Marketing Services
Experian Marketing Services is a global provider of integrated consumer insights and targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing. We help organizations from around the world intelligently interact with today's dynamic, empowered and hyperconnected customers. By coordinating seamless interactions across all marketing channels, marketers are able to plan and execute superior brand experiences that deepen customer loyalty, strengthen brand advocacy and maximize profits. For more information, please visit http://ex.pn/1fSccNf.

About Experian
Experian^® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US$4.8 billion. Experian employs approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Suzanne Blackburn
Experian Marketing Services
1 212 863 4648
[email protected]

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SOURCE Experian Marketing Services