Where Users Prefer to Obtain Credible Information from Marketers
Tom Weaver- Financial Systems Manager
“When it comes to downloading white papers I am generally more receptive to doing so on a third party editorial site like MSDW. That’s because I view that resource as a kind of “golden rule” for where to turn to for credible information. I take what they say as “gospel” so I am more receptive to sign up for vendor webinars or white papers in their environment. I’m not really receptive to cold-calling emails from vendors that ask me to download or register.
Once I do register for an event or paper I prefer the sponsor not call me immediately. It creates too much pressure. It’s all about timing. When I am in my early stage I want an objective source first and then in my own time I will go to the ISV’s website either to trial a product demo or to hear what their customers have to say about them. The vendor can eventually follow-up with email and send me more relevant information.”
Teri Stora CRM Manager
“I am more receptive to responding to emails in a vendor neutral environment like MSDW, which is where I go to get information on Dynamics issues that help me develop my own expertise and that I can share with my colleagues. I prefer to go there to seek industry white papers or webinars when I am receptive to hearing them and somehow feel they are more vetted in this type of editorial environment. Somehow cold emails from vendors don’t always seem to represent the entire truth and frankly I am drowning in them, there’s so many being sent all the time.”
Michael Lieden
“In general I don’t think vendors make it easy to consume or appreciate their information. I don’t agree with the practice of requiring me to login or register for their white papers. For example, a company like McKinsey often sends me their email whitepapers or webinars and they don’t require me to register. They make it easy for me to peruse their information and/or pass it along but it’s up to me to decide what I want to do next. I find this practice less invasive then being forced to register and then take phone calls right after I download something, most of which I take to be polite but then to be faced with a salesperson who doesn’t even understand what I do or which specific aspect of Dynamics I’m interested in, forcing me to explain all of it .It’s too much work. Vendors often forget they are not the only ones to offer info thru emails most of which I delete. In general the offers I get have to do with Dynamics in general and aren’t specific to my area of expertise in Business Apps. I‘d be more receptive to an invite to get a newsletter from them that requires nothing except for me to read it.”
