How valuable are niche or specialist B2B data files, in comparison with generic ‘universe’ files from the big data houses? How are they different, when should marketers use them and what factors should they consider? 

What techniques can B2B brands use to unlock the potential of their client-base? Can this work be conducted inhouse using specialist tools or is it best left to external experts?

Are business customers interested in the green credentials of a product or service in the current economic climate?

Most of the larger B2B data houses now have credit scoring systems for their marketing data, allowing marketers to check whether prospects are financially viable. Are such systems essential or a nice-to-have for B2B marketers?

Is it possible for B2B brands to achieve lifetime loyalty from their customers? What kind of brand or marketing infrastructure should a B2B brand seek to put into place to attempt to make lifetime loyalty a reality? Or is this an unattainable aspiration? If not, why not? And what are the obstacles to achieving it?

Is it possible for a company to adopt a CRM (customer relationship management) approach to its marketing without implementing expensive and complex technology? What factors should they consider? 

News that IDMF has been acquired and almost certainly closed down by UBM poses question marks over the future of trade fairs in the procurement process for marketing products and services. For almost two decades, IDMF was the main event in the marketing exhibition calender, and even though it had shrunk in recent years, its absence will leave a void. Does its demise mean that trade shows are no longer play a significant role in the procurement of marketing products and services? Has the Internet rendered them redundant? Or do marketers still relish the opportunity for face-to-face contact with prospective suppliers?

Please respond before 12/08/08.
The best responses will be edited for publication in the September 08 edition of B2B Marketing.

"How can I use blogs on third party sites to promote my products in a way which does not appear overtly commercial and therefore compromise the neutrality of the forum?"

Question posed by Suzannah Povey of IQPC

Given the alarming rate at which B2B data decays, how do you find the right data cleansing or data hygiene solution for your needs, from the many different options available?

What are the best sources of data for marketing outside the UK? What factors should be considered when purchasing this kind of data?