Best Practice

• HOW TO: Choose the right B2B agency

  Using examples from both agency and client sides, Julie Constable, head of agency selector at the MCCA, outlines the simple steps businesses need to take when choosing a B2B agency

• HOW TO: Stop drowning in data

  Drowning in business data but can't really find the information that you need? Karim Iskandar, VP international, Infogroup OneSource Information Services shares some tips

• BEST PRACTICE: Keeping customers satisfied

  Effective customer satisfaction research brings accurate feedback and valuable data, says Jonathan Pickup, B2B research manager at McCallum Layton

• BEST PRACTICE: Getting to grips with Single Customer View

  'Single customer view' has many benefits but do you really understand it? Max Firth, client director for PH Group, explains what it is and asks if you really need it

• BEST PRACTICE: Spring clean your database

  A spring clean is a must for the successful marketer, explains Max Firth client director for PH

• HOW TO: Collect data for marketing

  To create a database of genuine value you must avoid wasting valuable company time and resources collecting information that is of no relevance, says Richard Lloyd of InfogroupUK

• HOW TO: Plan your B2B email marketing campaigns

  The first step towards successful B2B email marketing is planning and budgeting.  A little time spent devising a strategy now, says Infogroup/UK general manager Richard Lloyd, will pay dividends in the future

• HOW TO: Build your B2B email marketing campaign

  Once you have the firm foundations of a strategy and budget in place for your email marketing activity, it's time to build your campaign. This is where all your hard work comes to fruition. Get the design and content right to ensure you get the right results.

• BEST PRACTICE: Using online analytics

  It's not the availability of online analytics that poses a problem for B2B marketers: the real issue is how to make sense of it all, finds Brett Mathews

• HOW TO: Buy or rent business data

  A 15 point plan for what to look for when sourcing data from specialist suppliers for your next marketing campaign.

• HOW TO: Evaluate data suppliers

  There are a plethora suppliers of business data, so how do you find the right one for your needs?

• HOW TO: Manage data in an on and offline environment

  Integration of marketing activity is placing increasing demands on data management, which these six steps can alleviate.

• HOW TO: Use marketing trigger data

  Factors for using trigger data to determine marketing strategy and messaging.

• HOW TO: Plan the database build

  Guidelines for developing a database that will have a core function in your marketing.

• HOW TO: Be compliant with data legislation

  Sound advice on how to collate data within the lawful perimeters.

• HOW TO: Grow your email marketing database

  Maximising the benefits of B2B email marketing depends on the quality and size of your database. Infogroup/UK general manager Richard Lloyd offers expert advice on keeping the numbers up

• HOW TO: Match data to recipients

  When data is such a vital element of marketing, why do many companies appear to ignore suppression as a way of managing it? Careful matching of data to recipients – ensuring compliance with legislation such as the CTPS – is key, says Sara Goodwins

• HOW TO: Manage on-line and off-line date

  Sara Goodwins considers how online and offline data management systems can be used together to the best possible effect

• BEST PRACTICE: Gathering B2B marketing data

  The first step in data collection is to establish what information you need and why. Sara Goodwins offers a comprehensive guide to gathering B2B marketing data

• BEST PRACTICE: Green data

  Mark Higginson, database consultant at data management bureau, Qbase, explores the ways in which companies can reduce their carbon footprint and accomplish more enivronmentally-friendly marketing, whilst maintaining, or even increasing their revenues

• BEST PRACTICE: Variable data print

  Paul Cash, director of Tidalwave says migrating to variable digital print need not be a nightmare

• BEST PRACTICE: Deciphering data law

  It has become so easy to capture personal information that the Data Protection Act, and Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations were brought in to assure individuals some measure of privacy. Sara Goodwins explains data protection and its relevance to business-to-busines marketers

• BEST PRACTICE: Database outsourcing

  Thinking of outsourcing the database? Alan Timothy, CEO of Rocket Science, highlights 10 key areas where you should grill a prospective supplier

• BEST PRACTICE: The golden rules of data

  Data can be rowdy and unstructured or it can be graceful and orchestrated – a beautiful game. Alex Blyth outlines seven golden rules – a code of conduct – which will ensure that you play fairly and fruitfully