Hematoma

Title: Hematoma
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM

Enzyme Rise May Link GLP-1, Pancreatitis

(MedPage Today) -- Levels of lipase and amylase don't increase after meals in patients not taking GLP-1 drugs.

Synthetic Marijuana Primer: The FOAMed Report

(MedPage Today) -- Computerized alerts, and a systematic review of tPA.

Halo Sign Aids Vasculitis Dx

(MedPage Today) -- A shadow could be seen on ultrasound around the temporal artery in half of patients with giant cell arteritis.

The Doctor Will Video Chat With You Now: Insurer Covers Virtual Visits

Medical consultation via video is going mainstream. UnitedHealthcare says it will cover doctors' visits by live video on smartphones, tablets and computers. Will people overuse it and boost costs?

Health System Took Control To Make Joint Replacement More Profitable

Baptist Health System in San Antonio made money doing what used to be industry heresy: reducing patients' use of medical care.

Expanding Medicaid Trims Hospitals' Costs Of Caring For Uninsured

One aim of Obamacare was to ease the financial strain on nonprofit hospitals that provide medical care to people who lack insurance and can't pay their bills. That plan is working, hospitals say.

Goodbye and Hello for Doctors and Patients

(MedPage Today) -- A resident finds himself getting emotional over a patient's farewell visit.

OncoBreak: Cancer and Sex, Breastfeeding Benefit, Pricey Drugs

(MedPage Today) -- News, features, and commentary about cancer-related issues.

The Great Success And Enduring Dilemma Of Cervical Cancer Screening

The Pap smear has dramatically decreased rates of cervical cancer, but testing too often has a downside, too. Many women say they aren't yet ready to follow new guidelines and skip the annual tests.

Four Reasons Video Marketing on Instagram Is So Much Better Than on Vine

Short-form videos on Vine and Instagram are powerful tools for increasing brand awareness and increasing sales. But which platform is better? Instagram, hands down. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

10 Top Trends Driving The Future Of Marketing

Editor's Note: Today's post comes courtesy of Daniel Newman, President of V3 Broadsuite and Broadsuite Media Group, a company dedicated to helping companies be found, seen, and heard online by tying together paid, owner, and earned media to drive meaningful business outcomes.

Marketers are constantly looking into the future, trying to predict the next big trend, be it for their brands or their clients. Naturally, marketers are preoccupied with questions like: What is the next big campaign? How can we turn our client into the “next big thing”? What is the next hot trend going to be in retail? Etc. Everyone wants to the answers. Knowing this, what do some of the top minds in marketing predict for their own futures? A recent article by Jeff Beer on Fast Company Create collected 25 future trends that will change the marketing landscape five years from now based on top innovators in marketing and advertising. After reading this, I started to ponder what I saw as the top trends driving marketing.

Here are the 10 trends that I think are going to have the biggest impact on the future of marketing.

1. Mobile is going to become the center of marketing. From cell phones to smartphones, tablets to wearable gadgets, the evolution of mobile devices is one of the prime factors influencing the marketing world. As the focus is shifting to smaller screens, brands will be able to strike up a more personalized relationship with their customers by leveraging the power of mobile.

2. Transparency will dictate brand-customer relationships. Currently, customers are seeking more engagement from brands. This trend will continue with customers becoming more demanding in their expectation of transparency. Genuine brands – the ones that “walk the talk” and create real value – will be rewarded. This means brands that still haven’t made their customer dealings transparent are headed to a future of doom.

3. The need for good content will not slow down. Ever. Content, particularly visual content, will rule the roost in the online marketing world, evolving into various forms and disrupting the conventional marketing models. Moreover, the speed at which a brand can create amazing content will play a part in their success.

4. User-generated content will be the new hit. The power of user-generated content will surpass branded content as brands begin to relinquish control of their own brands’ marketing to their customers. From online reviews, to social media posts and blogs, this means there will be a strong need for brands to create a positive impact in their consumers’ minds. In response to this model of content production, content co-creation between brands and consumers will become a popular trend.

5. Social will become the next Internet. Social will become an integral part of the “broader marketing discipline.” As its impact grows stronger, most brands will fully transition their marketing efforts to social channels. As such, social has the full potential to become not just one of the channels but the channel.

6. Brands will own their audience. By cultivating brand community and entering into direct conversations with their customers, brands will begin to own their audience in a way that will create loyalists and brand advocates. In the future of marketing, branding and marketing efforts will have their seeds rooted in what customers are talking about. The customers’ responses and feelings toward the brand will dictate future campaigns. Essentially, if the customers are happy, they’ll gladly wear the marketer’s hat and do what is needed to bring their favorite brand in focus.

7. Brands solely-focused on Millennials will go out of relevance. Brands will need to understand that the millennials are not a niche “youth” segment but a generation of people who will ultimately give way to a newer generation. Therefore, millennial-focused brands will have to change their game to stay relevant.

8. Good brands will behave like product companies and not like service companies. While service companies aim to create a happy customer and look forward to a contract renewal, product companies thrive on innovation. So, for brands of the future, customer satisfaction and retention will not be enough. They will need to innovate more efficiently to create more value for their customers. However, great service will NEVER go out of style.

9. Personalized, data-driven marketing will become more refined. There is a difference between data-driven marketing and intrusive marketing. While the former is based on relationship-building, the latter is nothing but old-school push marketing wrapped in a new cover. The difference between these two formats will become even more prominent in future. Marketers who focus on relationship building will be rewarded, while intruders will be shut out.

10. More accurate metrics will surface. What most brands do in the name of measuring marketing success is look at hollow “vanity” metrics such as likes, shares, or tweets. Even in terms of data mining, we are still developing more sophisticated means to capture the right data. Many ideas are hypothesized, but few are practical. The future will witness the rise of better analytical tools to help marketers gauge the success of their campaigns.

Which trends do you think will mark the future of marketing? What did I miss? I’d love to hear your predictions.

Health Plans Often Fail To Provide Free Coverage For Women's Health

Insurers dispute that notion that the problems are widespread. Consumers and advocates have complained to insurers, and some policies have been changed.

Morning Break: APA Backed Torture, Nepal's Hospitals Overwhelmed

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

1:1 Communication -- The Next Big Evolution in Marketing

Editor's Note: Today's post comes courtesy of Daniel Newman, the author of The Millennial CEO, The New Rules of Customer Engagement and Evolve: Marketing (^as we know it) is doomed. Follow him on Twitter @Danielnewmanuv

Being technology driven – both as people and as marketers – we spend an inordinate amount of time focused on how to automate and scale our marketing efforts. Trust me when I say it is important, but as marketers we also need to realize that we are gradually moving away from “push”-based marketing, and gravitating towards communicating with customers on a more personalized and 1:1 basis, through multiple channels and the devices our customers use.

In fact, the next big evolution in marketing is going to feel like a move backwards, if I may say so, from tech-first to people-first. We may need to unlearn a few things that we were taught in school, and start learning about the basics of customer-centric marketing. But why? The answer lies in the fact that consumers have evolved from being “buyers” of products and services only to becoming brand advocates who are interacting with us and seeking active involvement with our brand. Personal connections and conversations with customers will lead to conversions and this is why marketers need to adopt customer-centric strategies today.

Our Customers have Changed, Why shouldn’t our Marketing?

According to a CEI survey, 86% of buyers don’t mind paying more for a better customer experience, while only 1% of customers feel that vendors consistently meet their expectations. That’s not good. But, where are we going wrong? As marketers, we need to realize that today’s consumers behave differently than they did even a few years ago. Technology has given them the power to make informed choices and voice their preferences. They are not just signalling that they want to interact with brands through social media or other channels, but they are also divulging their personal information with the hope of getting more personalized services.

A great example of this is the way that some progressive companies are using big data and omni-channel to create intimate customer experiences that transcend on and offline purchasing behaviors. Amazon does this extremely well. Even though they are a gigantic company with millions of customers, they still personalize their offerings. Just this week I received a tailored note from them to let me know that an Author whom I’d bought a previous book from had published a new book. They also offered me a promotional price if I bought the book immediately. This is a simple example of personalizing marketing and moving buyers between channels to make marketing feel more 1:1.

But the quesiton remains. Are marketers listening? I’m sure smart marketers are. The breed of marketers who are listening to their customers, engaging them, and interacting with them are the ones who are thriving during this evolution. All the while, old-fashioned marketers are still wasting their time and money running campaigns and promos.

Marketers Should Focus on Driving More than just Visibility

From mass communication to Internet marketing, the long game has been about reach and visibility. But these metrics don’t necessarily help us make sales. Then what does? I’ve written a lot about data-driven marketing in the past and how it drives conversion. The real result lies in how we use the data we receive: how marketers handle data to track and measure the ROI in their marketing efforts. These are the metrics that reflect connections and customer satisfaction, while also leading to customer-creation.

Since customers are running the show today, businesses should put them at the center of all of their actions. Customer centricity gained force in 2014, and will be even more relevant this year. If we are not revamping our strategies and switching to a more customer-friendly marketing model, we are running the risk of losing opportunities and failing to connect. Technology should not be our focus, rather it should be treated as the penultimate tool to win at building deeper and more meaningful relationships with our customers. I give you the evolution of marketing, will you evolve, or become extinct?

5 Common Student Loan Mistakes

From the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid

1) Not figuring out how much you’ll need to pay each month

As you’re trying to plan your life after graduation, it’s important that you know how much you’ll need to pay each month toward your student loans so you can budget your other expenses accordingly. To estimate what you’ll need to pay based on your income and loan debt, use the repayment estimator.

2) Choosing the wrong repayment plan

The repayment plan you choose is a major factor in determining how much your monthly student loan payment will be and how long it will take you to pay back your loans. The Department of Education offers several different repayment plans. To compare these plans based on your student loan debt and income, use the repayment estimator.

Make sure you’re enrolled in a plan that you can afford. If you’re struggling to make your monthly payment, consider switching to an income-driven repayment plan, such as our “Income-Based” or “Pay As You Earn” plans. If you have questions, need advice, or would like to switch your repayment plan, contact your loan servicer.

3) Not paying extra when you can

If you are paying interest on your federal student loan, that interest accrues each day. An easy way to save money on your student loans is to pay more than what’s required whenever you can. Here are some ideas:

• Make interest payments while you’re still in school and/or during your grace period
• Use your tax refund to make an additional loan payment
• Tack a few extra dollars onto your payment each month

4) Missing payments

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t think you’ll be able to afford your next student loan payment, don’t just stop paying. Instead, contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. Not making your student loan payments is a big deal. It can result in default, which negatively impacts your credit score, and may affect your ability to borrow for things like a car or a home. Your loan servicer can recommend options to reduce or postpone your payment and keep your loan in good standing.

5) Paying for student loan help

There are countless ads online from companies offering to help you manage your student loan debt…for a fee, of course. But, did you know that you can get help with your student loans for free? The U.S. Department of Education provides FREE student loan help through our servicers.

Your loan servicer is the company hired by the U.S. Department of Education to help you manage, understand, and pay back your loans. They are there to help guide you through the loan repayment process, answering any questions you have along the way.

• Struggling to make your student loan payments? They can help you apply for an income-driven repayment plan or help you research options to postpone payments.
• Interested in student loan forgiveness? They have all the info you need.
• Want to consolidate your student loans? They can help with that.

Their services are provided free of charge, but they can only help you if they can reach you. Graduating and moving away from campus? Changing your cell phone number or e-mail address? Make sure you let your loan servicer know.

Infographic: 14 Online Marketing Tips to Improve Design, Content & Conversions

A trusted resource can be a friend, colleague or industry expert and we may turn to them from time-to-time for guidance. Today’s online marketing landscape is crowded with advice from marketers that may have the power to influence you, but not necessarily the authority to give you sage advice. In our eBook “Winning with Authority [...]

The post Infographic: 14 Online Marketing Tips to Improve Design, Content & Conversions appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

Email Marketing and Copywriting: Why you should send “spam”

As email marketers, we're taught to never use certain words for fear of upsetting the almighty spam filter. But maybe our fears are more irrational than we thought. In this MarketingExperiements Blog post, learn about a recent test that proved using the word "spam" in your emails can be beneficial.

Record $374B Spent on Drugs: The Pain Medicine News Report

(MedPage Today) -- What Jennifer Aniston teaches us about chronic pain.

More CPR, Worse Outcomes For Dialysis Patients (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Researchers say more advance care planning is needed.

Why Not Start Addiction Treatment Right In The ER?

Like asthma or diabetes, opioid addiction is a chronic condition. Could treatment that begins when people show up in the ER get them on the right road faster?

Teen Girls' Sodium Intake May Not Raise Blood Pressure (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Potassium intake appears to have more influence than sodium.

GastroBreak: Colon Health, Gluten Myths, and PBC at EASL

(MedPage Today) -- The latest news and research in gastroenterology.

Morning Break: Fake Hearts Still Beat, IOM 2.0

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

Why Do Sites Rank High on Google When They Aren’t Optimized?

Have you ever wondered why some sites rank high on Google when they aren’t optimized for search engines? Or even worse, when they barely have any backlinks? I’ve been asked this question a lot over the last few months, so I thought I would write a blog post explaining why that happens. Here’s why some  [click to continue...]

12 Awesome Content Marketing Ideas That Aren’t Blog Posts (Infographic)

Editor's Note: Today's post comes courtesy of Sylvia Jensen, Senior Director, EMEA Marketing, Oracle Marketing Cloud.

Today I want to share with you 12 creative media formats that make your company’s story stand out from the blogging sphere. An easy-to-grasp guide introducing 12 great ideas for content that isn’t blog-shaped.

With so much content out there it can be hard to ensure that your brand’s message does not get lost in the noise of the Internet. Particularly if that message is being presented in the standard blog format - SEO optimised for sure, but is it engaging and different from any other content?

So to help your content stand out from the numerous dry standard formatted blogs out there why not take a different approach and frame your content as a quiz, or a comic strip? Perhaps move onto Twitter and host a Q&A session? Or why not post your content into a shared space and generate discussion around it?

There are many ways in which you can differentiate your brand message and really engage with prospects - below we have pulled together 12 of the most awesome creative media formats, from charts, text messages all the way through to content vampires, to help you really make sure that your content is noticed. As fashion designer and style icon Vivienne Westwood once said “You will have a more interesting life if you wear impressive clothes” and the same applies for content marketing - you will have a more interesting brand if you create impressive content”.

But remember - the key to content is all about making it relevant to your target prospects in message, design and distribution - so read on, get inspired, keep creative and start generating the awesome content needed to really get your brand noticed.

Discover Oracle Marketing Cloud’s ‘5 Pillars of Social Success’ in our Modern Marketing Essentials Guide to Social Marketing.

Florida's House Quits Early, At Impasse Over Medicaid Expansion

Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott sued the federal government Tuesday, accusing it of coercing Florida to accept the expansion, or lose funding for other health programs for the poor.

Why Vaccinating Your Children is Important

The recent measles outbreak demonstrates how quickly a nearly-eliminated disease can spread.

World Immunization Week serves as a great opportunity to learn more how vaccines save lives. Did you know that vaccines for children prevent 16 diseases that persist in other nations?

Vaccines work best when most members of a community are vaccinated; protect your kids and others by following a vaccine schedule according to their age. If you’re worried about the safety of vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website and get the facts.

Behind the Curtain: 4 Tips for Creating Landing Pages That Convert

  Landing pages are still somewhat of a mystery to many marketers. In theory they sound simple, but it may feel like there are secrets or some mystic formula that has to be cracked in order to be successful. Now you not only need a website that is filled with stellar content and optimized for [...]

The post Behind the Curtain: 4 Tips for Creating Landing Pages That Convert appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

Florida's Legislature Quits Early, At Impasse Over Medicaid Expansion

Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott sued the federal government Tuesday, accusing it of coercing Florida to accept the expansion, or lose funding for other health programs for the poor.

Retargeting, As Explained by Nerf Guns [PODCAST]

Even if landing page visitors don't convert the first time around, you've got to gently remind them that you exist. In this episode of the Call to Action podcast, we break down the basics of an effective retargeting strategy – using Nerf Guns to illustrate.

Cyst

Title: Cyst
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/8/2005 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2015 12:00:00 AM

Rare Adverse Events Seen in Arthritis Tx (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Case reports of cerebral necrotizing lesions, stress fractures, and alopecia.

Heal, Don't Deal: Neurology Times and Psychiatric Times Report

(MedPage Today) -- Patients are not clients and alleviating suffering is not a business enterprise.

Pelzman's Picks: Patient Satisfaction Surveys: A Dangerous Metric

(MedPage Today) -- NHS hangs in the political balance, futile patient questionnaires, and more.

A Rural Police Chief Asks Citizens To Help Pick Up Used Syringes

The rise in heroin use in the town of Turners Falls, Mass., has led to another problem: a proliferation of discarded hypodermic needles. Police can't keep up, so they've asked residents to help.

Is This 'Meaningful Use'? Docs Say Yes, Patients Unsure

(MedPage Today) -- CMS is trying to lighten doctors' loads, but patient advocates are unhappy.

NeuroBreak: Thinking Doesn't Fuel Brain Cancer, AAN Roundup

(MedPage Today) -- News and commentary from the world of neurology and neuroscience.

Setting Themselves Apart From Their Competitors - The Penn Foster Story (Video)

Founded in 1890, Penn Foster has been a leader in career-focused distance and hybrid learning for over 125 years. More than 13 million people have enrolled in their College, Career School and High School to further their education and learn advanced skills to better position them for life success.

Today, they have over 133,000 active students in programs focusing on high growth, in-demand fields like Veterinary Technician, Business, Medical Billing and Coding, HVACR Technician and Pharmacy Technician to name a few.

And of course, like any other brand they want to set themselves apart from their competition.

To do just that they partnered with the Oracle Marketing Cloud.

Sara Dellecave, who is the email marketing manager for Penn Foster says it's vital they engage with their students and deliver great content at the right channels. "Oracle Marketing Cloud has really helped us pull together all the data that we have on our students and create meaningful messages."

Watch this video to see how Penn Foster extends its marketing team with Oracle Marketing Cloud.

To learn more as to how the Oracle Marketing Cloud can help your brand be sure to check out the Modern Marketing Essentials series which are invaluable resources to help you better understand and execute on marketing effectiveness, manage organizational structures, sharpen the skills necessary to round out your technology toolkit, and support the creation of ideal customers.

Technology Is for Storytelling, Not Just for Looking Trendy

Brands often get excited about using technology just for the sake of looking trendy. Instead, they need to consider whether the technology helps them tell a better brand story. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

Morning Break: Flaccid-lene Failure, Still More VA Misconduct

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

How Getting Married Affects Health Insurance Tax Credits

If marriage is on the horizon, it might be wise to set aside some money for the taxman. An increase in family income after the vows can trigger repayment of a health insurance credit.

4 Must-DOs Before Repaying Your Student Loans

From the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid

Congratulations, Class of 2015! Your hard work paid off. You did it! There’s a lot to think about as you begin the next chapter. Let me help you with the student loan part.

Here are four things you should do now, before you make that first student loan payment:

1. Find out what you owe

Start by tracking down all of your student loans. Just go to StudentAid.gov/login and log in to view your federal student loan balances, interest rate, loan servicer contact information, and more.

Note: Don’t forget to check your personal records to see if you have private student loans as well.

2. Enroll in a repayment plan that you can afford

If you take no action after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will be automatically enrolled in the 10-Year Standard Repayment Plan. Find out what your monthly payment amount is going to be if you stick with this plan. If you don’t think you can afford that amount, consider switching to an income-driven repayment plan instead.

Income-driven repayment plans are designed to make your student loan debt more manageable by reducing your monthly payment amount to an affordable amount based on your income.

The easiest way to compare the different repayment plans based on your loan amount and income is to use our repayment calculator. Once you log in, the calculator pulls in information about your federal student loans, such as your loan balance and your interest rates, and allows you to estimate what your monthly payment would be under each of our different repayment plans. It also allows you to compare the total amount you will pay for your loan over time and can tell you the amount of loan forgiveness you’re expected to qualify for if you choose one of our income-driven repayment plans.

Once you select a plan, contact your servicer to apply or enroll.

3. Figure out how to pay

If you have federal student loans, you won’t pay the U.S. Department of Education directly. You will make payments to your loan servicer. Your loan servicer is a company that works on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education to process and manage student loan payments. To find out who your loan servicer is, log in to StudentAid.gov. You may have more than one loan servicer, so it is important that you look at each loan individually.

Automatic Debit: The easiest way to pay

If you want to make repaying your student loans as easy as possible, sign up for automatic debit through your loan servicer. If you choose this option, your loan payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account each month, ensuring that your payments are made on time. If that isn’t good enough, you may also qualify for a 0.25% interest rate reduction when you enroll in automatic debit. To enroll in automatic debit, go to your servicer’s website.

4. Know who to contact if you need help

If you ever have questions or need help with your student loans contact your loan servicer. Your loan servicer can help you choose a repayment plan, understand loan consolidation, apply for an income-driven repayment plan, and complete other tasks related to your federal student loan. It’s important to remember that you NEVER have to pay for help with your student loans. That’s what your loan servicer is there for. Their help is FREE.

It’s important to maintain contact with your loan servicer. If your circumstances change at any time during your repayment period, your loan servicer will be able to help.

Live Streaming Showdown: Meerkat Versus Periscope

Live streaming video services have finally hit the mainstream market, and are beginning to pick up steam. Many might compare their use to Dave Egger’s 2013 novel, “The Circle,” which explores the beginning of a transparent society in which politicians, public servants, and private citizens “go transparent” by wearing body cams and live streaming every [...]

I’m Pretty Sure Your Mobile Marketing Strategy Isn’t Good Enough

On the heels of #mobilegeddon, simply having a mobile marketing strategy isn't enough. If you want to be successful, you need an *optimized* mobile marketing strategy – one that you’re constantly refining and improving.

Doc Compensation Up, as Is Dissatisfaction: HealthLeaders Media

(MedPage Today) -- Stubborn RN gender pay gap, inequality of stroke care.

Hospitals Increasingly Turn to Patients for Advice

(MedPage Today) -- New federal incentives are driving hospitals' interest in patient perspectives.

Can a Daily TV Hour Put Pounds on Kids?

(MedPage Today) -- Limiting TV to an hour a day might not keep the doctor away, it turns out.

Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water

Excess fluoride consumption is leading to tiny white marks on many people's teeth. It's mainly a cosmetic problem, but one that could be solved by lowering the fluoride in drinking water.

Increased Mortality Tied to Fatty Liver Disease Spectrum (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Researchers also report increasing rates of heart disease in patients with progressive disease.

Is Stopping DMTs Feasible in Multiple Sclerosis?

(MedPage Today) -- Study suggests 75% of stable patients remain stable for 3 years after discontinuing drugs.

Build a Killer Conversion Strategy with Nothing but Time and Empathy

What does it take to build a killer CRO strategy? Money? A huge team of pro optimizers? As it turns out, all it takes is time, a willingness to learn, and an understanding of your audience. Don't take our word for it — conversion experts like Joanna Wiebe, Talia Wolf and Brian Massey told us so.

These Five Handy Strategies Will Expand Your Marketing Influence

You've heard of growth hacks... Here are five marketing hacks. They don't take a ton of budget, but they have a huge impact on your content creation, customer relations, and sales tactics. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

How to Grow Your Blog Traffic by 20,000 Visitors a Month

Around eight months ago, I started a new blog in the marketing realm. When I first started out, my traffic was flat. But around four months ago, I figured out a process that has allowed me to grow my traffic consistently—a process I could replicate. I am now at a point where I am adding about  [click to continue...]

Morning Break: Incentive Pay Opt-Outs, Oz No Quack, Deathbed Champagne

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

How to Successfully Launch Your First Marketing Automation Program

Editor's Note: Today's post comes courtesy of Zach Watson, content manager at TechnologyAdvice. He covers gamification, healthcare IT, business intelligence, and other emerging technology. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

For marketing departments accustomed to smaller, fragmented software applications, implementing marketing automation software can be a daunting task. Properly integrating marketing automation into your organization requires a certain set of criteria, including:

• Understanding what marketing automaton can and can’t do
• Having a copious amount of leads to nurture
• Having the necessary talent to operate the system to its full potential
• Having enough content to fuel your nurturing campaigns

If you meet these standards then it’s likely you’ve already investigated solutions and perhaps even chosen a platform. But selecting a capable tool is only the beginning. Automation software touches numerous channels and presents marketers with a broad range of capabilities, so narrowing down the expansive strategies to actionable tactics should be the first order of business.

Luckily, there are several core undertakings that all marketers should complete when they begin to use marketing automation software. By segmenting your database from the start, setting up a scalable campaign creation workflow, and implementing clear lines of communication with sales, you’ll lay a strong foundation on which you can build successful marketing campaigns and optimize your business processes.

It all begins with your database.

Create Accurate Segmentations

Before you begin developing your automation campaigns, you should take the time to fastidiously segment the customer data you’re storing in your marketing automation platform. Because the real goal of marketing automation platforms — and really marketers at large for that matter — is to create personalized marketing for each customer, you have to spend time on the front end organizing your customers into appropriate segments.

On an operational level, this task isn’t all that complex. Most marketing automation platforms use lists (which are essentially customer segments) as reference points to deliver content. It’s the responsibility of the marketer to create lists that reflect the differences in your customers.

Common strategies for segmentation include dividing leads based on where they entered your system, e.g. through a webinar or landing page. A more detailed approach will use where these customers are in their buying journey and which of their pain points your product or service addresses. The behavioral analytics included in your automation platform are often the best data sources for deciphering how to segment.

The real value of segmentation becomes apparent once you start deploying campaigns. By empathizing with your customers and only sending them content that’s relevant to their interests, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of converting them from prospects into customers.

Take an Agile Approach to Creating Campaigns

Once your customer information is properly organized, you can begin creating drip campaigns. Depending on the buying cycle in your industry, these email autoresponders could span a couple of weeks or they could extend to several months.

Since marketing automation features a number of moving parts, it’s best to get one campaign up and running as quickly as possible. Once you launch your initial campaign for one segment, you’ll be able to move on to another campaign while your first initiative runs in the background. While it’s important to monitor campaigns for opportunities to improve, approaching the campaign creation process with an Agile outlook can reduce the period between implementing your new software and seeing results.

Starting with a single campaign also allows you to approach the project with more detail, learn the myriad of minor functions on offer, and set baselines for performance. Build your first campaign where your business is strongest, whether that’s a specific marketing channel or a certain customer segment.

Work with Sales on Lead Standards

Marketing automation software helps create a more holistic journey for customers by building a better link between your marketing and sales departments. Sales can access the behavioral data marketers have build up in the automation system, and marketing can better tie their efforts to revenue.

This relationship helps keep the entire buying experience relevant for the customer, but marketing has to get sales involved in the automation process early for it all to work. Sorting out lead scoring and defining a “marketing qualified lead” are the building blocks to a successful marketing/sales partnership.

Collaborating with sales on how to score leads will not only result in more accurate scoring criteria, but also reduce tension between the two departments about when a lead should be sent to sales versus when a lead should be further nurtured. The numerical aspect of a lead score adds a quantitative element to this strategy that helps eliminate any vagueness around each department’s expectations.

Like all digital marketing, experimentation will be necessary to truly nail down lead scores, but sales department input is invaluable for deciding which type of behavior truly signals buyer intent.

In many respects, marketing automation embodies the advancement of digital marketing, and the possibilities it presents in terms of data consolidation, cross channel campaigns, and improving the buyer experience are undeniably exciting. However, certain steps must be taken before marketers can start to turn some of these possibilities into reality.

Developing strong protocols for segmentation, campaign creation, and lead scoring will place your marketing automation program in a much stronger starting position.

Donate Life: Sign Up as an Organ, Eye, or Tissue Donor

What if you could save the lives of up to 8 people?

Every year thousands of people receive the gift of life when they get a life-saving transplant such as a kidney, a liver, or intestines. Most organs for transplants come from deceased donors. Did you know that…

• 123,318 people are waiting for an organ
• 21 people will die each day waiting for one
• 1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives

Check out this animated video which explains the transplant waiting, list, how to become a donor, the process of organ matches, and how to sign up in your state. You can also find more information on www.organdonor.gov.

2015 Enterprise B2B Content Marketing Report: More Isn’t Better

Companies in the B2B space from IBM to HubSpot have been actively and effectively engaging prospects with longer sales cycle content for years. Like many competitive environments, a lot of emphasis for marketers has been about creating “more” content. More blog posts, videos, infographics, social messages, emails, and so on. But here’s the thing about “more content” [...]

Maybe You Should Rethink That Daily Aspirin

A small dose of aspirin taken regularly can help prevent a second heart attack or stroke. But too many healthy people are taking the drug for prevention. And for them, the risks may outweigh benefits.

Email Marketing: Improve subject lines in 7 steps by using the right words, in the right order

Getting recipients to open your emails is dependent upon effective subject lines. Read on for seven questions you should ask yourself as you craft your next email for properly sequenced subject lines. Keep the questions handy by downloading a checklist.

All-Oral Tx Feasible in HCV With Advanced Liver Disease (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Direct-acting antiviral regimens well tolerated and efficacious.

Rheumatologists Urged: Know Your Biosimilars (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Involving patient in the treatment decision should also be a consideration.

Vascular Calcifications on Hands Tied to RA Deaths (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Calcifications may also be markers of CVD in RA patients.

Is Circadian Rhythm the Rhythm of Life?

(MedPage Today) -- Pre-ovulatory hormone surge and ovulation may be controlled by novel circadian hiearchy.

Technology Creates 'Blind Spot' in Physician Credentialing

(MedPage Today) -- Do credentialing methods keep up with the pace of technological change?

Would Doctors Be Better If They Didn't Have To Memorize?

For decades, first-year medical students have had to cram the details of the cellular metabolism cycle into their heads. Some med schools say it's time to quit cramming and focus on patients' lives.

Harvoni Tackles Uncommon HCV Variants (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Rarer genotypes of hepatitis C yield to sofosbuvir-ledipasvir combo.

Interferon Tx Scores in Tough-to-Treat HCV (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Demonized drug performs well in genotype 3 of hepatitis C.

D.C. Week: FDA Hears Varied Opinions on Homeopathy

(MedPage Today) -- Questions raised over how homeopathic medications should be labeled.

Infant Feces Probiotics? That's Improbable!

(MedPage Today) -- Spray-on socks, and getting nature in prescription strength.

As Health Apps Hop On The Apple Watch, Privacy Will Be Key

The notion of receiving nutrition advice from artificial intelligence on your wrist may seem like science fiction. But health developers are betting this kind of behavior will become the norm.

Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Rashes Can Be Serious

Title: Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Rashes Can Be Serious
Category: Health News
Created: 4/23/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM

Building a Better Business, Finding Balance: Healthcare Career Insights

(MedPage Today) -- Must reads about the latest news and trends in healthcare careers

Check Out Asymptomatic TMJ in Arthritic Kids (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Most common symptoms were pain on function, TMJ sounds, pain at rest.

CDC: HIV Outbreak Tied to Injected Opioids

(MedPage Today) -- Rural Indiana country reports 136 cases, norm is <5/year.

AAN Emerging Science Roundup

(MedPage Today) -- Highlights from the data blitz at this year's emerging science session.

Diet Drug Saxenda Makes Expensive Debut

(MedPage Today) -- Priced at $1,000 a month, the drug joins a crowded field.

How to Check the Background of Your Financial Advisor

Do you use or have you ever considered using a financial advisor to help you make money decisions? Before you turn over your hard-earned cash, we want to help you learn the signs of investment fraud and find out how to check the background of your financial advisor.

That’s why Marietta Jelks, the editor-in-chief of the Consumer Action Handbook, partnered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to bring you a Google Hangout answering some of your questions about this topic.

Here are some of the highlights from the discussion:

Look for red flags that signal investment fraud

• Be wary if an investment advisor or promoter says things like “risk free,” “guaranteed earnings,” “quick profits,” “the investment is government approved.” Almost all are signs of fraud.
• Watch out for investments that are billed as “limited-time offers” or are only available to a small number of people.
• Make sure to get everything in writing and read all documents so you know what you’re agreeing to.

Check the background of your financial professional

Looking into the background of a financial advisor is one of the most important steps an investor can take toward protecting their assets.

The CFTC recently launched a new tool – SmartCheck.gov – to help make it easier to do that. Through the tool, you have access to multiple databases of federal and state agencies and self-regulatory organizations that provide background information on financial advisors. It is an easy and free process, requiring no usernames or passwords.

Report investment fraud

If you have been a victim of investment fraud or misrepresentation, you should file complaints with a few sources:

• Your state’s securities regulator: It can determine if the broker or company has violated state specific securities laws.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission:  For violation of federal securities laws.
• The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority: FINRA accepts complaints about brokers and their firms.

If you would like financial compensation for your losses, you may want to seek legal action or go through a dispute resolution program.

To learn more about recognizing investment fraud and researching your financial advisor, watch the recording of our Google Hangout.

#SocialSkim: Facebook Eyes Your Phone Calls, Plus 13 More Stories in This Week's Roundup

Find out how Facebook's begun colonizing phone calls and how its latest algo change will affect your brand page. You'll also get the score on Twitter's new DM feature for nonfollowers and Snapchat's decision to shut down Brand Stories. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

Morning Break: 'Organic' Versus 'Humane,' Listeria Scare, Vinegar Quest

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

Why You Need a Social Media Calendar and How to Create One

You’ve heard of social media calendars before, but do you know what they are and how to use one? Chances are you don’t. And that’s okay… I didn’t either when I entered the realm of social media marketing. But once I learned about it and how to use it, it change how I marketed my businesses  [click to continue...]

Online Marketing News: Facebook Says Hello, Twitter Gets More Direct, Google Gets Mobile-Friendly

The Periodic Table of Social Media - There’s a science to social media. From content and metrics to terminology, here’s a fun way to test and verify your social marketing experiments. Direct Marketing News New Direct Messaging Comes To Twitter - With today’s changes, the ice cream shop can opt to receive Direct Messages from anyone; so you [...]

Why No One is Reading Your Emails on Mobile

75% of people who receive an email that isn’t optimized for mobile will just delete it. So please don't delete this! Learn about mobile email optimization, and how you can get your readers to open, read and take action on your emails.

Tenn., Kansas Also Get Warning: Expand Medicaid or Risk Hospital Funds

(MedPage Today) -- Federal officials are reaching out to the nine states that get the funds.

Diabetes Drug Makes NASH Vanish in Some Patients (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Injected liraglutide appears more effective than placebo in liver disease

An End to Employer-Provided Health Insurance?

(MedPage Today) -- David Nash, MD, MBA, looks at trends in employer-based insurance coverage.

Couples Counseling Catches On With Tech Co-Founders

Friction between close business partners is the reason many startups fail. But increasingly in Silicon Valley, co-founders of companies are turning to therapists before things go south.

Op-Ed: Weight Loss Through Exercise Alone Is a Myth

(MedPage Today) -- Obesity epidemic can't be stemmed by exercise alone, say experts.

OncoBreak: Play Nice to Avoid Lawsuits, Baseball Without 'Chew'

(MedPage Today) -- News, features, and commentary about cancer-related issues.

Seven Tips for Effective Local SEO

SEO might seem a Herculean task for local businesses, but it doesn't have to be. Here are seven little secrets to effective local SEO. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

Morning Break: Fixing Embryos, Acquittal in Alzheimer's Sex Case

(MedPage Today) -- Health news and commentary from around the Web, gathered by the MedPage Today staff.

How To Win At Social Media Marketing From 8am-8pm: Your Timetable

Social media never sleeps, find out how you can fit it all around your day.

Being a Social Media Manager can be stressful - you need to juggle staying on top of trends, whilst creating a longer term strategy. There are so many different tasks to be done - how can you squeeze them all into a 12 hour day? Being successful in your role requires structure, so here is a plan to that will assist you in making your social media marketing a success.

8am: The morning commute

Use this time to check through your social media pages. Bookmark relevant articles you see to tweet about later today, or retweet them there and then. @Econsultancy, @marketingprofs, @CMIContent and @socialmedia2day regularly post interesting marketing articles. Be sure to follow some industry specific accounts too, as they will provide the latest news articles relevant to your organisation.

9am: Arrive at work, check your emails

Time to sift through your emails. Catch up on social media newsletters and trawl through your Google alerts for interesting content to post about, or as inspiration for your next campaign.

9.30am: Sync up with your teams

Catch up with your team and discuss your tasks for the day. What content is coming down the pipe? What other campaigns are going on that you can support socially? Book in some time with a colleague to go over last month’s report and to work on your upcoming campaign.

10.00am: The company blog post is out - time to distribute!

Check with the design team that the social media graphics are ready for the post. Having images with the correct dimensions and resolution is key to creating an attractive page. Ensure that the images follow a theme to create continuity. When you have your images ready, input your social copy into your distribution tool and schedule the messages to go out at optimum times over the next week.

10.30am: Send out the Twitter Tuesday tweets

Compile social posts about content or events to be pushed out on social and email them out weekly to all or a select bunch of your most social colleagues.

Trying to get everybody in your company to get social is no mean feat. Perhaps you could introduce a ‘social tutorial’ into HR’s new starter induction day? A foolproof way to get everyone - not just marketing - talking online (and gather a bit of extra engagement).

11.00am: Research

Your engagement and posts are only useful when targeted at the right people. Use this time to locate industry influencers on Twitter and create a list so that you can engage with them directly. Find out where the action is! Research which hashtags are gaining traction for your upcoming campaign and what LinkedIn Groups have the most active discussions in your industry.

11.30am: Writing social copy

With your newly sourced knowledge, you can start writing some social copy for the next blog post. You can discuss articles you’ve found or start writing copy for the latest campaign you are launching on your social media platforms.

12.30pm: Grab lunch and check social media platforms

Time to check through your platforms again whilst you have your lunch. What conversations are happening today and which can you get involved with later on this afternoon? Have any of your posts gained a lot of attention? Bookmark areas for attention.

1.00pm: Respond to your audience

Now you’ve seen what’s going on, it’s time to start responding. Start by replying to comments and get a conversation going. Check out what your customers are doing online. Share their content, like their statuses, and promote your brand advocates. Their success is your success. Join a few discussions and ensure you engage with target personas and industry influencers. Tools like Talkwalker make this task easier by identifying what the big conversations are and who is having them.

2.00pm: Catch up with other departments

As the one in the know, everyone is keen to learn your social media knowledge. Sometimes you run sessions for the technophobic sales teams - other times you just catch up with customer services to ensure the social tone of voice guidelines are being maintained.

2.30pm: Work on your upcoming campaign

Grab your colleague and start discussing your upcoming campaign. Compare your research and decide what hashtags to use and what to call the campaign. Consider who you are going to target and what you want from your audience.

3.30pm: Scheduling

Set up timing for the first batch of messages for your campaign. Get the ball rolling and schedule a few Tweets or Facebook posts to introduce the idea to your audience. Schedule some social copy around the articles you’ve found - social media should be about entertaining and informing your audience, so offer something other than your own blog post or products.

4.00pm: Reporting

How did your blog post do last week? Did you notice that your Facebook posts were more popular in the morning than in the afternoon? Did you find that tweets with a particular hashtag got a lot more engagement? Pick out what did well (and what didn’t) and make notes for your future campaigns or content plans.

5.30pm: Journey home - walk through your day

Now is the time to go over your tasks and start putting together a plan for tomorrow. It’s also a great time to go through social media marketing blogs such as Buffer and make notes on ideas that inspire you.

7.00pm: Arrive home - back to work

Take half an hour to go through the agenda for your meeting tomorrow. What ideas do you have to bring to the table?

8.00pm: End of the day and feeling inspired.

You’ve been reading tips and tricks all day and, finally, a light bulb has gone off over your head. You scribble down a few ideas for the blog post you’ve been asked to write and some ‘to dos’ for tomorrow, then finally get some rest. After checking Twitter, that is.

Discover more essential tips about effective social media marketing by downloading: Modern Marketing Essentials Guide to Social Marketing

Naming Pluto’s Features: Submit Ideas by April 24

Historic Fly-By Will Reveal Planet’s Surface Details

Expectant parents try to pick out names before their baby’s due date. Astronomers are doing the same thing. They’re looking for suggestions for planetary features they expect to discover when a spacecraft flies past Pluto in July.

NASA’s New Horizons probe has been traveling nine years and more than three billion miles to the outer edges of our solar system. When it reaches Pluto, on July 14, it will send back the first-ever close-up images of the dwarf planet and its moons.

You can submit names for as-yet-undiscovered geological features on Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. Names must fit into themes about mythology or exploration. You can also check out suggested names and vote for your favorites. But don’t wait. Deadline for both is next Friday, April 24.

4 Essential Tips for Content Marketers to Survive Mobilegeddon, Google’s Mobile Friendly Update

Internet users are spending more time than ever on their smartphones, which means Content Marketers must adjust their strategies to create a better user experience for those drawn to the small screen. The release of Google’s new mobile-friendly update, aka "mobilegeddon", has drawn a firestorm of attention to the need for improving website responsiveness and user experience on mobile devices. There's a good reason for this: A recent study by ComScore and Millennial Media found that approximately 56% of digital content is now consumed via smartphones. Knowing that a large portion of your audience likely searches, consumes and interacts with content on their mobile device should inform how you execute on your Content Marketing initiatives. The good news is, despite the apocalyptic headlines on many blogs, Google has stated that the new mobile-friendly update only affects:

• Search rankings on mobile devices
• Rankings of individual pages, not entire websites

Even so, mobile content discovery and consumption is universal and it's more important than ever to optimize for search and user experience with content on all devices. To help you save the day, we’ve compiled a list of 4 essential tips for content marketers to take a more mobile-friendly approach to content. Make Google happy. Make your customers happy. Everybody wins!

#1 - Understand Where You Are Now

Google has provided a very handly (albeit not 100% accurate) tool that can be used to quickly check to see if any website is mobile friendly. If you pass the test you’ll be shown a snippet of how Googlebot see your page as well as some additional resources on creating mobile-friendly web pages. If your website fails the test, Google will provide reasoning for the failure as well as recommended steps for making the website mobile-friendly. Below is an example from Moz of a website that unfortunately did not pass the mobile-friendly test. In fact, this blog did not pass the test until recently, thanks to the efforts of Evan and Howie on our team to update our WordPress template. The third way you can assess if a website is mobile-friendly is by simply typing a query in your smartphone on Google. If the website is mobile-friendly it will be indicated just prior to the web page meta description.

#2 - Always Keep Your Audience in Mind

Google doesn’t make purchasing decisions, your customers do. So while it’s important to follow the guidelines that Google sets forth, your customers should always be top of mind when determining your Content Marketing strategy. Rely on your data and what you know about your audience to help form the changes you will make to content in order to meet Google’s new mobile-friendly requirements.

#3 - Make Your Headlines Notable

Between smartphone apps, email and mobile web content, consumers are constantly inundated with digital content on their mobile devices. This means your window of opportunity to grab and hold their attention is very small. When crafting your content headlines, focus on:

• Offering a teaser of the content to draw them in
• Clearly articulating what they’ll find
• Empathizing with their needs and pain points

#4 - Create Concise Content That is Easy to Consume

How your audience consumes and interacts with your website content on a mobile device can be much different than your desktop users. Keep in mind that your website must serve both mobile and desktop users in a way that is relevant. How can you make your website experience more meaningful for mobile users?

• Website Home Page: Offer brief overviews and appropriate Calls to Action for the various focal points of your website.
• Website Interior Pages: Provide a concise overview at the top of the page so that mobile users can quickly scan the content. As you move down the page you can dive deeper into your focus areas. This will ensure that both mobile and desktop users have access to the proper amount of content.
• Blog Content: Focus your introduction on providing an overview of what they will find in the post. Again, this will allow your audience to determine if they want to consume the information on-the-go.

Google’s new mobile-friendly update shouldn’t be seen as an Armageddon-esque threat, but as an opportunity to better serve your online audience with content that is easy to find, consume and act on with mobile devices. Hopefully the tips provided above take some of the fear, uncertainty and doubt out of the process and have provided a clearer path for making your content marketing efforts more mobile-friendly. I am curious to know; What type of content does your mobile audience typically respond best to? Photo: Shutterstock

More Whistleblowers Say Health Plans Are Gouging Medicare

Federal authorities are investigating claims that some Medicare Advantage health plans have overcharged the government for years by claiming that patients are sicker than they are.

Show Off Your Copywriting Skills and Win a Ticket to CTA Conference

Are you a pro at writing copy that converts? Show your stuff in our Conversion Copywriting Contest and you could win a trip to the Call to Action Conference, our 3-day mega-event in Vancouver featuring talks from — and parties with — the world’s top conversion experts.

The 5 Major Factors to Look for When Evaluating a Website

MECLABS Institute performed an internal survey to find out what people look at when they are evaluating a website. This article will focus on the elements surveyed: appearance, clarity, timeliness, ease of placing an order and navigation.

Lowering the Bar for Bariatric Surgery? The General Surgery News Report

(MedPage Today) -- A Nobel surgeon's study of the inner ear remains relevant 100 years later.

Increasing Tysabri Dosing Interval May Cut PML Risk

(MedPage Today) -- No sacrifice of efficacy seen in retrospective analysis.

Merging Practices Into an ACO a Tricky Business

(MedPage Today) -- Head of a Dallas accountable care organization explains his integration strategy.

Can A Person With Dementia Consent To Sex?

A jury in Iowa acquitted a man who had been criminally charged for having sex with his wife, who had Alzheimer's. Very few care facilities have policies on dementia, sex and consent.

Outpatient Acute PE Therapy Safe in Real World

(MedPage Today) -- Acute pulmonary embolism outcomes as good as in trial setting.

The CMO Technology Conundrum And How To Solve It

“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” —Bill Gates

Given the vast array of technology, data points, channels, and tactics available, new technology and marketing automation has stepped in to help CMOs bring all their activities together and support the delivery of the ultimate customer experience. But has it really helped so far? Or has it simply created another overwhelming challenge for the CMO who now must become a technology expert to apply it efficiently?

The above is an excerpt from a recently-released guide we created along with The CMO Club entitled the CMO Solution Guide to Leveraging New Technology and Marketing Platforms. The guide contains results of a survey of over 100 marketing leaders plus the five key solutions we identified to help CMOs and marketing leaders tackle the challenge of providing a seamless customer experience across all marketing channels via the use of technology - the right technology that is.

Nothing New Here

Kevin Akeroyd, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Marketing Cloud recently wrote in a Forbes piece that "the need to become customer centric isn’t new, nor is marketing’s responsibility to drive growth. In fact, the need to make the best possible use of content, the need for marketers to apply technology, the need to use data to drive insights, the need to prove marketing’s value and show ROI–none of those things are really new."

He went on to add that "in the digital world, the unprecedented access to the customer that requires marketers to build lasting relationships on behalf of their brands has created a Wild West of vendors making big promises but all too often delivering a fragmented and obscured path to success."

This may explain why, according to survey results, when asked how well they can truly deliver a seamless, personalized consistent customer experience across all touch points a mere 13% indicated they could do so using their current technologies and platforms.

And if you're wondering why it is so vital to in fact deliver that seamless experience, consider the following:

The Solutions Identified

In the CMO Solution Guide to Leveraging New Technology and Marketing Platforms we identify the following five solutions that will CMOs and marketing leaders meet the challenge head on.

1. Be the Customer Champion Every Step of the Way (Understand the Customer Journey and Technology Requirements for Engagement; Engage the Organization; Create a Customer-centric Culture)
2. Become BFFs with Your CIO (Speak the Same Language Collaborate in Person)
3. Co-design the Optimal Customer-Driven Technology Roadmap (Foundation: Cross-Channel, Content, and Social Marketing Platform – Open or Proprietary? Data – Data Management Platform (DMP)
4. Rethink Your Marketing Organization and Processes (Skills – Creation of New Cross-Functional Teams Talent – Data Scientist and Campaign Artist)
5. Establish a System for Continuous Improvement (Results Oriented – Test, Learn, Repeat)

When the only constant is change, the new role of the CMO dictates the use of new technologies and marketing platforms to increase competitive advantage. There is an undeniable need for CMOs to be constantly vigilant when it comes to monitoring the technologies and platforms they utilize and depend on. The health of their brand demands it.

Download the CMO Solution Guide to Leveraging New Technology and Marketing Platforms today to increase your competitive advantage.

GastroBreak: Colonscopy Report Card, More on Dirty Scope

(MedPage Today) -- The latest news and research in gastroenterology.

Marketing, PR, Social, Advertising Are All Intertwined: Geoff Livingston on Marketing Smarts [Podcast]

Author, strategist, and MarketingProfs Marketing Writing Bootcamp instructor Geoff Livingston discusses marketing strategy, customer experience, content, PR, and more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

See Ya, SGR!

(MedPage Today) -- The ACP's Bob Doherty will not miss the recently repealed SGR

Does Your Blog Need a Sidebar?

Have you ever wondered if your blog really needs a sidebar? And if you need a sidebar, should it be on the left or right side? Sadly, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. But with some testing, I’ve figured out the optimal layout for a sidebar on a blog. So, should you be  [click to continue...]

Know, Before You Owe: New Home Shopping Toolkit

Are You Looking to Buy a Home?

Buying a home is one of the most exciting yet one of the most difficult financial decisions you will make. Understanding the costs of real estate settlement services, defining what affordable means to you, and finding the best mortgage are among the many aspects you’ll need to consider. This new toolkit (PDF) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), offers a step-by-step guide that includes checklists, conversation starters for discussions between buyers and lenders, and research tips to find more information.

Do you have questions about homeownership? If you’re on Twitter, join the CFPB during a live Question and Answer Session on homeownership on April 28 at 3 PM ET. Use #GovFinChat to follow the conversation or ask questions.  

Is It Time To Make Medical And Family Leave Paid?

Democrats in Congress have reintroduced a bill that would create a national paid leave program, covering two thirds of people's wages for up to 60 days a year. But small business owners are wary.

Rejoining TopRank Marketing: 5 Career Lessons That Brought Me Back

One of the most exciting parts of life is uncertainty. You never really know where the decisions that you make will lead you. Sure, you have a rough idea of where you may end up but there are always unforeseen factors outside your control. In my first stint at TopRank Marketing, I was the agency Marketing Manager. This was a unique and very creative position that allowed me to work closely with our CEO Lee Odden. In that time, In that time I focused on being a sponge and soaking up as much as I could from the years of digital marketing knowledge contained within the walls of the TopRank office. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to pursue building up some of my foundational skills. Since my departure, I’ve worked for companies large and small, ranging from workplace wellness to Digital Marketing. We all go through different phases in our careers where we are searching for what really drives us and makes us happy. After a couple years of searching, what lessons did I learn that drew me back to TopRank and how can you apply them to your career? Always Surround Yourself with People That Are Smarter Than You. Over the last few years I’ve learned to truly listen and learn from the people that I work with. I consider myself to be extremely self aware of my strengths and weaknesses. This has led me to the conclusion that I need to rely on other people whose strengths compliment mine and that I can learn from. Luckily, TopRank is flush with a dedicated, smart and talented digital marketers that all bring unique perspectives to the table. Some are old friends, others I look forward to getting to know and work with. Passion For The Business Is Essential & Has to Start At the Top. Being in a leadership position is always challenging, and especially when you work in an industry where change is eminent and constant.. Working with an upper management team that immerses themselves in the industry and has a true understanding of the in’s and out’s associated with everyday execution is one of the essential keys to success. One thing I have always appreciated about TopRank’s leadership team was that they each brought their own “something special” to the table. Lee Odden is an authority on Content Marketing and is very generous in sharing information, Susan Misukanis is an idea machine and Jolina Pettice is an expert at driving change. Upper management sets the tone for the rest of the team and TopRank is approaching it from the right angles. Continue Your Own Education. As I mentioned before, I try to surround myself with people who are more knowledgeable than I am. While it’s true that in some cases I may be considered the resident “expert”, it’s always important to gather input from others that have a different or complementary understanding of the challenge at hand. Secondly, I am a person that craves knowledge. If there is one day that passes and I didn’t learn something new (no matter big or small), I am disappointed. TopRank has always focused on ongoing internal training to make sure that their clients are getting the latest and greatest. Additionally, TopRank has done (in my opinion) a fantastic job serving as a training and education source for the online marketing community through daily posts on TopRankblog.com and industry events. Trying & Failing is Ok As Long As You Try. Sometimes we become so crippled by the fear of failing that it’s difficult to take the first step. Personally, I feel that I’ve learned just as much from my failure as my success. Testing and innovation is always encouraged at TopRank. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get every single detail right the first time or that there won’t be hiccups, but it provides a breeding ground for new ideas that ultimately impact the level of service and quality of deliverables for TopRank clients. I Want to Be Part Of Something Big. In the time since I’ve been away from TopRank I’ve learned some very valuable skills and life lessons. I think this experience has made it possible for me to join TopRank at this juncture and be truly impactful. TopRank is poised for enormous growth over the next few years. I mean this in terms of company size, range of services, areas of expertise, creativity of deliverables; the list could go on and on. You never know where life will lead you, but that’s part of the adventure. With every passing day comes new challenges, lessons and opportunities. Re-joining the TopRank team is sure to bring all three of these in spades, but it’s a new chapter of life that I’m excited and truly honored to embark upon. What lessons have you learned throughout your career (long or short) that you carry with you on your journey?