Dear Reader:
I wanted to write you directly to share the big news:
MarketingExperiments is acquiring MarketingSherpa. The acquisition
seems like a ‘natural fit’. MarketingExperiments and MarketingSherpa
share a common objective, to discover what really works in marketing,
and we use complementary (but different) methodologies.
MarketingExperiments conducts primary research through real-time
experiments; MarketingSherpa conducts secondary research through
benchmark studies and Case Studies.
There are two reasons why we believe this is great news for you:
1. Together, the two firms will provided the most comprehensive
research library in marketing - more than a thousand case histories
and experiments, plus benchmark guides, experiment briefs, and ten
different newsletters/journals.
2. Together, the two firms will provide the most comprehensive roster
of marketing training in the industry. We will enter 2007 providing
the corporate marketing community with at least four annual summits,
the MEC professional education program, and fifty-eight web seminars.
I have long been impressed with Marketing Sherpa, and I would like to
take this opportunity to compliment Anne Holland and her team. They
have done a remarkable job of building a respected, effective
organization. I am excited about this opportunity to combine our
efforts as we continue our mission: to discover what really works in
marketing.
On a practical note, Anne will be staying on, working with
MarketingSherpa as we enter 2007. I think it might be helpful to share
with you the note she sent to her readers. It is appended below.
Thank you for your trust.
Flint McGlaughlin
=================
A Note to Readers: MarketingSherpa's Being Acquired by MEC Labs Group
Dear MarketingSherpa Reader,
I'm writing to you today *before* the official press release goes out
so you're the first to hear we're being acquired by MEC Labs Group.
Nothing drastic will change. We're keeping our same name, our staff,
our regular publications, and yes, our Warren, RI, headquarters. And
our goal remains the same -- to conduct new research into what really
works in marketing via Case Studies, Benchmark Guides & Summits.
Plus, now our research for you will be supplemented by the team at MEC
Labs Group. They run an actual laboratory facility in Atlantic Beach,
FL, where they conduct live campaign experiments in partnership with
folks such as The New York Times and Reuters.
So, we'll keep doing anecdotal research for our exclusive Case Studies
as well as primary studies for our Benchmark Guides. Plus, we’ll be
able to partner with their scientists and statisticians to run live
experiments on cutting-edge marketing tactics for which there is no
otherwise reliable source of response data.
Back in March 2000, when I founded MarketingSherpa from my second
bedroom (yes, honestly), I dreamed it would grow to be the most
tremendous source of practical research for the marketers of the
world. Now we're at 237,000 readers, three main offices, and nearly
700 case Studies. It's been an incredibly satisfying and exhilarating
ride!
And now things will speed up even more. I'll still be here
(naturally). Our team is just getting bigger -- both at the
MarketingSherpa brand and also with the ability to lean on the
research and technical team at MEC Labs.
Who is MEC Labs?
They've deliberately flown under the radar for the past five years --
so although they conduct cutting-edge, primary research about
marketing tactics such as video ads online, search marketing, and A/B
email tests, outside of their own 50,000 newsletter readership, many
other marketers have not heard of them.
I first met Lab Director, Dr. Flint McGlaughlin, four years ago when
he spoke at one of our Summits on the topic of marketing paid
subscriptions to Web sites. I was so impressed I asked him to return
to give more Case Studies about his team's experiments at future
Summits.
Then, earlier this year Flint invited me down to his headquarters in
Atlantic Beach, FL, (near Jacksonville in northeastern Florida.) The
beach right outside the lab's offices was magnificent, but I was most
impressed with his research lab and team. It felt a bit like what you
might imagine a Hollywood set director would create for a marketing
laboratory. Glass walls, giant view screens, earnest technicians, and
concentrated quiet while experiments were under way.
I was hooked. Wouldn't it be marvelous if we could work together to
get practical data for marketers? Well, now we will be.
Plus, I re-double my invitation for you to attend our B-to-B marketing
Summit in San Francisco in less than two weeks (Nov 13-14). Yes, the
MEC Labs Group leaders will be there so you can meet them in person
and put in your requests for the types of experiments you'd like to
see us and them run in the coming year.
Here's a link to the Summit info:
http://www.sherpastore.com/B-to-BDemandGenerationSummit006.html
And, as always, if you have any questions, feedback -- or in this case
concerns -- for the team at MarketingSherpa, contact us immediately.
Our service team is available Monday-Friday from 9am-7pm ET at (877)
895-1717.
Thanks for your part in making MarketingSherpa the most popular
research publication in our industry.
Sincerely,
Anne Holland
Founder & President
MarketingSherpa Inc.
