Every business book says, “Never cut marketing during a recession.” But my rough estimate is that today, the majority of Fortune 500 companies have cut their marketing budgets. This puts the chief marketing officer (CMO) in a curious position. Of course, CMOs want to be able to turn to the CEO and say, “We need to spend more on this campaign, because it’s got a great return.” I guarantee that if you show your CEO how you’re converting leads to deals, it’s a no-brainer: you’ll get the funding. Here’s how any CMO can get the marketing campaign information they require.

Data visualization tools: What they are, and the three essential steps required to make them perform.