Here are 20 essential resources for Sitecore strategists and marketers in 2024. All the resources listed below were published during the last year.
This list admittedly features a lot of content highlighting GenAI, since services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Midjourney’s image generator, and Google’s Bard brought Artificial Intelligence mainstream and into the public consciousness with intuitive natural language chat interfaces.
Since Sitecore XM Cloud’s release, 100 brands are already on the new flagship CMS platform. Automatic updates to all the SaaS solutions in Sitecore’s composable catalog continue to provide tons of new features and capabilities for digital marketing strategists to explore. I certainly learned a lot through the process of reviewing and compiling this year-end list.
1. Mastering Personalization In Digital Marketing
Written by: David San Filippo
🔗 www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/mastering-personalization-in-digital-marketing-strategy/
David San Filippo’s article “Mastering Personalization in Digital Marketing Strategy” is a thoughtful exploration of the importance of personalization in digital marketing, highlighting the need for a solid conceptual model based on stages, offers, and conditions. It also addresses the challenges in decision-making and the evolving nature of personalization strategies.
- Strategic Vision and Conceptual Model: Effective personalization requires a well-defined conceptual framework, focusing on different stages of the customer journey and tailored offers.
- Decisioning Gap in McKinsey’s Framework: The article notes a lack of practical guidance in the “Decisioning” aspect of McKinsey’s 4 D’s framework, crucial for personalization.
- Importance of Continuous Evolution: Personalization strategies must adapt and evolve as more data and insights are gathered, emphasizing the dynamic nature of digital marketing.
- Challenges and Opportunities in Propensity: The article discusses the complexities in balancing the value of offers and their likelihood to convert, highlighting the role of machine learning in enhancing decision-making.
“Begin with the end in mind, with a vision and blueprint of the desired result. This principle holds even truer in the realm of personalization in digital marketing.”
David San Filippo
2. GPT In 2 Minutes
Video by: Dr Alan D. Thompson
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhDIHHT8Phs
This simple introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) was posted as generative models surged into public consciousness early this year. Less than a year ago, in December 2022, a version of GPT-3.5 fine-tuned for dialogue—named ‘ChatGPT’—attracted 1 million users within five days, and then 100 million within two months, for comparison, that’s around the number of households in the United States.
The pace of innovation surrounding GenAI has been staggering this year, and I believe it’s a technology that will impact society on a level we haven’t seen since the release of the iPhone.
Alan speaks in plain English and covers the basics of how powerful models like GPT function. If you’re watching the space closely, his newsletter, The Memo, is a great way to stay up-to-date.
3. Content Hub DAM Maturity Model | SUGCON NA-2023
Presented by: Tiffany Laster
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbsn9Cfhmm0
Perficient’s Tiffany Laster presented “the best DAM maturity model” at SUGCON North America this year. It’s a structured and insightful view of Sitecore’s Content Hub and how organizations can maximize the value of their Digital Asset Management platform. This model emphasizes five core areas: Strategy, People, Process, Technology, and Impact.
By adhering to this model, organizations can achieve significant benefits, including cost reduction, improved governance, enhanced workflows, and increased brand consistency.
4. Sitecore & OpenAI: Use Sitecore Connect In A Bidirectional Link Between ChatGPT/DALL·E & Content Hub
Produced by: Brian Bishop
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nF_8U_AD7w
An early adopter of emerging GenAI capabilities, Sitecore’s Brian Bishop pushes the boundaries of Sitecore’s Content Hub in this inspirational proof of concept. It’s been a pleasure working with Brian on some recent internal projects (more to come soon…), and he was the first colleague I watched extend Sitecore UI with GenAI functionality, back in February.
In this video, Brian highlights how AI technologies like ChatGPT can be used to enhance content marketing operations. He showcases a no-code Sitecore Connect integration with Content Hub that allows users to leverage the power of generative AI within Sitecore DAM demonstrating:
- No-Code Integration with AI: Sitecore Connect offers a user-friendly platform for integrating with OpenAI, allowing for seamless AI-generated content and image creation without the need for coding.
- Content and Image Generation: The system can send prompts to ChatGPT to produce text for content marketing and use OpenAI for generating images, which are then managed within Sitecore’s digital asset management system.
- Efficient Content Creation: By automating content creation with AI, users can quickly produce and refine marketing materials, making the process more efficient and potentially more creative.
5. Securing Consumer Data In The Age Of Personalization
Written by: Dave O’Flanagan
🔗 www.techradar.com/pro/securing-consumer-data-in-the-age-of-personalization
In an era where it’s easier than ever for marketers to personalize experiences for their customers, it’s essential for brand to balance engaging personalized experiences with privacy considerations. Dave O’Flanagan, Sitecore’s Chief Product Officer, emphasizes the importance of building consumer trust through stringent data security measures while delivering personalized experiences, in the context of increasing data privacy regulations and evolving digital marketing technologies.
“My advice? Brands should treat personalizing the online experience by mirroring what often happens in-store. If a customer walks into a store, you’d neither ignore them or straight away bombard them with product offers.”
Dave O’Flanagan
6. Ultimate Guide To Generative AI for Marketing Professionals
Written by: James Gray
I met James Gray in London over drinks near old St. Katherine’s Dock Sitecore office. Within minutes of conversation it was clear that he has a crisp perspective on GenAI and digital strategy. At that point, he was nearly done writing this 60+ page eBook which is packed with insights and features an interview with Ahmed Elyamany, Sitecore Product Marketing Manager for CDP and Personalize.
He offers practical guidance on getting started with ChatGPT and MidJourney in the marketing field. There are 10 Commandments for Prompting, and a catalog of Example Prompts. The eBook also considers future directions and possibilities of GenAI, particularly in the context of marketing and content creation, along with the broader societal and technical implications. It’s an exhaustive introduction and overview of ChatGPT and MidJourney with the unique lens of a Sitecore strategist. Last I checked, he’s hosting the PDF for download directly on Dropbox:
7. Video Series – Personalization In XM Cloud
Videos by: Cade Whitbourn
🎥 www.cadewhitbourn.com/digital/website-personalization-with-sitecore-xm-cloud/
This video series is approachable and highlights out of the box personalization capabilities with Sitecore XM Cloud. In the videos, Cade Whitbourn walks-through capabilities of Sitecore XM Cloud for website personalization, focusing on using out-of-the-box (OOTB) conditions for various scenarios like geolocation, user interactions, device conditions, and visit information. It provides practical, click-by-click walkthroughs for business users, emphasizing the low-code aspect of Sitecore XM Cloud in customizing digital experiences for different visitor types.
8. Sitecore Send – Everything You Need To Know Before Getting Started Parts 1 & 2
Written by: Robert McGovern
🔗 www.sagittarius.agency/our-thinking/get-started-with-sitecore-send/
In this 2-part article, Robert McGovern shares a comprehensive overview the Sitecore Send platform and outlines essential features and best practices for effective email marketing. Robert emphasizes the importance of understanding various components like Email Lists, Campaigns, Segments, Forms, Automation, Reports, and Integrations to optimize email marketing strategies.
If you’re looking to get started with Send, this a a great resource to get up-to-speed on:
- Customization and Segmentation: Sitecore Send enables detailed customization of email lists and segmentation, allowing for targeted and relevant marketing campaigns.
- Flexible Campaign Management: The tool offers various campaign types and a user-friendly editor for designing and scheduling email campaigns, enhancing the overall efficiency of email marketing.
- Enhanced Subscriber Engagement: Forms and automation features in Sitecore Send facilitate subscriber engagement through streamlined subscription processes and automated email responses.
- Data-Driven Insights: The platform’s reporting and integration capabilities provide valuable insights into campaign performance, enabling data-driven marketing decisions.
9. Sitecore DX: Making Sitecore CDP And Personalize Simple, Scalable, And Sustainable
Presented by: Megan Jensen, David San Filippo, Jonathan Corley
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-F2jIGIo7E
10. Planning For Personalization
Written by: Dominic Hurst
🔗 dominichurst.com/2022/04/03/planning-for-personalisation/
Personalization programs that struggle to launch frequently stall because marketing teams do not dedicate sufficient time and effort around a table or at a whiteboard, focusing on strategic personalization planning.
In this article, Dominic Hurst advocates for building a diverse team and pinpointing key personalization areas within the broader omnichannel experience. He emphasizes the need for detailed journey mapping to find specific opportunities and the importance of clear roles and communication for efficient teamwork. This holistic approach is crucial for effective personalization strategies.
11. Predictive Analytics Using Sitecore CDP & Organic Search Keywords
Presented by: Chris Nash
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaARwlTFfuQ
Chris Nash, an established thought leader within the Sitecore strategy community, presented on a recent Strategy MVP Advisory webinar. He proposes an interesting solution where Google search console data is combined with Sitecore CDP (or XP) session data, then search queries are analyzed to to gain a comprehensive understanding of customer behavior and preference onsite.
Understanding which keywords lead to conversions could help brands refine their SEO strategies and targeting marketing efforts more effectively based on customer intent.
12. The 5 C’s Of Success For Marketers In 2024
Presented by: Jill Roberson & Heather Polen
🔗event.on24.com/wcc/r/4390236/DC9B3B07C44EB02C97393659517CF3F3
This webinar features an exceptional lineup with Heather Polen, Sitecore’s Global VP of Customer Transformation, and Jill Roberson, Velir’s VP of Digital Marketing. The webinar focuses on the “5 C’s of Marketing” that are necessary for success in 2024. These include Coordinated Operations, Composable Cloud MarTech, Content, Connected Data, and a Clear AI Vision. The content stresses the importance of adapting to technological advancements and changing consumer behaviors, with a specific emphasis on personalization, efficient content management, data-driven strategies, and leveraging AI.
Jill recalls attending a recent Savannah Bananas baseball game, and goes on to highlight the importance of delivering customer-centric experiences. Heather and Jill advocate for adapting to technological advancements with agility and using data and technology to understand changing consumer behaviors. In 2024 it’s essential for marketers to deliver engaging content that resonates with their audience in order to engage, attract and keep customers loyal.
The first fan is yourself. You can’t create fans until you are a fan of what you do.
Jesse Cole, CEO, Savannah Bananas
13. Report: 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ For Personalization Engines
Analyst Report by: Gartner
I was personally very happy to see Sitecore recognized this year as a Leader in Gartner’s 2023 Magic Quadrant for Personalization Engines!
This leap forward underscores our platform’s robust personalization and customer data activation solutions. Almost a decade ago, I was captivated by Sitecore’s intuitive interface and the ability for marketers to contextually personalize customer experiences (even without a programming background). It is great to see continued recognition of Sitecore’s innovative personalization and experimentation capabilities.
14. How To Build a Component in XM Cloud with Issy Stephen
Video by: Issy Stephen
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTeIgzYJh-I
It has never been easier for marketers to build pages and components for their sites with low-code/no-code software. In this video, Sagitarius’ Issy Stephen showcases just how intuitive and easy it is for marketers to create a hero using the Component builder tool of XM Cloud.
Marketers using Sitecore XM Cloud have the flexibility to customize components extensively, such as adjusting grid sizing and adding elements like cards and buttons, based on campaign needs. If you haven’t started building components in XM Cloud yet, this episode of Sagitarius Academy offers a quick glimpse of XM Cloud configuration.
15. Fishtank’s Sitecore Snack Newsletter
Published by: Fishtank Consulting
🔗 www.linkedin.com/newsletters/sitecore-snack-7065366071410651136/
Subscribe to Fishtank’s bi-weekly newsletter (Sitecore Snack) for a recurring digest of Sitecore and martech news.
The newsletter has quickly grown to over 1,700 subscribers on LinkedIn. Each edition features “bite-sized curation” of Sitecore news and insights.
16. Healthcare Provider Metrics & Podcast Interview
Podcast feature and Video by: Meghan Fishburn
🔗 www.agencyq.com/insights/strategy/three-healthcare-provider-success-metrics
🎤 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXyUNjw9elc
Here I’m combining two recent items published by Agency Q’s Meghan Fishburn since they’re closely related. On a recent podcast episode of The Agile Brand with Greg Kilstrom, Megan shares from about healthcare provider success metrics.
She emphasizes the critical role of personalized customer experiences in regulated industries, particularly in healthcare. They highlight how digital transformation, measured through metrics like Patient Satisfaction (PSAT), Net Promoter Score (NPS), and New Patient Acquisition Cost (NPAC), is essential for enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction in a digital-first era.
Read Article or Listen to Podcast
17. Testing, Testing…Is This Thing On?
Article by: Jill Roberson
🔗 www.velir.com/ideas/2023/03/13/testing-testing-is-this-thing-on
With a name like Personalize it’s easy to focus on the personalization features of the former Boxever optimization software, but it’s one of the best experimentation tools on the market. Consultants and marketers often skip right past the powerful A/B testing features which are available to improve customer experience and conversion rates.
In this article, Jill Roberson questions why testing is often overlooked. A/B tests are easier to implement compared to the extensive groundwork required for personalization, and they offer a faster route to understanding and engaging target audiences. Why aren’t more brands launching tests and measuring results with Sitecore’s powerful experimentation capabilities?
18. Which Sitecore CMS Is Right For You?
Created by: Matthew Richardson
🔗 www.velir.com/Campaigns/Which-Sitecore-CMS
This interactive tool is a quick survey that identifies which Sitecore CMS is a good fit based on your answers. Matthew Richardson, a platform architect at Velir, says that “The question isn’t whether but when” if you’re considering the switch to a composable content management system.
19. Sitecore MVP Summit: What We’re Allowed To Share
Reported by: Martin Miles
🔗 blogs.perficient.com/2023/10/15/sitecore-mvp-summit-what-were-allowed-to-share/
In this post, Martin Miles thoroughly documents insights and slides labeled sharable from Sitecore’s 2023 MVP Summit in Minneapolis. He provides a detailed look at innovative updates and enhancements in the Sitecore ecosystem, focusing on user experience, personalization, and development tools. MVPs often get early access to Sitecore product roadmaps, and Martin captured all the major public-facing content.
20. Sitecore XP 10: Marketing Applications
Written by: Ken Lorence
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/sitecore-xp-10-marketing-applications-part-one-kenneth
With the increased momentum of customers migrating to XM Cloud, thousands of customers are still on Sitecore’s XM and XP (Experience Manager and Experience Platform) platform solutions.
Ken Lorence provides a comprehensive overview of Sitecore XP marketing applications, detailing their functions, integrations, and some best practices. This is part 3 of a LinkedIn article series exploring XP, and Ken explores essential XP tools including: EXM, List Manager, and Marketing Automation.
Honorable Mentions
There were entirely too many insightful assets and posts this year to feature, but there are a few more worth mentioning in the list below:
- Get Future-Ready With Composable Solutions (eBook by Walt Rolle): www.epam.com/get-future-ready-with-composable-solutions-from-epam-sitecore
- How To Use Google Tag Manager To Integrate Sitecore CDP And Personalize– Getting Started (Written by Lance Hayden): www.rdacorp.com/blog/how-to-use-google-tag-manager-to-integrate-sitecore-cdp-and-personalize-getting-started
- Personalization Capabilities Of Sitecore XM Cloud (Written by Megan Jensen): blogs.perficient.com/2022/12/30/personalization-capabilities-of-sitecore-xm-cloud/
- Sitecore Standard Values Podcast (Hosted by Rick Bauer and Sultan Semlali): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1jJVFm_lGny4iMEBhCWxkfGU5n3Rv_nH
Here is my year-end list from last year: Top Content and Resources for a Sitecore Strategist in 2023
Comments
One response to “Best of 2023: Top 20 Assets for Sitecore Marketers and Digital Experience Strategists”
Thanks for the mention, Jonathan. This is a nice selection of topics that span marketing to tech.