Plain Talk Archives Index

Enhancing Customer Connections Through Data‑Driven Personalization (11/7/2024)
In the bustling digital marketplace, where customers are inundated with choices, personalization has emerged as a critical differentiator. It's not just about catching the eye anymore; it's about catching the right . . .

How Buxton’s Customer Analytics Benefit Teams Across the Organization (10/31/2024)
If your team has ever considered investing in customer analytics, you may have raised the question: would other teams in your organization benefit from those same analytics?
Incorporating customer analytics across teams can lead to . . .

Turning Personas into Customers Part 3: Sealing the Deal (10/24/2024)
In the final installment of our series, we reach the critical juncture of customer conversion – transforming interested personas into loyal customers. This is the stage where interest is converted into commitment and where your . . .

Turning Personas into Customers Part 2: Engaging through Strategy (10/17/2024)
Here is the crux of customer conversion: engaging with the personas that you’ve meticulously crafted. The bridge from awareness to interest is not merely a step; it's a strategic leap that requires a blend of . . .

Turning Personas into Customers Part 1: Crafting Actionable Personas (10/10/2024)
As seasoned marketers, you understand that developing customer personas is more than just a preliminary exercise; it’s an ongoing process that necessitates . . .

Balancing AI Innovation and Consumer Trust in Marketing (9/26/2024)
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within marketing strategies is accelerating rapidly. According to IBM, 34% of companies were actively utilizing AI in 2022, a figure that grew to 42% in 2023 and is expected to continue rising in . . .

Building Customer Trust in the Age of AI (9/19/2024)
Trust is one of the top three buying considerations that consumers have, per the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer. So, it’s no surprise that a survey of 1,000 consumers concluded that more than 80% consider trust a deciding factor . . .

5 Lessons the Healthcare Industry Can Learn from the Retail Sector (9/12/2024)
Retailers have long understood how to harness the right mixture of data to unlock a brand’s full potential and really dig into who its customers are and what they want. And as patients continue to become savvier consumers, it’s crucial for healthcare providers to . . .

A Marketer’s Checklist for Competitive Intelligence Technology (9/5/2024)
A good marketing strategy needs competitive intelligence, and good competitive intelligence starts with data, more specifically, third‑party consumer data. Third‑party consumer analytics solutions delve into consumer behavior, preferences, and trends, providing . . .

Embracing the Franchise Model: A Roadmap to Growth for Specialty Health Organizations (8/22/2024)
The aging population, along with the rise of consumerism in healthcare, which demands both convenience and accessibility, have impacted the way healthcare is delivered in the United States. Healthcare franchising, particularly within specialty health organizations, offers a . . .

Bridging the Gap: Harnessing Consumer Analytics for Omnichannel E‑Commerce Success (8/14/2024)
The e‑commerce landscape has been undergoing rapid changes, largely propelled by evolving consumer behaviors and technological advancements. A key trend observed is the integration of online and offline retail channels, often referred to . . .

How to Unlock Your Brand’s Growth Potential (7/25/2024)
Fitness franchise giant Self Esteem Brands partners with Buxton to make informed expansion decisions. Self Esteem Brands - the parent company of major fitness concepts . . .

Transforming Retail Marketing with Customer Analytics: A Journey to Better CX (7/4/2024)
In the fast‑paced world of retail, providing customers with a seamless buying journey has become an imperative. However, this journey is often riddled with challenges that retail marketers must navigate.

Alert Provides Key Insights to See Where You’re Staying Ahead – and Falling Behind (5/23/2024)
When you have significant changes within your market, you need to know as soon as possible. That’s why we invented Alert – a marketing team’s new best friend. Each month we’ll alert you to the most important changes at each of your significant locations. We’re staying on top of all the changes around you so you . . .

How Marketing Teams can Adapt to Ever‑Evolving Behavior (5/16/2024)
Marketing teams need to stay on their toes to adapt and meet the quickly evolving needs of their customers. With the right tools and strategies in place, marketing teams can successfully navigate this ever‑changing landscape and drive . . .

Unlocking Your Franchise’s Full Potential: The Power of Science and Analytics (5/9/2024)
Are you a franchisor looking to take your business to the next level? You already know that growth is crucial to your success, but how do you make sure it's sustainable? The answer lies in the power of . . .

How to Ditch Your One‑Size Fits All Marketing Strategy (4/17/2024)
Have you ever had a salesperson mispronounce your name?
They call you with the familiarity of a far‑removed relative, preparing to pitch a life‑altering product with life‑changing impact and . . .

Staying Competitive in Today’s Rapidly Changing Healthcare Landscape (4/11/2024)
In today's hyper‑competitive healthcare market, organizations must use every tool available to stay ahead of the game. One of the most important tools is consumer analytics, which enables healthcare providers to make data‑driven decisions about everything from . . .

The Power of Customer Data for Targeted Marketing (3/14/2024)
As a marketing professional, you are the expert on your customer. To target them, you need to understand them at a granular level, identifying exactly what makes them tick (and more importantly . . .

Navigating Healthcare M&A: Harnessing the Power of Consumer Analytics (3/6/2024)
Growing a network is important to healthcare organizations that are looking to expand and remain competitive. As the industry becomes more consolidated and organizations continue to acquire, it can be challenging . . .

Franchisors: The Insights You Need to Grow (2/22/2024)
Sustainable growth is key to the overall success for any brand. Without it, it’s difficult to keep the doors open and the ROI . . .

Take A Customer‑Centric Approach To Your Retail Strategy (2/8/2024)
As retailers attempt to weather the transformations occurring in the retail marketplace and sustain performance, they are realizing that they must migrate away from the traditional product‑centric archetype toward one . . .

Predictive Analytics for Vet Hospital Growth (2/1/2024)
Buxton has worked with the full spectrum of pet care organizations in the veterinary industry, ranging from general practice, specialty, emergency and urgent. Through these partnerships, Buxton has identified the key solutions and best practices that benefit vet organizations and help them achieve . . .

Why Your Health System Needs a Site Selection Model (1/25/2024)
One of the hot topics in the retail industry in recent decades has been developing statistical models for site selection. Some healthcare organizations have adopted this practice, but is it . . .

Guide to Growth: Using Data for Express Tunnel Car Wash Site Selection (1/18/2024)
The car wash industry is the place to be. Growing at a rate of almost 5 percent per year, the industry’s total value is expected to reach over $20 billion by 2028, according to a . . .

The Diverse World of Discount Retailers: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All (1/10/2024)
This holiday season discount retailers like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Kohl's, and Nordstrom Rack are standing tall and gaining traction. Recent data from the Reuters and Nasdaq report indicates that these retailers are on the upswing and poised to outperform expectations in the face of . . .

Thinking About Your Health System as a Brand: What You Need to Know (1/4/2024)
Branding has always been important for traditional consumer‑facing businesses, such as restaurants and retailers. Even in the healthcare space, urgent cares, pharmacies, and specialties like behavioral health and physical therapy have operated with a brand mindset for years.
Traditionally, health systems have not.

Top 5 Ways to be Successful in Your Retail Recruitment Strategy (12/28/2023)
Getting retailers to open a shop in your city is a trying task that involves a lot of preparation. But you don't need to be a retail recruitment specialist to successfully present yourself to the retailers you're targeting. Here are five best practices to incorporate . . .

RWJBarnabas Health and Buxton Experts Dig into Patient Access Strategies with AHA Webinar (12/21/2023)
Buxton healthcare experts Bill Stinneford and Nikki Viner recently joined RWJBarnabas Health for an AHA webinar titled "Mastering an Access Strategy to Prepare for Healthcare’s Future". The trio shared insights into the role that customer analytics play . . .

The Importance of a Portfolio Audit (12/14/2023)
To create a successful growth strategy, you first need to maximize the performance of your existing facilities. A portfolio audit can help with this process by providing an unbiased, data‑driven assessment of your existing facilities, which takes the guesswork out of the process. This way, you’ll know exactly which locations need more . . .

The Lost Generation: Baby Boomers (12/7/2023)
Today, most retailers are watching Gen Z develop into full‑fledged consumers as they begin to enter the workforce. Born after 1996, Gen Z is now steadily joining the key demographic targeted by most . . .

How the Audiology Industry Can Grow with Confidence (11/30/2023)
As with many industries that are closely associated with an aging population, the audiology industry in the United States is currently experiencing a surge in demand. The mighty baby boom generation is reaching the life stage where . . .

Healthcare Marketing Models 101: Understanding the Primary Types (11/23/2023)
Marketing models have been helping marketers across industries conduct more efficient and effective campaigns for many years, and the healthcare industry is no exception. While many marketers rely on demographic characteristics to segment audiences, marketing models make it possible to . . .

Integrating Technology into Economic Development Processes (11/16/2023)
Economic development plays an important role in ensuring the vitality of a community both now and in the decades to come. While there are many tried‑and‑true best practices that have been used successfully for decades, technology can make the process . . .

Target is Losing to Walmart: Here’s What the Data Shows (11/2/2023)
The Q2 2023 earnings reports are in and tell very different tales for two U.S. retail giants. While Target’s same‑store U.S. sales fell 5.4 percent, Walmart’s rose . . .

How Consumer Segmentation Can Help You Reach a New Patient Base (10/26/2023)
Who makes up your patient base today?
Many healthcare providers can answer that question in terms of demographics and payer types. Some can even answer it based on consumer segmentation, which provides a deeper look into the lifestyles of patients to identify key cohorts.
But perhaps a more important question is . . .

Service Line Analytics: An Introductory Guide (10/19/2023)
Service line analytics is one of the latest buzzwords in health systems today. As with any trend, it can be difficult to separate the facts from the . . .

The Role of Ambulatory Health Care in a Transitioning Payment Environment (10/12/2023)
Ambulatory health care has always been important to a health system’s strategy but is more critical now than ever. Here’s why your health system’s leadership team needs to make ambulatory strategy a priority . . .

Use Alert to Stay Ahead of Competitors and Drive Retail Success (9/28/2023)
In the fiercely competitive world of retail, staying one step ahead of your competition is essential for success. To effectively navigate the dynamic landscape, you need a deep understanding of your market position, customer behaviors, and areas of potential. You also need . . .

Getting Started With Ambulatory Clinic Strategy (9/13/2023)
While ambulatory clinics have been part of healthcare systems for many years, shifts in the political and competitive environment have led to a renewed focus on ambulatory clinic strategy. The primary purpose of today’s ambulatory clinic initiatives is to . . .

The Future of Healthcare Systems: A New Hub and Spoke Model (9/7/2023)
As the concept of healthcare systems evolved in the U.S., a distinct business model emerged. Often called the “hub and spoke” approach, this business model focused on using outpatient clinics to drive patients . . .

Track Customer Profile Changes with Alert (8/31/2023)
In the dynamic world of retail, understanding your customers is crucial for success. While foot traffic data provides valuable insights into the number and frequency of customer visits to your store, it falls short in painting a . . .

5 Lessons the Healthcare Industry Can Learn from the Retail Sector (8/24/2023)
Retailers have long understood how to harness the right mixture of data to unlock a brand’s full potential and really dig into who its customers are and what they want. And as patients continue to become savvier consumers, it’s crucial for health systems . . .

Alert - Actionable Insights to Win Market Share (8/17/2023)
In the fast‑paced world of retail marketing, data‑driven strategies are essential for success. Retail marketing teams rely on customer behavioral insights to make informed decisions and drive effective marketing strategies. However, extracting actionable insights from these datasets is time consuming and . . .

Don’t Take No for an Answer (8/8/2023)
A fair amount of time spent by economic development professionals is focused on selling their community as a choice location for business. For the recruitment of retailers and restauranteurs, this requires presenting data validating the city and trade area’s suitability for . . .

5 Pitfalls of Healthcare Real Estate Investment (7/27/2023)
Healthcare real estate is typically an expensive – and long‑term – investment. Given the importance of the decision, it’s wise to invest the appropriate time and resources into vetting . . .

If It’s Time to Improve the Performance of Your Existing Facilities, Ask Yourself These Questions (7/13/2023)
Getting ahead of the growing competition in today’s healthcare marketplace is more challenging than ever before.
As more non‑traditional providers enter the market and strive to meet consumer demand . . .

Is It Time to Rightsize Your Healthcare Network? (6/28/2023)
Changes in how Americans think about healthcare providers are driving many to reevaluate their strategies and determine if their existing healthcare facility network is the right model . . .

Be Better Than Your Gut: A Data‑Driven Approach to the Healthcare Site Selection Process (6/22/2023)
Healthcare organizations often rely on demographic data to make real estate decisions. While counting rooftops, looking only at traditional data sources, and using your gut used to be enough to make site selection decisions, times . . .

Is Your Website Site Selector Ready? (6/15/2023)
Most communities and economic development organizations engaged in business attraction do a great job in prospecting for new businesses . . . The cities and economic development organizations that prevail in the site selection process more than likely have a website that is “site selector ready.”

Why Traditional Advertising Isn’t a Dead Healthcare Marketing Trend (5/31/2023)

Questions to Ask Before Opening a New Healthcare Location (5/24/2023)

Do You Really Know Your Patients? (5/18/2023)

Healthcare Industry Trends — A Closer Look (5/11/2023)

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open New Opportunities for Retailers (5/4/2023)

6 Ways to Put Your Healthcare Data to Work with Analytics (4/27/2023)

How Healthcare Organizations Can Apply Data Like Retailers (4/20/2023)

How to Attract More Gen Z Customers: 7 Things You Need to Know (4/13/2023)

Using Demand Density to Prove Healthcare Market Potential (4/6/2023)

How Consumer Analytics Drive Healthcare Success (3/23/2023)

What Healthcare Systems Can Learn From Health Clubs (3/16/2023)

The Role of Analytics in Local Economic Development Strategies (3/9/2023)