Four killer conversion rate optimization musts for 2016

A projected 10 billion more devices will be connecting to the Internet in the next four years. The business potential behind that number is huge, but so are the challenges the IoT ecosystem faces — from lack of a shared architecture for interconnection to the continued problem of how to authenticate devices on the network.

But as customers connect more devices and expect less friction and more continuity across them, blockchain technology seems to hold the potential to unlock new business model use cases — and ROI from them. Join the latest VB Live event to learn more about intersections between IoT and distributed ledger technologies and explore how they can unlock the security required to realize a profitable Future of Things.

In this webinar you'll learn:

*What distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain mean for businesses in 2018?
*How blockchain for IoT can build trust between people and parties who transact together, reduce costs, and accelerate transactions
*The future of universal architecture and what it means for autonomous products and services

Speakers:

* Jonathan Johnson, Overstock.com Board Member. Medici Ventures President
* Bob Kain, CEO, Luna DNA
* Jessica Groopman, Founding Partner, Kaleido Insights
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Subscription businesses can lose the happiest of subscribers because of involuntary churn—that deadly form of attrition that comes from card declines and invoice failures.

Even slight variations in a subscription business’ churn rate can have significant impact on revenues, so it’s critical to address involuntary churn -- and easier than ever. The latest subscription technology leverages machine learning, which can improve transaction success rates and billing continuity, helping automatically reduce involuntary churn and boost monthly recurring revenue by an average of 9 percent.

Want to know more about how subscription businesses are making a positive impact on revenue? How can you optimize decline management and revenue recovery strategies based on your own unique business needs? Join our latest VB Live event and you’ll learn how to start and where, plus get a first look at the latest Revenue Recovery Benchmarks, which reveal the powerful impact of machine learning.

Don’t miss out!

Registration is free.

In this webinar, you’ll learn...
* The power of dynamic retry logic, optimized for each individual invoice
* The incremental lift that a well-designed dunning strategy can have on revenue
* The key metrics every subscription business should understand to prevent churn
* How to develop a comprehensive decline management and revenue recovery plan using proven strategies for successful transactions.


Speakers:

* Emma Clark, Director of Product, Recurly
* Devin Brady, Data Scientist, Recurly
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Sponsored by Recurly

Curating, creating, and delivering fresh content pushes your marketing game to the next level. Your goal: Get the right content to the right people, when and where they want to see it.

Optimization is the key, and analyzing user data, whether by leveraging AI or including engagement and other metrics in your efforts, helps you uncover not just which content is most competitive but what characteristics are pushing it to the top of the list, and even help you fine-tune your message in real time, keeping it fresh and commanding consumer attention. Once that message is refined and optimized, your data can help you home in on consumer intent, seize site-specific demand opportunities, gauge opportunity sizing — and then make sure your message is discovered with predictive intelligence.

To learn more about how to take the educated guesswork out of content creation, make your pitch more persuasive, and magnify your message, don’t miss this VB Live event.

By attending thIs webinar, you'll learn how optimizing content can:

* Increase relevance for consumers across channels
* Leverage data to increase consumer engagement with content
* Increase the volume and scope of content, netting stronger conversions.
* Seize customer journey opportunities when they appear

Speakers:
* Lisa Gibbs, AP Director of News Partnerships, Associated Press
* Ari S Goldberg, Founder, Barber Surgeon’s Guild
* Peggy Anne Salz, Principal, Mobile Groove Consulting
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

The hype surrounding AI has reached a fever pitch, but practical uses that are delivering concrete, practical business results are here, and it’s time to get real.

From taking over the routine requests for customer service agents, reducing costs, speeding up service, and boosting customer satisfaction, to reliably helping marketers deliver what a customer wants, when they want it and where, AI is popping up everywhere, and companies need to figure out where they stand, fast, to stay competitive.

Join this VB Live event, hosted by Forrester Senior Analyst Brandon Purcell and Kayak Chief Scientist Matthias Keller to learn more about how to identify the AI use cases that can transform your business, and how to get started, stat.

You’ll learn:
* What technologies fall under the AI umbrella
* How companies like Kayak use AI to understand customers and personalize experiences
* How to identify the right AI use case for your business
* Common challenges firms face when implementing AI
* Why AI’s time in the sun has finally come, and why it’s here to stay

Speakers:
* Brandon Purcell, Principal Analyst, Forrester
* Matthias Keller, Chief Scientist, Kayak
* Martine van der Lee, Director of Social Media, KLM
* Pradeep Elankumaran, CEO and Co-Founder of Farmstead
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

AI isn’t a nice-to-have any more, it’s a must-have. There’s a reason why corporate giants like Google, IBM, Yahoo, Intel, Apple, and Salesforce are competing to snatch up private AI companies. In the first quarter of 2017 alone, 37 AI companies were swallowed whole.

Companies aren’t just using these AI tools to enable existing marketing strategies; they’re taking those strategies to the next level, going beyond simple retention and delivering active engagement. AI technology offers companies unprecedented insight into customer behaviors, patterns, and beliefs, allowing you to seamlessly anticipate customer needs and serve up hyper-personalized, emotionally resonant campaigns where and when they’re most welcome.

2018 is the year to seize the AI advantage. To learn more about the technology you need, the opportunities it unlocks, and what it takes to get your ball in the game, don’t miss this VB Live event!

In this webinar, you'll learn:
* What’s new in AI for 2018 -- and what’s coming down the pike
* How businesses are using AI to drive results
* How to go beyond customer retention and power customer engagement

Speakers:
* Brian Gross, VP Digital Innovation, Aeromexico
* Dan Wulin, Director of Data Science, Wayfair
* Michael Healey, President, Yeoman Technology Group
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Sponsored by Lytics

Incorporating location intelligence into digital strategies to engage consumers in real time, increase brand loyalty and provide actionable data will be more critical in 2018 than ever before.

Using cutting edge location data, Possible and Skyhook have both been able to actively engage fans in engaging experiences at large-scale sporting events. Enhanced insights into the fan experience via location data include crowd density at various locations within the venue, the best spots for spectators to view the action, the movement of fans relative to players, and more.

In this case, location intelligence provided insight into consumer engagement via foot traffic patterns, location visits, and frequency analysis to help brands deliver dynamic user experiences, better understand their customers and prospects, and boost consumer engagement and delight.

During this webinar you’ll learn how to:
* Boost engagement with real-time, location-based consumer engagement and experiences
* Gain insight into the behavioral patterns of customers and prospects
* Understand the future of location data for your business

Speakers:
* David Bairstow, VP Products, Skyhook
* Jay Graves, CTO at Possible Mobile
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst at Large, VentureBeat (Moderator)

Sponsored by Skyhook


Sponsored by Skyhook

Brands have access to terabytes more customer data than they did just a few years ago, but most organizations are using only 10% of what they collect — and are unsure how to turn data into sophisticated, personalized cross-channel marketing.

That kind of high-touch, multichannel engagement is within every brand’s reach, but it requires putting AI in the driver’s seat. Yet, the hype-cycle that surrounds AI-powered marketing leaves many companies wondering what’s truth, what’s fiction — and most importantly, how to even start applying it for notable returns.

Join Forrester, VentureBeat, and Blueshift in this frank discussion of AI, customer data, and cross-channel marketing. You’ll walk away with a solid understanding of what it takes to fully integrate customer data and AI into your cross-channel marketing.

In this webinar you’ll:

* Understand the power of the customer data you have at your fingertips
* Learn how to leverage data to drive personalized, cross-channel marketing
* Discover how AI can transform your marketing strategy

Speakers:
* Rusty Warner, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
* Vijay Chittoor, CEO, Blueshift
* Shannon Johlic, Director of Marketing, Blueshift
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst at Large, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Don’t miss out! Register today.

Sponsored by: Blueshift

Cyberattacks cost companies over $1 million per day and the video game industry is being targeted more than ever. The global audience is huge and growing across demographics. The number of platforms, from personal computers, consoles and hand-helds to smartphones and tablets, makes a smorgasbord of vulnerable users.

And then the bad guys get to work. Accounts are hacked to rip off virtual items your users have invested time and money on, and real-world identification and financial information is harvested for sale. All told, DoS attacks piss off users and drop game income, and more.

Game publishers and developers are the ones who end up shouldering the blame, taking massive financial and reputational hits. But there are increasingly sophisticated ways to lock out the hackers, keep your users safe, and your intellectual property secure.

Join this VB Live event to learn from digital security experts about the four key perimeters of defense, how to proactively secure your environment, and protect against the increasing number of hacks, DDoS attacks, and more.

Register here for free.

You’ll learn about:
* How to prevent data breaches, SQL injections, cross-site scripting, remote file inclusion, and other cyberattacks.
* Integrating cloud and on-premises solutions
* How to handle larger, Internet-scale attacks
* Preventing the reputation hit that hacked accounts or downed sites bring

Speakers:
* Ryan Safarian, VP Engineering, JumpRamp Games
* Arash S.Haghighi, Manager of Infrastructure, Smilegate West
* Dean Takahashi, Lead Writer, GamesBeat, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat



Sponsored by Akamai

Ad fraud isn’t becoming more prevalent -- the fraudsters are just getting slicker. From bot nets to device ID spoofing, the tricks are getting more sophisticated, and raking in more and more cash for the swindlers.

Staying ahead of the fraudster’s learning curve is the key — and collaboration is the crucial element. While vendors and advertisers are directly impacted by fraud, tracking partners provide the technology to help fight fraud – all three players have to work together to circle the wagons.

Making a game plan can be complex, when there are no clear benchmarks for defining or measuring fraud, as each player defines it differently and different benchmarks are needed for each app type, geo, traffic source, and so on.

Join this VB Live event to learn how to tackle that complexity, how to define benchmarks, detect and manage fraud, and work with your partners to circle the wagons against the fraudsters.

Register for free!

You’ll learn:
* Who the stakeholders are, plus why and how is each is affected
* The MMPs’ role in this ecosystem
* What fraud is and what benchmarks should be used for defining it
* How to collaborate to detect and manage fraud on an ongoing basis
* What tools are out there to fight fraud

Speakers:
* Emily Storino, Network Strategy Lead, Electronic Arts (EA)
* Grant Simmons, Head of Client Analytics, Kochava
* Tal Nissenson VP Client Success US, Taptica
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Sponsored by: Taptica

Increasingly, companies have turned to customer data platforms (CDPs) to help them run more relevant marketing campaigns using the large volume of customer data at their fingertips. Customer-focused software company Atlassian will discuss how they made that decision and the types of complex marketing campaigns that they can now run as a result. Research analyst David Raab will also be on hand to discuss how other companies can use CDPs to harness customer data to increase sales and loyalty.

In this webinar, you will learn:
* Key considerations when deciding to build versus buy a customer data platform
* How companies are taking advantage of CDPs for more relevant communications
* How data science can improve marketing efficacy
* The trends and market factors driving the need for customer data platforms

Speaker Panel:
* Jeff Sinclair, Product Manager, Engagement Platform, Atlassian
* David Raab, Analyst and Founder at The Customer Data Platform Institute
* Jeff Hardison, VP of Marketing at Lytics
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, VentureBeat

Sponsored by: Lytics

By 2020, five billion people will be online, with 25 billion devices and machines using the Internet. Many devices will share data and services, and the way we engage with them will fundamentally change. In a connected world, consumer expectations of executing transactions on a phone, tablet, VR device – or even a refrigerator – will be higher than ever.

As time goes on, devices will become smarter and make more and more decisions for us. We’ll be able to create rules as users to tell our devices what we’re comfortable with them paying for automatically. The use cases for rule-based payment are endless!

As such, the onus of creating frictionless download and shopping experiences while overcoming barriers between devices lies with each business. When it comes to recurring and subscription payments, the technology underpinning these user experiences across devices is critical. Seamless, simple, and secure are the watchwords of an IoT world.

Don’t wait until 2020 to address consumer pain points and overcome technological barriers to IoT adoption. Tune in to the latest VB Live event and hone in on the fastest, best ways to prepare for the IoT world. After all, it’s already here. Attend this webinar and find out:

•How companies are already dealing with device connectivity
•How the challenges posed by IoT are being solved for today
•Global consumer attitudes around payments made by devices
•How payments will become ‘invisible’ or ‘translucent’ for users
•Payment technology that will enable devices to make decisions

SPEAKERS:
* Kevin Gordon, Lead Innovation Architect, Worldpay
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

Sponsored by: Worldpay

Artificial intelligence was Gartner’s top 2017 strategic technology trend, and the year isn’t over yet. But for too many companies, AI myths are persistent, use cases and strategies are still on the “shiny new thing” level, and expectations continue to hover in the spirit of Skynet/HAL, making it hard to determine whether it’s really right for your company.

As AI technologies multiply, how do you sort fact from fiction? Should you stop daydreaming about replacing your entire staff with chatbots — or can you start augmenting agent abilities? Most importantly, while AI undoubtedly has shown real-live ROI in case study after case study, where is the particular value in chasing the AI buzz for your own company?

Register now for our our latest VB Live event and find out. We’ll be tackling the AI legends and the AI realities, breaking down the potential AI has for your bottom line, and giving you a glimpse of the future of AI for business.

In this webinar, you’ll explore:
* Myths and realities of AI replacing vs. augmenting staff functions
* How to bake AI into your business strategy
* On- and offline use cases for AI
* The future of AI for business

Speakers:
* Avinash Gangadharan, Sr Director of Engineering, Walmart
* Allen Sebrell, Senior Manager E-Commerce Team, Amtrak
* Deep Varma, VP of Engineering, Trulia
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, Venturebeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

AI apps are shaping up to be an essential part of financial institution and fintech offerings. Yet these innovative solutions are only as useful as the data they can access. In our webinar, we’ll show you how to apply predictive analytics and AI to a massive scale of data to derive valuable insights and power more personalized user experiences.

From financial wellness apps that help your customers save money, to chatbots that assist users with making payments, the better you understand your users, the more relevant your solutions will be. Learn how AI technology and tools can help detect patterns in financial and transactional data, predict future events and even enable you to suggest a course of action for your users, resulting in a deeper and more meaningful connection.

In this VB Live webinar, you’ll find out how to:

• Drive customer engagement and loyalty with the next wave of financial wellness solutions
• Use predictive analytics and AI to deliver more personalized and engaging apps and chatbots
• Provide users with intelligent financial guidance based on past behavior
• Extract valuable insight from a wealth of data to measure users’ financial health
• Partner with vendors to develop the machine-learning based systems that constantly analyze data and derive insights to drive more meaningful conversations with your end users

SPEAKERS:
* Katy Gibson, VP of Application Products, Envestnet | Yodlee
* Dion F. Lisle, VP Head of FinTech, Capgemini America Inc.
* John Vars, Chief Product Officer, Varo Money
* Keith Armstrong, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Abe.ai
* Evan Schuman, Moderator, VentureBeat

Sponsored by Yodlee

Consumers aren’t actually impressed by just a "Hi!" And as deluged by content as they are, they know they have the luxury of simply ignoring you. To catch their interest, you need to demonstrate that you know what they want, and you can deliver it.

In other words, hyper-personalization. Innovations in marketing tech, like AI, machine learning, and shopping bots, enable you to microsegment all the way down to a customer’s purchase and interest patterns to develop messaging that triggers powerful interest, creates deep engagement, and drives sales.

Learn more about the tech you need, the strategies that win, and how to deliver the “you know me” satisfaction that keeps customers coming back for more when you join this VB Live event!

Don’t miss out!

You’ll learn:
* Why broad segmentation is no longer enough
* How shopping bots, AI + more enable one-to-one marketing
* How psychographics, lifecycle data, and multi-channel behavior can build customer profiles
* How engagement, experience and retention improve one-to-one marketing
* The importance of not being creepy
* The trends and future of hyper-personalization

Speakers:
* Cherie Yu, Head of Local Marketing, Lyft
* Dr. Martin Prescher, CTO of AutoGravity
* Stewart Rogers, Direct of Marketing Technology, VentureBeat
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat

VR has sprouted a lot of startups, but not a whole lot of revenue yet. Yet the theory is that where there’s investment, there’s got to be fire. In this new wave of VR technology, refined console headsets are being set loose in the world, and mobile VR and mobile 360 are growing more popular with consumers. So it’s time to start thinking about a monetization strategy.

In mobile, for instance, freemium with a combination of ads and in-app purchases is the powerhouse that generates over 95 percent of revenues. For consoles, downloadable and extended content plus microtransactions are the big money makers. But virtual reality is an entirely new way of interacting with content. Will consumers be willing to stand through advertisements? Will they trust a virtual reality payment method, or is the technology too new to engender consumer confidence?

In this VB LIve event, you’ll learn about:
* The future of VR payments, commerce, and innovation
* How payments technology is revolutionizing VR/AR experiences
* The challenges that emerge from the consumer and merchant side
* The global perspective of VR/AR and where it is headed

Speakers:
* Stewart Rogers, Director of Marketing Technology, VB
* Cleveland Brown, CEO, Payscout
* Charlie Fink, VR columnist, Forbes
* Rachael Brownell, Moderator, VentureBeat