Marketo launches lead-generation engine for small businesses

Marketing automation firm Marketo has launched a new brand targeting small businesses called Spark. Like Marketo, Spark is designed to help businesses generate leads and manage marketing efforts.

Marketo and competing providers like Eloqua, Genius, Pardot and Silverpop are part the emerging space of marketing automation. These companies are making it possible for businesses to improve sales lead generation and use a content management system to better connect businesses to their potential customers.

Marketo has had its eye mostly on enterprise-level customers since its launch in 2006. But with Spark, the company can better reach out to small and mid-size companies by delivering specific tools relevant to that audience.

Spark shares the same technology behind Marketo but gives small businesses more pricing options and services with rapid and sustainable customer growth in mind. Marketo said the biggest tools it will bring to small business owners will include email marketing, inbound marketing, lead nurturing, lead scoring and insights, social media and event marketing.

“Millions of small businesses don’t have the time or technology needed to truly spark rapid growth,” said Phil Fernandez, Marketo CEO and president, in a statement. “The things that really grow their business – like marketing efficiently and finding solid leads – never move off their to-do lists.”

A short video promo laying out the basics of Spark by Marketo can be viewed below: