---
title: Epic ROI rant
image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601002994-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a7b11e85970b-320wi.jpg
---

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# Epic ROI rant

 January 7th, 2010

 1 min read

 By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott)

![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601002994-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a7b11e85970b-320wi.jpg?width=320&height=213&name=6a00d83451f23a69e20120a7b11e85970b-320wi.jpg)

Yesterday, I participated on a podcast with [Ricardo Bueno](http://twitter.com/Ribeezie), founder [Ribeezie Media](http://www.ribeeziemedia.com/blog/) with co-host [Stacey Soleil](http://twitter.com/staceysoleil), director of social media strategy with [KARMA Media Labs](http://karmamedialabs.com/).

Towards the end of the podcast, they asked me about measuring the ROI (return on investment) of marketing on the Web.

[I ended up in an epic rant of nearly three minutes. ](http://www.ribeeziemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/DMScott_Interview4.mp3) (Please listen.)

**I was in the zone.**

[![DMScott rant](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601002994-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a7b11e85970b-320wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a7b11e85970b-popup)

**What do you think?**

- Do we need to adapt Web marketing to the MBA formulas for measurement?
- Or do we need to be better at articulating to management exactly how web marketing should be measured?

**I'm interested to know where you come down in this debate.**

*More on measurement:* In a post yesterday titled [How big is YOURS?](https://www.webinknow.com/2010/01/how-big-is-yours.html) I talked about clip books, the measurement of choice for traditional PR. I also have a free ebook called [Lose Control of Your Marketing! Why marketing ROI measures lead to failure.](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/documents/Marketing_ROI.pdf)

<https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott>

[ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott)

David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire.

 Connect: 

<https://www.facebook.com/dmscott> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeermanscott/> <https://twitter.com/dmscott> [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com)

 Topics:

[ Social Media ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/social-media)

[ Worst Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/worst-practices)

[ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing)

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