5We live in the digital age. There are more than 3 billion people connected to the internet. For every 100 people on the planet, there are 96 mobile telephone subscriptions. And more and more of our everyday objects--cuddly toys, cars, even kettles--have created an "internet of things." Marketers, in particular, hope that so-called digital marketing will allow them to gain new customer insights, refine customer segmentation, and communicate to customers more efficiently and effectively. They anticipate that the digital age will offer possibilities for new product innovation, advanced methods for engaging customers and original vehicles for creating brand communities.

Despite the pervasiveness of digital technologies, however, digital marketing is seemingly still in its infancy. Contributions from both academics and practitioners who are experts in the field explore the realities of digital marketing.