New SageNote: GenAI Discovery, the Spotlight Acquisition, and What AR Teams Should Do Next

SageNote SN0160 is now available for download Spotlight’s acquisition of Captivate Collective, announced on February 17, 2026, marks the first strategic add-on investment by the leading dedicated AR consultancy in its 14-year history. The target was not another analyst relations boutique. It was a Canadian customer marketing and advocacy firm. That choice tells you everything[…]

The Gartner Vendor Briefing Process Gets Easier

One of the biggest challenges AR leaders face is analyst availability. It’s especially challenging when a vendor crosses multiple markets and needs to brief several analysts at once. Peter Kalinowski Preface: In 2009 we cited this article as one of the most useful articles by analysts with tips on Analyst Relations. Over the decade since[…]

Tips for Increasing Analyst Awareness: An Interview With Gartner Research VP Laura McLellan

“Most technology providers maintain informal relationships with Gartner analysts. Yet adding a little structure to the relationship can yield much higher value.” Laura McLennan Preface: In 2009 we cited this article as one of the most useful articles by analysts with tips on Analyst Relations. Over the decade since then, the article’s fallen offline. In[…]

Dave Eckert on getting started with Sales Enablement

Dave Eckert, who led the SageCircle analyst relations consultancy, is one of the most experienced veterans of the analyst relations community. His work helped SageCircle stand head and shoulders above other firms on issues of sales enablement. Duncan Chapple had the chance to interview him. In the first of three SageTalk posts based on that interview,[…]

The evolution of the IT analyst industry – a fireside chat

Focusing on the IT analyst business, its beginnings and weaknesses in the original model bringing technology and business together over the course of the last 20 years. Panelists: Jonathan Yarmis with Gideon Gartner and Carter Lusher Click here or on the graphic to play the video SageCircle Since 2000, SageCircle has helped analyst relations teams[…]

This not the first time that Gartner has been sued nor will it be the last

Software vendor ZL Technologies has sued Gartner, Inc. about the impact of the firm’s research on its business (see the court documents on its website). Needless to say, this has gotten the attention of twits and bloggers. Here are two example blog posts 

There are legitimate criticisms about any particular firm’s research methodology, whether a standalone piece of research or a recurring research deliverable like IDC’s market share models or Aberdeen Axis. SageCircle, vendors, and others have certainly given Gartner suggestions for improving the Magic Quadrant in private meetings, on blog posts, and in public forums like the Gartner Quarterly AR Call. And to be fair, Gartner has tweaked its methodology a little for the Magic Quadrant over the years, but probably more in response to the Forrester Wave than what they hear from the vendors.

ZLTI v Gartner in logos

There is also the issue that many technology buyers who use the Magic Quadrant as an input to decision making do not know how to […]