Have you tied your social media efforts to a positive ROI?
Or, have you heard claims that social media marketing just isn’t worth the effort for B2B companies?
B2B social media has gotten a bad rap in the marketing community, with many marketers claiming
a low ROI and seeing a lack of interest from prospects. A 2014 report from Forrester found that 26
out of 30 B2B companies failed to create compelling content that engaged their audiences, losing
sales and buyers to competitors in the process. With such dismal numbers, it’s clear that B2B companies
need to rethink
their content and the way they interest potential customers via social media.
a low ROI and seeing a lack of interest from prospects. A 2014 report from Forrester found that 26
out of 30 B2B companies failed to create compelling content that engaged their audiences, losing
sales and buyers to competitors in the process. With such dismal numbers, it’s clear that B2B companies
need to rethink
their content and the way they interest potential customers via social media.
With an increasing number of B2B companies adopting social media marketing, a number
of myths about it have spread as well. These misconceptions can be laughable at best –
but also damaging to your marketing and sales efforts at worst. In this article, I’ll dispel five
myths about B2B social media marketing once and for all, and show you why a robust
social media strategy is vital to increasing sales, expanding networks, and growing revenue.
of myths about it have spread as well. These misconceptions can be laughable at best –
but also damaging to your marketing and sales efforts at worst. In this article, I’ll dispel five
myths about B2B social media marketing once and for all, and show you why a robust
social media strategy is vital to increasing sales, expanding networks, and growing revenue.
Myth #1: Social Media is Only for B2C Companies
In the past, social media marketing tactics have been hyper-focused
on B2C companies, citing the personal nature of social media as a way to
engage directly and intimately with individual consumers. Since businesses
use digital spaces for professional, not personal applications, the logic goes,
they are not as invested in social media and need to be reached via more
traditional marketing channels.
Not so, says that Forrester report. It found that B2B technology buyers
use social media nearly twice as much as the average U.S. adult.
Other telling statistics? A full 100% of business decision-makers use social media
for work , and more than 65% of B2B buyers research a vendor’s social media content before
contacting them for a possible purchase.
Other telling statistics? A full 100% of business decision-makers use social media
for work , and more than 65% of B2B buyers research a vendor’s social media content before
contacting them for a possible purchase.
In addition, since individual B2B purchases are often higher stakes than B2C purchases,
they are more thoroughly researched, meaning that the community opinion of your company
is of particular importance. Reviews and recommendations are easily and quickly distributed and
is of particular importance. Reviews and recommendations are easily and quickly distributed and
are available through a simple Internet search.
It’s clear that B2B buyers are using social media at high rates to make purchase
decisions, and the trend towards relying on social media is only getting stronger.
Myth #2: B2C Social Media Strategies Don’t Apply to B2B Companies
Similar marketing strategies, content, and platforms intrigue buyers at B2B companies
and individual consumers alike. In fact, a recent study by Eccolo Media reported that
B2B technology buyers found vendors through the same channels as B2C companies,
with LinkedIn, Google+ and Facebook proving the most important and Twitter,
Vimeo, Tumblr, and SlideShare of slightly less interest.
In terms of the content, B2B buyers find case studies/success stories, technology
guides, and white papers to be most the useful when making purchasing decisions
though they also consumed podcasts, emails, blog articles, infographics,
videos and product brochures/data sheets to a lesser extent.
Though B2B buyers may prefer slightly different forms of content, they, like
B2C customers, still gravitate towards content that tells a story, reveals the human
face of your business and fosters relationships based on shared values and experiences.
Myth #3: Social Media is Only about Lead Generation
While B2B technology buyers are most likely to use social media during the pre-sales
and initial sales phase of a purchase, a full 25% say they use social media during the mid-sales
phase of identifying solutions and considering vendors. Still others use it during the final sales phase
and initial sales phase of a purchase, a full 25% say they use social media during the mid-sales
phase of identifying solutions and considering vendors. Still others use it during the final sales phase
of finalizing the vendor and purchasing the solution.
According to research from Gleanster, about half of
leads aren’t ready to buy after an initial conversation.
leads aren’t ready to buy after an initial conversation.
And for B2B companies, with more expensive products
and services, the sales cycle may be longer, requiring
more long-term attention to prospects. Social media
marketing helps to manage leads and better connect
your marketing initiatives with your sales outcomes.
Continuing your relationship with leads and prospects via social media helps to cinch sales
by learning about the content that appeals to your best leads and then tailoring your
efforts to their specific interests.
Continuing your relationship with leads and prospects via social media helps to cinch sales
by learning about the content that appeals to your best leads and then tailoring your
efforts to their specific interests.
Myth #4: Social Media Doesn’t Have a Clear ROI
The end goal of B2B marketing – whether traditional or online – is to generate sales and grow revenue.
Social media marketing is no different. Companies can easily calculate the ROI on social media marketing
by comparing the revenue accumulated through social media leads to social media marketing costs.
The reason so many B2B companies have difficulty tying their social media efforts to real numbers is
because the tools they use to measure their social media effectiveness – which are usually designed
for B2C marketers – focus too heavily on engagement metrics like clicks, comments and shares. Instead,
Social media marketing is no different. Companies can easily calculate the ROI on social media marketing
by comparing the revenue accumulated through social media leads to social media marketing costs.
The reason so many B2B companies have difficulty tying their social media efforts to real numbers is
because the tools they use to measure their social media effectiveness – which are usually designed
for B2C marketers – focus too heavily on engagement metrics like clicks, comments and shares. Instead,
utilize a social media analytics tool that ties to your entire lead generation strategy and
measures the conversions that your posts and social campaigns generate. If you’re using
a marketing automation platform and/or CRM, integrate them with your social tool so
you get the most precise data possible. (Oktopost and Act-On integrate, which means
marketers using them together can tell which leads were generated by which social posts.)
If you find that your social media marketing is not giving you
the results youneed, you may need to rethink your strategy.
Always be sure that yourmarketing goals are aligned with your
company’s overall business goals.
This will in turn guide your social media strategy and determine which
social media metrics you need to track to figure our whether or not a
campaign was successful. Social media is incredibly measurable, but
educated decisions about strategy can happen only when you have the data to back them up.
the results youneed, you may need to rethink your strategy.
Always be sure that yourmarketing goals are aligned with your
company’s overall business goals.
This will in turn guide your social media strategy and determine which
social media metrics you need to track to figure our whether or not a
campaign was successful. Social media is incredibly measurable, but
educated decisions about strategy can happen only when you have the data to back them up.
Myth #5: You Will Reveal Your Secrets to Competitors
Marketing is about staying one step ahead of your competitors by knowing what your customers really
want – sometimes before they do.
want – sometimes before they do.
The truth is, if your social media marketing strategy is working or
your products are clicking with buyers, your competitors will likely
your products are clicking with buyers, your competitors will likely
try to imitate you. However, refusing to connect with potential buyers
in an authentic way because you fear being impersonated is not
productive. More than anything, a strong social media strategy
that taps into your buyers’ current mindset with relevant content
will be very dynamic, and cause your competitors to have far more to fear.
will be very dynamic, and cause your competitors to have far more to fear.
your social media strategy with our ebook,Conducting a Successful Social Media Audit.
Improving your social media management will not only generate sales, but will also firmly
establish your business’s voice as a leading authority in your field. A strong presence on
social media is key to garnering the interest of first-time buyers and maintaining relationships
with returning customers while edging out the competition.
Source : http://bit.ly/1EFDROW