4 Digital Marketing Ideas for Manufacturers in Q4
by Vin DiGioia
Wow – how is it August already? It feels like this year is flying by! As 2015 begins to wind down, we have seen some really positive news for U.S. manufacturers in recent weeks:
- The Institute for Supply Management has indicated that U.S. manufacturing growth has begun to accelerate.
- China’s manufacturing sector, on the other hand, showed zero growth in July 2015.
- Reshoring is happening – right here in New England, as a matter of fact.
Now that’s all great news – on a macro level. What does that mean for manufacturers as a whole, though? It’s means there is opportunity, but you must take action in order to capitalize on it.
With Q4 right around the corner, here are 4 Digital Marketing Ideas for Manufacturers to think about:
- Share the Wealth
Position yourself/your company as the expert in your field. Put that knowledge and expertise on display, not just in your “portfolio”, but in the form of articles and downloadable white papers on your website. Sharing this information will not only help gain exposure for your brand, but it can also help reassure potential clients that you are, in fact, the right company for the job. - Get Social
Social media is a powerful way to distribute content – especially in B2B and manufacturing. Building a strong audience base on social media (think Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+) will help get your content in front of prospects quicker and more effectively. - Leverage New Media
A great way to differentiate your yourself through new media YouTube videos may not be the first method that comes to mind when thinking about marketing for manufacturing, but it is possibly the most effective platform for informing people and attracting new business.- VIDEOS – Well-produced videos showing how your products are made or, even better, your products in action, can give prospects an idea of the real world benefits of purchasing from you. In addition, interviews with valuable team members or even client testimonials all represent new opportunities to share information about your brand with potential clients. (Think: Youtube, Vimeo, Wistia)
- PRESENTATIONS – Have you given a strong presentation recently? Maybe you put together a PowerPoint deck on trends in your industry? Make that available online, and be sure to attribute it back to your company. (Think: SlideShare, Scribd, Prezi)
- Analyze This, That – Everything!
Even the best marketing ideas for manufacturers are worthless if you aren’t tracking in order to gauge effectiveness (read: results.) The days of buying an ad in a trade publication and hoping for the phone to ring are over. Gathering data on all of your online marketing efforts and culling actionable steps is critical to success in today’s global marketplace. Campaigns must now be constantly optimized, and manufacturers must be prepared to adjust their marketing efforts accordingly.
Whether your company is just beginning to explore digital marketing or you’re a seasoned pro, keep these marketing ideas for manufacturers in mind as you develop your strategy for reaching those quarterly and yearly goals in the next few months.
In addition, if you are looking for more marketing ideas for manufacturers as you begin to plan for 2016, give us a shout. Our team of seasoned B2B marketing experts is waiting to help you expand your current marketing efforts and achieve your best year yet!
Tags: content strategies for manufacturers, social media, social media for manufacturers