Mascola B2B Marketing Blog, B2B Advertising Agency
Category Archives: Marketing Strategy

B2B Monday Myth: Creating Content Is All You Need To Do

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how to distribute b2b content

The Myth: All I need to do is create good content, and people will find it.

The Truth: Content found organically is wonderful, but you’ll need to distribute it in other ways to get more quality leads.

In the last few years, the role of content marketing has grown exponentially. Many businesses, large and small, have poured a hefty share of their marketing budgets into content creation and have increased conversion because of it. But is creating quality content with great SEO all you need to reach your target? Accomplished content marketer and author of The Content Formula, Michael Brenner, puts it this way: “Even great content needs a push.” So what are the best ways to push your content?

How to Distribute B2B Content:

Paid Search

Paid Search, also referred to as Pay-Per-Click (PPC), is one of the best ways to reach prospects with your content. That’s because you are reaching people who are actively searching for what you have to offer. Plus, when done correctly, it can help you secure a spot on Google above organic listings. Although it can be a bit costly, the benefits are well worth the investment.

One of the main benefits is that you can make real-time changes to your messaging. Arguably the best feature of Paid Search is that you can target your messaging, and then easily change it up at a moment’s notice. You can run several different ads to see which copy drives the most prospects to your content, then cut out the ads that aren’t performing and sink that money into the high-performing ad to drive more quality leads.

You can also geo-target your ads, so that you are reaching people only within the markets you want to pursue. If you have a limited Paid Search budget, this feature can be very useful.

Paid Social

A close relative of Paid Search is paid social. The major difference is that instead of advertising on search engines, Paid Social allows you to advertise on social media. Paid Social allows you to reach beyond just your followers. Facebook in particular, really enables you to narrow your target. You can actually have a Custom Audience made up of your database of prospects. If you have over 100 people on your list and they are on Facebook, you can serve up ads directly to them. You can also retarget people who have visited your website to capture those who have shown interest in your product or service, but maybe weren’t ready to convert yet.

You can also target your ads in order to add new people to your prospects list. You can target by demographics and location, but also by categories like Employer and Job Title, so your content is getting directly into the hands of people who will find it useful.

Trade Publication Programs

While the consumer magazine industry may be dying, the trade pub industry is alive and well. And a good relationship with your industry trade pubs can be a great tool to have in your arsenal. Getting access to their lists is one of the best ways to grow your list of qualified leads. These are people who are already in your world, looking for content that is relevant to them. Some publications already have elaborate content distribution programs in place. All you have to do is give them your white papers and infographics, and they’ll circulate it to the right people in their database for you.

Creating compelling and relevant content is only the half the battle. Paid media strategies greatly improve the chances of your content being seen by the right people at the right time. And that translates into highly qualified leads for your sales team. It’s an effort that is easy to fine-tune and well worth the money.

 

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B2B Monday Myth: Positioning Your Brand As ‘The Best’ Is a Good Marketing Strategy

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positioning b2b brands as the best

The Myth: Everyone Wants the Best, So That Should Be Your Claim.

The Truth: Find Your Point of Differentiation, or Your Competitors Win.

Maybe you actually are the best manufacturer of aerospace components, the best provider of recruitment services, the best commercial construction company in the region. But B2B buyers are so used to hearing businesses call themselves “the best,” it falls on deaf ears. They are practically born with BS detectors inside their brains.

So even if you’re the best in town, what you need to tell them is why you are the best.

You can start your positioning process with these questions:

  1. What are you competitors saying about themselves?
  2. What do you do differently?
  3. What do you better?
  4. What can you claim that no one else can?
  5. How is the personality of your brand different from others in your category?

The truths you discover by answering these questions will help drive your strategic brand positioning. Even if you already knew the answers, if you are marketing your business as “the best,” your message likely does not include them. And will have to go a long way to resonate with your target audience.

The questions listed above are just an introductory step to discovering your brand voice. There’s a lot more discovery you may have to do to develop a full positioning statement and a marketing strategy that’s inline with what you find. It is one of the most important exercises for a B2B brand to go through.

Positioning B2B brands correctly takes a little bit of research and hard work. But the results will help you not only be “the best” in your category, but the best at getting quality leads. If you want to increase your market share, say goodbye to “best” and hello to something even greater.

 

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5 Tips for Smart B2B Marketers on Black Friday

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tips for smart b2b marketers

Everyone else is out getting deals, pushing through crowds, and fighting over the last electronic gadget available for 79% off. But you — you are sitting back, eating a nice pile of leftovers, and planning for 2017. That’s the kind of business you run. So as you prepare, we’ve got a fews tips to get you started.

Here Are 5 Tips for Smart B2B Marketers As You Think Ahead to 2017:

  1. Get Your Creative Media Mix Right. Are you using the right medium at the right point in the sales funnel? This guide will help you fine-tune your plan, and hit the right people at the right time.
  2. See What You Can Gain From Your Trade Pubs. You can get more than just a print ad from your trade publications. More opportunities. More value. And a lot more leads.
  3. Learn the Latest Paid Search Opportunities. Adwords device bidding is one of the latest tools available to B2B marketers from our friends at Google. Those who use it correctly can gain an edge over their competitors.
  4. Know How Others In Your Industry Use Content. Learn not only the important stats for 2017, but what each one means for you.
  5. Rock the Trade Shows. Trade shows aren’t obsolete. They actually offer great new opportunities that never existed before. Use these 8 tips to do trade events right in 2017 — before, during, and after each show.

As the exhausted masses return from the malls, bruised and irritated by humanity, you’ll be sitting home with a belly full of turkey and a brain brimming with ideas for next year.

Happy Thanksgiving and a very Happy (and Smart) Black Friday to you!

Need more ideas for 2017? Drop us a line.

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