Direct Messages: New Twists on Twitter for Manufacturers
by Vin DiGioia
Social media juggernaut Twitter has been making a lot of moves in recent weeks. In addition to a quick CEO swap, the service announced two new updates to its direct message (DM) feature that could be very important, overall, as it pertains to Twitter for manufacturers:
- APRIL 2015: Users can now opt to receive direct messages from anyone. (Previously, you would have to be following a user in order to receive direct messages on Twitter.)
- JULY 2015 (expected): Character restriction for direct messages will be increased from 140 to 10,000
While direct messages on Twitter have sometimes been overlooked (and sometimes written off as spam havens), these new changes could signal a change for B2B marketers. These new enhancements could make the direct message feature more enticing as a potential means for communicating with both existing customers and prospects.
Continue Reading[INFOGRAPHIC] Mobile-Friendly Websites for Manufacturers: The Time is Now
by MGB2B
Tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices have shifted the way in which potential customers find and interact with brands online. Now, the biggest name in the search engine game is taking that shift to the next level. In April 2015, Google implemented a change to its algorithm (commonly referred to as “Mobilegeddon”) which places much greater emphasis on whether or not a website is “mobile-friendly”. Basically, it means that if a website is not deemed mobile-friendly, it will not rank well on mobile-based search results. Since mobile usage is continuing to grow at a rapid pace (in 2014, it equaled desktop usage for the first time), this could spell trouble for companies whose websites are behind the times.
To see just how much this change could impact local B2B marketers, we took a closer look at the web presence for a number of manufacturing companies here in Connecticut. Our goal was to see how many mobile-friendly websites for manufacturers existed in the local landscape, as a bellwether for regional and potentially national trends. Using a sample set of 400 Connecticut-based manufacturing companies, we tested the URL for each company using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool; the results were shocking.
Continue ReadingTransparency in B2B Print Circulation
by MGB2B
While trade magazines are a tried and true tool for B2B marketing, it is not always easy to find transparency in B2B print circulation. For example, this month I’ve noticed that a business journal (that shall remain nameless) has been delivering an excessive amount of copies to our office. Of the 16 copies sent, two are addressed to current employees, one is addressed generally to “Mascola Group,” and 13 are addressed to former employees, some of whom have not worked here in 10+ years. The moral of the story is this: business publications inflate their circulation numbers. Not only that, it often goes unnoticed because in offices, duplicate and unwanted magazines get sorted right into recycling, before they have a chance to reach their intended recipients.
While it is impossible to have zero waste in a print campaign, it is possible to minimize it by working with publications that are transparent and take the following steps to ensure you have all the information you need to make the right placement decisions:
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