10 Essential B2B Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Professional Services Firm
Being an entrepreneur can be a tough job when it comes to b2b marketing. Where do you start? The world of marketing is ever-evolving and ever-changing, featuring new technologies and practices regularly. Many traditional techniques simply won’t cut it anymore, so what are the best b2b strategies to follow? Let’s find out more.
1. Finding your niche
Before considering any b2b marketing strategies examples, your professional services firm needs to know where it stands in the market. The fastest-growing companies always have a carefully selected and targeted niche. Specialization is one of the most powerful marketing techniques, and there’s no trick to it - simply know which slice of the market to focus on to stand out amongst your competitors.
2. Noticeable experts
Research indicates that firms that employ visible experts generate substantially more leads and can close sales more easily. The people who have expertise in your area and work for you should have their profile elevated. Focus people’s attention on their expertise.
3. Website
Most articles about “how to do b2b marketing” advise you to create a website first. Give people a great first impression. It is important to create a website that not only catches the audience’s eye but also captures their attention for a long time. If your website isn’t optimized to work well and if it doesn’t load fast on all devices, prospective customers will leave within seconds.
4. Web-based call to actions
While your website will help relay your message and solidify your identity, it can do a lot more. Most b2b digital marketing strategies focus on developing a cutting-edge call to action to help turbocharge conversions. Don’t leave anyone second-guessing where the checkout is or wandering around looking for contact information. People will get easily bored and will leave if they have trouble navigating.
5. Articles and blogs
At the heart of all b2b content marketing strategies lie blogs and articles. While it can take time to see the benefits that you gain from written content, research shows that 50% of buyers would rather read an article or publication to help guide consumer choices. By educating people and demonstrating exciting entrepreneurship, you can show the world that you’re an expert.
6. Search engine optimization (SEO)
Hand-in-hand with content marketing lies SEO. If people can find your website on the first search page, you’ll reap the rewards. Always structure your site with semantic HTML, including relevant keywords to tell search engines what the site is about. You should also feature links to your site on other reputable websites. SEO is a dark art that pays off if done properly, and it’s absolutely essential.
7. Trade shows
While they’re a little old-fashioned, they’re reliable and deserve a place in your b2b marketing collateral plan template. At a show, you can get a high number of potential clients in one place. Attendees are keen to listen and easily targetable. Share expertise, engage, sell and network to grow your business.
8. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful networking and collaborating tool to leverage. It’s an outstanding source for professional contacts, offering an engaging way to have a one-to-one conversation. The “groups” feature is especially beneficial for freelancers to easily gain business and advertise their services.
9. Online videos
People love face-to-face interaction and lap up online videos more than text or infographics. Viewers will trust your business if they observe open body language and honest communication. Get creative and think of videos where you can showcase your organization, posting them on all the major channels.
10. Signature content
Think creatively - is there anything that you can offer people to increase your credibility? A “best practices” guide, some novel research, or a book are just some of many ways to show the world what your business can do. Share it when you’re networking and boost its presence online.
B2b strategies at your fingertips
The world of b2b Marketing is multifaceted and exciting, with many directions to explore. Some even won’t cost you a penny! Remember to use data to guide your decisions and as you discover what works best for your business, refine, adapt and build upon your strategies. All the best!
What are some of your favorite b2b marketing strategies? Tell us in the comments section below.
Emily Moore is an English & programming teacher with a passion for space and blogging. She believes that current exploration should be focused on preserving our planet’s resources. With satellites circling the orbit, it is easier to get relevant data on any environmental changes. This, in turn, should help people quickly address any challenges.