Traditionally, B2B manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have relied on print materials, face-to-face meetings, live events and conferences. In fact, before COVID-19, trade show attendance reached a record high – events were the place to network and build relationships with customers.
Buyers are demanding more control of their purchase experience – they turn to the internet to research, self-educate, and self-serve. More than 73% of B2B transactions now involve millennials as decision-makers. This demographic is comfortable with making everything from small to sophisticated purchases online. And, more recently, the pandemic has cut off many traditional marketing channels for industrial businesses.
For industrial sellers, there is only one solution. That is digital marketing for distributors.
Why Read This Guide?
If you haven’t moved to digital channels yet, now’s the time to do so. The shift in customer preferences is here to stay. A digital strategy is essential for providing long-term value and making your B2B businesses more resilient to uncertainty, supply chain shifts, or pandemic-style disruptions.
In Digital Marketing for Manufacturers and Distributors: A Guide to Industrial Marketing, we’ll start with comparing the differences between traditional marketing with the digital counterpart. We’ll talk about what you need to know, how to make the right steps, and various marketing elements to consider. We’ll cover the most crucial stages when designing your strategy, and point out the pitfalls to look out for. Lastly, we’ll talk about various technology solutions to measure your metrics.
Who Should Read This Guide?
This guide will help everyone from digital directors, marketing directors, and business development managers. It will also be useful for the C-suite, sales, and customer-facing teams. Readers will learn the peculiarities of digital marketing for manufacturing, distribution, and industrial sectors, how to form the right strategy, and what obstacles to avoid. It’s a must-read for:
- Marketing Executives and Managers
- Digital Directors and ECommerce Leaders
- C-Suite and Leadership Teams
- Business Development Managers
- Sales and Customer Success Teams
- Customer-Facing Employees
Recommended reading: Digital Marketing in the Chemical Industry
Keep Up with the Changing B2B Marketing Landscape
While going back to normal is inevitable, it’s debatable how much manufacturers and distributors will be able to rely on printed media, field sales, and events.
One thing for sure. Today’s industrial businesses don’t have the luxury of relying on yesterday’s strategies if they want to keep up with digitization in manufacturing. The pandemic transformed the marketing landscape, and B2B businesses of all sizes explored innovative methods to attract and retain their customers. New generations of B2B buyers are making more purchase decisions, and the only way to reach them is through digital channels.
At the same time, your B2B business has unique needs, and you can’t afford any missteps in your strategy. We put together this guide to help you reach your online potential and build a future-proof business.
Download your copy of Digital Marketing for Manufacturers and Distributors: A Guide to Industrial Marketing Here.
