For those organisations out there that have yet to review and amend their procedures in line with the GDPR, now is definitely the time. With the law coming into force in May 2018 (yes, this time next year), failure to comply could result in fines of up to €20 million. And just to clarify, the fact Brexit is going ahead will make no difference to the implementation of this law, so that’s not a ‘get out of jail card’ either. So, what should you be doing now to ensure you are best placed for the arrival of the GDPR next year? Well…

Everyone’s talking about great content – where to find it, how to write it, and how to use it to fuel B2B campaigns which generate real and measurable results. Once considered a department which shied away from metrics, today’s marketing wordsmith’s know only too well how important it is to prove the selling power behind their words.

As a generation who were born or brought up during the age of internet technology, digital natives are able to adapt and respond to the latest digital trends with seemingly little trouble. What about the rest of us though? What about those of us who go to great lengths to understand and implement the latest tech, only to find that 3 more tools have arrived in the marketplace during that time? As people who seem to be endlessly chasing a ‘comfort zone’ of the latest technology knowledge, these digitally displaced marketers could really do with a break.

Believe it or not, 91% of B2B buyers are influenced by word-of-mouth referrals when making their buying decision[i]. This means that even with their great power and authority, there are few things which these decision-makers rely on more than input from their colleagues. So, what does this mean for you? Well, ultimately it means - overlook these influencers at your peril.

‘Martech’ is a term that’s been around for a while, but what seems to have slipped quietly under the radar is the fact that the number of actual marketing technologies is growing at an exponential rate. This means that there’s twice as many software options and programs as there were last year, and there will be twice as many by this time next year. Now, on an individual basis, each of these solutions will no doubt have their benefits. But, to a marketing director who is tasked with overseeing data, targets, and the results of the marketing department, this tech explosion can create a dizzying environment – not to mention a big headache.

Before we dive into this topic and its potential uses within the B2B marketing space, lets first be clear on the definitions. Augmented reality is the ability to superimpose digital objects and imagery into the real world using a camera (smartphone or tablet) as the conduit. Virtual reality on the other hand, is the creation of an entirely digital world which people can access via immersive technology such as headsets. All make sense? These are technologies which you’ve no doubt seen previously in different forms and variations. But, as the technology develops and becomes more mainstream, these digital realities are starting to make waves in the world of marketing.

When you know who your most profitable and high-profile clients are, why wouldn’t you want to attract more organisations just like them? Well, that’s exactly what account based marketing (ABM) enables businesses to achieve. By targeting a hand-picked group of ‘dream’ prospects, companies can focus their energy and resources on creating highly targeted messaging and activity.

Account based marketing (ABM) is one of those techniques which has picked up speed over the past 12 months. Many marketers are experimenting with the activity, others are investing heavily in it, and many more plan to implement it in some way during 2017. Now, the statistics and case studies which have already been published show that ABM works. So why isn’t everyone doing it? Well, it turns out this marketing approach isn’t for everyone. For one reason or another, some businesses just simply aren’t ready to jump aboard the ABM train. But, for those that are, our latest tipsheet is packed with hints and tips, including…

80% of marketers measuring ROI say that ABM outperforms other marketing investments*

For those of you still unsure as to the meaning of account based marketing (ABM), let me explain. Unlike the traditional method of marketing to a large target audience and then qualifying them in or out of further activities, ABM is much more focused. In fact, this activity is so focused, that any other method could be considered as a ‘spray and pray’ approach.

Every business will have at least an idea of which companies they’d love to work with – and this is the foundation of a ‘dream’ prospect list. However, there’s more to it than this, which is why it’s so important to carry out a comprehensive review process and use criteria to determine if a prospect company really is a ‘dream’.

74% of marketers say targeted personalisation increases customer engagement[i]

Do you remember the novelty of receiving that first marketing email which included your name in the subject line or body copy? It was great right? The impact that this tactic had on engagement rates made B2C and B2B marketers alike think they’d uncovered the secret to success. However, as with all things marketing, audiences quickly got wise to it and became jaded and unimpressed. So what now? Does that mean personalisation is dead? Certainly not. In fact, thanks to today’s ever-advancing technologies and data capturing capabilities, this technique can be more valuable than ever before.

In the competitive B2B industry, companies like yours undoubtedly want to work with the very best. For this reason, when it comes to choosing an important partner like a B2B marketing agency, a request for proposal (RFP) is a tried and tested process.

Everyone involved in B2B marketing will be quick to tell you that 2016 was a busy year. With new activities, technology, and methodologies coming to the forefront, it was another great year for the industry. But now that 2017 is upon us, what’s in store? What can you and your team expect to see playing an increasingly larger role in your activity over the coming 12 months? Well, let’s see. We’ve reviewed the biggest talking points and developments from 2016 and made a few predictions for which of these will continue into 2017.

It’s no secret that B2B marketing is likely to see a variety of changes during 2017, including new techniques, technology, and methodology. These developments are also likely to include changes to B2B content marketing, as it looks to become less static and more interactive. With the inclusion of quizzes, polls, calculators, and a variety of other tools, the ebooks and tipsheets that we know today are likely to become less of a go-to manoeuvre. However, even with the newer forms of content, there will still be aspects which marketers will need to consider, especially if they hope to succeed…