Really in-the-know

Learn the latest B2B marketing industry trends, techniques and news stories on our B2B blog to stay ahead of your competition

Top 10 B2B marketing Twitter profiles you should follow now

Posted by John Hatton on 23-Jul-2015 16:07:00

In today’s hectic culture where the phrase ‘time is money’ has almost replaced ‘goodbye’, Twitter’s provision of bite-sized information streaming between marketers, their peers, industry leaders, clients and leads has become an essential B2B marketing tool. It’s hard to imagine how people ever got on without it.

Topics: B2B social media marketing, B2B marketing, social media marketing, b2b social marketing, b2b twitter marketing

Should we fear the rise of the content robots?

Posted by John Hatton on 10-Jul-2015 09:21:00

Picture the scene… a world torn apart by war as a robot network attempts to finally make humanity extinct. The only thing standing in its way… a small band of human fighters who refuse to be beaten.

Okay, so it isn’t as dramatic as the latest Terminator incarnation, but there is growing talk within content spheres about so-called “content bots”. That’s right, robots that can write articles and post them online for you and me to read. Well, not exactly robots, but a computer programme.

Topics: B2B Lead Generation, B2B marketing, B2B Marketing Content, marketing content, B2B Content

Join the race towards B2B marketing success

Posted by John Hatton on 03-Jul-2015 09:19:00

On July 3-5, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix returns to Silverstone for another year and promises to bring its usual high levels of excitement and wheel-to-wheel action. As the likes of Hamilton and Vettel push their vehicles to the limit at breakneck speeds, every opportunity to reduce lap times will be grabbed with both hands. Success in this sport is all about scientific levels of research and measurement coupled with a desire to improve efficiency and results (even if only by a tiny bit) every single time.

Topics: B2B marketing, B2B Marketing Automation, B2B Marketers, marketing profit, marketing automation software

Serve an ace with B2B marketing personalisation

Posted by John Hatton on 30-Jun-2015 17:00:00

Centre Court at Wimbledon is noisy on match day, very noisy. Even when the ball is in play and the crowds are expected to remain silent, there are plenty of goings on to distract players from the game – flash photography, coughing, glare from a spectator’s watch.

Topics: B2B Lead Generation, B2B Leads, B2B Buyers, B2B Lead Nurturing

How to run your B2B lead nurturing marathon

Posted by John Hatton on 27-Apr-2015 16:22:00

Whether at sports day, cross country at school, or running after work, most of us can relate to the pain, sweat, and tears experienced at this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon (if you ran, please accept a virtual slap on the back from me). Yet all the while we are acutely aware that after crossing the finish line, and for quite some time after, the contestants are some of the happiest and proudest people on earth – months of training and preparation have been converted to an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and success.

Topics: B2B Inbound marketing, B2B Lead Generation, B2B Leads, B2B Lead Nurturing

[INFOGRAPHIC] How to create unique B2B content

Posted by John Hatton on 24-Apr-2015 12:10:00

Winning the vote of your prospects by closing them as customers is a number one priority for businesses. One tactic to be increasingly employed as a means of achieving this important goal is the production of B2B content. However, with so much content being pushed out, how do you ensure you stand out from the noise? The answer lies in this timely infographic, which likens this year's general election to a marketer's most prominent content marketing problem - how to create unique B2B marketing content and win your audience's votes.

Topics: B2B, content marketing, B2B Marketing Content, B2B Content, Unique B2B Content

B2B Outbound Sales – How Strong is Your Hand?

Posted by John Hatton on 26-Mar-2015 17:25:00

If you’ve ever played a game of cards then you’ll know the player with the strongest hand is the one with the best combination of cards. Therefore, each one is of equal importance.

Topics: B2B, B2B Sales, B2B Outbound Sales, Outbound Sales

Business Superbrands 2015 Key Takeaways

Posted by John Hatton on 10-Mar-2015 16:53:00

Every year, the results of the Business Superbrands selection present interesting insights into who the top B2B brands are, as well as key takeaways for marketers to use when shaping their own campaigns.

Topics: B2B, B2B marketing, Business Superbrands 2015, B2B Brands, B2B Business

B2B Business Growth: 3 Ways to Increase Staff Productivity

Posted by John Hatton on 19-Feb-2015 17:07:00

In a recent Buyersphere report, it was discovered that over 51% of B2B buyers said improving productivity was the top priority in starting the buying process. This finding perfectly illustrates the understanding that B2B senior managers have in regards to the relationship between productivity and business growth. All businesses are looking to maximise profits and grow as an organisation, but most are also struggling with the undefined roles of this post-recession period. ‘All hands on deck’ may have been the approach during the economic downturn, but nowadays key members of staff are unable to perform their expert skills at an optimum level because of other responsibilities. So, now is the time to rectify this shortcoming and prioritise productivity in every member of staff.

Topics: B2B marketing, B2B Business Growth, B2B Buyers, Growing a B2B business, business growth

What should business leaders expect from a B2B content team?

Posted by John Hatton on 17-Feb-2015 17:57:00

A lot is written for marketers about how to align a content strategy with business objectives. But not a lot for the actual business leaders.

Topics: B2B Content Marketing, B2B, B2B marketing, B2B Marketing ROI, B2B ROI, content marketing, B2B Content

How to Measure B2B Content ROI

Posted by John Hatton on 06-Jan-2015 16:42:00

Most of us are aware that content is great for business – it helps with SEO, generates engagement and can be used to nurture leads in a (relatively) cheap way. That’s why companies are creating more content than ever. The chances are you are one of them, or at least considering it. I know this because according to The Content Promotion Manifesto, over 2.73 million blog posts are published every day.

Topics: B2B Content Marketing, B2B marketing, B2B Marketing ROI, Marketing ROI, B2B Content

Is your B2B lead generation strategy limited by data?

Posted by John Hatton on 20-Nov-2014 16:00:00

Do you remember that kid in school who would always do their homework on time and regularly finished their project weeks before the hand-in date? Maybe it was you?

Topics: B2B Lead Generation, B2B, B2B Data, Lead Generation, b2b data marketing, data marketing

Growing a SaaS business - is your B2B sales team stretched?

Posted by John Hatton on 13-Nov-2014 16:59:00

Compass, a business analytics firm, has produced a report on SaaS - the trendy, high-growth industry Gartner predicts will shine until at least the end of the decade. Therefore, one would assume, that with a good idea, this is the industry to be in if you want to grow a successful business.

Topics: B2B Sales, Growing a SaaS business, business growth, SaaS business growth, B2B growth

5 time-saving tips to improve B2B lead generation

Posted by John Hatton on 11-Nov-2014 16:28:00

In management, if your plate isn’t full then it’s probably overflowing. There never seem to be enough hours in the day to achieve everything on your to-do list and every time there is an opportunity for a break, something inevitably pops up or a deadline moves.

Topics: B2B Lead Generation, B2B Sales, Lead Generation, time management, B2B sales lead generation

Can B2B buyer personas really increase ROI by over 300%?

Posted by John Hatton on 06-Nov-2014 16:51:00

You’re probably used to sitting in countless meetings with various heads of department and members of the creative team as part of the campaign planning process. You and your team come up with an idea that can’t fail to captivate your prospects’ imaginations whilst addressing their pain points. But for some reason, the campaign figures just don’t inspire as they should have done; so why?

Topics: B2B, B2B marketing, B2B Buyers, Buyer Personas, B2B Buyer Personas, B2B Marketing Strategy