Thursday 30 May 2019

Maintaining Your Focus: What B2B Marketers Can Learn From My Home Improvement Snafu

B2B marketing lessons from home improvement (1)

B2B marketing lessons from home improvement (1) The sweet smell of fresh cedar is wafting in the breeze around my homestead this week—along with hint of marketing inspiration. Let me explain …

Best-Laid Plans

To take advantage of a long holiday weekend and a string of dry-weather days, my darling husband and I embarked on a “small” home improvement project: Sanding and staining our recently built 16-by-16 deck—plus an intricate one-story staircase. She was such a beauty following her construction last fall. But as is tradition, a delightfully heinous Minnesota winter set in. When spring arrived, she looked weary and weathered. For months, we prepared to offer ourselves up to the cause once warmer weather came. And with the help of how-to YouTube videos and a lot of strategic Googling, our confidence and can-do attitudes were on the rise. When that fateful weekend arrived, we weren’t so naïve to think this project would be easy—it would take time, attention to detail, teamwork, and a bit of strategy to do it right. We didn’t fancy ourselves skilled craftsmen, rather capable apprentices who knew how to wield a sander and paint brush. We were ready. But in accordance with the prophecy of best-laid plans, things quickly went awry. From seemingly unavoidable inefficiencies to tool malfunctions to weather miscalculations, what started as a one-day-tops project has officially spiraled into a multiple weekend ordeal. We were worn down and frustrated, not knowing exactly what to do at times. Do you see what I’m getting at, B2B marketers?

Facing Failure

The frustration and disappointment that comes with falling down on what you thought was a well-planned or strategically innovative initiative is something every B2B marketer has had to face. Maybe you’ve gotten buy-in on an influencer marketing initiative and determined a few weeks in that you don’t have the bandwidth, niche expertise, tools, or timeline to execute effectively. Perhaps you’ve invested a sizeable portion of your budget in a marketing automation tool only to discover you lack the integrations, process documentation, or internal resources to get it fully off the ground. Or more simply, a tried-and-true tactic isn’t driving the results it used to—and you may not even know why. Regardless of the situation, the anxiety and emotion you feel can make it incredibly difficult to gain the perspective you need to quickly pivot your approach. So, how do you accept what’s happened and move ahead with ambition and confidence?

Finding Focus

When small or seemingly insurmountable challenges arise, success is directly tied to our ability to keep our eye on the prize: The goals or outcomes we hope to achieve. With our objectives in focus, we can rely on our smarts and experience (and perhaps even a little insight and help from a agency trusted partner) to guide the most effective tactics that come next. Frankly, after just one hour of sanding, we knew it was going to get ugly if we didn’t adapt to the reality of the situation. That said, it took us a full three hours to fully accept our fate, and refine our approach and reset our expectations. Through repeated equipment failures, four extra trips to two different hardware stores, and now being the proud owners of four sanders of varying sizes, the sanding is complete and the staining is planned for the next string of sunny days. Here she is after 20 hours of sanding—a near spitting image of her original glory last fall: So, remember this B2B marketers: You have a lot on your plate and things don't always go as planned. From creating relevant, engaging content on unsexy subject matter to contending with increasing competition, buyer distrust, and long sales cycles, B2B marketing is no cake walk—it’s an endless work in progress. However, with a steadfast focus on your end-goal, there’s no such thing as failure, just another opportunity to get it right. [bctt tweet="With a steadfast focus on your end-goal, there’s no such thing as failure, just another opportunity to get it right. @CaitlinMBurgess #B2BMarketing" username="toprank"] Looking for more crafty inspiration? Check out our post on three “real-life” tools that need to be staples in your B2B content marketing toolbox.

The post Maintaining Your Focus: What B2B Marketers Can Learn From My Home Improvement Snafu appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.


Article Source: http://bathseoexpert.blogspot.com/2019/05/maintaining-your-focus-what-b2b.html

Wednesday 29 May 2019

SEO Trends 2019: The Latest & Most Current Tactics that Actually Work

SEO

SEO is more than a marketing fad. It is a necessity for online exposure in 2019. It is through search engine optimization that you stay competitive within your industry. There is a constant struggle for SEO supremacy. But the means by which you reach the peak of the search engine mountain varies year by year.

If you managed to claim first page exposure in the SERPS, you can’t just rest on your laurels and expect to get by. One change to Google’s search algorithm could cast you down into obscurity overnight.

And make no mistake about it, Google’s algorithm changes often, and in extreme ways (think last year’s mobile-first index or previously RankBrain). If you’re not up to date on how it continues to evolve, you risk being left in the dust.

SEO is not something you just do one time and then stop. It is a living, breathing, evolving creature that must be constantly maintained. SEO in 2019 looks far different than SEO looked in 2009.

So, what are the current trends in SEO that are achieving results in 2019? Read on to find out!

User Intent

One of the keys to any SEO strategy in 2019 is to have a strong understanding of user intent. By that I mean you have to know what your audience is looking for.

For starters, you need to understand simple things like what platform your core audience is looking to use. Are they more desktop oriented? Do they like mobile platforms like cell phones and tablets? Would they prefer a regular website, accessed through a web browser, or are they looking for standalone applications?

What about the kind of content they want to see? Do they want text? Audio? Video? The way in which you primarily communicate with your core audience should match up to their wants and needs.

Likewise, understanding what your audience expects to see when they search is important. Specifically, you have to understand what questions they are most likely to ask platforms like Google.

You need to provide the answers to their questions in a way that is simple, effective, and relatable to the experience that they prefer.

Audience identity and intent is vital to your success, regardless of SEO. Even perfectly optimized content is useless when it is designed with the wrong audience in mind. You might get a lot of eyes on your site, but none of them will convert to profitable ventures unless you customize the user experience to them.

On that front, Google wants your site to enhance the user journey. After all, when Google ranks your site highly on its platform it is essentially giving you its seal of approval and signing off on your content. Google is naming you an authority in your field, and they don’t do that lightly.

This should be at the forefront of your mind, both when it comes to designing your site as well as creating quality content. You have to keep the intent of the end user in mind as you write.

Another factor to keep in mind is the end user’s place in the sales funnel. It is your job to meet them where they are, not where you think they should be.

To that end, SEO is no longer all about matching keyword phrases. It has evolved and become more about answering questions and covering that topic completely.

That’s not to say that keywords are dead. Far from it!

Keyword research has evolved. That means 2019 marketers have to pay careful attention to search engine results pages to see how similar websites are ranking for the same keywords that you’re targeting.

Optimize Beyond Google

Since the dawn of SEO, everything has been all about the all mighty Google. That has changed in recent years. Google search continues to dominate the market, but it is not the only game in town.

No, we’re not talking about other search engines. Google has that on lockdown. While it’s nice to optimize for Bing and Yahoo, they have such a small percentage of the market, that they are not really a major factor.

Other platforms like Amazon and Apple’s App Store are becoming more important as users continue to rely more and more on e-commerce for their shopping needs.

If you’re an e-commerce business, you need to be focusing on Amazon. It gets the lion’s share of e-commerce traffic and, as we said in the last section, it is important to meet people where they are searching.

To that end, Amazon SEO and App searches are becoming far more prevalent. And optimizing content for those platforms is a whole other animal.

Amazon has its own proprietary algorithm called A9, and it takes a lot of various information into account, including a more heavy focus on conversions.

You also have to optimize your content based on the devices that your audience is using. That means optimizing for mobile devices, home assistants or audio devices, which are becoming increasingly popular.

How popular? Smart speaker use grew by 200% in the third quarter of 2018. This trend is expected to continue into 2022, where it is estimated that 55% of households will include some kind of smart speaker device. That is a 42% increase from today.

Voice search is rising fast, with customers now expecting answers the moment they ask them. That is part of the major shift in customer intent from search results to getting answers. As such, search queries are becoming more conversational in tone and have to be optimized that way.

Apply Structured Data

One of the key elements of modern SEO is to include structured data in the code of your website. That is because the search engine industry has begun to rely more on artificial intelligence. As the need for AI increases, so too does the need for structured data.

Structured data is code that speaks directly to search engines, showcasing who you are, what you do, and why you deserve to be ranked high. It is the key to moving forward with artificial intelligence.

Structured data makes it easier for artificial intelligence to take in all of your content and determine how your site works.

The faster the processing, the better it is.

Structured data is the key to determining the contextual relationships between the behaviors of your customers and the topics that they are searching for.

Structured data also gives search engines specific information that allows it to understand content that is more based on topical information and customer support.

Content is (Still) King

Content has always been the king when it comes to SEO. After all, optimized content is the name of the game. This is one thing that has not changed whatsoever.

In fact, optimized content has actually gotten even more important!

In a 2018 update to Google’s search algorithm, we saw a more intense focus given to the quality of a site’s content. Because of that, you want to provide depth in your quality, as opposed to just hamfistedly stuffing keywords into paragraphs.

Google placed a lot of attention on this specific issue in 2018, so it stands to reason that 2019 will be no different.

Ideally, you want to create the kind of high-quality content that will inspire links. One of the main ranking factors that go into determining SEO placement is the presence of backlinks. These are links that connect to your site placed on high value and relevant websites which Google has ranked highly. Consider it a letter of recommendation to Google. It is a respected site telling Google that it vouches for your information and your authority on the subject.

The best way to inspire such confidence on the part of other sites is to make sure that your content is stellar.

Your content needs to address and solve a relevant problem as opposed to being a random buffet of mashed together keywords. The content needs to motivate, move, and connect with your specific audience. Remember who you are writing for.

Focus on the Technical Aspects of SEO

Technical SEO has become much more important as websites continue to evolve. Websites are becoming far more advanced, and the technical functions of those sites are in turn becoming much more important.

For starters, Google rewards sites for speed. The faster your response time, the better impression you will make on the search engines. That means you shouldn’t sacrifice page speed for the sake of your site’s advanced features. One of the best ways to ensure that your SEO score won’t suffer is to make the site simpler and faster to impress Google.

Machine Learning

A huge feather in the cap of your SEO score would be a focus on machine learning. That’s because machine learning is becoming more common as artificial intelligence systems are rising in popularity.

Machine learning is already a powerful tool, and it hasn’t yet achieved the true limits of its power. As such, machine learning is set to be a major player in 2019 and beyond.

Furthermore, employing machine learning platforms throughout your digital marketing plan can play a big part in answering the question of search intent. Machine learning can be used to develop SEO content by helping you to better understand your core demographic.

Through machine learning, businesses can actually see where their approach succeeds and fails. It can determine where there are holes in your approach much more efficiently than human analysis.

Machine learning systems can accurately study your audience as a whole and determine not only what they are looking for but how you can best provide that to them.

Aim for Search Engine Results Page Features

Search engine results pages are the arena in which SEO campaigns succeed or fail. As such, you should study the layout of search engine results pages and try to ensure that your content is featured above others. One of the best ways to do that is to rank as a featured snippet.

Featured snippets are select Google results that display above the organic search results. It is a snippet of your content that is tossed up as the answer to the question asked by a user.

Features snippets should be highly sought after as they are great for attracting new traffic. They are found in 12.29% of all search queries and siphon off a percentage of the clicks from the number one position.

To illustrate that point, search results with no featured snippet in place see the number one spot getting 26% of all clicks that come in for that search. When there is a snippet, the number one slotted result only gets 19.6% of the clicks.

Answer boxes and recipes are also big traffic items. Typically answer boxes will appear in a light gray box above the organic results, in an attempt to directly answer long-tail questions. Recipes are found for food-related searches and also appear prominently on a search engine results page.

Sometimes these boxes are known as “zero position” as they appear even before the first organic result.

They should be respected and coveted because of the exposure that comes with them. SEO is all about receiving exposure, and exposure is driven by visibility within the search engine results page.

In Conclusion

Familiarize yourself with these growing trends to ensure that your SEO efforts are not unseated in 2019 and the new years ahead. By continuing to monitor the industry and note changes to search algorithms, you will protect your SEO campaigns and maintain your well-earned spot on top.

The post SEO Trends 2019: The Latest & Most Current Tactics that Actually Work appeared first on HigherVisibility.


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B2B Content Not Making an Impact? Try These 7 Underutilized Promotion Channels

Creating great content requires considerable investment, in terms of time, effort, and money. Knowing this, it’s crazy how often I see marketers and brands fail to follow through by promoting their content to the fullest and maximizing its targeted exposure. It literally makes me sad. I’m tearing up as I write this. One moment… Talk amongst yourselves. via GIPHY Ahem. So the scourge of unseen quality content is one we must conquer. The path to doing so, I’m afraid, isn’t as simple as scheduling a bunch of links across the same old social feeds. This isn't to say social media isn't important, but this formulaic, reflexive approach is fast losing its luster. The latest Content Trends Report from BuzzSumo found that social shares have dropped by 50% since 2015, owing to several different factors: increased competition for eyeballs, changes to Facebook’s algorithm, shifts in discovery habits for users. All of this means fewer referrals, less engagement, and less impact for content promoted solely through these channels. How can we counteract this troubling decline? The first step in treating Invisible Content Syndrome is acknowledging it’s a problem, and developing a concrete plan to address it. To this end, our CEO Lee Odden created a list of 50 content promotion tactics that can be implemented during the planning stages of your next initiative. His suggestions will provide plenty of guidance for a broader and more robust promotion mix. Once you’ve committed to giving your content the continuing attention it deserves post-publication, it’s time to start differentiating. [bctt tweet="Once you’ve committed to giving your content the continuing attention it deserves post-publication, it’s time to start differentiating. @NickNelsonMN #B2BContentMarketing #ContentPromotion" username="toprank"] This will be our focus for today: zeroing in on some of the underutilized channels capable of providing a competitive advantage. Instead of exclusively trying to compete with ephemeral Twitter feeds or mercurial Facebook algos, diversify with these seven B2B content promotion techniques that can help your best stuff stand out and get noticed by the people who truly matter to your brand.

7 Underutilized B2B Content Promotion Channels

Volume is about vanity. It really is that simple, I’m afraid. Unless your company profits directly from pageviews (via ads), there is no practical value in piling up impressions. It might feel nice to see a higher number of visitors, but if you aren’t driving action with the right people, you’re bound to end up feeling verklempt. With an eye on quality and resonance, here are seven channels worth considering for your B2B content promotion mix. Because they are generally underutilized, there’s a good chance your competitors aren’t tapping them (yet) or using them to their full potential.

#1 - Influencers

Of course we’re going to start here. While influencer marketing in the B2B realm is on the rise, research shows that an incredibly small percentage (11%) of B2B brands are engaging in ongoing influencer programs. Strategic influencers are vital conduits for connecting your content with key audiences. If you’ve done your due dilligence to identify individuals who align with your brand from a topical and cultural perspective, then their networks are likely highly qualified, and most importantly, your association with them can infuse near-instant credibility in the eyes of their followers. [bctt tweet="#Influencers connect with a much more targeted audience than banner ads have in quite some time. @martinjonesaz #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] Influencers themselves aren’t a channel, but rather a powerful entry point to several different channels. Once you’ve developed strong relationships with influential partners, you can work with them to co-create and share content that your mutual audiences will find value in. Depending on the type of relationship you cultivate, you could also encourage them to share prioritized content from their social accounts, on their blogs, in their newsletters, etc. Cross-mentions on platforms such as LinkedIn can also help your articles gain more visibility in feeds. Remember: when you incorporate these influencers into co-creation campaigns, they’ll be more motivated to share, and their audiences will be more likely to take notice.

#2 - Employees

As Michael Brenner wrote recently at Marketing Insiders Group, engaged employees can be some of your brand’s most authentic and influential advocates. “Who better to sing the praises of your organization than an employee who truly believes in the value of what you’re trying to achieve?” he asks. [bctt tweet="Who better to sing the praises of your organization than an employee who truly believes in the value of what you’re trying to achieve? @BrennerMichael #ContentPromotion" username="toprank"] The operative word here is “engaged.” When employees are dutifully copy-pasting article links into their social accounts, the results will reflect the effort and enthusiasm. However, when they feel truly invested in the content and its success, this also tends to manifest. Find ways to make internal content sharing more aspiration than obligation. We can do this by involving employees in the creation of content itself, gamifying the promotion process (“Free pizza if we hit XX% referrals from this platform!”), or conveying the benefits of personal brand-building on social. Employee advocacy programs can provide structure and ease for implementing such initiatives. The Marketing Advisory Network’s 2017 Employee Advocacy Impact Study can shed some light here, highlighting barriers that keep employees from sharing company-related posts on social and so much more.

#3 - Customers

Much like employees and industry influencers, your customers provide an extra element of credibility when amplifying your brand’s content — both offline and online. Their networks likely include professionals within the same niche, so the audiences are inherently more qualified. Obviously it’s great when a satisfied buyer is willing to participate in and promote persuasive lower-funnel pieces like success stories and testimonials, but that’s a relatively heavy ask. Conversely, providing them with practical content that’s useful to their followers will carry more appeal, especially if you tailor your message (i.e., “I think your customers will really like this article because…”).

#4 - Topical Forums

Message boards, subreddits, social media groups, and other focused online communities can be highly valuable for brands. Forums contain tribes of engaged, knowledgeable, connected people with an intrinsic desire to learn and grow. However, these established communities tend to be skeptical of unfamiliar outsiders — especially those who enter with a blatantly self-promotional motive. In order to leverage these channels properly, you should build a long-term strategy around them. Create a functional presence in groups and forums long before you start sharing your own content there. Encourage your employees to participate in boards that interest them specifically. Ensure there is a clear match between the respective audiences and what you’re trying to accomplish. One reason forums make our list of underutilized tactics is because they can often be used in the wrong way. As a general rule, it’s best to repurpose your content within these forums, rather than just linking out in the traditional sense. The primary goals should be establishing thought leadership, and generating meaningful conversations, rather than simply driving people to your website.

#5 - Industry Associations/Publications

Much like online forums, industry outlets have the advantage of pre-existing audiences organized around specific subjects or verticals. Whether it’s an online resource or still in print, people still trust the information from their favorite niche publications. Magazine readership remains high. Trade associations are filled with pros who are adamant about their crafts. Once again, the key here is relationship-building. It can be really tough to pitch stories or earn coverage out of the blue. Consider connecting with publication editors or association leaders long before you start working the content promotion angle.

#6 - Email Segments

I’m not talking about blasting out content digests to your entire email list, or indiscriminately sending automated RSS links devoid of context. These methods are already widely in use, and the results are only worsening as people grow tired of inbox irrelevance. But email remains an effective channel for direct engagement, when used as such. Rather than falling back on the spray-and-pray approach, try divvying your email list into segments based on interest, specialty, or function. The more granular you can get, the better. Then, share content via email with the segments for which it is most acutely suited. Customize your messaging accordingly. You could even consider composing individual emails and sending them along with a personal note to people you really feel would benefit from (and maybe share) a particular piece. Remember: one pertinent reader/viewer who can take action is far more valuable than 10 who can’t. [bctt tweet="Rather than falling back on the spray-and-pray approach, try divvying your email list into segments based on interest, specialty, or function. The more granular you can get, the better. @NickNelsonMN #ContentPromotion" username="toprank"]

#7 - Direct Mail

It’s one of those classic mainstays that has largely gone out of style. How often do you receive a piece of mail at work that is actually tailored to you personally, and worth your time? Would such an item stand out to you? Physical mail doesn’t have a place in most digitally-based strategies, which is exactly why it may offer a unique opportunity to reach important contacts. Tracking down someone’s office mailing address is often easier than tracking down their email address. This method isn’t necessarily cheap or scalable, but in cases where you really want to get your content in front of a particular account, sending a printed version (or just a note encouraging them to check it out online) can be a sneaky winner. One B2B-centric example is *LinkedIn’s Sophisticated Marketer Quarterly, which stands out as a glossy, colorful product you can hold in your hands. It’s a great place for B2B practitioners to be featured. Sophisticated Marketers Guide Quarterly

Find New Audiences for Your Best B2B Content

One of the most valuable objectives for B2B brands is also one of the most challenging: generating awareness and influence with new audiences and prospects. Continuing to push the same cookie-cutter social promotion tactics won’t do the trick. In the era of content saturation, we must remain vigilant in finding new ways to reach and engage the right people. [bctt tweet="Content promotion can’t be effective if it’s an afterthought. @leeodden #B2BContentMarketing #ContentPromotion" username="toprank"] Whether embracing the channels above or identifying others that make sense for your brand, I encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to promotion. And whatever you do, don’t make this essential marketing an afterthought. Because that leads to lonely content and general sadness. Ahhh here I go again, I’d better log off... via GIPHY Want more guidance to B2B content marketing success that’ll turn your frown upside-down? Check out Annie Leuman’s recent write-up on powering through the summer slump. *Disclosure: LinkedIn is a TopRank Marketing client.

The post B2B Content Not Making an Impact? Try These 7 Underutilized Promotion Channels appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.


Article Source: http://bathseoexpert.blogspot.com/2019/05/b2b-content-not-making-impact-try-these.html

Tuesday 28 May 2019

Sowing the Seeds of Success: 3 Elements of Strong B2B Influencer Relationships

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Effective B2B influencer marketing is rooted in building lasting relationships. The premise is simple: When brands invest time, effort, care, and money (when it makes sense) to cultivate partnerships rather than one-time or “on-my-terms” engagements, industry influencers and experts are far more apt to do the same. Oh, and the outcomes of influencer/brand engagements (i.e. reach, engagement, thought leadership, increased share of voice, etc.) are more fruitful for all parties, too. But as we’ve also said before, building the right relationships is critical—and time consuming. The right relationships aren’t sowed solely based on social network size nor are they grown without proving mutual value. In fact, there are several must-have characteristics of influencer/brand relationships. What are they? Let’s discuss three of them and hear what a few seasoned experts have to say on the subject.

#1 – The Fit Factor

Topical and cultural alignment is absolutely essential to any influencer/brand partnership. Why? Without alignment here, you’ll miss the mark on creating relevant content and audience experiences—and potentially damage, rather than boost, your brand’s credibility and reputation. Topically, the influencers you work with must have relevant expertise, insight, interest, and audience, ultimately aligning with your goals and expertise of your brand. Culturally, their character and conduct need to be a match, too. “In the eyes of consumers, the influencers you select and work with will, in many ways, become an extension of your brand,” Martin Jones, Senior Marketing Manager at Cox Communications, told us in an interview. “Due diligence in researching the potential influencers’ social media history will reveal a lot about their personality, style, character, and more.” He went on: “There is much more to a successful relationship than the dollar value and reach. Influencers that align with your company’s goals, objectives, and values will advance your organization in many ways beyond a marketing campaign.” [bctt tweet="There is much more to a successful relationship than the dollar value and reach. @martinjonesaz #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] In addition, fit isn’t necessarily one-size-fits-all—and your definition can change over time. Your influencer relationships can and should be diverse, helping you power different objectives and provide a range of perspectives to your audience wherever they are in the buyer’s journey. “It’s not always about the number of followers or connections an influencer has,” Ursula Ringham, Head of Global Influencer Marketing at *SAP, has said. “Some people think: ‘Oh my God. We have to work with this person. They have a million followers.’ Your influencers have to be able to relate to your audience and that skill isn’t necessarily determined by a large following.” [bctt tweet="Your influencers have to be able to relate to your audience and that skill isn’t necessarily determined by a large following. @ursularingham #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] Read: 5 Essential Questions to Guide Your B2B Influencer Marketing Strategy

#2 – A Foundation of Trust That Translates into Value for All

Strong relationships are built on trust. While that’s cliché to say, in today’s tumultuous social, political, and digital landscape, it’s more relevant and important than ever. And arguably, trust can form when both parties are invested in the success of their partners—a place where value exists for all parties. As TopRank Marketing CEO Lee Odden recently wrote in regards to improving and managing influencer experiences: “Far too many B2B brands treat their influencer relationships transactionally and in terms of what the brand can get from the influencer. B2B brands that make any effort at all to learn more about influencer goals, preferences and capabilities in combination with providing opportunities to connect with other influencers, will go along ways towards building brand advocates and inspire more effective influencer behaviors.” Furthermore, trust and value are fully unlocked with transparency. It’s not only fair, but also paramount for you to be honest about what your brand is trying to achieve with the help of your influencer partners. Several seasoned influencer marketing leaders at B2B brands share these viewpoints: “The key here is a relationship—realize that in order to be successful, the work has to be mutually beneficial to both parties … Also, be very clear up front on the goals of your influencer program and what success looks like.” - Lucy Moran, Senior Vice President of Brand, Digital, and BU Marketing, Dun & Bradstreet [bctt tweet="In order to be successful, the work has to be mutually beneficial to both parties. @lucymoran on #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] “I think trust is the most important characteristic of a successful influencer/brand relationship. We have to trust that the influencer can deliver on a project whether that be a study, an eBook, a keynote, or a webcast. We’ve certainly had our share of learning experiences. But those influencers that deliver high-quality work definitely earn our allegiance. And we have to hold up our end of the bargain, too, and be a good partner. We must set clear expectations, make the process seamless for paid engagements, and provide timely feedback on deadline.” - Angela Lipscomb, Influencer Relations Manager, SAS [bctt tweet="We must set clear expectations, make the process seamless for paid engagements, and provide timely feedback on deadline. @AngelaLipscomb on #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] “Open, honest, regular communication about what success looks like to each party is vital to a win-win relationship. It has to be based on mutual trust and respect, not to mention a genuine interest in the other party’s success.” - Rani Mani, Head of Social Influencer Enablement, Adobe [bctt tweet="Open, honest, regular communication about what success looks like to each party is vital to a win-win relationship. @ranimani0707 on #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] “When you look at the characteristics for a successful B2B brand relationship you are:
  • Looking at creating value for both parties
  • Creating a long term and lasting relationship that is a two way street
  • Setting up your influencers for success and arming them with knowledge before they walk into any kind of engagement
  • Arming your brand stakeholders with information as well so interactions are high value between the company and the influencers
  • Being clear with the influencers on what it is that you’re trying to achieve”
- Amisha Gandhi, Vice President of Influencer Marketing and Communications for SAP Ariba [bctt tweet="What’s one characteristic of a successful B2B brand/influencer relationship? Mutual value creation. @AmishaGandhi #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"]

#3 – A Commitment to Co-Creation Collaboration

B2B influencer marketing is not about hiring or enticing industry thought leaders to hawk your product or service. It’s about building something together—something that will inform, engage, entertain, and inspire your audiences. When a commitment to content collaboration is part of your influencer/brand relationships, you not only provide influential experts with a medium to share valuable insights, but can also provide your audience with a mix of perspectives—upping your storytelling capabilities and credibility. [bctt tweet="If you want your content to be great, ask influencers to participate. @leeodden #B2BInfluencerMarketing" username="toprank"] While some influencers such as internal subject matter or niche experts may not have much content creation experience, you can coach them—helping you strengthen the previously discussed characters. On the other hand, influencers who have a knack for creating content will welcome and expect opportunities for content collaboration.

Less On-Time Transaction. More Long-Term Interaction.

Building relationships with the right influencers is undoubtedly time consuming and downright difficult at times. But with the right focus and attention to detail, the effort you put forth can result in fostering partnerships that are beneficial on multiple levels of everybody involved. What’s on the influencer marketing horizon? On May 30, 2019 tune into Seth Bridges, founder at Rival IQ, live interview of Lee Odden where he’ll be discussing influencer marketing trends and more

The post Sowing the Seeds of Success: 3 Elements of Strong B2B Influencer Relationships appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.


Article Source: http://bathseoexpert.blogspot.com/2019/05/sowing-seeds-of-success-3-elements-of.html

Monday 27 May 2019

Side-Stepping the Summer Slump: 5 Tips for B2B Content Marketers

Marekting Tips for Avoiding the Summer Slump

Marekting Tips for Avoiding the Summer Slump Summer is coming. For months we’ve been dreaming about barbecues, sun-filled vacations, long weekends at the lake, and the glorious start of summer office hours. It’s so close. via GIPHY But for B2B marketers, summertime often means distracted or out-of-office target audiences, prospects, and customers. We marketers may even sneak out of the office for a few days. And from dips in organic website traffic and social engagement to being short on internal resources while the sales team begs for more leads, the “summer slump” sets in. The good news is that summer opportunities do exist for entertaining, nurturing, and strengthening connections with your audiences throughout the funnel, as well as help you test and refine your approach to finish out the year strong. Here are some tips worthy of consideration.

Tip #1 – Revisit and fine-tune your B2B content marketing strategy.

Keeping a pulse on results and taking steps to optimize performance are par for the B2B marketer’s course. And with summer marking the mid-year point, it’s the perfect time to take a deep dive into year-to-date performance—not just the last 30, 60, or 90 days—and compare to years past. This gives you a more holistic look at how your content marketing strategy is moving the needle, if you’re making consistent progress, and if you’re on track to hit this year’s goals. If you don’t have a documented content marketing strategy, stop here and make that your summer priority. Your strategy is your roadmap; your single source of truth that everyone has access to. If your strategy is documented and your results review has indicated that you’re losing some ground, put additional efforts behind what is working. In addition, consider testing something new such as interactive content or piloting an influencer marketing project—or try to break out of your stuffy B2B mold to make a summer splash. Here’s a little something that combines all three—an asset that has been affectionately named “Laser Bear.”
Click Here to see the Break Free from Boring B2B Guide in Full Screen Mode If you don’t have the internal resources or expertise to test something new, partner with an experienced B2B content marketing agency. If you’re looking to partake in some summer relaxation, an agency partner can take the pressure off and reduce your stress level.

Tip #2 – Reconnect with your sales team to gain new insight and provide extra support.

Generating leads is one of your primary objectives. But as the volume of incoming leads slow down or the trajectory of some prospective deal closures comes to a crawl in the summer months, there’s no better time for you to check in with your sales team. It’s not only worth diving into challenges, opportunities, or key insights for the year thus far, but also working to identify specific summer buyer behavior trends and the types of conversations sales reps are having with prospects. This may help you identify opportunities to refine and optimize your larger strategy for the year or personalize content to target specific summer buyer needs. Also, if sales team members have upcoming events or conferences they’ll be attending, this is a great time to realign on objectives and refine any existing marketing strategy. From organic and paid social campaigns surrounding the event to constructing personalized nurturing campaigns for leads captured at the event, there’s likely an opportunity to help their presence at an event generate more ROI.

Tip #3 - Experiment with social engagement and content promotion.

Content promotion on social platforms is an integral part of your marketing strategy—and it could be ripe for a summer shake up. Depending on how your current tactics are performing, now may be the perfect time to experiment with new methods of promotion and engagement to nurture your audience through the summer months. For example, consider repurposing some of your existing blog or website content into longer-form content on your social media channels to serve as inspiration and foster conversation. This could be customer profiles, tales from the trenches, company culture snapshots, and the list goes on. You could also create original content around trends, providing some thoughtful commentary and encouraging discussion. Or, if you haven’t tried them yet, consider conducting polls or experimenting with 3D photos that can help you increase your engagement over social media.

Tip #4 – Create convenient content experiences.

In the summer, your target buyers are pressed for time. So, make it easy for them to consume and engage. Investing more in content curation can help. For example, you could start a weekly news post in which you curate information from the top news articles in your industry. Then, you can break those articles down for your audience providing key takeaways and learnings. This saves your audience the time of having to read and analyze each article— instead, you’re doing the work for them. Read: Content Curation Inspiration: Types, Examples, & Use Cases for B2B Marketers

Tip #5 – Double-down on showcasing who your company is.

Your target buyers desire human connection. And you’ve likely taken some steps to humanize your brand to become less stuffy and more credible in your target buyers’ eyes. Summer can be a great time to take that human element to new heights. One option is to create a blog series focused on company culture and how that fosters the service you provide. Or consider a weekly #TBT post  featuring photos and mini stories from team members. Better yet, sit down with select members of your team for an in-depth Q&A video. This not only helps you put faces with your company name and mission, but you’re also highlighting subject matter experts who can provide insight and thought leadership your audience will connect with. Injecting some thoughtful humor is another testing consideration if you feel it makes sense for your brand and audience. “Comedy is the most powerful way to humanize a brand because it demonstrates empathy,” seasoned B2B marketer and comedian Tim Washer told us not long ago. “Let’s face it, a lot of true comedy comes from pain. So, when we can come out and touch on a customer pain point, we show them that we understand their point of view. When we do something that is self-deprecating, when we look vulnerable, and when we let our guard down a little bit that’s when we make a connection.” Read our full interview with Tim for more tips on how to create unique, memorable experiences for your audience.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Summer is a busy time for everyone—and your marketing results can take a hit as a result. But you can still stay engaged with your target buyers if you tweak your content strategy to include new content types and tactics to entertain, engage, and nurture your audience. *Cue the music* [embed]https://youtu.be/32inwlWSRpY[/embed] Looking for a little summer reading to help improve your approach to B2B content writing? Check out this post on cutting content bloat to create better audience connections. *Disclosure: LinkedIn is a TopRank Marketing client.

The post Side-Stepping the Summer Slump: 5 Tips for B2B Content Marketers appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.


Article Source: http://bathseoexpert.blogspot.com/2019/05/side-stepping-summer-slump-5-tips-for.html

Wednesday 22 May 2019

Ecommerce Website Builders: Best Solutions in 2019 (Compared)

Ecommerce

If you’re a retail company, you need some kind of ecommerce platform to sustain you through the modern era.

Online shopping represents unparalleled convenience and accessibility. That means if you’re not currently selling your products online, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business.

But to get started, you’ll need a brandable domain name, along with a strong ecommerce store that is easy to use and effective. Hiring a web developer could be thousands of dollars that don’t exist in your budget. Thankfully, there are programs which are designed to help business owners create professional looking ecommerce websites for a fraction of the cost of hiring a developer.

But how can you make sure that you’re purchasing the service that’s best for you? By comparing and contrasting some of the best ecommerce website builders on the market today!

We’ve highlighted six of the top online store builders in this article to provide you with a resource that will help you make an informed and beneficial decision for the future of your business.

Shopify

Shopify is one of the most well-known ecommerce website builders in existence. It is also one of the longest-running, serving customers since 2006.

Shopify is a massive company, touting merchants in more than 150 countries worldwide. On top of that, Shopify is incredibly effective. To date, it boasts an impressive $82 billion in total sales.

Shopify Pros

One of the best features of Shopify is that it allows you to sell your products across multiple channels. That means it includes social media support for platforms including Facebook and Instagram.

The importance of this feature can’t be understated, as users enjoy shopping on social media, and Facebook and Instagram advertising are two of the most effective online retail ad tools in existence.

Shopify has add-ons that can also be used in conjunction with eBay and Amazon, giving you even more platforms on which to sell your wares.

Speaking of your wares, Shopify has a built-in inventory system which can easily manage your entire store, keeping track of every last widget you offer.

There are over 800,000 stores on Shopify’s platform, and all of them can be custom designed. Users can choose to work off of a premade template or create a store completely from scratch.

Shopify also includes the Shopify Network, which is a peer-to-peer resource featuring more than 680 experts who will answer your questions and solve your issues.

Shopify Cons

Unfortunately, Shopify isn’t a perfect system. For starters, users are forced to switch between the system’s editor and dashboard manually while creating their storefront. This makes for an inefficient experience.

Shopify also enforces a transaction fee. While this might not seem out of the ordinary, it actually is. Shopify is one of the only platforms to do this. Normally transaction fees are taken through payment platforms like Stripe which work in conjunction with your online store. Shopify, however, takes it upon itself to dip its hand into your profits. When you’re also selling via a platform like Amazon, you’re losing out on even more profit because Amazon will also take its cut.

Shopify Costs/Fees

The lowest tier of Shopify, called Shopify Lite is only $9 per month. This service lets you sell your products on social networks, on an existing website, or in person.

Shopify’s Basic Plan comes in at $29 per month and it gives you everything from the previous tier, plus your own online store.

Shopify’s regular plan is  $79 per month. Using this tier you can create gift cards and receive professional sales reporting. You also get a shipping discount of 72%, which is not too shabby.

The higher tiers of Shopify are the Advanced plan, which is a whopping $299 per-month and Shopify Plus which is only offered through negotiated pricing.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is one of the top ecommerce platforms in the world. It gives you not only the ability to create your own store, but it is specifically designed to help you make sales.

BigCommerce Pros

As we just mentioned, BigCommerce is designed with sales in mind. It does not just give you a store and throw you into the deep end. That’s why a lot of big-name clients tend to sell on this platform, including Toyota, Ben & Jerry’s, and Kodak.

It also includes over 40 different payment gateways, including many of the tried-and-true methods users have come to expect like PayPal, Square, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and Stripe.

It is perhaps the most scalable ecommerce platform in existence, with built-in data tools making this platform ideal for businesses that are growing quickly.

BigCommerce also has many more built-in features than the majority of its competitors. On top of that, it is easy to implement search engine optimization into your store. The system features tools that are designed to improve your optimization efforts.

Much like Shopify, you can also sell across various social channels like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, as well as popular platforms like Amazon and eBay.

(Image Source)

BigCommerce also includes a feature called abandoned cart recovery, which is a tool that lets you send automated emails out when someone bounces from your store with items left in their cart. According to studies, retailers can win back up to 15% of customers using this service.

BigCommerce Cons

The main criticism that BigCommerce gets is that it’s not great for anyone who is not tech savvy. It’s a powerful tool, that much is for sure. But it’s constant use of technical jargon combined with complex terminology will sadly fly over the heads of beginners.

Another glaring check in the con category is that BigCommerce does not feature a mobile app. This makes it far more difficult to operate your business and manage sales while on the go. In today’s market, everything needs to be mobile and BigCommerce is sadly behind the 8 Ball on that.

BigCommerce Costs/Fees

BigCommerce features seven free themes that you can choose from to create your store, but you will also run the risk of looking similar to every other store out there that doesn’t want to pay to create its online presence. On top of that, the platform features over 100 paid themes ranging from $145 to $235.

The BigCommerce Standard plan is $29.95 per month. It comes with unlimited products, unlimited staff accounts, multiplatform support, coupons and gift cards, real-time shipping quotes, the ability to get product ratings and reviews, and 24/7 support.

The Plus plan costs $71.95 per month, and it includes everything in the standard plan, plus abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, and store credit cards.

The Pro plan is $224.95   and it includes everything mentioned above, plus Google customer reviews, product search filtering, and Customer SSL.

There is also an Enterprise plan which has custom pricing that is designed for each business.

All BigCommerce plans come with a 15-day free trial.

Wix

Wix is a widely known service, primarily for its website builder. Its claim to fame is that it helps beginners design custom websites without having to know how to code. But Wix also has an eCommerce platform that is gaining in popularity.

Wix Pros

The same drag and drop interface that makes building a website a snap on Wix’s platform can also be used to create eCommerce sites. That means you don’t need any knowledge of coding or hosting to create a memorable store.

The Wix editor shows you how the edits that you’re making will impact the overall storefront design. This ensures that you’re never operating blindly and making changes that you’ll later regret.

Wix is Great for beginners thanks to its simplistic interface and mobile responsive templates. It gives you the freedom to focus on developing your brand with enhanced customization.

You can also incorporate product videos into your store, which are always popular with shoppers.

Wix also features an abandoned cart recovery tool. On top of that, it is a multilingual platform, giving you the ability to create different sites for different countries.

Wix is also one of the most affordable platforms on this list, which we will go into shortly.

Wix Cons

Wix’s most glaring shortcoming is that is cannot integrate with social platforms.

It’s also almost too freeing. By that, I mean that it grants you unprecedented levels of creative freedom, which can, unfortunately, impact usability when mistakes are made. This is especially dangerous for beginners.

Wix Costs/Fees

Wix’s Business Basic plan is only $20 per month. With this level, you can upload five hours of product video, see no Wix ads in your shop, and connect outside domains to your store. It also comes with unlimited bandwidth and 20 GB of storage.

The Business Unlimited plan is just a bit more, at $25 per month. It upgrades the Basic package by giving you 10 hours of video, no ads, the ability to connect your domain, unlimited bandwidth, and 35 GB of storage.

The Business VIP tier is $35 per month. With it, you get unlimited hours of video, 50 GB of storage, and priority response to customer service issues.

All Wix plans come with a 14-day money back guarantee.

Volusion

Volusion has been around since 1999, making it the oldest service on this list. It is known for including some effective tools, but the design features of the service are notoriously tricky.

Volusion includes 30,000 stores worldwide and has serviced 185 million orders in its lifetime.

Volusion Pros

One of Volusion’s best features is a good analytic tool, which helps you get a better handle on how your store is doing.

Volusion also allows you to take a variety of payment methods and includes a mobile app for conducting business while on the go.

Volusion recently launched its all-new V2 operating system, which has improved the overall user experience. But is it enough to earn your loyalty?

Volusion Cons

One of the most glaring issues for Volusion is that it excludes digital products from being sold on the platform. That means downloadable items like e-books cannot be featured or sold.

There is also no function for blogging, which severely limits SEO reach.

While the pricing is fair, there is an additional charge for SSL certificates, which is something that is included with most other platforms at no cost.

While V2 has improved overall usability, the site building process is still clunky and forces you to constantly switch between the front and back end. On top of that, the front end is difficult to navigate.

Volusion Costs/Fees

Volusion’s Personal plan costs $29 per month and allows you to sell an unlimited number of products with unlimited storage and online support. You can make up to $50,000 in online sales per year, and take payments from Stripe, PayPal, and Volusion Payments. It also includes a tax calculator, inventory management, coupons, product variants, and manual order creation.

The Pro plan is $79 per month and features online and phone support. You can make up to $100,000 in online sales per-year, and it allows ratings and reviews, phone orders, bulk order processing, and advanced discounts.

Volusion’s Biz Tier is $299 per month and grants you priority level support and up to $500,000 per year in online sales.

The Prime level comes with VIP support and customer online sales per year. The pricing for this level is also customized and comes with Executive Slack support and a monthly site audit.

SSL Certificates, which are free on most platforms, cost between $89 and $99.

All tiers come with a 14-Day Free Trial

Weebly

Weebly is another drag-and-drop website builder and has a good reputation. It is known for being one of the easiest platforms to use for building an online store.

Weebly Pros

Weebly is known for being extremely effective for small businesses. Its offers are relatively basic, which can be good for someone who isn’t interested in all of the extra noise that comes with advanced site design.

Using this platform, you can build your site and set up your online store within hours.

It has some really good templates available and allows you to create dedicated product pages for every item in your store.

It also features guides for ecommerce SEO best practices and has a free option.

Weebly Cons

One of the biggest issues people seem to have with Weebly is that all of its lower tiered pricing redirects customers when it’s time to check out. It takes them to checkout.weebly.com instead of remaining with the domain associated with your brand. This can make some customers nervous and force them to abandon their cart.

There is also a transaction fee of 2.9%, plus 30 cents through its payment providers, plus an additional 3% charged to all starter and pro plans.

While the templates are good, there is not a lot of them. That means your site runs the risk of looking like other Weebly designed stores.

There is limited drag and drop customization, which curbs your design ability. You’re also unable to restore earlier versions of your store without contacting the support team.

There is no artificial design intelligence, which designs a site for you based on preferences. This is a popular service used by a lot of other platforms.

Weebly Costs/Fees

Weebly’s free account includes 500 MB of storage, a weebly.com subdomain, shows ads, and features SSL security.

Weebly’s Connect plan is only $5 per month. It shows ads, has only 500 MB of storage but allows you to connect the site your domain (except for checkout).

The Pro plan is $12 per month and has no ads, unlimited storage, SSL security, advanced site stats, password protection, video backgrounds, HD video and audio, up to 200 members, a 3% Weebly transaction fee, and a list of up to 25 products. The checkout system still goes through Weebly on this tier.

The Business plan is $25 per month. It features everything listed above, plus unlimited members, membership registration, no transaction fees, unlimited products, check out featured on your domain, digital goods, product reviews, inventory management, shipping discount, a tax calculator, and coupons.

Squarespace

Squarespace is another very well known platform. It has made a name for itself by allowing beginners the ability to create professional looking websites with little to no coding experience because of its ease of use. It also uses a drag and drop interface and has cemented itself as one of the more popular platforms with a strong advertising campaign.

Squarespace Pros

Squarespace gives you unprecedented levels of customization control without having to do any coding.

Its templates are impressive and flexible when it comes to design. Squarespace’s shopping cart blends in well with the website, creating a more natural look.

Ecommerce functions are built into all templates and users have full control over product variants. You can also sell digital and service products on top of physical items.

Squarespace integrates fully into social media platforms.

Squarespace Cons

While Squarespace has a great number of features, it is also one of the more expensive services on this list. Its interface is also not very friendly to beginners and may confuse some. It includes a transaction fee with some of its tiers.

Squarespace Costs/Fees

Squarespace Business costs $18 per month with a 3% transaction fee. It includes advanced metrics, unlimited contributors, promotional pop-ups, integrated ecommerce, unlimited products, a mobile information bar, premium blocks, and an announcement bar.

Squarespace Basic is $26 per month with no transaction fee. It features all of the business plan features, plus a mobile-optimized website and checkout. It also has unlimited contributors, commerce metrics, an inventory system, added tax, coupons, label printing, integrated accounting, check out on your domain, customer accounts, and features products on Instagram.

Squarespace Advanced is $40 month with no transaction fee. It includes all of the Basic plan features, plus the ability to take subscriptions, abandoned cart recovery, advanced shipping, flexible discounts, and the creation of gift cards.

Custom

Not everyone is going to find what they’re looking for in an ecommerce web builder. Unfortunately, there is no perfect system and different businesses have different needs. That’s why it is sometimes better to go with a custom web design & development service like the one offered by HigherVisibility.

By going custom you aren’t tied to a set platform and everything that you need can be built according to your specifications.

Although we typically build websites in WordPress, we have the ability to work with any platform. For more information on HigherVisibility’s custom ecommerce website solution, click here.

In Conclusion

The ability to create a stunning and user-friendly ecommerce website is essential for success in today’s online retail world. By committing to one of these platforms or by using a customized platform like the one offered by Higher Visibility, you can guarantee a chance to close the gap with your competitors and create a winning ecommerce business. Why wait, start selling today!

The post Ecommerce Website Builders: Best Solutions in 2019 (Compared) appeared first on HigherVisibility.


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How to Intertwine Online & Offline Tactics to Cultivate B2B Influencer Relationships

Effective B2B influencer marketing is rooted in brands developing and nurturing relationships—relationships with individuals who have the relevant topical expertise, reach, and resonance to align with the goals of the brand. Of course, those relationships are often cultivated in the digital realm via social media, email, and audio or video conferencing. And that's OK. We've all gone digital. But there’s simply no replacement for face-to-face communication—and B2B marketers may have more chances than they know to proactively facilitate interactions or take advantage of in-person opportunities as they arise. It’s time to bridge the digital divide. How? When? Where? Let’s dive in.

#1 - Highlight influencers and/or their brands with live event coverage.

B2B industry conferences and events are marketing gold mines. Not only do events give you an opportunity to have facetime with customers, prospects, and industry experts and influencers, but also the opportunity to create insightful (and influential) content. If one or more of your warm or targeted influencers or another representative from their brand are delivering a keynote address or are part of a learning track that’s relevant to your audience, plan to attend their sessions and amplify the insights they share via social media, blog content, or both. Giving influencers this kind of thoughtful attention benefits everyone, helping you:
  • Deliver your wider digital audience with credible, relevant, and valuable content.
  • Capitalize on event engagement and reach.
  • Deepen your connections with existing influencer partners.
  • Help grow your partners’ influence among your audience and within the industry.
  • Get on the radar of prospective influencer partners.
  • Provide additional perspective and insight into who your current and prospective partners are, helping you further vet or find new connection points.
[bctt tweet="Cutting edge B2B influencer marketing focuses on both online and offline engagements. @konstanze" username="toprank"]

#2 - Conduct on-site video interviews at industry conferences and events.

Co-creating content with influencers provides influential experts with a medium to share valuable insights and gives your audience a mix of perspectives—upping your brand’s storytelling capabilities and credibility. Industry events and conferences provide the perfect platform for capturing original insights—especially on video. Set aside the fact that video is an increasingly preferred learning and entertainment medium for modern consumers and buyers alike. When it comes to working with influencers, video can help capture their essence as well as their expertise. This can add a new degree of authenticity and credibility to their insights and resonate more deeply with your audiences. Here’s an example from our own vault. While attending MarketingProfs B2B Forum in 2017, our team conducted a series of interviews with marketing experts and influencers, including MarketingProf’s own Chief Content Officer Ann Handley. The “Content Conversations” series covered top marketing learnings from the year, predictions for the coming year and decades, and tips and insights to finding success in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kM1BMOSMpw[/embed] *SAP’s video coverage of its own SAPPHIRENOW event is a fantastic example of how influencers can play an active role in bridging the real and digital worlds. Working in partnership with SAP, Eric Kavanagh, CEO of The Bloor Group and a respected technology analyst, actually interviewed SAP’s own Chief Innovation Officer Max Wessel. This is just one of several unique examples from the conference. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IITUVS34cec[/embed] [bctt tweet="If you want content to be great, ask influencers to participate. @leeodden" username="toprank"]

#3 - Host a VIP appreciation and networking event.

There may be no better way to create meaningful connections than over good food, drinks, and great conversation. Whether it’s a cocktail hour, leisurely lunch, or sit-down dinner, inviting influencers to come together for a couple hours of relaxed fun is a great way to show your appreciation for their partnership, nurture prospective partners, and connect influencers with one another. This is a practice that is near and dear to our hearts. We absolutely love the work we do and almost always carve out time for this while attending larger industry events. And of course, you can chronicle your interactions on your owned digital properties to let your audiences in on the fun. Here’s a little shot from our dinner at B2B Marketing Exchange 2019, courtesy of our CEO Lee Odden’s Instagram. B2BMX 2019 Dinner This sort of engagement can certainly be planned independently of any industry conference, but it can be yet another way to make the most out of your trip to an event. [bctt tweet="Companies should approach influencers as partners, not just as people that they can use for their marketing efforts and launches. @AmishaGandhi @SAPAriba" username="toprank"]

#4 - Play matchmaker when the opportunity arises.

There will undoubtedly come a time during your work with industry experts and influencers where you can help them connect with one another. Whether they’re looking for insight, a new product or solution, or you’ve discovered two people share a common hobby or interest, take the lead on introducing them. Why? Because you have the opportunity to provide more value. The relationship you’re cultivating needs to be mutually beneficial to go the distance, and helping influencers solve problems or grow their network has value written all over it. [bctt tweet="We pride ourselves on cultivating and nurturing long-term relationships with our influencers … which means we are always looking to establish a ‘give to get’ exchange where all parties come out ahead. @ranimani0707 @adobe" username="toprank"]

#5 - Embrace the “show, don’t tell” mantra when it comes to influencer appreciation.

Your online efforts to nurture, engage, and showcase the expertise of your influencer partners are incredibly important. Your prospects are online. Your customers are online. Your influencers are online. The world is online. But there is absolutely an opportunity to add a personal, human touch to show your influencer partners you care about and appreciate them. New job? Send a handwritten letter filled with well wishes. New baby? Send a congratulatory gift basket. New campaign launch? Deliver a tasty treat or bit of swag to give thanks. A couple years back, we helped our friends at DivvyHQ introduce the world to Grandma Gertrude, as well as easy-as-pie recipes for content planning. Following the launch, we sent pies to the influencers who contributed their thoughts and insights. DivvyHQ Pie for Influencers [bctt tweet="Grow your influencer network long before you need them. The day to create an army of influential advocates isn’t the first day of the war. Find common interests and develop rapport. - @leeodden " username="toprank"]

Build a Bridge to Stronger Influencer Relationships

Influencer relationships are often cultivated in the digital realm. But they can be nurtured and grown to new heights in the real world. Take advantage of any opportunity to spotlight, co-create, or connect with influencers at industry events. In addition, go the extra mile to create valuable, memorable connections. Taking action here not only helps you strengthen relationships and generate content for the digital world, but also plant the seeds of partnership. What’s on the horizon for B2B influencer marketing? Check out Lee Odden’s rundown of seven B2B influencer marketing trends to watch. *Disclaimer: SAP is TopRank Marketing client.

The post How to Intertwine Online & Offline Tactics to Cultivate B2B Influencer Relationships appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.


Article Source: http://bathseoexpert.blogspot.com/2019/05/how-to-intertwine-online-offline.html