B2B Marketing: The Evolution has Begun!

The Most Effective Business to Business (B2B) Tactics

Not surprisingly, email, one of the oldest forms of online communication, still ranks as the most effective marketing tactic for B2Bs (58%). This most likely stems the fact that email has been around longer than other forms of social media and older generations are more familiar with this method of online interaction. B2Bs rank content creation (42%) and lead management (35%) as their second and third most effective tactics. It is said that creating content is geared to the viewer and making sure that they notice it being crucial aspects for any B2B company.

Furthermore, B2Bs are only mildly confident in what social media has to offer (23%). On the other hand, they are much more likely to favor tactics such as blogging and marketing analytics, seeing these are more successful in targeting their desired target population. It is important for each individual company to figure out B2B tactics that coincide with the operation of their company and then implement their findings accordingly.

SMC expands its marketing and communication services with a new online division

It is true that SMC launched the most powerful online, real-time reservations platform on the planet.  For parking, self storage and automotive detail services, SMC is capable of providing its clients with a proven method to convert "lookers into bookers" 24/7 while tracking revenues through multiple channels.

SMC completes its business model with a new online marketing and communications division. The new division will offer and manage search engine marketing (SEO/PPC/VSEO), email marketing, social media and strategy assistance for those clients who want to strengthen their web presence and increase the efficiency in order to enhance brand awareness and capture new market share.

SMC will showcase its new division during the User Conference, January 15-18, 2013.

Bing vs. Google: Do the test!

Who does not like Google outside our Government, Microsoft and Facebook?  Everyone likes Google and the majority uses their search engine to find a product, service, brand and/or information. 

For months I have stated that Bing's search results are more true than Google.  Google became the one, the only simply because of the results presented in a search.  If you asked for plumbers in a a market, the results were plumbers in the market.  It has been my belief that Google is slipping.

Bottom line is, Bing is moving in on Google.  Click here and test your market. 

Marketing is evolving as fast as Technology

Many of us read articles or watch the tube to learn more about evolving technologies.  It is crazy when you think about the big guys launching so many new products throughout the year.  Exciting for some...scary to others for a variety of reasons.

I was asked earlier this year in an interview - "Can you share with me your thoughts on how technology is changing business today?"  

I hemmed and hawed (Read:  Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson) laughing a little and said, "are you kidding me?"  I proceeded with this remark, "People who do not adapt to innovation in the business world will be of no value to most organizations by 2020, if not 2017".  After trading some words about technology, I persuaded the mood over to MARKETING.

Then came the response I was hoping to hear - "So can you elaborate on how marketing and leveraging technology is changing the ways?." 

"Technology is useless without customers.  I have seen and been a part of a few organizations using great technology in the travel industry, but with no plan to capture new customers, these companies are either in the history books or barely surviving."  

I continued with the interview by offering up my humble opinion - "any size organization must leverage their technology with marketing initiatives in order to make significant progress in absorbing market share from their less nimble and formerly formidable competitors."  

To summarize the 30-minute interview, companies who are not tracking (please stop with the clicks to your website on Google Analytics) every marketing dollar are clueless to what an ROI is and stands for.  Just ask any organization how their "social media" is working out for them.  Unless a tracking system is in place, the answer will always be the same - dunno!

  

SMC Software allows its clients to segment real-time data through multiple channels, thus helping you measure which channel is impacting site traffic from your marketing (i.e. social media).

 

SMC Software Introduces SMC INSIGHTS Blog

Welcome to the new SMC INSIGHTS Blog.

This blog is intended to help our business clients stay ahead of the curve with respect to innovative technologies, internet marketing and branding initiatives.  In addition, this blog will serve as a guide to protect our clients against brand erosion, data scraping, trademark infringement and other harmful business practices.  Simply put, SMC is looking out for you! 

We hope you find this blog to be a value-added resource as the internet evolves with both the good, the bad and the ugly.

Mike Harley

President

SMC Software