1、2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 1 B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales CycleCREATING THE NEW B2B USER EXPERIENCE2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing
2、 Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 2 The 2019 B2B Marketing Mix Report identified a common thread among the top tactics and goals of todays B2B professionals:the trend toward implementing customer-centric strategies that were historically reserved for the B2C marketplace.But ridi
3、ng this wave of change is more than adding new tactics to your marketing plan.It requires building a whole new shiprestructuring the way you market and sell to remove friction from the B2B sales cycle.CONTENTSThe Changing B2B Sales Cycle.3The Preferred User Experience.4 A Single Source Convenience&I
4、mmediacy Education&SupportThe Most-Used Strategies.8 Referral Marketing&ABM Mobile-First Focus Branding BoostThe Future of B2B.122019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 3 The changing B2B sales cycleTHE
5、 CHANGING B2B SALES CYCLEThe long,complex B2B sales cycles is no moreThis isnt the B2B industrys first warning,but its worth mentioning until we make a change:lengthy and involved B2B sales cycles wont fly in 2019 and beyond.Everyday consumers are now used to the simplicity and convenience of online
6、 shopping,streaming services,freemium subscription models,smart phones and other digital experiences that offer immediacy and instant gratification with the click of a button or swipe of the finger And while B2B companies dont always operate at the same streamlined level as those in B2C,their busine
7、ss leaders are beginning to realize that the way they sell products and services needs to mimic the fast purchasing models and ease of use that people are conditioned to expect.Because B2B buyers are just like you and meThe people who pile items in their virtual carts,keep up with their favorite bra
8、nds on social media and scroll through product reviews before buying are the same people who make purchases for their company when theyre in the office.Learning that it will take anywhere from a few months to a year to research,approve,purchase,implement and support a new B2B product,service or part
9、ner is frustrating.Overseeing such a large and involved purchase can even deter professionals from setting aside the time and budget to start looking.So B2B is taking the hint from B2C to stay relevantThis is a pivotal moment in B2B.The choice to adjust marketing and sales techniques to fit customer
10、s new demands or to ignore their needs and revert to traditional and slowsales cycles will determine the long-term success of a business.Lets discuss how the industry is changing and what you can do to keep up.2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales
11、Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 4 The preferred user experienceTHE PREFERRED USER EXPERIENCEFrictionless.The best way to describe todays preferred purchasing experience for both B2B and B2C is frictionless.Eliminating all possible points of friction from the B2B sales cycle and busin
12、ess model is crucial to offering the most optimal experience for leads and clients.But it means more than just tweaking tired sales tactics;wrapped up in this challenging goal is cutting out the people and processes that still carry the potential to obstruct a customers ability to say yes or no to a
13、 product or service.The perfect path to purchase is an easy one,and it requires reframing client-facing and internal touchpoints to form a single,user-friendly source for finding,considering and purchasing products from your organization.By addressing the convenience and immediacy needs of your pros
14、pects and current clientele and by offering education and support from beginning to end,youre effectively weathering change in the B2B industry.A SINGLE SOURCECONVENIENCE&IMMEDIACYEDUCATION&SUPPORT2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBoo
15、k by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 5 A single sourceTHE PREFERRED USER EXPERIENCEConnecting with leads,preparing to make a sale and continuing to delight customers in B2B is typically a fragmented process with touchpoints scattered across multiple channels,weaving in all directions to hold together
16、a shapeshifting mass of stakeholders and decision-makers.But coming at leads from all directions doesnt work anymore.Simplifying how a B2B organizations team is linked to its leads and customers brings a logical flow to developing and nurturing relationships and creates an easy,stress-free experienc
17、e for everyone that comes into contact with the brand.Tidy up your touchpoints to offer a single source for discovering,considering and purchasing products from your business.TIPSProvide a one-stop shop for product info,including pricing,sales sheets,demos and FAQsMake it easy for leads and current
18、customers to get in touch with customer support Implement a product or service search function,recommendations and online orderingOffer visibility for customers through reporting and product or service statuses Implement self-service portals,mobile apps or dashboards if your business allows 2019 Sag
19、efrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 6 Convenience and immediacyTHE PREFERRED USER EXPERIENCEConvenience and immediacy are two of the most important aspects of the new preferred user experience and must be p
20、resent even if buyers are still on their journey after weeks or months.This is why its important to make digital marketing a core component of your strategy.Whether through retargeting,email marketing,website development or SEO,digital has the power to shape the customer journey around the needs of
21、individuals at all stages.Meeting their queries and pain points with digital will present your organization as the convenient and easy choice.The number of companies placing top priority on digital has risen by 10%from 2017 to represent the majority of companies for the first time.1But satisfying th
22、ese new demands means adding even more into the mix:adopting tools and technologies,introducing automation and chat bots,adding e-commerce and supporting data collection.Each new marketing tactic gaining traction in B2B underscores the trend toward personalization and interactive experiences that bu
23、ild unique connections with users.Conversational marketing can help eliminate friction in B2B and fuel lead capture.Buyers reluctant to fill out forms are opting to chat with sales directly for help,and through new intelligence tools like Drift Intel,companies can then obtain real-time lead profiles
24、,personalize messages and route leads to the right team member to speed up sales.74%of B2B buyers say that purchasing from a website is more convenient than buying from a sales representative.3The B2B e-commerce industry is projected to be worth$1.1 trillion by 2020.3TIPSProvide an accessible self-s
25、ervice option that makes one-click purchases easyEncourage reviews and collect testimonials to aid customers research processesUse heat maps and analyze the flow of bounces and drop-offs to improve website ease of useStart with a mobile-first design to offer better functionality and intuitiveness on
26、 smart phonesCreate optional pricing plans,dynamic pricing,add-on purchase suggestions and live demos2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 7 Education and supportTHE PREFERRED USER EXPERIENCEThe rise
27、and steady traction of content marketing has proven that customers value education,advice and support and that providing these is essential to reeling in leads and building long-term trust and brand loyalty.The level of research that B2B buyers conduct before selecting new products and services now
28、mirrors that of B2C purchasers,which makes sense given the high cost and commitment that B2B purchases typically require.Pushing the agenda of your B2B sales team too far and forgetting to provide adequate information about the industry,viable solutions to prospects pain points and available options
29、 can alienate audiences who will quickly turn to more transparent brands that act as trusted business partners.The dense,technical and complex nature of many B2B offerings makes education prior to purchasing a necessity,and the industrys heavy reliance on customer relationships makes post-purchase s
30、upport an important factor in satisfying and retaining clients.Content that performs well should feature interactive copy and design elements,such as pull quotes,spotlight boxes,quick facts and quizzes.Consider crafting explainer and demo videos,eBooks and guides,ROI calculators and other convenient
31、 tools for customers doing homework before their next B2B buy.TIPSTrack the happiness of current clients and make an effort to suit their changing needsOffer thoughtful commentary and actionable insights to solve prospects challengesKeep your sales and marketing teams aligned to develop assets that
32、customers ask forDevelop interactive content that engages readers and addresses key pain points2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 8 The most-used strategiesTHE MOST-USED STRATEGIESProviding a singl
33、e source for decision-making,offering convenience and immediacy and incorporating education and ongoing support in your marketing plan will help reshape your sales cycle,but you still need clear strategies in place to support your effort.B2B marketers working to become more customer-centric and meet
34、 new demands are using these three strategies to move their businesses forward.BRANDING BOOSTREFERRAL MARKETING&ABMMOBILE-FIRST FOCUS2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 9 Referral marketing and ABMT
35、HE MOST-USED STRATEGIESB2B is a traditionally relationship-driven industry because of its long sales cycle,so referral marketing and account-based marketing(ABM)continue to be effective strategies for connecting with qualified leads and closing deals.With these two longstanding B2B favorites,your ma
36、rketing and sales teams can engage only the relevant businesses that fit your ideal customer profile and directly target the stakeholders influencing company purchase decisions.Use personalization to enhance your ABM strategy and develop an easy and irresistible way for existing clients to recommend
37、 you to others.Referrals bring in the most qualified leads for 86%of todays B2B marketers.2TIPSExamine your referral strategy by approaching your brand and website from a prospects POVDevelop case studies,reveal your top clientele and leverage existing relationshipsPerfect your decision stage offer,
38、whether trial,demo or consultation,to be truly usefulDetermine when to engage the sales team to send personalized content and messagesUse LinkedIn paid social campaigns to connect directly with key decision-makers2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sal
39、es Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 10 Mobile-first focusTHE MOST-USED STRATEGIESB2C companies put great effort toward optimizing their websites and ads for mobile,increasing their social media reach and adapting their products for mobile useand its not surprising that B2B companies a
40、re slow to catch up.A mobile-first focus is good fuel for the sales pipeline and is one of the first steps in creating a user-friendly experience.If Googles move to a mobile-first index isnt enough for your organization to make this a core focus,then consider the needs of your target market as you d
41、evelop content,update your website and manage your brands perception online.Big B2B players in the health and biotech industries are already starting to embrace mobile for electronic health records and customer relationship management systems,so take the time to consider mobile solutions that would
42、benefit your own customers and help you stand out in the marketplace.53%of people will abandon a site if it takes too long to load.4TIPSOptimize the functionality,appearance and accessibility of your mobile website pagesTake advantage of accelerated mobile pages(AMP)to improve website speed and UXPl
43、ace a greater emphasis on social media by keeping your profiles updated and using paid toolsDesign content marketing assets for mobile viewing and create responsive landing pagesHold a focus group or conduct research to find out if you need mobile products and services2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,L
44、LC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 11 Branding boostTHE MOST-USED STRATEGIESRefreshing a brands look and feel can drastically improve its performance among leads and signify to an existing customer base that its ready for the fu
45、ture,more than capable of weathering change and fully equipped to deliver innovative products and services.Does your organization look like one that people want to do business with?Does your messaging help your differentiators shine?Bring your brand up to speed to round out your new and improved B2B
46、 sales cycle.By giving your branding a boost,you can appear more modern and professional,improve your customer experience,compete more successfully in your market and motivate your team.Leading with an outdated or inconsistent image is likely to push away potential customers and business partners wh
47、o want to invest their time and money in a company that cares about staying relevant.REMEMBER:Customers unfamiliar with your brand only have the surface to judge when they come across your website,view your digital ads,consult your business cards and read your emails.Small businesses will always rea
48、ch a point at which they cant grow without giving their brand the attention it deserves.Review yours now to stay on track and achieve your ultimate business vision.Step 1Establish a clear personality and tone of voice to set the standard for how your company appears,sounds and acts in all marketing
49、communicationsStep 2Create a messaging platform that shares your business approach,the impressive qualities of what you sell and the unique things you contribute to the industryStep 3Design a visual identity system to define your brands appearance through logos,color palettes,typography sets and ima
50、gery styles2019 Sagefrog Marketing Group,LLC|All Rights Reserved B2B Becoming B2C:The Changing Sales Cycle|An eBook by Sagefrog Marketing Group|Page 12 The future of B2BTHE FUTURE OF B2BSome say the future is still the funnel.Others say the new path forward is the flywheel.However you choose to view
