When we talk about social marketing, B2B social media marketing might not come to mind right away.
But B2B’s future lies in digital. Sales meetings, conferences, and corporate decisions are now all conducted online. Social networking may assist in establishing contacts that lead to lucrative contracts.
You’re losing out if your B2B firm doesn’t have a social media strategy. Finding your audience and developing your brand are both made easier by doing this.
Here’s how you create a more successful B2B social media marketing plan for improved social selling, digital marketing, customer service, and more.
B2B Social Media Marketing – What Is It?
Business-to-business is referred to as B2B. B2B social media marketing uses social platforms to promote goods and services to potential customers and clients in the business world.
B2C firms’ marketers utilize social media to communicate with customers and sway decisions. But for B2B marketing to be successful, a different strategy is needed.
Reaching company owners and decision-makers requires more strategic thinking on the part of B2B marketers. They then foster connections that could result in significant purchasing deals.
Using Statistics To Guide Your B2B Social Media Strategy
Let’s take a closer look at some important figures before we discuss how to make a B2B social media plan. Here are some reasons and examples of how B2B marketers use social media.
- 2-5% of sales should be set aside for marketing by B2B enterprises.
- In the upcoming 12 months, B2B product businesses will devote 14.7% of their marketing budget to social media.
- Businesses providing B2B services will spend 18.3%.
- Globally, 31.3% of Internet users conduct business-related research online.
- Social media is used by 22.7% of internet users for professional networking and research.
- LinkedIn is used for content marketing by 96% of B2B content marketers. Twitter follows with 82%.
- LinkedIn is used by 89% of B2B marketers to generate leads from social media.
The Best Way To Develop A B2B Social Media Marketing Plan
To achieve both immediate success and long-term growth, you need a strong B2B social media marketing plan. A content marketing approach is used by 60% of the top B2B content marketers. As opposed to only 21% of the least successful.
Put you in the “most successful” group, please. Tips to create a B2B social media strategy for your company are discussed here.
Align Aims With Those Of The Business
Every B2B social media strategy should address the following two issues, much like an effective B2C approach:
- What are the business goals of the company?
- In what ways may B2B social media marketing help us accomplish them?
The similarities, however, stop here. Social media marketers for both B2B and B2C use the platforms differently. Sales are fueled by B2C social media initiatives, but B2B social media is more “top of the funnel.” B2B marketers’ social media ambitions should probably be more concerned with long-term corporate goals.
Recognize Social Possibilities
A strong B2B social media strategy identifies the opportunities. Use the S.W.O.T. framework if you can. It pinpoints your competitive landscape’s advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and dangers.
The best approach to finding out what’s going on in your industry’s social networks is through social listening.
Pay Close Attention To Your Clients
Every marketer has to be aware of their target audience. Social media marketing for businesses is similar. However, just 56% of B2B content marketers utilize personas as a guide when creating content.
This presents you with a simple chance to advance. Create audience and buyer profiles and include best practices for B2B social media marketing.
Numerous client personas are likely already catered to by your organizational structure. or at least a variety of clientele. A design company, for instance, could serve commercial, public, and domestic clients. It probably includes teams or verticals with experts in each category.
A Fresh Perspective For B2B Content
In the long run, B2B social media is about fostering connections and generating dialogues that result in sales. But the essential phrase is “long term.” If your material doesn’t appeal to them, followers won’t remain around. Therefore, don’t allow B2B’s reputation for dry material to discourage you.
Yes, occasionally it may be acceptable to provide technical details and new product specs. However, this shouldn’t be the main objective of your social media platforms.
Consider how you may improve the quality of life or ease the workload of your employees. Give them information and resources that excite them in some manner. Think of how-to advice, business news, trends, strategies, and so on.
Successful B2B Platforms
Following are the top 11 B2B websites in the world that can support your business:
- Amazon
- Alibaba
- Tradekey.com
- Rakuten
- Made-in-China
- eBay
- AliExpress
- Global sources
- EC21
- ECplaza