by Fronetics | Dec 18, 2014 | Blog, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy
Oktopost, a social media marketing platform, analyzed over 100,000 posts on four different social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+) and found that LinkedIn is the most effective social network for B2B.
Oktopost found that more than 80% of B2B leads were generated through LinkedIn. Lead generation through other social networks paled in comparison:
- Twitter: 12.73%
- Facebook: 6.73%
- Google+: 0.21%
We’ve put together an infographic that outlines four things you need to know about LinkedIn and lead generation.
by Fronetics | Dec 18, 2014 | Blog, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy
Oktopost, a social media marketing platform, analyzed over 100,000 posts on four different social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+) and found that LinkedIn is the most effective social network for B2B.
Oktopost found that more than 80% of B2B leads were generated through LinkedIn. Lead generation through other social networks paled in comparison:
- Twitter: 12.73%
- Facebook: 6.73%
- Google+: 0.21%
We’ve put together an infographic that outlines four things you need to know about LinkedIn and lead generation.
by Fronetics | Nov 27, 2014 | Blog, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy
The Dunkin’ Donuts in Boston’s Back Bay Station is a well-oiled machine. The whole process – ordering a cup of coffee, paying, and receiving said coffee – takes seconds. The experience is something reminiscent to Seinfield’s Soup Nazi.
For customers who frequent this Dunkin’ Donuts expect this. They have timed their commute down to the minute and they know that if they can move through a line of 30 or so people in seconds – and make the train. For customers who don’t frequent this Dunkin’ Donuts the experience can be jarring.
On the other hand, there is a small coffee shop I visit in Maine. It takes minutes (think two digit numbers) to get a cup of coffee, and then more minutes to pay. Customers who frequent this coffee shop savor this time that it takes to get their coffee. The minutes waiting allow for conversations or quiet meditation.
Watching someone new enter the coffee shop is always interesting. There are those that start to wait in line and then leave when, after minutes, they are no closer to getting coffee. There are others who wait it out, checking their watch or smart phone every few seconds as if this will speed up the process. These people generally leave in cloud of frustration.
These two businesses know their customers. They have taken the time to understand what the needs are of the customer and they have tailored their business to address these needs.
To grow your business you need to take the time to determine who your target customer is, what their needs are, and how you can address these needs and bring value to the customer.
by Fronetics | Nov 27, 2014 | Blog, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy
The Dunkin’ Donuts in Boston’s Back Bay Station is a well-oiled machine. The whole process – ordering a cup of coffee, paying, and receiving said coffee – takes seconds. The experience is something reminiscent to Seinfield’s Soup Nazi.
For customers who frequent this Dunkin’ Donuts expect this. They have timed their commute down to the minute and they know that if they can move through a line of 30 or so people in seconds – and make the train. For customers who don’t frequent this Dunkin’ Donuts the experience can be jarring.
On the other hand, there is a small coffee shop I visit in Maine. It takes minutes (think two digit numbers) to get a cup of coffee, and then more minutes to pay. Customers who frequent this coffee shop savor this time that it takes to get their coffee. The minutes waiting allow for conversations or quiet meditation.
Watching someone new enter the coffee shop is always interesting. There are those that start to wait in line and then leave when, after minutes, they are no closer to getting coffee. There are others who wait it out, checking their watch or smart phone every few seconds as if this will speed up the process. These people generally leave in cloud of frustration.
These two businesses know their customers. They have taken the time to understand what the needs are of the customer and they have tailored their business to address these needs.
To grow your business you need to take the time to determine who your target customer is, what their needs are, and how you can address these needs and bring value to the customer.
by Fronetics | Nov 25, 2014 | Blog, Internet of Things, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy, Supply Chain
The 2014 UPS B2B Buyers Insight Study found that companies need to have a strong online presence to grow their business.
Buyers are looking for information online
Buyers are conducting research on industrial suppliers online. Sixty-eight percent of buyers research supply purchases via supplier website, and 52 percent use search engines.
In their report, UPS and TNS discuss the importance of a strong online presence:
“Given buyers’ high satisfaction levels with supplier performance on key selection criteria, and considering that web-based research is most preferred, it’s reasonable to infer that many buyers consider online research essential to their supplier selection process. The use of search engines means that suppliers may be at greater risk of losing share to companies whose products are perhaps easier to find, in stock or competitively priced. On the other hand, suppliers whose products are easy to find online and meet buyers’ criteria may also stand to gain customers.”
Being able to buy online is more important to buyers than a sales rep
Being able to access information about products online and being able to make purchases online is more important to buyers than sales representatives and printed catalogs.
Respondents were asked to rate attributes with respect to deciding from which industrial supplies vendor to purchase. Seventy-eight percent of respondents rated product information on the supplier website as “extremely important” or “very important.” Seventy-four percent of respondents rated the ability to make purchases on the supplier’s website as “extremely important” or “very important.” In contrast, fifty-eight percent of respondents rated having a sales representative as “extremely important” or “very important.” Fifty-four percent of respondents rated having a hardcopy product catalog as “extremely important” or “very important.”
Buyers like to purchase through websites
Sixty-three percent of industrial supplies buyers reported that they purchase through websites (directly from suppliers or via a third-party provider).
Sixty-seven percent of buyers responded that the ability to order through a supplier’s website is considered “extremely important” or “very important”
If you think your current customers don’t care if you don’t offer the ability to purchase products online – think again. The survey found that 34 percent of buyers say that they have gone outside of their existing supply base to make an online purchase.
Meet your customers online
Having a strong online presence is an essential component to your business strategy. If you want to grow your business you need to be online. UPS and TNS sum this up nicely:
“Be in the right place when buyers are looking: Having a superior supplier website with stellar functionality means little if buyers can’t find the site or don’t know it’s available. Making sure products and supplier information can be found easily by search engines (SEO), and being visible when buyers search for products (SEM), are essential strategies for retaining and increasing customer base.”
by Fronetics | Nov 25, 2014 | Blog, Internet of Things, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy, Supply Chain
The 2014 UPS B2B Buyers Insight Study found that companies need to have a strong online presence to grow their business.
Buyers are looking for information online
Buyers are conducting research on industrial suppliers online. Sixty-eight percent of buyers research supply purchases via supplier website, and 52 percent use search engines.
In their report, UPS and TNS discuss the importance of a strong online presence:
“Given buyers’ high satisfaction levels with supplier performance on key selection criteria, and considering that web-based research is most preferred, it’s reasonable to infer that many buyers consider online research essential to their supplier selection process. The use of search engines means that suppliers may be at greater risk of losing share to companies whose products are perhaps easier to find, in stock or competitively priced. On the other hand, suppliers whose products are easy to find online and meet buyers’ criteria may also stand to gain customers.”
Being able to buy online is more important to buyers than a sales rep
Being able to access information about products online and being able to make purchases online is more important to buyers than sales representatives and printed catalogs.
Respondents were asked to rate attributes with respect to deciding from which industrial supplies vendor to purchase. Seventy-eight percent of respondents rated product information on the supplier website as “extremely important” or “very important.” Seventy-four percent of respondents rated the ability to make purchases on the supplier’s website as “extremely important” or “very important.” In contrast, fifty-eight percent of respondents rated having a sales representative as “extremely important” or “very important.” Fifty-four percent of respondents rated having a hardcopy product catalog as “extremely important” or “very important.”
Buyers like to purchase through websites
Sixty-three percent of industrial supplies buyers reported that they purchase through websites (directly from suppliers or via a third-party provider).
Sixty-seven percent of buyers responded that the ability to order through a supplier’s website is considered “extremely important” or “very important”
If you think your current customers don’t care if you don’t offer the ability to purchase products online – think again. The survey found that 34 percent of buyers say that they have gone outside of their existing supply base to make an online purchase.
Meet your customers online
Having a strong online presence is an essential component to your business strategy. If you want to grow your business you need to be online. UPS and TNS sum this up nicely:
“Be in the right place when buyers are looking: Having a superior supplier website with stellar functionality means little if buyers can’t find the site or don’t know it’s available. Making sure products and supplier information can be found easily by search engines (SEO), and being visible when buyers search for products (SEM), are essential strategies for retaining and increasing customer base.”
