2. Agenda
• Introduction
• Background
• How we do it
• ROI of content marketing
• Wrap up
3. Content syndication That makes me look good
and helps me close deals
.
Content syndication
should build a
credible, expert brand
throughout the
buyer’s journey
4. IT Purchasing Cycle - DMU Involvement
* Data source: Computer weekly, June 2012
5. Content marketing matrix mayhem
Content matrices are all over the place
• Design your own
• Drive the CTA
• Position as a thought leader
• Assist in the creation of content – what role will this play
• Allows gap identification
www.smartinsights.com http://jess3.com/eloqua-content-grid-v2/
6.
7. Objection handling
Social too content-intensive for a lead-gen campaign
Content can come from
45% anywhere
Prospects wary of being marketed in “commerce-free-zone”
Build trust
40%
Unable to measure social campaign impact or ROI effectively
Track content links and
37% reach metrics
Social produces too many unqualified leads
Training
29%
Social networks not relevant to our core prospects
Set listening from relevant
25% channels
Too many possible channels to investigate/understand
23% Audit the landscape
Source: Chief Marketer, “2012 Prospecting Survey” Feb 10, 2012
8. The customer life cycle and the content portfolio
Four key touchpoints along the customer life cycle
Research Purchase
Use product or Get customer
product or product or
service service
service service
1. Content portfolio to guide customers through their buyer journey
2. Cross-channel pathways of communication have become the norm
3. Controlled sequencing of content streamlines quality customer experience
4. Collaborative selling and marketing optimizes the engagement
5. Calibration that focuses on refinement, not just reporting
Source: Forrester “Content Marketing Is A Key Differentiator For Tech Marketers”, Jan 2012
9. CIOs’ content needs vary across their buying journey
“When investigating, considering, and purchasing application management services,
which type of vendor information do you seek?”
Awareness Consideration Purchase
Integration information Cloud usage, operation, Integration information
and integration
ROI tools/informational Industry examples Industry examples
Awards and third-party Integration information Tech specs/benefits
recommendations
Base: 50 CIOs at US companies involved in the purchase of application management software
Source: Forrester “Content Marketing Is A Key Differentiator For Tech Marketers”, Jan 2012
10. The roles of earned, owned and paid media
Media Type Definition Examples The role Benefits Challenges
Owned Channel a • Website Build for • Control • No guarantees
brand • Mobile site longer-term • Cost • Company
media controls • Blog relationships efficiency communication
• Twitter with existing • Longevity not trusted
account and potential • Versatility • Takes time to
customers and • Niche scale
earned media audiences
Paid Brand pays to • Display ads Shift from a • In demand • Clutter
leverage a • Paid search foundation to a • Immediacy • Declining
media channel • Sponsorship catalyst that • Scale response rates
feeds owned • Control • Poor credibility
Social selling and creates
earned media
sweet spot
Earned When • Word of Listen and • Most • No control
customers mouth respond – credible • Can be
media become the • Buzz earned media • Key role in negative
channel • “Viral” is often the most sales • Scale
result of well- • Transparent • Hard to
executed and and lives on measure
well-
coordinated
owned and
paid media
Source: Forrester “How To Develop An Interactive Marketing Content Plan”, Aug 2011
11. The approach in a nutshell….
Listen Respond
To customer questions With topical content
What the industry’s talking about With relevant product solutions
Which solutions fit the business need With case studies that will resonate
16. Content criteria
Some fundamentals:
• Engaging
• Not overly political
• Not negative
• Not disparaging towards
brand or competitors
Coveted content is
gateable
Example: IBM 2012
Global CEO Study
17. Have something to share
• Get organised
• Deal with your own content monster
• Align with PR/Product roadmaps/events
• Have a hero piece
• Cover holidays
• Get industry weeks booked in and keep it themed
• Get the internal/external blend down
• Take a day off
18. Our social actions: content engagement
Sharing
Point Nod
Interacting
Bow Meet Chat
Shout
Promoting
19. Social selling best practice quadrant
Content
Sales
focused
Tone
of Personal Business
voice Social selling
sweet spot
Industry/
3rd party
21. Key advantages of content marketing
Content Marketing can...
• Reduce your cost per lead by 80% within 5
months
• Deliver a greater ROI than paid search
• Have a considerable impact on both medium-sized
and larger-sized companies:
Medium sized ones pay 31% less than if they used
paid search while larger-sized companies pay 41%
less.
Source: Content Marketing ROI reporting; Kapost
22. TMI?
Everything in moderation…….
* Read more: http://www.siriusdecisions.com/blog/thought-leadership-content-how-much-should-you-
share/
23. If you want to get in touch
agriffiths@mzl.com
@alanagriffiths
linkedin.com/in/alanacgriffiths
Sales and marketing alignment Car industry People powerHave we really changed the way we purchase? People still want to speak to a real human Salesperson at the dealershipFamily, friends and word-of-mouthConsumer and shopping guidesDealer and manufacturer websitesThird-party Web sitesAutomotive magazine reviewsTV adsDealer or manufacturer brochureDealer or manufacturer-sponsored eventNewspaper adsAuto showsDirect mail from dealer and/or manufacturerNewspaper reviewsOnline videosE-mail from dealer and/or manufacturerMagazine advertisementFacebookRadio adsOutdoor adsTwitterChat rooms, blogs, online forumshttp://m.digitaltrends.com/social-media/facebook-fail-study-finds-salespeople-not-social-media-influence-car-buyers-the-most/
Obstacles to lead generation within social networks according to US Marketers Dec 2011 (% of respondents)Content can come from anywhere - Don’t start selling, build a relationship, the content can come from anywhere, plus you can carve up bits of exiting content and point to relevant sectionsBuild trust - For a trusted relationship don’t link to content that requires data capture Track content links/reach metrics and influence scores to provide compelling stats for the business.Compare the cost of driving traffic to your site via other methods Training - APIs available in automated platforms, train sales people on understanding what a social lead looks like no more BANT/ but could cross reference with Job title dataSet listening to pull purchase behaviours onlyAudit the landscape to understand your relevant channels – fish where the fish are distil based on audience – i.e. value of member
Alana to mention variety across EMEA/APAC /NA – different rates of adoption maturity differing competitive landscape
Some highly revered industry analysts, may not be particularly active on social media sites, or may be much more active on particular sites than others.
SharingPoint: sharing a link to a piece of valuable contentNod: same as above, with acknowledgement of the source influencer.InteractingBow: giving extra recognition/credit to an influencerMeet: connecting and helping others to connectChat: dialogue; responding to others or making general commentsPromotingShout: driving traffic to vendor content and marketing (eg. IBM rep page)
Business tone is needed to become a thought leader, but still with a personal side – expressing opinions, responding to others etc. People need to know that you’re not automated.Too much sales-oriented content can damage credibility. You’ll look like you’re just trying to flog something. The balance between appearing to be an industry expert/thought leader, whilst still pushing your solution as a vendor is crucial.