The way customers purchase has changed tremendously, and it’s more customer-initiated and customer-driven than ever. Ten years ago, all you had to do was leave a voicemail that piqued your customer’s interest to get a call back. The reality today is that the B2B buying process begins when prospects accesses a company’s website, blog, or whitepaper. They go online and Google your website but they also look at competitive offerings, reviews of your company, and check out forums or blogs discussing your company and the solutions you offer. How is your latest product or offering rated on YELP? With an increasing tendency and capacity to research purchasing decisions online long before they engage with sales, the pressure for B2B marketers is on! Combine that with the fact that 92% of B2Bbuyers start their search for a solution to their problem online, and the customer buying process has changed drastically.(Segue before next slide)…So given these changes in the Buying Process, we know that Marketing needs to play a stronger role in the early part of the Sales cycle. In that respect, where are we starting from? How are we doing with respect to Marketing today? [Ask for Show of Hands…]”How many view Marketing as a Communications/Awareness function?”“Who thinks Marketing needs improvement?”Let’s see how that compares to some recent industry surveys…[NEXT SLIDE]…