I recently posted an analysis of a question to the B2B Marketing LinkedIn group. Can you use ONE WORD to describe the biggest challenge facing B2B marketing today?”. At the time 162 people had replied.  Just two weeks on that’s risen to 246.  The original analysis can be found here , but given this volume of response I thought it time to provide a brief update on the key metrics. Whilst great diversity of response remains – more than 140 separate words are used – the picture is now clearer with five challenges breaking away from the pack: Budget/ROI. Content. Relevance. Differentiation. MORE >>

Ever since I was invited to join The Network of Aspiring Women (Birmingham Group), I’ve felt more in touch with my feminine side ( see post here ). Perhaps that’s why my interest was piqued by a recent discussion on the B-to-B Marketing LinkedIn Group. Kate Bishop, Marketing Co-ordinator at Custom Fluidpower, has a dilemma. To use, or not to use, promotional girls at a trade show stand? Her boss is insistent but she has concerns. I share them. First, let’s be clear about exactly what a “promotional girl” is. The clue is in the name. 47% are in favour, 53% are against. They’re knowledgeable. MORE >>

In the latest in my series of interviews with today’s leading business thinkers I spoke with Thomas Jelley, Corporate Citizenship Manager at support services giant Sodexo. But why, you may wonder, is a B2B marketing research agency like Circle talking about sustainability.  Isn’t that the preserve of a niche team within corporations and NGOs? . Well, no.  Increasingly sustainability is becoming embedded throughout corporates and amongst individual departments – including marketing – for three very compelling reasons. If you’re not convinced so far, here’s the clincher: sales.  MORE >>

Have you ever wondered how other B2B marketers spend their digital marketing budgets?  Where they invest the greatest amount of time?  And how effective they feel different digital activities are? certainly have so when Omobono and The Marketing Society asked Circle Research to survey B2B marketers and establish how they behave in relation to digital, we jumped at the chance. The research results – based on feedback from over 80 senior B2B marketers collectively controlling budgets of more than £33m – provide a valuable benchmark.  MORE >>

 . Our friends at Marketing Options International (MOI) have just launched the Mind Share Café.  No, not a diversification into tea and cakes, but a virtual hub where they’ve collected together the thoughts of leading B2B technology marketers.  Marketers from players like Dell, Microsoft and Cisco. Have a look – the Mind Share Café.  You won’t find any pontificating.  No self-serving agendas.  Just technology marketeers in similar circumstances being open about the challenges they face and how they’re approaching them. . In doing so I was struck by one recurring theme: change. The solution?  MORE >>