The Point

DECEMBER 13, 2019

The rate of change in B2B marketing and marketing technology continues to accelerate, and 2020 promises to be no different. I asked the best subject matter experts I know, my colleagues at Spear Marketing Group , what trends they think will highlight the next 12 months in B2B demand generation.

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Demand Ideal Customer Profiles Demand Generation Agencies Account Based Marketing 222

The Point

JANUARY 19, 2021

2020 was a year of change for marketers worldwide, much of it not for the best of reasons. Will B2B marketing, and demand generation in particular, revert to “normal” once the pandemic subsides and economic recovery kicks in, or are recent trends destined to become staple tactics in the months and years to come?

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Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation Demand Lead Ranking 147

The Point

APRIL 16, 2019

Because costs per click in B2B search campaigns can often be extremely high when companies compete the for same keywords, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) for B2B advertisers offers its own very unique challenges. Here are the five most common “fails” we see in B2B search campaigns: Not Bidding on the Correct Keywords.

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Cost per Acquisition Paid Search Agency Campaigns Cost Per Click 235

The Point

APRIL 26, 2018

In a world where demand generation , and marketing in general, is more data-driven than ever, one of the hottest topics in B2B circles is intent data. How should the average B2B marketer be looking to leverage intent data in their demand generation mix? HS) Why has intent data become such a hot topic in B2B?

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Intent Data Intent Bombora Account Based Marketing 209

The Point

JUNE 5, 2018

Earlier this year, Forrester Research conducted a detailed survey of more than 150 B2B marketing decision-makers with the intent of benchmarking the maturity of B2B marketing best practices, focused on revenue marketing and marketing automation. for lead management to 3.35 for organization.

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Lead Ranking Forrester Lead Scoring Paid Search Agency 194

The Point

JULY 17, 2017

Demand Gen Report has published the results of this year’s “B2B Buyer’s Survey,” and the trends identified merit close attention for those marketers involved in B2B demand generation and content development. 72% of B2B Buyers quote timely response to inquiries as a key factor in vendor selection via @spearmktg.

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Paid Search Agency Demand Marketing Automation Services Peer-to-peer 241

The Point

JULY 1, 2019

For the last decade or more, it’s been an accepted principle – almost a key tenet – of B2B demand generation that business buyers don’t want to talk to a sales rep until the last possible moment. It’s why, for example, we marketers have assumed control for more and more of the lead funnel. For example: * Lead Scoring.

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B2B Sales Demand Generation Agencies Top of Funnel Lead Ranking 124

The Point

MARCH 7, 2019

Recently I was interviewed by the folks at Demand Gen Report as part of an article on current trends in email marketing , an article that you can read online here. With permission, a more complete version of the interview follows: (DGR) What trends are you currently seeing in B2B email marketing today? (HS) Direct mail?

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Deliverability Account Based Marketing ABM Demand Generation Agencies 150

The Point

OCTOBER 1, 2021

Should you allow prospects to enter a personal email address when they fill out lead gen forms? B2B marketers seem divided on the question. Historically, the attitude towards personal emails in B2B marketing has been that they betray a lower level of intent. solely for the purpose of diverting marketing emails.

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Lead Gen Lead Ranking Lead Scoring Sales Qualified Leads 297

The Point

JUNE 18, 2019

As a busy marketer, you know …” Well if I already know, why do I care? Don’t start your email with a litany of facts or a lengthy commentary on market trends. 7 Key Principles of #B2B Email Creative Click To Tweet. The post 7 Key Principles of B2B Email Creative appeared first on The Point. Grab the Reader Early.

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Creativity B2B Webinar Metrics Email Marketing 164

The Point

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Following on the heels of CAN-SPAM (US) and CASL (Canada), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the latest in a series of government regulations that promises to have a major impact on the way B2B marketers conduct business. We recommend all marketers consult with legal counsel on how best to fully comply with GDPR.

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Privacy Policies Marketing Automation Services B2B Marketing Marketing Management 231

The Point

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

Earlier this month I co-hosted a Webinar with Greg Kelly of Vidyard and Jason Oakley of Uberflip on “ Driving B2B Engagement with Personalized Content.” As a sneak preview, here are some of the key takeaways from our discussion: Marketing content is devalued. You can view the recorded version of the event here. Click To Tweet.

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Personalization Lead Ranking Lead Scoring B2B 133

The Point

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

Just as too much time on Instagram fawning after the photoshopped lives of internet influencers can create an unhealthy self-image, marketers too can fall victim to unrealistic standards and FOMO created by the marketing blogosphere and the breathy propaganda of martech vendors. Marketing attribution is a good example.

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Class Marketing Attribution Advertising Agencies Paid Search Agency 243

The Point

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Highlighted by the launch of Salesforce’s own analytics cloud , the current trend in marketing technology is clearly focused on helping marketers make smart decisions and build smarter campaigns. The simple act of generating leads – primarily through online means – has never been easier.

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Demand Generation Agencies Lead Gen Marketing Report Research 100

The Point

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

A prospective client asks: “We’re just getting our demand generation programs ramped up, and I’m not sure I’m ready for marketing automation. Do I need it in order to do lead nurturing?”. My answer: “It depends how you define “ lead nurturing ,” but technically: no, you don’t need marketing automation in order to nurture leads.

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Lead Nurturing Demand Generation Agencies Marketing Automation Services Sales Qualified Leads 100

The Point

AUGUST 20, 2015

Results are in from a recent survey on B2B Lead Generation by the B2B Technology Marketing Community on LinkedIn ( free report download here ), and the numbers tell a disheartening story. Marketing automation has yet to solve the reporting issue. B2B marketers are focused on the short term, to their detriment.

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Lead Generation Demand Generation Agencies Lead Ranking Lead Scoring 100

The Point

MAY 18, 2016

If your Google AdWords campaign isn’t generating the type of lead volume, lead quality, or ROI that it should, it’s highly likely that the campaign is suffering from common missteps that plague many B2B paid search programs. Based on our experience, here are the most common paid search mistakes made by B2B marketers.

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Paid Search Agency Adwords B2B Click Rate 113

The Point

MAY 19, 2020

It wasn’t that long ago, when marketing automation first burst on the scene, that the height of lead nurture sophistication was the simple, automated sending of multiple, sequential emails. Today, advances in marketing technology make such “automation” seem laughably basic. How does your current lead nurturing.

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The Point

JANUARY 29, 2015

Recently I sat down with Amanda Nelson, Director of Marketing at RingLead , a leading provider of cloud-based data solutions that make it easy to analyze, remove, merge and prevent duplicates in Salesforce. We discussed what’s new, what’s working, and what’s on the horizon in B2B Demand Generation. 2015 is no exception.

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Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation Demand Generation 100

The Point

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

In uncertain economic times, Market Development Funds (MDF) can be a precious resource for channel partners (resellers, distributors, ISVs) looking for budget to fund sales and marketing activity. By some measures, that may add up to $15 billion of unspent marketing budget every year in the US alone.

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Demand Generation Agencies Advertising Agencies CMS Development Work Management 147

The Point

MARCH 18, 2020

Most B2B marketers we talk to are continuing to plan, develop and execute campaigns and other initatives, for the time being at least. How to Approach Demand Gen in Challenging Times #B2B Click To Tweet. If nothing else, lead nurturing. Offer free information on how to cope, certainly.

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Demand Demand Generation Agencies Top of Funnel Account Based Marketing 243

The Point

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Social media may be a hot topic in B2B marketing circles, but most of that buzz focuses on the role of social media advertising. And yet, at most B2B companies, social media is still relegated to a role loosely defined as awareness, community-building, or even PR. Are B2B marketers ignoring a huge opportunity?

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Top of Funnel Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation Lead Ranking 203

The Point

MAY 17, 2021

Whatever demand gen channels you use to generate marketing leads, there’s value in always promoting a mix of content and other offers that span the entire buying cycle: early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage. Use of very short-term metrics will almost certainly devalue those leads and the perceived ROI from the program.

Marketing Management 207

Marketing Management Paid Search Agency Buying Cycle Demand Generation Agencies 207

The Point

JUNE 25, 2019

[Thanks to Anne Angele, Spear’s esteemed Director of Marketing Technology, for this month’s guest post.]. Marketing attribution is a hot topic these days in B2B circles. Fortunately, there are now some excellent third-party reporting, analytics and attribution tools that can help marketers get closer to attribution nirvana.

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Marketing Attribution Work Management Marketing Management Marketing Automation Services 242

The Point

APRIL 23, 2015

Does a theory that predates digital marketing still have relevance today? Here then is my modern version of “Above the Fold” for today’s B2B email marketers: 1. For more tips on B2B email marketing, download a free copy of our white paper: “ Top 10 B2B Email Marketing Mistakes ”. In a word: yes.

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Demand Generation Agencies Design Advertising Agencies B2B 100

The Point

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Budgeting season is here again, and demand marketers are not immune. Based on the work we do with our agency’s B2B clients , here’s a basic, funnel-based approach to determining a realistic demand gen budget based on specific revenue targets: 1. Define the percentage of that revenue (or pipeline) for which marketing is responsible.

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Budget Programs Lead Ranking Demand Marketing Qualified Leads 162

The Point

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

In B2B email marketing , does short copy always win over long? You won’t see or find many shorter B2B emails than the one below from BounceX , a New York-based developer of “behavioral automation tools for digital marketers.” The post Winning B2B Email Campaign Keeps it Simple appeared first on The Point.

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Email Campaigns Campaigns B2B Advertising Agencies 100

The Point

AUGUST 8, 2013

When a client says “We set up lead scoring but sales doesn’t pay any attention,” it’s a sure sign that something is amiss – and more likely the problem doesn’t rest with sales. Here’s Part 2 of our discussion of the most common B2B lead scoring mistakes. Too little negative scoring.

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Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Sales Qualified Leads Marketo 100

The Point

MAY 27, 2014

Only AcmePro …” In marketing copy, there’s a fine line between assumptive and presumptuous, and this example crosses that line in leaps and bounds. Adapted from “The High Tech Direct Marketing Handbook”. AcmePro 1.0 is the one. Just don’t assume he or she already believes your product is the answer.

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Copywriting B2B Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation 100

The Point

DECEMBER 16, 2013

The point being made by the article’s author, Jill Stanek, was that Marketo’s acquisition enables that company to extend dynamic, personalized marketing conversations from their current domain (email campaigns) all the way to the Website. Want to guess how many of those leads arrive via our clients’ Websites? Fair enough.

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Demand Generation Agencies B2B Sales Sales Leads Microsite 100

The Point

AUGUST 1, 2013

Lead scoring has quickly become an integral part of a demand generation marketer’s arsenal. A well-planned, well-designed, and optimized lead scoring schema can be a key contributor to sales productivity, sales engagement, and the rate at which inbound leads convert to Sales Qualified Leads, opportunities, and deals.

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Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Sales Qualified Leads Leads 100

The Point

MAY 28, 2020

The current crisis reinforces why most B2B companies are best suited for a hybrid demand generation model that combines both ABM and more traditional, funnel-based tactics. ABM was born of a time when (in hindsight) we marketers had it good. An approach that orchestrates touch points from marketing, sales, and customer success.

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Demand Generation Agencies Demand Generation Ideal Customer Profiles Lead Ranking 162

The Point

JANUARY 7, 2020

Q4 is over, and with it, the inevitable rush to execute and scale marketing programs designed to somehow, magically, help a company makes its Q4 and year-end numbers. The cold hard reality is that successful B2B demand generation. Whereas, the reality is that most Q4 deals originate with leads that were generated months earlier.

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Account Based Marketing Top of Funnel Demand Generation Agencies Paid Search Agency 130

The Point

OCTOBER 18, 2012

Earlier this week, San Francisco-based Demandbase announced its “ Company Targeted Advertising ,” a new platform that allows B2B marketers to target online display advertising either to specific companies (by name) or those that meet specific corporate attributes (company size for example, or vertical industries).

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Paid Search Agency Demographics Display DemandBase 100

The Point

JULY 30, 2020

Even as demand generation activity begins to pick up, most marketing budgets right now remain tight, and so B2B companies are looking for creative, low-cost ways to drive demand. Blogs are historically the province of the PR team, and so they’re not often looked at as a vehicle for driving leads, sales engagement, and revenue.

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Demand Lead Scoring Lead Ranking Marketing Budget 221

The Point

AUGUST 27, 2019

In a remarkably short time, LinkedIn has grown to become a major player in B2B advertising (at about 20% of total industry spend, according to industry watchers ), quickly rivaling search advertising on Google. Or opt for LinkedIn’s Lead Gen Forms, which generate a pre-populated contact form inside the app. Stale Creative.

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Paid Content Advertising Agencies Linkedin Advertisements 241

The Point

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Almost 5 years ago, our agency conducted a survey to determine whether B2B companies were getting maximum value from their investment in marketing automation. You’d assume, therefore, that marketing automation maturity – the level of sophistication at which companies employ the technology – has improved. Click To Tweet.

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Marketing Automation Services Marketing Management Marketing Automation Automation 147