RV 107 - Dark Social and Demand Generation in B2B Marketing | Nex6
Sep 26, 2023
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Chris, a B2B marketing expert, discusses the need for a holistic revenue team approach in demand generation. He highlights the underappreciated concept of dark social in B2B marketing and challenges flawed measurement models. Chris emphasizes the importance of understanding customers deeply and encourages companies to leverage platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook for effective marketing. He also discusses the significance of internal thought leaders, adopting a customer-centric approach in content strategy, and thinking differently about attribution in B2B marketing.
Demand generation should be viewed as a holistic revenue team approach, focusing on creating, capturing, and converting demand.
Dark social, including platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, is an underappreciated channel in B2B marketing.
Deep dives
The Importance of Dark Social and Demand Generation in B2B Marketing
Dark social and demand generation are concepts that are often overlooked in B2B marketing. The traditional definition of demand generation, which focuses on lead generation and performance marketing, is outdated. Instead, it is important to view demand generation as a holistic process that includes creating, capturing, and converting demand. Many B2B companies have traditionally used a lead generation approach, with marketing generating leads and the SDRs and sales teams following up. However, this approach is not aligned with the revenue team's objectives and can result in misalignment and missed revenue opportunities.
Understanding Dark Social and Its Impact on Attribution
Dark social refers to the off-platform word of mouth channels that are not easily tracked by attribution software. These channels include podcasts, content platforms like YouTube, social media platforms like LinkedIn, private communities, and more. B2B buyers often gather information and make purchasing decisions on these channels, but their activities are not captured by traditional attribution models. This lack of visibility into dark social can make it difficult for marketers to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and justify the ROI. Marketers need to be more aware of these hidden channels and consider them in their strategies to reach and influence B2B buyers.
The Power of Personal Branding in B2B Marketing
Personal branding plays a crucial role in B2B marketing, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. While corporate branding is important, having individuals with strong personal brands can often be more effective in connecting with B2B decision-makers. Personal brands, such as executive subject matter experts, can establish credibility, build relationships, and engage the audience in a more meaningful way. In contrast, company pages that solely promote corporate messaging often fail to resonate with customers. Companies should explore leveraging personal branding alongside corporate branding to drive better engagement and establish thought leadership in the B2B space.
Redefining Marketing Budget Allocation and Priorities
Many B2B companies allocate a significant portion of their marketing budget to field events and trade shows, while neglecting other valuable channels. The traditional focus on lead generation through digital campaigns has limited effectiveness, as companies often fail to create compelling content that resonates with their target audience. To optimize marketing budgets, companies should consider shifting their investments towards more effective channels, such as paid social media advertising on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Additionally, hosting podcasts, webinars, and other content-driven initiatives can generate significant results by building brand authority, engaging customers, and providing valuable insights. By reassessing budget allocations and prioritizing impactful strategies, companies can drive better ROI and achieve long-term success in their marketing efforts.
Chris was invited onto the Nex6 Project, hosted by John Ghiorso, to discuss Dark Social and Demand Generation in the context of B2B marketing. Chris emphasizes the need for a holistic revenue team approach, breaking down demand generation into three core categories: creating demand, capturing demand, and converting demand. He highlights the underappreciation of these concepts in B2B marketing and the flawed measurement models used by companies. Chris also emphasizes the importance of understanding customers deeply and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook for effective marketing. He challenges traditional marketing practices and encourages companies to think differently to drive better results.
Key Takeaways:
-Demand generation should be viewed as a holistic revenue team approach, focusing on creating, capturing, and converting demand.
-Dark social, including platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, is an underappreciated channel in B2B marketing.
-Companies should shift their budget allocation to focus more on digital marketing, including Facebook and Instagram ads.
-Personal brands are often more effective than corporate brands in driving engagement on social media platforms.
-Thought leadership strategies should involve subject matter experts who provide objective insights and help customers across their entire job spectrum.
Thanks to our friends at Hatch for producing this episode. Get unlimited podcast editing at www.hatch.fm
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