Creativity is the Key
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter It took creativity to start your business, and it takes creativity to keep it running every day. So why not apply that same creativity to the greatest challenge facing the manufacturing industry: the lack of skilled...
Are You Using Brand Advocacy in Reaching Contractors ?
Let’s face it, in an ideal world we’d all want our customers to love us! We all know that’s not going to happen, but I’ll bet you might have more advocates for your brand than you think. Why are brand advocates important? Studies show that people rely on peer recommendations and reviews before purchasing goods. Contractors are no different, especially if you’re introducing a new product or application they haven’t used or seen before. They certainly don’t want to be the first to try something.
6 Ways to Make Your Marketing to Contractors More Effective
Today we have so many options to reach our targeted audiences. While I’m a proponent of trying new things, we must not lose sight of who we’re trying to reach. More importantly, we need to identify the preferred way they like to be communicated with.
Why Manufacturers Should Personalize Content for Professional Tradesmen
While there are plenty of reasons to use automated technology to manage leads through the sales funnel there comes a point when personalized content needs to be used to reach contractors and professional tradesmen.
5 Key Metrics for Measuring Trade Shows
Most of you participate in various trade shows from time to time. If you do, you know that they can be very expensive and management is always looking for a ROI. That’s why it’s important for sales and marketing to work together to make sure they get the best bang for the buck.
Challenges Facing the Industrial Distributor Today
While the economy is their biggest concern,it’s one they have little control over it. Truth be know I don’t believe the industrial segment of the market ever got back to levels pre-2008. Sales and margins are down(Show me a business that doesn’t have similar issues) and that’s a natural reaction when sales drop you try to protect existing business and the easiest way of doing that is lowering prices.Distributors can sometimes be their own worst enemies, Sell value not price.
Why Content Marketing May Work Better Than Traditional Advertising in Reaching Contractors
Contractors and professional tradesmen often don’t have time to read the latest trade publication or look at the magazines’ website on a regular basis and might miss your message. Chances are, unless you only make one product, their interest at any given time may be on another product.
Do You Have a Company LinkedIn Page? You should.
LinkedIn is a business platform and although it’s set up for individuals, companies can and should have a company page. It allows your company to have a snapshot of who you are and helps you connect with your audiences.
Contractor Email List – Do You Have One?
Let’s face it, we’re all in this for the same reason. To talk with people who share the same interest. We must always be tweaking and improving what we deliver. So in order to get them to give up their email, we better come up with some interesting and helpful stuff that will make them want to read our emails for future gems. It’s not only what you have to say, but how you say it.
How Many Calls Does it Take to Make a Sale?
Why do many businesses have a problem following up with their prospective customers? Mr. Frey explained, “The problem is not that small businesses don’t have the capacity to follow up with prospects, it’s that they don’t have the systems in place to do it well.” In his recent newsletter, “Follow-Up Marketing: How To Win More Sales With Less Effort,” Mr. Frey advised, “A good follow-up marketing system should have three attributes: