According to CMI and MarketingProfs, over 90% of B2B marketers are investing in content marketing. Yet, in an age of information overload where 74GB of data are delivered per person, per day (USC), standing out to business buyers can require unreasonable budgets and resources.
Inspired by the need to scale content marketing performance, a growing number of B2B marketers are creating better quality content that gets shared more often, reaches more prospects and grows their influencer network – all at the same time.
In this presentation, Lee Odden, CEO of TopRank Marketing explains how to leverage influencer content programs to attract and engage business buyers.
9. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
“82% of senior executives say
content is a significant driver in their
buying decisions.”!!
Demand Gen Report!
14. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Standing Out is Tough!
Engaging Content!
Consistent Content!
Variety of Content!
15. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Source: Banksy via reddit / vancouver!
Most Content Isn’t Used, Seen or Shared!
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Buyers Are Saying No to Ads!
41% - Growth in Ad Blocking!
198 Million Ad Block Users Worldwide!
64% never open B2B emails!
Adobe PageFair Ad Blocking Report!
iris B2B Participation Survey!
Photo: Shutterstock!
18. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Buyers Trust Experts &
Influencers!
85%
Consumers seek out!
trusted expert content!
when considering a !
purchase!
Expert Over Branded Content:!
88% Lift in Brand Familiarity!
50% Lift in Brand Affinity!
38% Lift in Purchase Intent!
19. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Self Directed Buyers Rely on Peers/Community !
of the B2B buyer’s journey is
complete before a buyer ever
reaches out to sales.!
70%Source:
Pardot
21. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
“Influencer Marketing is the practice of
engaging internal and industry experts with
active networks to help achieve !
measurable business goals.”!
!
@TopRank!
Photo: Shutterstock!
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90% of consumers trust
peer recommendations. !
Only 33% trust ads. Nielsen!
75% of professionals
consider their influencer
engagement effective for
lead generation. Augure !
$6.85 for every $1 spent: The
average media value earned by
brands implementing influencer
marketing. Burst Media aka RhythmOne!
59% of marketers are planning
to increase their influencer
marketing budgets in the next
year. Tomoson!
Photo: Shutterstock!
30. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Secret 1: Famous is Not Your Only Target!
Social Savvy Influencers!
Industry Experts!
Brand Executives!
Internal SMEs & Employees!
Clients / Customers!
Industry Media!
Partners!
Prospect Influencers!
“Everyone is influential !
about something.” !
Photo: Shutterstock!
31. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
“A brandividual is popular. !
An influencer is effective at creating popularity.”!
!
@leeodden!
39. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
@IBMCommerce !
IBM turned to a group of
#NewWayToEngage Futurists:
Trusted external thought leaders
with a record of innovation.!
40. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Secret 5: Relationships Rule!
Work with an influencer on
a project, they’re your !
friend for a day.!
Help someone become !
more influential, they’re !
your friend for life. !
!
42. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Best & Worst Practices Influencer Engagement!
Please Do:!
1. Give value first, romance FTW!
2. Personalize a relevant “ask”!
3. Make it easy: contribute, share!
4. Showcase the wins!
5. Follow through & feedback!
Please Don’t:!
1. Make big asks on 1st contact!
2. ASS-ume!
3. Over-edit contributions!
4. Bait and switch!
5. Forget to say thank you!
43. @UberFlip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
If you want your content to
be great, ask influencers
to participate!!
!
@leeodden!
Photo: Shutterstock!
45. @Uberflip @HanaAbaza @LeeOdden #uberwebinar
Identify an Influencer Marketing platform and start
incorporating influencer engagement in marketing.!1!
2!
3!
Organize co-created content using a modular approach: it
makes personalization and repurposing easier.!
To boost the reach of your co-created content, optimize with
keywords, promote through social & activate with influencers.!
Takeaways!