As B2B companies reevaluate their budgets in the wake of COVID-19, it may be tempting to slash the marketing and advertising budget. On paper this might seem practical, especially if you're not sure of marketing's impact on your business. This is not an uncommon reaction, and while it may free things up in the short-term, over the long haul those companies are going to need to make that ground back up later. In other words, don't ditch your marketing altogether. Just be smarter about it, and there are more than a few options here. 

Topics: Return on Investment, Sales Pipeline Growth, Sales Alignment, Strategic Planning, Marketing Budgets, Industrial Marketing, Marketing Operations, Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturers, logistics, and the entire supply chain have, in some way, been impacted by COVID-19, some more than others. A mid-March study assessing the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturers in North America found that 28% are searching for replacement suppliers while another 28% plan to reshore their operations back in the United States. That means there are OEMs and large Tier 1 Suppliers looking around for solutions, and they need them quickly. This could mean opportunities for many manufacturers of component parts, opportunities they likely don't want to miss out on. So how can these manufacturers capitalize on the needs that exist out there? There's some marketing-technology (martech) tools out there - free ones - that can help uncover unknown sales opportunities.

Topics: Marketing Tactics, Sales Pipeline Growth, Sales Alignment, Key Trends, Website Strategy, Lead Generation, Manufacturing Industry

The “fog of war,” first coined by Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz, is a term often used to describe the dominating uncertainty that hallmarks the chaos of battle. The answer to this challenge according to Clausewitz, is the “sensitive and discriminating judgment” of leaders who can cut through the fog. History has shown time and again that leaders keeping their wits about them would prove to be the deciding factor in overcoming chaotic uncertainty. It’s a lesson constantly beat into my head during my time as an Infantry officer, and one I’ve not forgotten in my time since.

Topics: Marketing Tactics, Measuring Marketing, Marketing Technology, Sales Alignment, Strategic Planning, Key Trends, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Tactics, Website Strategy, Industrial Marketing, Lead Generation, Brand Awareness, Marketing Operations, Manufacturing Industry