Blurring The Lines Between B2B and B2C Marketing

Note: This post was archived from the Infusionsoft Blog. More details here.

Marketing automation is heating up. In fact, the topic is on fire! For a while the discussion has been sheltered within the walls of marketing automation software vendors and marketers at large corporations. Now, the conversation has expanded to Internet marketers, consumers, small businesses, and tech media.

This morning, I read an extremely thoughtful post by Maureen Blandford, a self-proclaimed B2B champion. She reacted strongly to a B2B software company blurring the lines between B2B and B2C marketing tactics. I tend to agree with her stance, but here are my thoughts:

  • From a strategy and a technology aspect inbound marketing and marketing automation are both very similar for B2B and B2C buyers. Create content and publish it.  Use content to build traffic and capture leads. Put those leads into an intelligent new-lead follow up sequence. Educate, nurture, drive to the sale.
  • Marketing to B2B and B2C buyers differs in the tactics.  Often times B2C products and services are commoditized to the point that content and lead nurturing aren’t used in the same way – people just want a deal, not more content.
  • B2B companies are more likely to employ sales teams and have established sales processes that need to be followed and coordinated with lead nurturing.  Examples of this include providing cases, benefits, personal demonstrations and ultimately guide the buyer to ink the deal.
  • B2B and B2C persona development is often drastically different. B2B companies sell to multiple buyers ranging from the manager to the senior VP, to the CFO or the CEO.  Meanwhile, B2C companies will often have different personas that differ on demographics or psychographics regardless of their role in an organization.
  • Messaging that comes from a B2B company should be entirely different than a B2C company. The tactics to employ that messaging vary wildly in contrast. The campaigns for B2Bs are likely to be more complex, leading to a longer sales-cycle.
  • There are B2B-B2C hybrids out there. As Maureen points out, there are variations of each.  At Infusionsoft, our customers are technically B2B, but the smaller businesses we serve act much more like “consumers” than “businesses.” The game is different.

The beautiful thing about marketing automation technology is that in most cases it can be adapted so elegantly to any situation – whether it be B2B or B2C. You don’t have to look far to discover that marketing automation can be implemented successfully across B2Bs.

Maureen made another point that I’ve been very interested in for a while: “Sales is still not respected enough within their own companies.” I agree. The age-old divide between marketing and sales has often attributed to the fact that sales reps don’t get the respect they deserve. I believe marketing automation has shifted the divide in an interesting way.

Lead nurturing can prepare leads for a sales conversation in a way that hasn’t been seen before. These tactics reach deep into the previously defined sales cycle to bridge the gap. However, another divide has been created. Marketing automation creates spoiled sales reps. Marketing automation does the qualifying, educating and even builds excitement. In the ideal situation, sales reps (even B2B sales reps), can become order takers.

I know I’m going a bit extreme here. The truth is, sales reps are now being handed leads that are already in a buying mode. Cold-calling is often a practice of the past. Now, reps get bothered if a lead isn’t warmed up to exactly 350 degrees with a nice golden brown crust.

In some cases, selling is getting closer to becoming a commoditized skill. This means less respect.

Even with this going on, it has become clear to me that good sales reps are still worth their weight in gold. Good sales reps — armed with the data from your marketing automation system — will dig into your CRM and drag golden opportunities from the depths. They still close double the number of deals that an average rep closes. They’re still the big revenue generators. And they still deserve all the respect in the world. It takes guts, determination and perseverance to do what they do.

Maureen, thanks for raising the issue and keep fighting the good fight.

[Image credit: drdul]

About Tyler Garns

Tyler Garns is best known for his work as the Director and VP of Marketing at Infusionsoft, where he led the marketing efforts that produced massive results between 2007 and 2012. But he’s also been the “go-to” Infusionsoft guy for many of the top marketers and Infusionsoft users out there. His combination of technical skill, Infusionsoft expertise, and marketing experience make him one of the most reliable sources of business breakthroughs for Infusionsoft customers.

1 thought on “Blurring The Lines Between B2B and B2C Marketing”

  1. Thanks for adding to the dialogue, Tyler! I appreciate the kind words.

    I whole-heartedly agree that Educate, Nurture, Drive to the sale works in both spaces.

    You’re right to point out that sales orgs and sellers aren’t perfect. Yes, sometimes they’re babies about leads not being warm enough (although I’d argue the great sellers never do that). Those guys definitely “will dig into your CRM and drag golden opportunities from the depths.”

    The salient point for me is: in B2B, the Marketing side of the house is over-funded, while the Sales side is grossly under-funded. 

    To grow better sales people, selling orgs need a few more resources to teach, mentor, and coach their sellers. AND teach, mentor, and coach sales managers to encourage great behaviors!

    The geek in me most appreciates your appreciation of sales people.

    Thanks, man. Glad to know ya.

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