Thanks for using K2 Global Communications Website Grader Tool. If you haven't, you can access it here.
No matter your score, here are some quick tips to generate more active visits for your existing and potential client base.
Thanks for using K2 Global Communications Website Grader Tool. If you haven't, you can access it here.
No matter your score, here are some quick tips to generate more active visits for your existing and potential client base.
Topics: content marketing, marketing, brand, customer communications, SEO, Account-based marketing, client relations, integrated marketing, collaborative marketing, website
Topics: customer communications, B2B, b2x
Don’t underestimate the power of the free offer
Okay. Before you sniff at that premise and protest how downscale that sounds compared to other “more serious” strategies for increasing traffic to your trade show booth, hear me out.
Of course, you should do pre-show outreach to and make appointments with both regular contacts and registered show attendees. Of course, you can bond with clients and future customers by hosting events or speaking on a panel. Create a warm, inviting environment in your booth where visitors can find calm and relaxation amidst trade show chaos - manned by a well-trained staff who can expertly and unobtrusively engage visitors to find out if they’re potential customers. Needless to say, you can use eye-catching and benefit-oriented signage to attract qualified prospects.
But see, there’s just something about the word free that gets people to come in. As you know, when people see their colleagues congregating, they’re bound to wonder what the buzz is all about - and follow suit. So here are some ideas for free stuff - and not necessarily useless knickknacks either - that can create buzz and drive more traffic to your booth:
Free gift just for stopping by - This could give show visitors a solid reason for showing up, absent a new product or new product feature from your company. The right gift can promote your product, engage prospects, and create better recall. It could be a price discount, a free book, or other special gift that will attract someone in your target audience. Forget random items. Attract people to your booth via giveaways that will deliver quality leads.
Free sample - What better selling tool than to give customers a taste of your product or service? Moreover, people love to hang around booths with free samples. Selling a technology or service? Give booth visitors one month’s free use of the tool in exchange for customer information. Selling a consumer product? Sample-size freebies are always a hit. In the hospitality business? A 10-minute neck massage right there and then! You get the picture…
Free workspace - For those with big exhibit spaces only. Trade show guests will always need (very) short-term office spaces to catch up with work or phone calls or to simply take a break. Offer them desk space, some comfy chairs, and plugs and they’ll really appreciate it.
Free WiFi - Visitors will flock to your booth if they know they can get wireless access. Not all trade show venues offer free WiFi; providing prospects with the password in exchange for their contact info is a win-win bargain. Bonus points to exhibitors who can tie up this freebie to their product or service.
Free charging station - An entire day spent at a trade show means that attendees will likely need to charge their phones. Provide walking around-chargers or extra AC outlets in your booth and a place to put the devices on as they recharge - and you’ll be drawing visitors like flies. You’ll also earn their thanks and, who knows, you may even get inquiries about your product or service.
Free food - Who can turn down free coffee, juice, donuts, or cookies? It’s a great way to stave off hunger between booth visits when lunch or dinner is hours away. Moreover, recipients of these free goodies would likely politely listen to a short product pitch in exchange and maybe even ask a question or two. The important thing is, you got them into your booth and gave them a chance to look around and survey your offerings. Don't put the food on the front tables so they can furtively "grab and run." Put the food in the middle of the booth so they are serious about walking in.
Topics: DIY, trade show, conferences, giveaways
Hmmm…should this be a blog or rant?
We’re constantly amazed at the number of companies who’ve been around for years and don’t have a cohesive messaging document (MD).
While I understand the aversion – MDs are difficult to execute, with various stakeholders within the company trying to get their voices heard – a well-conceived MD creates a virtual paint-by-numbers scenario, where all of your USPs are well defined for audiences across the purchasing chain, smoothing the account-based marketing process.
Topics: marketing, brand, customer communications, message, messaging, corporate communications, client relations, integrated marketing
Topics: Public relations, media resources, press coverage, blog, Israel
Collaborative marketing is a must-add to your overall B2B marketing strategy. Collaborative marketing means building connections, networking, and establishing formal partnerships among related, non-competitive businesses to increase brand awareness, gain new customers, and boost sales.
Topics: content marketing, content, brand, customer communications, integrated marketing, collaborative marketing, email marketing
Know the pros and cons before you dive in
Like any endeavor, B2B collaborative marketing has its up and downsides. It’s up to the partner-brand companies to strike a good balance. Before we dive too deeply into B2B collaborative marketing pros and cons, definitions are in order because a few related terms - i.e., co-branding, co-marketing, brand partnership - are often bandied about and may cause confusion.
Topics: content marketing, marketing, social media, brand, customer communications, integrated marketing, collaborative marketing
Once upon a time, I covered trade shows as a market analyst for a major consumer publication. Shortly thereafter I flipped to the other side of the desk and ended up with a press conference on one side of the Consumer Electronics Show and a photo shoot clear across the exhibition hall. Let’s just say that roller skates were very much on my mind by the time I finished my Mrs. Doubtfire dash back and forth across the crowded exhibit halls.
I empathize with journalists who have been given the immense task of covering trade shows, scouting for new trends, and trying to maintain relationships with industry leaders. That is why when I have a client exhibiting, I try to be a resource to media covering the show by helping them identify my clients’ product introductions long before the show, setting up interviews or, better still, pre-show interviews to save journalist’s precious time, jet-lagged exhaustion, and, especially, their shoe leather.
Here are some pointers for being a resource to media at your next trade show:
Topics: Public relations, journalist, news story, news value, media resources, press coverage, press release, media coverage, trade show
B2B messaging should clearly explain the unique selling propositions (USPs) and myriad advantages of your solution to everyone participating in purchasing process. Sometimes, that just isn’t achieved.
Fail 1 - The “too-broad” B2B messaging
General marketing blah-blah is not appreciated. Technology products are very rarely designed for general use, and the more specific you message to your personas, the better. Messaging must make it immediately apparent who benefits from your product and how.
Topics: persona, customer communications, message, messaging, B2B
The best version of collaborative marketing drives success for everyone involved – sharing channels to present complementary solutions strengthens both brands while increasing leads.
1) Select the type of B2B partnership you need
Topics: content marketing, content, customer communications, corporate communications, Account-based marketing, collaborative marketing, SMART Goals
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