Comments from K2 Global Communications

Salesperson Brandon started a new job at a cybersecurity start-up called Bait, protecting organizations from ransomware. Two months into the job and he is struggling to close deals.

“I don’t know what to do when they voice concerns,” Brandon explains. “It’s like I have nothing to say.”

Brandon’s boss is confused. “Just answer their questions.”

That isn’t enough..

Your sales teams can exceed expectations if you have the right materials at the right time for the right customer – we’re talking about bringing “What’s in it for me” to whole new levels.

At the end of the day, businesses market to people, not to faceless decision-making committees or a bunch of same-demographic consumers. Whether you’re selling to CEOs or stay-at-home dads, your marketing should speak to individual customers - think “human” instead of “the client” or “the client company” - each with his or her own tastes, interests, expectations, preferences, life, and work situations.

Companies now recognize the potential for increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and access to a broader talent pool that comes with a hybrid approach. Thus, employee communications in a hybrid work environment must support increased flexibility, while driving collaboration, innovation, and a shared company culture.

Effective communication is the linchpin that holds the workforce together. When physical proximity is no longer a given, internal communications must be used to bind the teams, align organizational goals, and sustain a cohesive company culture.

 Generating leads is only half the battle. The other half is closing those deals.

With so many different vendors ups and solutions, your sales process must stand out. Providing clear, consistent, and concise sales-enablement content can help you close more deals.

Effective internal communication is a challenge - and a necessity. Assumptions about informal channels can lead to information gaps. An unclear hierarchical structure may make it hard to establish clear lines of communication. Managing messaging to remote, hybrid, and onsite employees needs to be a priority. Addressing these issues allows information to flow freely.

Leadership sets the tone for organizational communication; leading by example - prioritizing transparent and open communications - is potent. Transparent communication builds trust among team members and strengthens the sense of shared responsibility. Leaders need to provide regular updates, provide insights about their decision-making processes, and be honest about challenges and successes.

The smaller the organization, the more each individual's contribution is amplified. Teams are more tightly knit. Understanding these dynamics is crucial.

Clear communication requires awareness about diverse linguistic nuances and cultural norms. Recognizing, respecting, and adjusting to individuals’ diverse backgrounds – birth nationality and language, years in the country, etc. is critical.

In addition, you must understand and tailor comms to individuals’ communications preferences. Some team members may prefer one-on-one interactions, while others may prefer more formal channels, such as weekly updates. Tailoring messages to accommodate these preferences ensures that information is received and understood.

“Writer’s block happens to all writers, including content marketing writers.

 With 91% of companies today using content marketing to attract leads and engage customers, as content marketers you can’t afford to run out of ideas. True, ideas are literally all around us, but finding that truly exceptional concept that results in more traffic, more leads and conversions, and greater consumer love and loyalty for your brand can be quite challenging – challenging, but not impossible. If you want to come up with fresh, relevant topics all the time, but feel that your well of content ideas has dried up, read on.

Measurement is an integral part of the communications process. Before you begin, you need a baseline. How do employees feel about communications? What channels to they prefer? How can you tailor strategies and tactics to drive improvement? Define your key performance indicators (KPIs) as they relate to engagement and satisfaction.

Successfully marketing your cybersecurity solution is not a guessing game. Targeted marketing is like any other targeted activity – where you aim is where you’ll hit. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With hundreds of cyber solutions on the market, it’s difficult to find your security product’s unique niche so you can tailor-fit your message to the right buyers.