Pulling B2B Buyers Through the Funnel with SEM
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The document discusses the importance of search engine marketing (SEM) for B2B buyers, emphasizing keyword strategy, content optimization, and the role of analytics in guiding potential customers through the buying cycle. Key strategies include using appropriate language for target audiences, creating various content types, and leveraging pay-per-click (PPC) advertising effectively. It also outlines action items for optimizing SEM efforts, capturing leads, and integrating analytics with customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
Pulling B2B Buyers Through the Funnel with SEM
- 1. Pulling B2B Buyers Through the Funnel Online Marketing Connect Search Engine Marketing Focus Week – May 2011
- 2. Stacy Williams Marketing/advertising: 23 years Search engine marketing: 13 years Founded Prominent Placement: 2001 Charter member of SEMPO President-Elect of SEMPO Atlanta When not working: wrangling two teenage daughters www.linkedin.com/in/stacyswilliams http://twitter.com/stacywms
- 3. Prominent Placement, Inc. Full-service, award-winning search engine marketing agency based in Atlanta Provide search engine optimization (SEO) & pay-per-click (PPC) services to clients nationwide Majority of clients are B2B Brilliant team of 12 helped me put this together
- 4. Why should B2B marketers care about SEM? Where do B2B buyers start when researching purchases online? Where do B2B buyers go throughout the buying cycle stages? Source: Webinar by Gord Hotchkiss of Enquiro, 2008
- 5. Topics I’ll cover SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM Top of the funnel: awareness, research Bottom of the funnel: negotiation, purchase
- 6. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 7. Keyword research is critical Use the verbiage your target audience uses – not what your industry or internal experts use “ search marketing” or “web optimization” ? “ healthcare” or “health care” ? “ professional retouching” or “picture airbrushing” ? “ financial solutions” or “financial software” ? Opposite: “ payment card industry data security standard” or “PCI DSS” ?
- 8. Choose keywords that don’t trigger editorial results 80% editorial
- 9. Choose keywords that don’t trigger editorial results 80% commercial
- 10. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 11. Optimize lots of content – all different kinds of content Companies create voluminous content – hunt it down! White papers Sales literature Product documentation Spec sheets Case studies Marketing materials Customer testimonials FAQs Videos Photos Maps Presentations
- 12. Universal Search: optimize all digital content
- 13. Blogging: no longer sexy; still very effective Every company has experts just dying to have a voice Find them – give them an outlet Stagger content creation with content curation
- 14. Data capture for lead nurturing Call Request a free quote Try an audit Sign up for newsletter Follow us Like/recommend/share
- 15. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 16. Link-building methods For any site: Directory submissions Competitive intelligence Link reclamation Promotions/giveaways Authoritative links Viral content/linkbait Social media profiles/content For B2B sites: Partner/vendor sites Customer/client sites Vertical directories Industry bloggers & tweeters Article publication Industry associations Better Business Bureau
- 17. Optimized press releases build links & more Bypass the press & go directly to your prospects Take up more room in the SERPs Generate brand awareness & site traffic Build links pointing to your site
- 18. Optimized press releases build links & more
- 19. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 20. Goal: “clean” SERPs when decision-maker checks you out
- 21. Control the content that shows up for your own name Website Twitter profile Facebook profile LinkedIn profile BusinessWeek profile (not us) Optimized press release Video (not us) Website Website
- 22. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 23. Content – Votes – Links
- 24. Lead nurturing – staying top of mind
- 25. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 26. (Back to SEO keyword strategies) Editorial results don’t matter here Use both your own and prospects’ verbiage
- 27. Include keywords for all stages of the buy cycle Top of the funnel: broader, more information-based ERP software ERP software information ERP software research ERP software benefits compare ERP software review ERP software evaluate ERP software
- 28. Include keywords for all stages of the buy cycle Top of the funnel: pain- or symptom-based software migration problems software migration bugs unsecure network network hacked network crash slow server “ The B2B purchaser is more emotionally removed from brands, and bases judgment on real benefits and needs. That means searches will involve less brand names and more pain-based or challenge-based keywords.” - Andrew Spoeth, Enquiro
- 29. Avoid consumer clicks Keywords: industrial, commercial, business, wholesale, professional, bulk, volume Ad copy: Ad scheduling: during business hours or some B2B buyers research Sunday evenings & convert Tuesday afternoons
- 30. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 31. Goal #1: Provide information White paper Webinar Event Demo Free trial Consultation Newsletter Case studies
- 32. Goal #2: Capture data Classic tradeoff between amount of data collected and number & quality of leads
- 33. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 34. Social media targeting: by industry, title or interest Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
- 35. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 36. Include keywords for all stages of the buy cycle Bottom of the funnel: long tail terms scalable ERP software ERP software provider ERP software companies open source ERP software ERP software for small business Microsoft Dynamics ERP software ERP software for pharmaceutical manufacturers
- 37. Don’t forget to bid on your own brand name Dominate the SERPs – build credibility Click-through rate increases Conversion rate increases Control the copy that’s displayed – convey marketing/sales message Leave fewer spots for competitors Low cost / high ROI keywords
- 38. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 39. Goal: convince prospect to buy our brand
- 40. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 41. Latent conversions & attribution Decision by committee adds time and makes accurate tracking difficult Set cookies to a long expiration date (6-12 months) Watch for new conversion attribution tools
- 42. Google Analytics’ multi-channel funnels & assists Source: Daniel Waisberg, Conversion Journey, Search Engine Land 4/15/11
- 43. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 44. How phone call tracking works Type in URL directly & see this: Click on a Google organic listing & see this: Click on a Google paid listing & see this:
- 45. 18. Call tracking ensures you’re measuring all results 66% 33%
- 46. 18. Call tracking ensures you’re measuring all results Mini Case Study: 71% of leads came in by phone Increased PPC bids Doubled the number of PPC leads generated
- 47. SEO PPC ANALYTICS Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Keyword strategy Content strategy Linking strategy Landing page strategy PPC on social media Latent conversions Phone call tracking Reputation management Social media strategy Landing page strategy Bridge the gap between site analytics & CRM
- 48. Web analytics & CRM: gap Number of S.E. leads, estimated revenue based on average closing rate & sales amount Number of customers from all sources & total revenue generated Reporting Disconnect: Historical Method CRM (Salesforce etc.) Fields filled out on form
- 49. Web analytics & CRM: no gap Number of S.E. customers & revenue generated Today’s Method CRM (Salesforce etc.) Fields filled out on form
- 50. Action items 1. Keywords: target all phases of the buy cycle, include pain points & brand. For SEO, avoid industry jargon and keywords that trigger editorial results. 2. Optimize as much content as you can, including different types of content (company documents, videos/photos, blogs, press releases, social media). 3. PPC should have separate ad groups, keywords, ad copy and landing pages for those at the top of the funnel vs. those late in the buy cycle. Filter out consumers where you can. 4. Test PPC on social media sites. 5. Gather data for lead nurturing at every step. 6. Hone analytics as much as you can, including long cookies, conversion attribution, phone call tracking, and pulling web analytics data into your CRM.
- 51. Want more SEM info? Subscribe to our newsletter: www.prominentplacement.com Subscribe to our blog (email or RSS): www.searchadvisory.net “ Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProminentPlacement Follow us on Twitter: @ProminentPlcmnt or @StacyWms Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/prominent-placement-inc . View other presentation on Slideshare: www.slideshare.net/stacywms Listen to Stacy’s 90 seconds on PPC landing pages: www.ppcmindmeld.com THANK YOU!