top tips to get started with an industrial marketing strategy in 2024

3.29.24

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A strong industrial marketing strategy is essential for increasing sales and revenue in today’s competitive market.

With technology progressing at lightning speed, economic changes, and evolving B2B buyer behaviors – companies that want to stay ahead of the curve need a solid marketing plan. A solid website and digital marketing approach are no longer optional; they are a necessity.

But where do you start? As you can imagine, marketing isn’t exactly something that comes naturally to businesses in the industrial sector. They’re more focused on production, distribution, and logistics – leaving marketing as an afterthought.

This is why we’ve put together our top tips to help you get started with an industrial marketing strategy in 2024. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revamp your current efforts, these tips will set you on the right path towards success:

what makes an industrial marketing strategy unique?

Before diving into specific tips, it’s important to understand what sets marketing for industrial companies apart from other industries. These unique characteristics include:

complex products & services

Industrial products and services are often complex and require a thorough understanding of technical specifications, applications, and industry standards. This means that marketing efforts need to focus on educating potential buyers and building trust in the company’s expertise.

niche audiences

B2B industrial companies typically have a smaller and more niche target audience than other industries. This requires very targeted messaging and a deep understanding of potential customers’ pain points, challenges, and goals.

long sales cycles

The sales cycle for industrial products and services can be much longer than in other industries. This is due to the complexity of the products, the high price point, and the involvement of multiple decision-makers in the buying process. Digital marketing strategies need to account for this longer time frame, and nurture high-quality leads throughout the entire process.

multiple personas

As mentioned, industrial purchases often involve multiple decision-makers, each with their own priorities and concerns. This means digital marketing efforts need to appeal to a variety of personas and stakeholders within the organization.

transition from traditional selling to digital marketing

Not so long ago, industrial companies relied heavily on traditional sales methods, such as trade shows, sales team visits, and word-of-mouth referrals. While these methods are still important, they are no longer enough.

Today, buyers do their own research and gather information online before even considering a purchase. This means industrial companies need to have a strong online presence and utilize effective digital marketing strategies to reach potential customers.

global reach & supply chain

B2B industrial companies often have a global reach and complex supply chains. This means digital marketing efforts need to be tailored to different regions, languages, and cultures. It also requires efficient communication and collaboration with suppliers and partners.

crm, erp, mat integrations

Industrial companies often have complex systems in place for managing customer relationships, enterprise resource planning, and marketing automation. Any digital marketing efforts need to seamlessly integrate with these systems to ensure accurate tracking and a smooth sales process.

ready to boost your industrial marketing?

key components of an industrial marketing strategy

Now, let’s discuss the top components of a successful B2B industrial marketing strategy:

1. positioning: the cornerstone of industrial marketing

Since the target audience for industrial products and services is highly specialized, positioning is crucial. A strong positioning strategy clearly defines the company’s value proposition and sets it apart from competitors in the market.

To effectively position a company, marketers need to thoroughly understand their product or service offering, industry trends, and target audience. This information can be used to create a unique selling proposition (USP) and develop a messaging strategy that resonates with potential customers.

2. documenting your specific icp & personas

To effectively reach and engage with target customers, industrial companies need to clearly define their ideal customer profile (ICP) and create buyer personas. The ICP outlines the characteristics of your most valuable customers, such as industry, company size, and pain points. Buyer personas take this a step further by providing detailed profiles of specific decision-makers within these companies.

Having a thorough understanding of your ICP and buyer personas can help inform your content marketing and sales approach.

3. fine-tuning your industrial website

B2B buyers are busy and often have a specific goal in mind when visiting an industrial website. If your website is cluttered, difficult to navigate, or lacks clear calls to action, it likely won’t stick around for long.

As such, industrial companies need to ensure that their website includes:  

  • A clean and user-friendly design
  • Relevant and informative content
  • Easy navigation to product or service information
  • Clear calls-to-action to encourage conversions
  • A mobile-responsive design

4. strategic ways to drive more traffic to your website

Once your industrial website is in top shape, the next step is to drive quality traffic to it. This can be achieved through a variety of tactics, including:

industrial content marketing

B2B buyers do extensive research before making a purchasing decision, and they rely heavily on online content. By creating valuable and informative content that addresses their pain points and showcases your expertise, you can attract potential customers to your website.

Some effective types of industrial content marketing include: 

  • Blog posts
  • Whitepapers or case studies
  • Webinars or live events
  • Product demonstrations or tutorials

industrial seo

You can have the best website and content in the world, but if potential customers can’t find it, it won’t do you much good. This is where industrial SEO (search engine optimization) comes into play.

By optimizing your website for relevant keywords and creating high-quality backlinks, you can improve your search engine ranking and drive more organic traffic to your site. Working with a B2B digital marketing agency that specializes in industrial SEO can be a valuable investment for your business.

nurturing leads and staying top of mind

Not all website visitors are ready to make a purchasing decision right away. But by capturing their information through lead magnets like email marketing opt-ins or gated content, you can nurture these leads and stay top of mind until they are ready to convert.

Sending out regular newsletters or targeted email campaigns that provide valuable industry insights and product updates can keep your brand at the forefront of potential customers’ minds. This can also help establish your business as a thought leader and build trust with your audience.

5. measuring and analyzing results

As with any marketing strategy, it’s important to regularly measure and analyze the results of your industrial marketing efforts. This can help you identify which types of content are resonating with your target audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Tools like Google Analytics can provide valuable data on website traffic, engagement, lead generation, and more. By tracking these metrics, you can make informed decisions about where to focus your marketing efforts for maximum impact.

let’s revamp your strategy together!

ready to take your industrial marketing to the next level?

At Wildish Agency, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with marketing in the industrial sector. Our team of experts can help you develop a comprehensive B2B digital marketing strategy that drives results and helps your business grow.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help elevate your company’s success.

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