As the cost of search terms and online ads rises and response rates decline, direct mail (DM) is emerging as a go-to tool for SMB marketers. Why? Two reasons. First, online advertising is increasingly expensive, and the performance of online tactics is becoming more difficult to predict. Second, new technology has made DM an even…
Our clients often ask us what topics their SMB content should cover. The answer depends on your target audience and what your brand represents. The most meaningful topics lie in the sweet spot between the challenges your audience faces and what your brand means to SMBs. These tips can help you select the right topics…
Email newsletters are the workhorse of content marketing targeting SMBs. They remain a surprisingly effective way to keep your brand top of mind, enhance your position as a thought leader and showcase your offerings. If you don’t have an email newsletter, read on to see why you should. Already have one? Use our tips below…
It’s planning and budgeting season for many marketers. Whether you are embarking on a first-time initiative or building on a long-standing program, justifying content spend typically requires numbers. Bredin’s SMB research can help. Use the following data to make your case. What content can help you achieve We surveyed 500 SMB principals in December, and…
The only way to develop a high-ROI SMB content marketing strategy in 2019 is to focus on the content preferences of your specific target – for example, by headcount, revenue, seats or other measure – and zero in on the point in the sales cycle you plan to deliver the content. These tips from Bredin’s…
Sales Meetings Plus Content Are Winning Combo Despite the rise of “self-service” product research by SMBs, your sales team still plays a critical role – from introducing new offerings to closing the deal. In recent Bredin research SMBs told us that sales reps are important at every stage of the sales cycle. SMBs rate peers…
Use SMB Content Bylines to Build Your Brand Lots of content for the SMB audience includes a writer byline. While this is a great idea if the author is an expert from your company and a good idea if the author is an external industry expert, you really shouldn’t promote freelance writers in bylines. Why?…
Three Traits of Great SMB Content Lots of SMB marketers churn out content on interesting topics in of-the-moment formats. Very little of this content actually helps with marketing objectives. Why? Because it does not align with what SMBs want for topics, specificity and even product information. Here’s how to hit the mark on each…
Inside the Mind of the SMB Tech Buyer SMBs lean heavily on technology to succeed. Bredin’s latest research reveals why they buy, how they learn about technology, and who they want to buy from. Why SMBs buy tech To boost performance. Overall, 48% of SMBs buy tech to improve functionality and 47% buy to improve…
In survey after survey, small and midsized business (SMB) owners say they trust their peers more than any other source of information during the research and purchase process. In a recent Bredin study, SMBs ranked information sources for each stage of the sales cycle. But SMBs don’t just talk to their peers about products and services. They crave…