True leaders in the B2B marketing realm recognize the necessity to always be learning. In an industry that changes so quickly it takes a consistent learning regiment to remain on top. While many marketers spend the majority of their time on strategy and implementation, continued education is what separates the leaders from the followers. Here we outline seven ways to sharpen your B2B marketing skills.
Read Everyday
Keeping up with the latest trends and technology is important, even if you’re not implementing them for your company. Knowing what is going on in your own industry as well as the world of marketing will help you make better campaign decisions, speak more intelligently on your solutions and understand common pain points within your target audience. Following influencers through social channels can also spark ideas on how to improve your current marketing efforts and internal communication.
Curate Content
Taking a piece of content that has been published by an authority in your industry or within the marketing community and summarizing it while adding your own spin can help you to better understand the subject matter. It also shows your audience that you are current on the latest happenings in those areas. Pick an article on a monthly basis to analyze, interpret and embellish upon. Not only will you better understand the topic, links to the original article can help distribution and SEO.
Get Certified
There are an endless number of certification programs available through different educational sites as well as marketing automation websites. Having a strong knowledge base allows you to better communicate the value of your products and solutions to your prospects. It also provides you with the expertise to hold conversations with leaders in the B2B marketing industry. Certification programs can help you to better understand the more complex concepts being presented by thought leaders and can lend credibility to your social media profiles.
Ask Questions
There is a Chinese proverb that states, "He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever." Asking questions is essential in learning any discipline and marketing is no different. In a professional setting it is much better to ask a question than to pretend to already know the answer. Those that are well versed in marketing strategy will be able to easily spot someone who is feigning expertise. Never be afraid to ask for clarification when you don’t understand something.
Know Your Competition
Understanding how your company compares with the competition in the realm of marketing can give you valuable insights into how to better reach your prospects. Performing a routine competitive analysis lets you know how you stack up with your top competitors and where your own campaigns may be lacking. There may be a particular pain point that your competitors speak to that really resonates with your audience, a platform where your audience resides that you’re not addressing or even a tool that gives them a competitive edge.
Attend Events
Events give you face to face access to industry leaders, marketing experts and potential clients. Most of the larger conferences have several breakout sessions and talk tracks that allow you to learn from some of the most respected names in the marketing industry. Events are often a showcase for new technology and new ideas. Often times what you see or hear at an event will not be readily available to read about online. This makes it imperative to attend at least a few events each year to remain current.
Master Terminology
In order to follow what an experience marketer is trying to convey you need to have a strong marketing vocabulary. The evolution of marketing technology has made this a daunting task. Although each company may have their own terminology it is important that you become familiar with common terms and acronyms in order to understand and convey the different marketing strategies. HubSpot has an excellent glossary of terms that provides a solid knowledge base for those looking to brush up on their marketing terminology.
In many cases marketing teams are stretched thin and lack the bandwidth to master the various aspects of both traditional and digital marketing. Even if your team has the expertise, they may not have the manpower to handle implementation. Click below to learn how we can supplement your current marketing efforts.
