Client Spotlight
Online Marketing Investment Pays Off
James Davis, President
of Industrial Specialties Manufacturing,
says, "Our investment in online marketing has more than paid for
itself. We just received an order for well over $100,000
from a customer in Canada that we would have never interacted with unless we
had a very effective online marketing presence."
"Cumulatively, we have well over a couple of hundred thousand dollars
of new business that I can directly attribute to our online
marketing," Davis adds.
To view Industrial Specialties Manufacturing's video testimonial,
click here.
Read more...
Expert's Corner
Should You Become More Social and ‘Tweet’ for B2B Business?
Brendan O’Connell, Director of Web Operations at ThomasNet,
was an early adopter of social media and has been on Twitter since early 2007.
(http://twitter.com/triggerfinger).
He tells us how you can use services like Twitter as part of your businesses’
online marketing plans.
Forrester recently released new research revealing that B2B buyers have very
high social participation. According to Forrester’s Social
Technographics of Business Buyers, “55% of technology
decision-makers were in social networks (Joiners) -- despite as mature
businesspeople and not college students, you'd think they'd be participating
a lot less.”
If you’re not already participating in social media or including
social networks in your online marketing efforts, it’s time to consider
your options.
Let’s look at one of the more popular social networks. Twitter
(www.Twitter.com)
is just one of several social media options available to us today...
Read more...
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Make Your Website a Sales Pro
Industrial companies across the country are recognizing that their websites
are more than just a 'marketing piece.' They are central to their sales strategies
as a 24/7 online 'salesperson' and are delivering a strong return on investment
(ROI) to their business.
How can you make your website a 24/7 sales pro? Here are three specific steps
you can take...
1. Set business objectives for your online sales channel.
You set objectives and outline goals for your salespeople, right? You can do
the same for your website.
Innovative
Components, a manufacturer of quick-assembly/quick-release hardware,
planned ahead for the success they're experiencing today. They established a
growth plan with the objective of attracting new business through their website.
Mike O'Connor, President of Innovative Components, explains,
"Approximately two years ago, we identified an upcoming challenge. We
saw the downturn coming in the economy, particularly affecting our biggest
customers. We knew that we must have new business growth if we were going to
be successful, and ThomasNet was one of the most important tools we had at
our disposal to make sure that we met our new business goals."
O'Connor continues, "In 2008, ThomasNet brought us brand-new customers,
which accounted for $227,000 in new business. ThomasNet gives us
valuable customers who order regularly."
For smaller industrial companies, an online sales channel can "level
the playing field" and help expand your reach into global markets, bringing in
sales from around the world.
Ben Bird, Vice President of Certified
Insulated Products, a manufacturer primarily serving the electrical
contracting industry, says, "Even though we're a small company in South
Carolina, we are now being perceived as a worldwide company, thanks to our
online catalog...it gives us international exposure. Before we had...
Read more...
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73%
73% of engineers research
3 to 5 suppliers on average when
a purchase need arises, according to ThomasNet's IPB survey this month.
Click here
to learn more...
To learn how
you can stand out to engineers
contact ThomasNet online
or call 1.866,849.9138.
News
U.S.
Manufacturing Orders Rose Sharply in April
The New York Times
reported that demand for big-ticket manufactured goods soared by the largest
amount in 16 months in April. The U.S. Commerce Department said orders for
durable goods rose 1.9 percent in April, more than four times than expected.
Read more...
U.S.
May ISM Factory
Index Highest Since September ‘08
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
reported that the ISM index rose to 42.8% in May from 40.1% in April. The
rise was stronger than expected and the strongest since September.
Read more...
Social Networks Are Changing Everything
Last month, BusinessWeek.com
reported, “A shift is under way -- one that is ushering in the next stage
in the battle for influence on the Web…”
Read more...
IAB
Releases Social Media Ad Metrics Definitions
The Interactive Advertising Bureau has released
Social Media Ad Metrics Definitions, which define standard
metrics used to evaluate the performance of social media.
Read more...
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