According to HubSpot's Not Another State of Marketing Report 2021, 59% of marketers found that inbound strategies produced the highest quality leads and that inbound marketers are four times as likely to be effective as their traditional counterparts.

What makes B2B inbound marketing effective

Inbound attracts customers through quality content that is relevant to their interests. It's more effective and efficient than outbound methods like cold-calling and spamming. Outbound uses more traditional methods, including:
  • direct mail
  • magazine ads
  • billboards, and
  • television.
This is to send out messages to compete against a plethora of other marketing that consumers see every day. 

It typically reaches out to consumers in a more aggressive way to get them interested in your product. It is also harder to measure the success of this kind of marketing. 

What this all means for B2B marketers

Well, it means that we need to start thinking about the buyer journey in a whole new way. The traditional approach of targeting clients through outbound marketing methods is no longer as effective as it once was. 

The buyer's journey is no longer a linear process that can be easily predicted. It now spans different channels and devices, with buyers moving back and forth between them as they gather information. Buyers are now more likely to do their research online before even contacting a supplier.

To keep up with this rapidly changing landscape, B2B marketers need to change their approach and focus on building relationships long before the first interaction with the buyer. 

Marketing and sales

Marketing and sales changed into a combined process that requires new strategies to attract interest. Inbound marketing came from this need to offer value and create beneficial experiences before that initial interaction with your brand. Inbound also benefits from digital transformation, and the events of the last couple of years have compounded this transformation. 

"We've seen two years' worth of digital transformation in two months — from remote teamwork and learning to sales and customer service, to critical cloud infrastructure and security," says Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO. 

The pandemic resulted in an unprecedented digital transformation in many different areas, according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. He says that Microsoft saw two years' worth of digital transformation in just two months. 

We saw more automation and improved analytics, which revolutionised the marketing industry and solidified the relationship between marketing and sales. We can integrate the customer experience and tailor the customer journey through the methods made possible by new digital marketing technology. 

The tools of the inbound marketing trade

One of the major benefits of inbound marketing is that it can be used across any marketing tactic or avenue, allowing you to create a truly omnichannel marketing experience. That can also mean that an inbound marketing strategy can feel a bit daunting.

To help with focusing on the most important elements, individuals are encouraged to take a look at this blog. It covers the inbound marketing tools and tactics you should use to deliver maximum ROI, including the six fundamental areas that should always have your attention:
  1. SEO
  2. content marketing
  3. social media
  4. landing pages
  5. email marketing, and
  6. a go-to-market plan. 
If you're still not convinced of the value of inbound marketing for B2B, here are some compelling stats from a global survey published by McKinsey in 2021: 
  • 32% of outperformers have more than half of their customer interactions through digital channels (versus 20% for slower growers).
  • 42% of outperformers generate more than half their revenue through digital channels (versus 25% for slow growers).
  • 68% of outperformers combine traditional and digital channels in the customer journey (versus 56% for slow growers). 
  • 62% of B2B outperformers are more effective at using digital tools and capabilities to support sales.
Individuals are encouraged to download an inbound marketing campaign checklist here. 

For more information, visit www.leaguedigital.com.You can also follow League Digital on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.