Is your manufacturing business staying on pace with the competition? Now is the time to reassess and audit your marketing strategy to avoid the most common pitfalls.
Join Marketing Essentials CEO Tyler Louth to learn more about the top two marketing mistakes manufacturers need to avoid to remain at the front of the pack.
Don’t Neglect Digital Transformation
Is your business still doing many things the old-fashioned way? Do you hear people at your company saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it”?
“A lot of companies are still using Rolodexes, spreadsheets — that boots-on-the-ground mentality,” said Tyler. “It's really about adopting some of these new tools that can help streamline and take that knowledge out of someone's head and into a digital asset for transferable information.”
As Tyler mentioned above, one example is using spreadsheets to track sales data. Each salesperson may have their own sheet and format for tracking their leads and customers. But there are a few problems with this approach.
- What happens if someone leaves?
- How can you compare data among reps if each format is different?
- Where is the “source of truth” that everyone can come back to?
A customized CRM (customer relationship management) tool is a digital solution that allows everyone to access the same data, at the same time and in the same format. It does require a deeper look at your existing sales processes to identify efficiencies and some training to get everyone up to speed, but the benefits typically far outweigh the costs.
Create a Scalable, Customizable Tool Stack
Finding a tool stack that can meet your company’s specific needs is crucial to updating your existing processes.
“Whether it’s your marketing automation, CRM or ERP system, how do we connect that and ensure data flows throughout?” said Tyler.
You can also ask yourself these questions to see if you’re ahead of the curve or falling behind in getting the most out of digital tools.
- Is my website user-friendly, up to date and generating leads for me?
- Do I keep paper copies of everything at my desk, or is there a digital asset management system in place so team members can easily share?
- Are portions of my marketing process automated and scalable so I can easily contact the right people at the right time?
- Do I have the data to inform which specific marketing activities generate leads and sales, and which don’t?
Digital tools can enhance and provide value for teams far beyond sales and marketing.
“You want to be able to see that customer acquisition cost, that ROI on your investments, how well things are performing in fulfillment and customer service as well,” said Tyler. “It’s packaging all that under one roof to give you that data and allow you to make great decisions for your business moving forward.”
Start Your Company’s Digital Marketing and Sales Transformation
Changing course on your sales and marketing processes at your company can be like trying to steer a rudderless ship. Looking for a hand at the wheel? We’re here to help you assess what you’re currently doing to find what’s working, what’s not and where we can begin making improvements right now for the most significant impact.
Get started with a free 30-minute consultation here.
