Michael Bradford

While some B2B firms continue to put their content behind a firewall because that's how they like generating leads, a rising number of companies think that providing free content is a better way of courting prospects and turning them into customers.

Marketers have had years to prepare for the demise of third-party cookies, coming in 2023. But B2B brands continue to lag in their efforts to adapt, with just 21 percent planning to build out their first-party data strategies this year. As cookies fade, marketers need to recalibrate their technology stack and develop a process for sharing data across multiple departments.

From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the fight for racial equality in the U.S., there’s no shortage of issues on which brands might take a stand. But simply speaking out isn’t what customers and prospects are looking for, particularly among millennials. People will see right through companies that insist they are concerned with social issues but do not follow through with any concrete action.

There are several reasons B2B buyers seek out new vendors, ranging from a problem with an existing solution to relocating the business. But the reality is that buyers could be on the hunt for new vendors at just about any time. That's why marketers need an "always-on" approach to providing relevant content, according to a recent study, making sure they get on the short list of potential suppliers.

A rising number of B2B marketers are starting to adopt account-based marketing (ABM) strategies. But developing ABM programs can't be done quickly, and it requires a concerted effort to align sales and marketing departments.

B2B marketers see themselves as more ethical and honest than average, according to a recent Forrester survey. However, separate studies show that people have a different take, causing a trust gap within vertical sectors. To start to close the gap, B2B organizations need to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their brand and figure out where the weak spots lie.

Bombarded by marketing content for nearly the past two years, B2B buyers are feeling burned out and are dramatically reducing their content intake. But that doesn’t mean brand managers can let up when it comes to developing their messaging efforts. To the contrary, CMOs and marketers have to stir their creative juices to develop the kinds of campaigns that have a touch of fun and, perhaps more important, treat their customers like humans.