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Social Media as Distribution Channels For B2B

B2b Social Media Distribution and Trends

Social Media as Distribution Channels For B2B

The new 2024 B2B Content Marketing Report is out and it provides some great insights into what social media channels are the best for distributing B2B marketing content. In the rapidly evolving digital marketplace, mastering the art of B2B content distribution is more crucial than ever. And the data shows that successful content marketing distribution begins with knowing your audience (79%). This makes sense, considering that “creating the right content for our audience” is the top challenge. The logic? Top-performing content marketers prioritize knowing their audiences to create the right content for those audiences. In this post we will take a look at the best organic and paid channels as well as the most effective channel for social media B2B content distribution.

Most popular content distribution channels

Regarding the channels used to distribute content, 90% use social media platforms (organic), followed by blogs (79%), email newsletters (73%), email (66%), in-person events (56%), and webinars (56%).

Most effective content distribution channels

Which channels perform the best? Most marketers in the survey point to in-person events (56%) and webinars (51%) as producing better results. Email (44%), organic social media platforms (44%), blogs (40%) and email newsletters (39%) round out the list.

Most effective paid channels

SEM/pay-per-click produces good results, according to 62% of those surveyed. Half of those who use paid channels say social media advertising/promoted posts produce good results, followed by sponsorships (49%), partner emails (36%), and digital display advertising (34%).

The top B2B distribution channel

When asked which organic social media platforms deliver the best value for their organization, B2B marketers picked LinkedIn by far (84%). Only 29% cite Facebook as a top performer, 22% say YouTube, and 21% say Instagram. Twitter and TikTok see 8% and 3%, respectively.

So it makes sense that 72% say they increased their use of LinkedIn over the last 12 months, while only 32% boosted their YouTube presence, 31% increased Instagram use, 22% grew their Facebook presence, and 10% increased X and TikTok use.

Which platforms are marketers giving up? Did you guess X? You’re right – 32% of marketers say they decreased their X use last year. Twenty percent decreased their use of Facebook, with 10% decreasing on Instagram, 9% pulling back on YouTube, and only 2% decreasing their use of LinkedIn.

It is clear that ROI is a huge focus of marketing departments in 2024. Which is why we have seen more emphasis put on LinkedIn (72% increased their use in 2023) versus other more B2B channels like Instagram (31%), Facebook (225) and X (10%).

FAQs about distributing B2B content on social media

How do B2B marketers measure the effectiveness of each social media channel for content distribution?

Measuring the effectiveness of each social media channel for content distribution in B2B marketing involves a multifaceted approach. Marketers typically use a combination of metrics such as engagement rates, website traffic referrals, lead generation numbers, and conversion rates. Advanced analytics tools and social media platforms’ own analytics features can provide insights into how content performs, allowing marketers to see not just how many people engaged with the content, but also how those engagements translated into actionable business outcomes. This data-driven approach helps marketers to refine their strategies, allocate resources more efficiently, and demonstrate the ROI of their social media efforts.

What specific strategies do successful B2B marketers use to engage their audience on LinkedIn?

Successful B2B marketers use a variety of strategies to engage their audience on LinkedIn, given its professional focus and B2B-friendly environment. These strategies often include sharing insightful content that adds value to their industry, participating in relevant LinkedIn groups to foster community and discussion, and leveraging LinkedIn’s advanced targeting capabilities for ads and sponsored content. Personalizing content to address the specific challenges and needs of their target audience is also crucial, as is engaging directly with comments and messages to build relationships and demonstrate thought leadership.

Are there any emerging social media platforms that B2B marketers should watch, given the rapid changes in social media trends?

Regarding emerging social media platforms, B2B marketers are always on the lookout for new channels that can help them reach their target audiences effectively. While platforms like TikTok and Clubhouse have gained traction in the B2C space, their potential for B2B marketing is still being explored. Marketers should keep an eye on these and other emerging platforms as they evolve, considering factors such as the platform’s user demographics, content formats, and engagement styles. Experimenting with new platforms can uncover untapped opportunities to connect with audiences in innovative ways, but such efforts should be balanced with the need to invest in proven channels that consistently deliver results.

If you need help developing content or distributing content via social media, contact Braveheart Digital Marketing. We’re a social media agency in Manchester NH that can help you reach your target audience and achieve your marketing goals. Contact us today to learn more!

5 LinkedIn InMail Best Practices to Generate New Business Leads

LinkedIn InMail is a powerful tool that can help you generate new business prospects. However, with so many users vying for attention, it can be tough to stand out and make meaningful connections. So if you’re tired of sending InMails that go unanswered, try implementing these best practices.

LinkedIn InMails have an open rate of 20%, which is much higher than the open rate for email marketing campaigns.

1. Select the Right Sender

The sender of your InMail can have a big impact on the recipient’s decision to open and read it. Choose a sender who is a leading executive or subject matter expert in your company to increase your chances of catching the eye of your target audience.

Personalize your message by addressing the recipient by name and mentioning something you know about them.

Use a clear and concise subject line that accurately reflects the content of your message.

2. Include a Banner Ad

Adding a banner to your LinkedIn InMails is a great way to customize your conversation and reinforce the CTA in your message. You can use the banner to include your company logo, website address, or a call to action. A study by LinkedIn found that InMails with banners had a 20% higher open rate than InMails without banners.

3. A/B Test Your Campaign

Experimenting with different variables such as subject lines and pictures can help you refine your approach over time and increase your chances of success. For example, you could A/B test different subject lines to see which one gets the highest open rate.

A/B testing is a proven way to improve the performance of your InMail campaigns. One study found that A/B testing can increase your click-through rate by up to 30%.

4. Keep Your Messages Short

People are busy, so they don’t have time to read long, rambling InMails. Be crystal clear about what you’re offering or asking for to make it easy for your recipients to understand the next steps and take action.

Shorter InMails are more likely to be read and responded to. A study by HubSpot found that InMails that were 100 words or less had a 50% higher open rate than InMails that were 200 words or more.

5. Be Conversational

Use natural language and ask questions to build rapport that can lead to a more meaningful and long-lasting relationship. Instead of sending a one-way pitch, try starting a conversation by asking the recipient a question about their work or industry.

Conversational InMails are more likely to build rapport and lead to new business opportunities. A study by LinkedIn found that InMails that were conversational had a 30% higher response rate than InMails that were not conversational.

Remember, when crafting your LinkedIn InMails, it’s crucial to put yourself in the shoes of your recipients. No one likes to receive a message that feels automated or impersonal, so take the time to personalize your approach. Not only will this increase your response rates, but it will also help you build stronger relationships with your network.

If you need help amplifying your website content via social media, contact Braveheart Digital Marketing. We’re a social media agency in Manchester NH that can help you reach your target audience and achieve your marketing goals. Contact us today to learn more!

LinkedIn Changed Its Algorithms — Here's How Your Posts Will Be Affected

According to a study by LinkedIn, 82% of small business owners use LinkedIn. This means that the majority of small business owners are aware of the benefits of using LinkedIn and are actively using it to connect with potential customers, partners, and employees.

The study also found that small businesses that use LinkedIn generate 2x more leads than those that don’t. This is a significant advantage, and it shows that LinkedIn can be a valuable tool for small businesses that are looking to grow their business.

If you’re a small business owner, I encourage you to create a LinkedIn profile and start using the platform to connect with your target audience. It’s a great way to build relationships, generate leads, and grow your business.

Here are some additional statistics about LinkedIn usage among small business owners:

If you’re looking for ways to grow your small business, LinkedIn is a great place to start. By using the platform effectively, you can connect with potential customers, partners, and employees, and generate more leads. However, in order to get your posts seen by as many people as possible, it’s important to understand how LinkedIn’s algorithms work.In recent years, LinkedIn has made a number of changes to its algorithms, which have had a significant impact on how posts are ranked and displayed. The most recent changes, which were announced in January 2023, are designed to prioritize posts that are more relevant to users’ interests and that are likely to spark engagement.

How the New LinkedIn Algorithms Work

The new algorithms take into account a number of factors when ranking posts, including:

The relevance of the post to the user's interests: This is determined by the user's past activity on LinkedIn, such as the topics they've followed, the groups they're a member of, and the people they're connected to.
The likelihood that the post will spark engagement: This is determined by the post's content, such as whether it's asking a question, sharing a statistic, or providing a link to a useful resource.
The user's interaction with the post: This includes whether the user has commented on, shared, or saved the post.

How the Changes Will Affect Your Posts

If you want to make sure that your posts are seen by as many people as possible, it’s important to focus on creating content that is relevant to your business and that is likely to spark engagement. Here are some tips:

Post about topics that your target audience is interested in. You can use LinkedIn's analytics tools to see what topics your target audience is interested in, so you can tailor your content accordingly.
Ask questions to encourage engagement. Questions are a great way to get people talking and interacting with your posts. Posts that ask a question receive 60% more engagement than posts that don't ask a question.
Use hashtags to reach a wider audience. Hashtags are a great way to get your posts seen by people who aren't already connected to you. Hashtags can increase the reach of your posts by up to 50%.
Add images. LinkedIn posts with images receive 98% more engagement than posts without images.
Promote your posts on other social media platforms. You can share your LinkedIn posts on other social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, to reach a wider audience.

How to Track the Performance of Your Posts

LinkedIn’s analytics tools can help you track the performance of your posts. You can see how many people saw your posts, how many people interacted with your posts, and how many people clicked on the links in your posts. This information can help you identify what types of posts are most successful and make adjustments to your content strategy accordingly.

Summary

The changes to LinkedIn’s algorithms are still relatively new, so it’s not yet clear how they will impact the visibility of your posts. However, if you want to make sure that your posts are seen by as many people as possible, it’s a good idea to focus on creating content that is relevant to your business and that is likely to spark engagement. By following the tips in this article, you can increase your chances of getting your posts seen and shared on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn: the Number One Network for B2B Marketers

In the last couple of years, LinkedIn has transformed from merely a professional networking and job-seeking site to the number one channel for content distribution and amplification in the B2B market according to data recently released by Microsoft.

Some key metrics that Microsoft released about LinkedIn:

LinkedIn Helps You Grow Your Business.

Using LinkedIn to share and amplify content is part of every B2B marketers playbook.

It’s really difficult to be successful on LinkedIn without putting dollars behind your content. That is why 80% of B2B businesses sponsor or boost their content and 96% of marketers using the platform to distribute content.

Importance Of Keeping Your Page Updated

Most companies focus on putting out thought leadership content on LinkedIn. While that is really important, it is really interesting to see this data from LinkedIn.

Brands that post weekly to their LinkedIn page grow 7x faster than companies that post infrequently.

Advertising On LinkedIn Increases Perception

If you have ever thought that adverting on LinkedIn was expensive or not worth it, this should change your mind. Brands that advertised on LinkedIn saw a 10 to 15 percent rise in short-term sales performance. That is a huge bump!

Brands were perceived to be “more professional” (92%), "more intelligent" (74%), “higher quality” (59%), and “more respectable” (59%) when their ad was seen on the LinkedIn platform. (Nielsen study)
LinkedIn Ads were more effective at driving Brand Lift than other top platforms for both B2B and B2C brands. (Nielsen study)
In technology, LinkedIn generated 2-5x higher Return On Ad Spend than other social media platforms (Analytic Partners Study)
In financial services, LinkedIn generated 7x more incremental customer sign-ups than display media (Analytic Partners Study)
In education, LinkedIn was 2-4x as effective as other display media (Analytic Partners Study)

How To Choose The Right Social Media Agency For Your Business

There are a lot of social media agencies out there. How do you know which one is right for your business? It’s important to choose an agency that understands your business goals and can help you achieve them. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a social media agency:

Business Goals: What Do You Want To Achieve With Social Media?

Any successful social media marketing campaign starts with a clearly defined goal. What does your business want to achieve with social media? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or generate leads?

Once you’ve answered this question, you can start to look for an agency that has experience helping businesses achieve similar goals. A good agency will be able to share case studies and success stories that demonstrating their ability to deliver results. With a clear understanding of your goals and the right partner in place, you can confidently embark on a social media marketing campaign that will help your business achieve its objectives.

Budget: Social Media Agencies Can Vary Widely In Terms Of Price

Social media is a huge part of many people’s lives. It’s a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, share news and experiences, and connect with like-minded people. But social media can also be a great way to promote your business or brand. If you’re looking to hire a social media agency, it’s important to know what you can afford.

Social media agencies can vary widely in terms of price, so it’s important to set a budget before you start shopping around. Keep in mind that the cost of an agency is often based on the size of your business or the scope of your project. So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive social media campaign, be prepared to pay more than if you’re just looking for someone to help you maintain your social media presence.

When it comes to social media, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But with a little research, you can find an agency that fits your budget and your needs.

Audience: Who Are You Trying To Reach With Social Media?

When it comes to social media, it’s important to think about who you’re trying to reach. Are you trying to reach millennials? Gen Z? Baby boomers? Each generation has different social media habits, so it’s important to choose an agency that has experience reaching your target demographic.

For example, if you’re trying to reach millennials, you’ll want an agency that knows how to use platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. On the other hand, if you’re trying to reach baby boomers, you’ll want an agency that specializes in Facebook advertising.

By choosing an agency with experience reaching your target demographic, you can be sure that your social media campaigns are effective and efficient.

Platform: Which Social Media Platform Do You Want To Use?

Any business that wants to succeed in the social media age needs to have a strong online presence. But with so many different social media platforms to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

The first step is to decide which platform is right for your business. Do you want to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or some other social media site? Once you’ve decided on a platform, make sure that the social media agency you choose has experience with that particular site. Only then will you be able to maximize your social media marketing efforts and reach your target audience.

Content: What Kind Of Content Do You Want To Post?

Social media can be a great way to connect with potential customers and promote your business. However, it’s important to make sure you’re posting the right kind of content. For example, if you’re trying to sell a product, you’ll want to focus on creating informative and persuasive content that will drive conversions. On the other hand, if you’re simply trying to raise awareness about your brand, you’ll want to create content that is shareable and engaging.

The key is to make sure your content aligns with your goals. Otherwise, you won’t be able to achieve the results you’re looking for. Thankfully, there are plenty of social media agencies out there that can help you create the perfect content for your needs.

Summary

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a social media agency. First, think about your audience and make sure the agency you choose has experience reaching that demographic. Second, decide which social media platform you want to use and make sure the agency you choose has experience with that particular site. And finally, think about the kind of content you want to post and make sure the agency you choose can help you create content that will achieve your goals. By keeping these things in mind, you can be sure to find an agency that’s a perfect fit for your business. If you’re looking for a social media agency that can help you reach your target audience, contact Braveheart Digital Marketing today. We specialize in social media marketing and can help you create the perfect content for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

How We Grew Our Twitter Accounts To Over 400k Followers

Twitter is out of favor with advertisers and the media since Elon Musk took the company private, but I continue to find it is the best social media channel for the sports accounts we manage.

Tweeting 10-20 times while a game is being played is common, and one of the lessons we have learnt over the last five years is that you need to find a social platform that matches your actions. For us, Twitter allows for a continuous interaction with fans and followers throughout the day, especially on days when a game is being played. This level of engagement is essential for building a strong connection with our audience.

So, while Twitter may be out of favor with some, it remains an essential tool in our social media arsenal.

We are not the only ones who think this. The 2022 Social Media Benchmark report from Rival IQ shows that sports teams are posting more on Twitter than any other platform.

Value Achieved:

So how did our Twitter account become one of the 15 biggest accounts in Milan Italy? By executing the following four steps:

1. Create A Voice And Tone That Resonates With Your Audience

Twitter has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, and it is a great way to connect with fans from all over the world. We created a Twitter account for Inter Milan fans, and we shared the ups, downs and joys of supporting a team. The more “real” we became, the more fans started to follow us.

Twitter is a great way to connect with fans and build relationships. We are able to share news, photos and videos with our followers, and they are able to interact with us directly. This interaction is essential for building a strong bond between a club and its supporters.

2. Seed Your Feed With High Quality Content

I knew that in order to grow our Twitter account we would need more than just content from our site. I wanted to create such high quality content that if you were going to follow one Inter Milan account, it would be this one.

We included content from other websites and Twitter accounts, creating a consistent stream of engaging content, for fans, by fans. This content strategy was modeled after Gary Vaynerchuck’s approach to seed your feed with high quality content. As a result of this strategy, our Twitter account grew rapidly, gaining hundreds of new followers every day. Today, our Twitter account is one of the most popular Inter Milan accounts on the platform.

3. Interact With Followers

Twitter is a great way to seed content and get people talking about your brand, but it’s so important to interact with your followers and make sure that your Twitter account doesn’t look impersonal. Conversation and interaction are key to personalizing the experience for your fans, especially around big games and news events when everyone wants to talk about the team.

Whenever we tweeted during a game, we saw more people become followers. The more we interacted and retweeted our followers, the more fans started to follow us, because they could see that we were a real account – not a bot. So if you’re using Twitter to promote your brand, make sure you’re also interacting with your followers on a regular basis. It’ll make all the difference in the world.

4. Make Becoming A Follower Important To Fans

Twitter is a powerful social media platform that can help you reach new fans and followers. To make becoming a follower important to fans, cross-promote your Twitter account on your website and in your emails. Highlight Twitter-only promotions and giveaways in other channels to encourage fan engagement. Use Twitter to share valuable content, such as behind-the-scenes photos and videos, exclusive discounts, and links to interesting blog posts.

By making Twitter an integral part of your social media strategy, you’ll be able to build a devoted fan base who are excited to follow your every move.

How to Amplify Your Content in Four Steps

The latest B2B Content Marketing report from the Content Marketing Institute estimates that 73% of all marketers are utilizing some sort of content marketing strategy. With so many brands producing blogs, videos, and whitepapers every day, companies can no longer rely on just developing compelling content to get their message out, which is why so many marketers are turning to content amplification—a strategy that focuses on increasing brand visibility across multiple channels. There are a few key ways to amplify your website content via social media, and as a business owner, you should be utilizing all of them! Here’s a guide on how to do just that:

1. Use social media platforms to share your content

This is the most obvious way to amplify your website content via social media . By simply sharing your content on social media platforms, you’re increasing its reach and potential for engagement.

The B2B Survey indicates that 95% of all B2B marketers have used social networks within the last 12 months to distribute content. While the use of organic social media platforms has not changed much Year over Year, it is interesting to see that the use of YouTube increased by 5 points (65% this year vs. 60% the previous year), which is not surprising considering the rise in the use of video.

2. Use social media ads to boost your content

If you want to ensure that your content is seen by as many people as possible, you can use social media ads to give it a boost. This will help increase its reach and also ensure that your target audience is seeing it.

During the pandemic we saw the use of paid content distribution decrease from 81% to 67% as B2B companies moved money away from awareness and into mid-funnel activities like lead generation and direct advertising.

The one platform where advertisers significantly invested less money was Facebook, as the use of Facebook advertising decreased to 56% from 69% YoY.

3. Use social media influencers to promote your content

If you have a budget for it, another great way to amplify your website content via social media is to use social media influencers. This can be a very effective way to reach more people and get them interested in what you have to say.

The 2022 Influencer Report found that finds that 86% of B2B brands say that their influencer marketing campaigns are either moderately or very successful.

A third of businesses report influencer marketing has led to increased revenue, and 85% believe interest in working with influencers will increase in the next 12 months.

4. Use social media groups to get your content seen

We see more and more marketers use groups and communities to distribute their content. The data shows that 26% of marketers (versus 22% last year) use their organization’s branded online community to distribute content.

If you do not have a branded online community the most popular groups for B2B marketers are LinkedIn groups and Facebook groups.

LinkedIn groups are a place for LinkedIn users to gather around a specific topic, interest, or industry. LinkedIn Groups are a great way to build relationships and grow your business and provide a space for like-minded individuals to connect with each other, share ideas, collaborate on projects, and more.

Facebook Groups on the other hand tend to be more of a private forum where members are invited into the group. These private groups provides a place where businesses can share information and promote their brand. They’re an incredibly useful tool for businesses to get feedback from their customers and grow their audiences.

Conclusion

There are a number of ways to amplify your website content via social media. As a business owner, it’s important to utilize all of them in order to reach the widest audience possible. By doing so, you’ll not only increase the reach of your content, but also the engagement levels. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start amplifying your content today!

When To Select A Social Media Agency

One of the questions that we get asked a lot is when is the should I use a social media agency for social versus when should I do it in-house with the people that I have? It’s a great question and I turned to social media expert Amanda Fountain to answer that question. This is what she had to say:

Hiring A Social Media Agency

One of the reasons why a company would consider using a social media agency is to develop a social media strategy.

A social media strategy is one of the key building blocks to being successful on social media. A strategy identifies who your target audience is. What social networks they are on? What messaging they respond too? What types of messaging they do not respond too?

A second reason to engage with a social media agency is to produce more content.

A third reason is to listen and engage with your audiences on social media. Listening is an overlooked aspect of a successful social media strategy. The bigger you are as a company, the more risk you have of missing conversations about your brand if you don’t have someone monitoring and listening all the time.

“By providing great customer service through social comments, you not only retain existing customers but also win new ones.”

Joe Flyan Tweet

Handling Your Social Media In-house

When does handling your social media accounts in-house work best? If you know that your audience is not really active on social, that it is not where you want to talk to your audience then having internal resources handling your social media accounts make sense.

In this scenario, your in-house person just focused on posting content and responding to whatever comments are left.

Agency + In-House Model

The obvious best model is when you have a social media agency partner and someone -in house that’s your social media expert.

You have your in-house person who can lead what needs to happen, can share all that in-marketing insight from the other pieces that are going on, and help with the execution pieces of it.

Your agency partner then becomes your strategist, your person that’s there to tell you what’s happening, tell you what’s going on, counsel you to make changes or consider new things. To push you in new ways that if you’re in the trenches day to day, it’s not always easy to see those things.

So that’s a good model, having a social media agency partner who can be your strategist, and then the in-house person that can oversee implementation and execution of your social medium campaigns.

Social Media as Distribution Channels For B2B

Most popular content distribution channels

Most effective content distribution channels

Most effective paid channels

The top B2B distribution channel

FAQs about distributing B2B content on social media

How do B2B marketers measure the effectiveness of each social media channel for content distribution?

What specific strategies do successful B2B marketers use to engage their audience on LinkedIn?

Are there any emerging social media platforms that B2B marketers should watch, given the rapid changes in social media trends?

Recent Posts

5 LinkedIn InMail Best Practices to Generate New Business Leads

1. Select the Right Sender

2. Include a Banner Ad

3. A/B Test Your Campaign

4. Keep Your Messages Short

5. Be Conversational

Recent Posts

LinkedIn Changed Its Algorithms — Here's How Your Posts Will Be Affected

How the New LinkedIn Algorithms Work

How the Changes Will Affect Your Posts

How to Track the Performance of Your Posts

Summary

Recent Posts

LinkedIn: the Number One Network for B2B Marketers

LinkedIn Helps You Grow Your Business.

Importance Of Keeping Your Page Updated

Advertising On LinkedIn Increases Perception

Recent Posts

David Wilson

How To Choose The Right Social Media Agency For Your Business

Business Goals: What Do You Want To Achieve With Social Media?

Budget: Social Media Agencies Can Vary Widely In Terms Of Price

Audience: Who Are You Trying To Reach With Social Media?

Platform: Which Social Media Platform Do You Want To Use?

Content: What Kind Of Content Do You Want To Post?

Summary

Recent Posts

How We Grew Our Twitter Accounts To Over 400k Followers

Value Achieved:

1. Create A Voice And Tone That Resonates With Your Audience

2. Seed Your Feed With High Quality Content

3. Interact With Followers

4. Make Becoming A Follower Important To Fans

Recent Posts

How to Amplify Your Content in Four Steps

1. Use social media platforms to share your content

2. Use social media ads to boost your content

3. Use social media influencers to promote your content

4. Use social media groups to get your content seen

Conclusion

Recent Posts

When To Select A Social Media Agency

Hiring A Social Media Agency

Handling Your Social Media In-house

Agency + In-House Model

Recent Posts

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