The Thomas Blog

Opportunities For Business Growth During The Summer Slowdown

Every year, thousands of manufacturers around the country shut down their plants and facilities for a few weeks in the summer. They do so for a variety of reasons — to allow for vacation time, to take care of deferred maintenance, or to retool for the second half of the year.

While these activities are certainly important, too many manufacturing companies let the summer slowdown distract them from one of the most important activities of all — generating new business.

3 Unlikely Places To Connect With Engineers Online

As a manufacturer, you deal with many different types of buyers — procurement pros, purchasing agents, MROs, general managers, etc. However, perhaps no type of buyer is more valuable — and more desirable — than an engineer.

That’s because engineers aren’t concerned with pricing and contracts, they care about the nitty-gritty — form, fit, and, function. If you can meet their needs, you can increase your chances of getting spec’d into designs and recommended for projects. However, too many manufacturers sit around and wait for RFPs to roll in before they concern themselves with meeting the needs of engineers. By that time, however, it’s already too late. You need to continuously and proactively build connections with engineers to understand more about them, to speak their language, and to position yourself as a proven, trusted partner.

Where can you make those connections? All across the web. In this post, we’ll explore the unexpected — and overlooked — places across the web where you can connect with engineers.

10 Stats You Didn't Know About Thomas

Industrial buyers are typically 70% of the way through their purchase decision process before they reach out to a supplier.

If you are a manufacturer trying to grow your business, this is an eye-opening, game-changing stat. It means that the buyers you want to do business with — the ones you need to connect with in order to grow your company — are researching, designing, evaluating, shortlisting, and, ultimately, making their purchase decisions online, all with very limited interaction with your sales people.

How, then, can you forge the connections you need while staying top of mind throughout the long and complex buying process?

Facebook vs. LinkedIn vs. Twitter For Industrial Companies

Are you missing out on an amazing resource that can make your business' growth goal a reality — the answer might be in social media. Over 90% of companies, both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C), are currently making use of social media for marketing purposes. But with such a wide range of social networks to work with, and new ones popping up every day, navigating these options can often seem daunting.

While there are other social media networks that could be added to this list, we’re focusing on the main channels for B2B marketing purposes. Below, we’ll delve into three of the most popular social networks — Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter — and explore how industrial companies and manufacturers can make the most effective use of these versatile platforms, leading to more valuable prospects, increased leads, and, of course, boosted sales.

Industrial Marketing: Train In-House vs. Hire An Agency vs.  Freelancer?

Has one of your key marketing/sales employees resigned and you're out in the wild trying to find a replacement? Industrial marketing requires a lot of time and expertise. If you don’t quite have either, you’re not alone. Many manufacturing companies don’t have in-house marketing departments, and those that do often have limited budgets and personnel.

Or if you're beginning your first industrial marketing plan, how do you go about it? Your options are likely to train current employees, seek out freelancers, or hire an agency — and this could be one of the most important decisions you'll make on the path to growing your business. Let's look at the pros and cons of each.

Is The Next Digital Marketing Battleground In Your Living Room?

The old marketing rules have changed to meet the needs of consumer behaviors. From establishing an online presence (73% of industrial buyers pay attention to your website!) to optimizing your website to offer a mobile version, it's important to update your marketing strategy based on user activity. Content marketing for manufacturing companies have incorporated mobile search and mobile ads built specifically for interaction on mobile devices.

But what about one of the most influential communications inventions of the 20th century — the television. The first TV advertisement aired in the 1940s, so traditional commercials have been around for a long time and has grown steadily. While mobile optimization and advertising are still important elements to target users, let's take a look at how the traditional TV set has evolved to consumers' behaviors and what it may mean for industrial marketers.

Using Google Docs, Slides, & Sheets For Marketing

Word documents, slide decks, data spreadsheets. What do these things have to do with industrial marketing? You might be surprised.

If you’re in charge of content marketing for your business, chances are you’re writing a lot of the copy in Word documents, presenting your ideas from slide decks, and analyzing data with spreadsheets.

The Marketing Conferences You Should Attend In 2019

As the year begins, industrial companies are beefing up their marketing plans and mapping out goals for 2019. To be successful, you must be aware of the latest technology and trends that will help your business grow, and marketing conferences can be a huge help.

Not only do these "meetings of the minds" help keep marketers up-to-date on the latest innovations, but they provide a valuable opportunity to network and commiserate with others in the field. 

10 Reasons Why Nobody Is Reading Your Emails

When it comes to your industrial marketing strategy, well-thought-out email marketing campaigns must be a part of your approach. 

If you’re not getting the engagement you want from your email marketing campaigns, it’s time to reevaluate your tactics. Below are 10 common mistakes you may be making with your industrial marketing emails.