No matter how big or small your manufacturing company is, chances are you’ve either dabbled in marketing yourself, or you hired someone else to manage the efforts for you. Regardless of which path you took, you probably realize the necessity of keeping up-to-date with the latest methods and trends.
Just like your facility requires regular auditing and re-evaluation year after year, so do your marketing campaigns.
If you’ve already made the move to digital marketing — with a mix of email outreach, social media channels, SEO, etc. — go ahead give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve earned it! But keep in mind that those processes are constantly evolving, and the best practices you learned last year may no longer apply.
How can you possibly stay on top of the latest marketing trends while still running a successful manufacturing shop? And even if you have other employees taking the reins on marketing, you’ll still want to be sure that everyone is on the same page and informed about new and emerging methods.
Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to guide you through the digital marketing landscape. Here, we’ve rounded up the top five to make your job a bit easier.
1. INBOUND
Coming off the heels of INBOUND 2015, we’re still implementing new ideas into our own marketing strategies from this super jam-packed event. The annual event runs about a week long, and each day is filled with informative sessions for every skill level covering all aspects of digital marketing. Once the agenda and speakers are announced, participants will be able to search for training sessions that match their current skill levels and interests. By the end of INBOUND, you’ll have attended dozens of trainings by experts in the field, all in one place in under a week’s time.
INBOUND is hosted by HubSpot and takes place in Boston, Massachusetts. The event also provides numerous networking opportunities (so if you’re looking for a marketing pro to join your team, this is a great place to search!), as well as inspiring keynotes delivered by pop-culture icons and marketing evangelists.
2. Content Marketing World
Billed as “The Largest Content Event,” Content Marketing World is as its name suggests, an event dedicated to the ins and outs of content marketing. Because this event is more focused, attendees should come away with targeted action items to incorporate into their content marketing plans. The event brings together thousands of attendees (again, great networking/recruitment opportunity!), hundreds of respected speakers, and immeasurable volumes of knowledge.
Hosted by the Content Marketing Institute, Content Marketing World takes place in Cleveland, Ohio. Basically, if you know that you need to build business exposure and leads and want to do this using strategically crafted content, this is a great event to attend.
3. MarketingProfs
If you’ve done any research on marketing lately, chances are you’ve come across some pieces of content created by MarketingProfs. They are well-known for their informative articles, but they also put together a number of other helpful resources. There are informative podcasts, online seminars, training solutions for individuals and teams, and even a conference that brings it all together – the B2B Marketing Forum.
With a tagline like “Real-World Education for Modern Marketers,” you really can’t go wrong here. The blend of online resources and in-person training sessions pretty much assures marketers that there is help available no matter your scheduling constraints, education level, budget, or physical location.
4. ALISON
While not specific to marketing training alone, ALISON is an online education provider with lessons spanning just about every industry. The best part? They’re all free! You create an account and then select courses or programs that you can follow at your own pace – no harsh deadlines or penalties. You can take courses in myriad subjects, including marketing, social media marketing, e-Commerce, and more.
For people who are overwhelmed by large conferences and networking events, or would simply prefer a more self-guided approach, this is a good resource to learn the essentials whenever you have time to do so.
5. The Industrial Marketer
Full disclosure — I’m slightly biased here. But we just so happen to put together a ton of content meant to inform industrial marketers. Our weekly newsletter pulls together news and advice geared toward manufacturers and marketers.
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