5 Keys to Using
Content for Effective
Lead Generation
Polling Question



Are you currently using content
      to generate leads?




                                  2
Polling Question



What is your biggest challenge in
    using content for lead
          generation?




                                    3
Biggest Content Marketing Challenge




  Source: “B2B Content Marketing:2010 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends” by MarketingProfs and Junta42




                                                                                                      4
Buyers find relevant online content
              only          42% of the time.
Source:“Technology vendors may be losing close to 50% of their potential sales due to inadequate online
                             information,” IDG Communications, 2008


                                                                                                          5
Fewer than 1 in 3 people
trust marketing messages.


                   Source: Edelman Digital’s 2010 Trust Barometer,
http://www.edelman.com/trust/2010/docs/2010_Trust_Barometer_Executive_Summary.pdf


                                                                                    6
95% of B2B buyers chose a solution
    provider for a recent purchase who:

“provided them with ample content to help
 navigate through each stage of the buying
                 process.”

   Source: “Inside the Mind of the B2B Buyer,” DemandGen and Genius.com, March 2010


                                                                                      7
The New Sales Process




Source: Ardath Albee, “eMarketing Strategies for the Complex Sale”


                                                                     8
Benefits of Using Content



• Lower cost of sales
• Shorter sales cycles
• Better qualified leads
• Builds relationships



                             9
The 5 Keys
   1. Understand your buyers
   2. Ask how you can help
   3. Actively nurture leads
   4. Create outstanding content frequently
   5. Manage expectations




                                              10
Key #1




Understand your buyers
     (Really, really well)



                             11
Get out of the
office and talk
to them.



                  12
Questions to Ask


1.   What are their most important responsibilities?
2.   What are their top obstacles/problems?
3.   Why haven’t they considered a product like yours?
4.   What alternatives do they believe will help?
5.   How does their boss measure their success?
6.   Where do they look for new information?




                                                         13
Key #1   How to do it


1. Interview your buyers
   •       Phone or in-person
2. Ask questions to understand their buying
   criteria
3. Do it regularly (3-5x/quarter)




                                              14
Key #2


         Ask
“How can we help you?”
          vs.
“What can we sell you?”


                          15
Don’t be this guy




                    16
Adopt a helpfulness mindset




                              17
Key #2   How to do it

1. Freely give away great content
   that addresses your buyer’s
   concerns.

2. Resist “selling.” Think “educate.”




                                        18
Key #3



Actively nurture leads




                         19
73%
of leads aren’t sales ready
   Source: “The Complex Sale: Lead Scoring Effort Increases
      Conversion 79%,” Marketing Sherpa, Jan. 25, 2012




                                                              20
Build a Content Path




                       21
Buyer/Context Matrix




Download your copy from www.kimgusta.com/webinar
                                                   22
Key #3    How to do it

1. Determine what content your buyers
   want at each sales cycle stage
2. Use the Buyer/Content Matrix* to
   map content to buyers and sales
   stages

* Download from www.kimgusta.com/webinar



                                           23
Key #4



Create outstanding
content frequently



                     24
Avoid content
creation overwhelm

                     25
Content Audit Tracker




Download your copy from www.kimgusta.com/webinar

                                                   26
Think Economies of Scale

From one “how-to”webinar:
• Blog posts
• Article series
• Video snippets
• White paper
• Best practices cheat sheet




                                    27
Key #4
          How to do it

1. Do a content audit to document
   what you already have
2. Before creating anything new, ask
   what are 5 ways you can re-purpose
   it?
3. Ensure all content is part of your
   larger strategy.
                                        28
Key #5



 Manage expectations
(others and your own)




                        29
Key #5
         How to do it

• Expect incremental buyer
  movement
• Set expectations with Sales and
  Senior Management
• Resist pressure for quantity over
  quality


                                      30
How Do I Get
  Started?


               31
Your 60 Day Plan to More Leads

1. Interview 3 buyers.
2. Inventory your existing content.*
3. Develop preliminary content mapping plan.*
4. Determine gaps between what you have and
   what you need.
5. Pick two pressing pieces of content
   to create (re-create existing content if possible).

   *Download templates from www.kimgusta.com/webinar

                                                         32
Continue the Conversation

  For templates & content marketing
resources, visit www.kimgusta.com/webinar



 Kim Gusta
 kim@kimgusta.com
 www.kimgusta.com
 Blog: kimgusta.com/blog
 Twitter: kimgusta




                                            33

5 Keys to Using Content for Effective Lead Generation

  • 1.
    5 Keys toUsing Content for Effective Lead Generation
  • 2.
    Polling Question Are youcurrently using content to generate leads? 2
  • 3.
    Polling Question What isyour biggest challenge in using content for lead generation? 3
  • 4.
    Biggest Content MarketingChallenge Source: “B2B Content Marketing:2010 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends” by MarketingProfs and Junta42 4
  • 5.
    Buyers find relevantonline content only 42% of the time. Source:“Technology vendors may be losing close to 50% of their potential sales due to inadequate online information,” IDG Communications, 2008 5
  • 6.
    Fewer than 1in 3 people trust marketing messages. Source: Edelman Digital’s 2010 Trust Barometer, http://www.edelman.com/trust/2010/docs/2010_Trust_Barometer_Executive_Summary.pdf 6
  • 7.
    95% of B2Bbuyers chose a solution provider for a recent purchase who: “provided them with ample content to help navigate through each stage of the buying process.” Source: “Inside the Mind of the B2B Buyer,” DemandGen and Genius.com, March 2010 7
  • 8.
    The New SalesProcess Source: Ardath Albee, “eMarketing Strategies for the Complex Sale” 8
  • 9.
    Benefits of UsingContent • Lower cost of sales • Shorter sales cycles • Better qualified leads • Builds relationships 9
  • 10.
    The 5 Keys 1. Understand your buyers 2. Ask how you can help 3. Actively nurture leads 4. Create outstanding content frequently 5. Manage expectations 10
  • 11.
    Key #1 Understand yourbuyers (Really, really well) 11
  • 12.
    Get out ofthe office and talk to them. 12
  • 13.
    Questions to Ask 1. What are their most important responsibilities? 2. What are their top obstacles/problems? 3. Why haven’t they considered a product like yours? 4. What alternatives do they believe will help? 5. How does their boss measure their success? 6. Where do they look for new information? 13
  • 14.
    Key #1 How to do it 1. Interview your buyers • Phone or in-person 2. Ask questions to understand their buying criteria 3. Do it regularly (3-5x/quarter) 14
  • 15.
    Key #2 Ask “How can we help you?” vs. “What can we sell you?” 15
  • 16.
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Key #2 How to do it 1. Freely give away great content that addresses your buyer’s concerns. 2. Resist “selling.” Think “educate.” 18
  • 19.
  • 20.
    73% of leads aren’tsales ready Source: “The Complex Sale: Lead Scoring Effort Increases Conversion 79%,” Marketing Sherpa, Jan. 25, 2012 20
  • 21.
  • 22.
    Buyer/Context Matrix Download yourcopy from www.kimgusta.com/webinar 22
  • 23.
    Key #3 How to do it 1. Determine what content your buyers want at each sales cycle stage 2. Use the Buyer/Content Matrix* to map content to buyers and sales stages * Download from www.kimgusta.com/webinar 23
  • 24.
  • 25.
  • 26.
    Content Audit Tracker Downloadyour copy from www.kimgusta.com/webinar 26
  • 27.
    Think Economies ofScale From one “how-to”webinar: • Blog posts • Article series • Video snippets • White paper • Best practices cheat sheet 27
  • 28.
    Key #4 How to do it 1. Do a content audit to document what you already have 2. Before creating anything new, ask what are 5 ways you can re-purpose it? 3. Ensure all content is part of your larger strategy. 28
  • 29.
    Key #5 Manageexpectations (others and your own) 29
  • 30.
    Key #5 How to do it • Expect incremental buyer movement • Set expectations with Sales and Senior Management • Resist pressure for quantity over quality 30
  • 31.
    How Do IGet Started? 31
  • 32.
    Your 60 DayPlan to More Leads 1. Interview 3 buyers. 2. Inventory your existing content.* 3. Develop preliminary content mapping plan.* 4. Determine gaps between what you have and what you need. 5. Pick two pressing pieces of content to create (re-create existing content if possible). *Download templates from www.kimgusta.com/webinar 32
  • 33.
    Continue the Conversation For templates & content marketing resources, visit www.kimgusta.com/webinar Kim Gusta kim@kimgusta.com www.kimgusta.com Blog: kimgusta.com/blog Twitter: kimgusta 33