What is B2B marketing?
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 3:12 am
The acronym B2B stands for “Business to Business”. In other words, when we talk about B2B companies, we are referring to all those whose potential clients are other companies.
B2B marketing is not aimed at the end consumer, but at the famous intermediaries: those companies that exchange products, services or information with other companies.
For this reason, the techniques used to attract customers must be very specific and have a clear objective. Keep in mind that a company does not buy on impulse, as an individual might do. They will carefully study the pros and cons of their purchases and it is essential that you provide them with all the necessary information about your business so that you are the chosen one.
Yes, it is a real challenge. While the individual decides for himself, in a company ameriplan email list there will be several professionals and specialists who will study your proposal to decide if you are the right partner. Let's see some of the main differences between B2B marketing and B2C "Business to Customer" (direct business with the final consumer)?
Differences between B2B and B2C marketing
It has already become clear that the main difference between B2B and B2C is the type of audience each type of business targets. Now, let's get down to business and tell you about the differences between the two that need to be taken into account when establishing a marketing strategy for each type of business:
DEMAND : If we think of a B2B business, the demand for products or services is a key factor when establishing the methodology to follow to achieve the objectives you pursue in relation to online marketing. In this case, demand is usually fluctuating. That is, consumer demand directly influences the chain of purchase and sale between companies.
However, if we talk about B2C, the impact is not as much, since stability can be sought by replacing the type of final consumer.
NUMBER OF BUYERS : As you can imagine, the number of potential buyers is much lower in B2B than in B2C. Therefore, B2B strategies must be focused on solving the primary needs of their target audience in a very direct way. Without going off on a tangent, as they say.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP : One of the benefits of B2B marketing is that it often creates long-term relationships, since a company that is happy with your product or service will save time and costs by staying with you. However, this is not so easy to achieve if you address the end consumer directly, who is much more “unfaithful” in this regard, because it costs them nothing to try the competition.
By the way, do you know how to retain customers ?
RATIONAL vs EMOTIONAL : While your B2B marketing strategy should prioritize rationality, since you are dealing with companies and their corresponding teams, in B2C marketing the emotional connection with the client must prevail.
COMMUNICATION : Of course, you can't communicate in the same way. In the B2B field, you have to use specialized and direct language, because your target audience is experienced industry professionals who don't want to beat around the bush.
On the other hand, as we told you in the previous point, with regard to B2C, it is better to appeal to the feelings of the end consumer and tone down the type of language so that they understand what you sell, why you sell it and why they need it.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS : Not everyone is everywhere. Remember this phrase. The channels to use to reach the public that really interests you will be very different depending on whether your business is B2B or B2C. For example… Running a campaign on social networks like Facebook or Instagram aimed at companies will do you little good… But it will do a lot if you target the end customer. On the other hand, doing Social Selling on LinkedIn will bear many fruits for B2B.
TIMES : The difference here between B2B and B2C is notable. While the final consumer will make his decision almost immediately (perhaps taking a couple of days to think about it), a company requires a study procedure that must be carried out by several professionals before deciding to make the purchase. What's more, prior meetings, reports and budgets will surely be necessary. Because each of the professionals involved in the decision has their own needs and they have to reach a consensus. Your purchase can take months.
Of course, in both cases the decision time will depend greatly on the cost of the product or service. Keep in mind that deciding to buy a software license is not the same as deciding to buy a significant number of products to sell, for example.
B2B marketing is not aimed at the end consumer, but at the famous intermediaries: those companies that exchange products, services or information with other companies.
For this reason, the techniques used to attract customers must be very specific and have a clear objective. Keep in mind that a company does not buy on impulse, as an individual might do. They will carefully study the pros and cons of their purchases and it is essential that you provide them with all the necessary information about your business so that you are the chosen one.
Yes, it is a real challenge. While the individual decides for himself, in a company ameriplan email list there will be several professionals and specialists who will study your proposal to decide if you are the right partner. Let's see some of the main differences between B2B marketing and B2C "Business to Customer" (direct business with the final consumer)?
Differences between B2B and B2C marketing
It has already become clear that the main difference between B2B and B2C is the type of audience each type of business targets. Now, let's get down to business and tell you about the differences between the two that need to be taken into account when establishing a marketing strategy for each type of business:
DEMAND : If we think of a B2B business, the demand for products or services is a key factor when establishing the methodology to follow to achieve the objectives you pursue in relation to online marketing. In this case, demand is usually fluctuating. That is, consumer demand directly influences the chain of purchase and sale between companies.
However, if we talk about B2C, the impact is not as much, since stability can be sought by replacing the type of final consumer.
NUMBER OF BUYERS : As you can imagine, the number of potential buyers is much lower in B2B than in B2C. Therefore, B2B strategies must be focused on solving the primary needs of their target audience in a very direct way. Without going off on a tangent, as they say.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP : One of the benefits of B2B marketing is that it often creates long-term relationships, since a company that is happy with your product or service will save time and costs by staying with you. However, this is not so easy to achieve if you address the end consumer directly, who is much more “unfaithful” in this regard, because it costs them nothing to try the competition.
By the way, do you know how to retain customers ?
RATIONAL vs EMOTIONAL : While your B2B marketing strategy should prioritize rationality, since you are dealing with companies and their corresponding teams, in B2C marketing the emotional connection with the client must prevail.
COMMUNICATION : Of course, you can't communicate in the same way. In the B2B field, you have to use specialized and direct language, because your target audience is experienced industry professionals who don't want to beat around the bush.
On the other hand, as we told you in the previous point, with regard to B2C, it is better to appeal to the feelings of the end consumer and tone down the type of language so that they understand what you sell, why you sell it and why they need it.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS : Not everyone is everywhere. Remember this phrase. The channels to use to reach the public that really interests you will be very different depending on whether your business is B2B or B2C. For example… Running a campaign on social networks like Facebook or Instagram aimed at companies will do you little good… But it will do a lot if you target the end customer. On the other hand, doing Social Selling on LinkedIn will bear many fruits for B2B.
TIMES : The difference here between B2B and B2C is notable. While the final consumer will make his decision almost immediately (perhaps taking a couple of days to think about it), a company requires a study procedure that must be carried out by several professionals before deciding to make the purchase. What's more, prior meetings, reports and budgets will surely be necessary. Because each of the professionals involved in the decision has their own needs and they have to reach a consensus. Your purchase can take months.
Of course, in both cases the decision time will depend greatly on the cost of the product or service. Keep in mind that deciding to buy a software license is not the same as deciding to buy a significant number of products to sell, for example.