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KEY TRENDS IN B2B INNOVATION AND STRATEGY




                    Monique Labat,    collaborations allow partners to   grow your supplier network and   who have innovative ideas but   choose one B2B strategy which
                     Monique Labat    leverage each other’s strengths   find new business opportunities.  lack the resources needed for   aligns closely with the goals
                      Consulting      while mitigating potential     Example: If you supply fuel   implementation on a larger   and objectives of your company.
                                      risks associated with entering   additives and you’re looking   scale. This type of partnership   Utilising advanced technologies
                      W        hy     unfamiliar territories or     to distribute the range of fuel   allows smaller players access   like artificial intelligence and
                                      launching a new product or
                                                                                                  to capital investments as well
                                                                                                                                machine learning may prove
                                                                    additives to a new geographic
                                      service line on their own.
                                                                                                                                beneficial when attempting to
                                                                                                  as potential customers through
                       Innovate with   Collaborations also offer the   region or country, then using   established distribution   develop sustainable long term
                                                                    a B2B specialist who will sift
                         B2B?         opportunity for both parties   through potential distributors and   channels that would otherwise   B2B relationships. Although this
                           In today’s   to gain valuable insights from   arrange online meetings is both a   be unavailable due to their size   depends greatly upon the type of
                                                                                                  limitations or lack of brand
                                                                                                                                partnership involved, whether
                          competitive   one another which could lead to   great time saver and costs saver.   recognition among consumers.   it is purely transactional based
                          business    further innovations down the                                                              or whether it may be a strategic
        environment, it is essential for   road as well as increased market   Business Development   In addition, these partnerships   joint venture.
        companies to stay ahead of the   share over competitors who are   Opportunities           often provide valuable insights
        curve by developing innovative   not taking advantage of similar   The B2B specialist is also there   into emerging technologies or   However, success ultimately
        strategies to create successful   opportunities.            to assist companies with their   markets, which may not have   depends on the amount of effort
        business to business (B2B)     B2B linkages are an important   business development. Once   been considered by either party   put into establishing a strong
        linkages.                     part of any successful innovation   you’ve identified a new industry   prior to considering such B2B   foundation before implementing
          By leveraging B2B linkages,   strategy. By leveraging the   niche, then the B2B specialist can   agreements, making them even   various tactics mentioned
        companies can expand their reach   strengths and resources of a   link you up with industry experts   more beneficial from a strategic   above. You want to maximise
        and access new markets that   B2B specialist, businesses can   in the field thereby cutting down   standpoint than traditional   your company returns and
                                                                    on getting your service or product
        would otherwise be inaccessible.   create new products, services,   to market.            alliances between competitors   investments made while
        Additionally, these partnerships   and solutions that will grow the                       within similar industries alone   creating and maintaining these
        often provide unique opportunities   company’s footprint and offer a   Key Trends in B2B Innovation  could ever achieve on their own.  B2B connections. 
        for cost savings and improved   new range or additional products                          Which B2B strategy fits your
        operational efficiency that can help   and services to their client base.   To ensure success in this area,   company?           Keen to learn more about B2B market
        businesses remain competitive in                            it’s important for companies to                             linkages, give Monique Labat a call on
        an ever-changing landscape.   Industry Sector Examples using   be aware of the latest trends in   There are many different   Mobile: +27 82 924 6349 or
                                      B2B Linkages                  B2B innovation strategies so they  types of strategies available to   Email: monique@moniquelabat.com
        Collaborations Work            Working with a B2B specialist   can make informed decisions   companies wishing to explore   Visit us at: www.moniquelabat.com
          Companies can foster        who has existing networks and   about how best to collaborate   possibilities offered up by B2B
        innovation through B2B linkages   understanding of industry sectors   with other organisations.   collaborations in order to grow
        by pursuing collaborative     will assist in gaining a good   One key trend is collaboration   business operations successfully
        projects with other companies   understanding of the options   between large corporations and   and sustainably on a long-
        in their industry sector. These   available to grow your client base,   small start-ups or entrepreneurs   term basis. Make sure that you




        CREATE A RESULTS DRIVEN DIGITAL


        MARKETING STRATEGY




        Ndumiso Sikhakhane, Director: Infinity   1. Define your business goals &   quality campaigns that appeals to   use. Then think about how each
        Growth Digital Marketing      set clear expectations        your target audience. Your buyer   channel contributes to meeting
                                       Many people underestimate    persona should be worked on   your goals.
               igital marketing has   the power of planning and goal   frequently or refined when market   There are lots of different digital
               become an integral part   setting. Before you even start   opportunities arise.    channels available. The most
        Dof every business. South     anything,  the first thing you                              popular include web blog posts,
        Africa continues to grow its   need to do is define your business   3. Map out your media & content   email marketing newsletters,
        consumer internet accessibility,   and your goals. Maybe you want   strategy.             social media marketing, search
        people are spending more      more loyal customers, to increase   Building a media strategy takes   engine optimisation or paid
        time online, and as a result   your revenue or maybe you    the longest time in this process   media. I always advise my clients
        marketing budgets are now     want to expand to a new market.   and may at times require an   to consider using more than   Ndumiso Sikhakhane
        shifting toward digital. With so   Writing this down will make it   expert or agency to detail all the   one channel and to integrate
        many opportunities in digital   much easier for you to create a   different tactics. This is about   digital and traditional media for   Digital marketing tactics
        marketing, having a digital   clear marketing strategy that will   building a clear strategy based on   optimum success.  and trends are ever changing,
        marketing strategy is important   be aligned with your goals.  what and how you want to achieve                         something that worked last year
        in order to monitor return on                               it. There are templates available   5. Set key performance indicators  may  require tweaking to work
        investment (ROI).             2. Understand your customer &   online that can help you develop   Finally, it is important to   today. When planning, take some
                                      create a buyer persona                                                                    time to make sure that you are
          As a digital marketing                                    a digital marketing and content   track all marketing campaigns.   using best practices, you don’t
        strategist, I often see business   What makes or breaks any   strategy. It’s also advisable to use   You will need to develop set   have to create a set plan and stick
        owners that poorly manage     business success online is how   the GSOT strategy framework   key performance indicators   to it. If a plan isn’t delivering
        their company’s marketing     to identify and reach their ideal   which stands for goals, strategies,   (KPIs), which you will monitor   results pause and try new creative
        efforts. This means that      target market. You should spend   objectives and tactics which will   frequently. Tracking ROI on   tactics until you get consistent
        some campaigns can end up     time creating a buyer persona for  help you align your plan with   sales is important for a lot of   results. The key to growing your
                                      the people you want to target,
        being a waste of money. This   this will help you create detailed   the goals. Your content calendar   business owners, you need to   results is to build a clear plan and
        is avoidable, you just need   targeted ads. Ask yourself these   needs to be planned and reviewed   track the overall sales revenue
        a results-driven marketing    questions; who are our ideal   monthly to monitor progress.  since the campaign started   stay focused. 
        strategy to get started.                                                                  against all campaigns. This will
        Continuously investing in this   customers, what gender are they?  4. Set up lead generation   also show you which parts of   T: +27 (0)31 307 1988 /+27 (0)81 246 5781
                                      Where do they live? How old are
        strategy is one of the best ways                            platforms & tactics           your campaign are successful   E: info@infinitygrowthdigital.co.za
        to grow your digital ROI. Below   they? What are their interests?   Once you know the content   and which are not. Each activity   W: www.infinitygrowthdigital.co.za
                                      What are their pains? What
        are five important elements   needs do they have that you can   required, you need to choose the   that you invest in should have a
        that you need to include when   help them with?             channels that are most likely to   clear KPI, which is your measure
        building a digital marketing                                give you the best results. Consider   of success, then set monthly
        strategy that generates results   Answering these questions will   all potential marketing channels,   benchmarks that clearly indicate
        for your business.            make it easier for you to create   tools and tactics that you could   what needs to be achieved.




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