B2B buying is hard. What B2B buyers want is help along the way from you, a potential source. But how can you get found online?
Far from being a linear process, the B2B buying committee completes a complex set of non-sequential tasks. Six to ten decision makers get involved, each gathering information and presenting it to the group. Conflicts inevitably arise.
Meanwhile, the market evolves. Ever newer technologies enter the scene. Suppliers exit. New suppliers take their place. The process starts all over.
Amid all this activity your company stands shouting and waving your hands.
To get to know how your B2B buyers think, do some keyword research.
Some tools are free and easy to use. Others are free with some effort. Still others require a subscription—though free trials may be available.
Google Trends
Look at the relative popularity of a word or phrase over time. Also, compare it with another word or phrase to choose the better option.
Answer the Public
Build a spider web of related phrases with Answer the Public. You’re limited to a few free searches a day. Subscribe for more robust keyword tools.
Google Keyword Planner
You will need a business account and a campaign with a payment method. Pause your campaign to avoid spending anything while you use the keyword planner.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is free to use for your own website. (Look for the small link to the right of the subscribe button.) You will have to verify ownership of your website to use the keyword tools.
These are a few tools to get you started learning what B2B buyers want. Have other suggestions? We’re all ears!
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—parin
Managing Partner
With over two decades of experience, Parin leads an expert demand-generation agency, StratMg, that helps industrial manufacturing clients achieve unambiguous and quantified organic sales growth across the US, EMEA & APAC.
Parin has built & positioned StratMg to be a value-added marketing services provider that strives to create a culture of quantified sales-driven marketing initiatives leading to sustained business growth through channel management, diversification, new customer acquisition and retention strategies and tactical execution.
