Every manufacturer knows the importance of staying up to date with the latest advances and trends. This encompasses major leaps forward in industrial processes and technology, but it also entails advances in manufacturing marketing. Simply put, today’s manufacturers need cutting-edge digital strategies if they wish to connect with buyers and establish their brand reputation.
Just how important is data-driven, digital marketing in the manufacturing world? To get a sense of things, consider a handful of remarkable statistics. Together, these stats paint a vivid picture of an industry that is ripe for marketing innovation.
Marketing Manufacturing: Amazing Stats Every Manufacturer Should See
1) Manufacturing companies are making historic investments in digital marketing.
First and foremost, consider the incredible rates at which manufacturing companies have begun to invest in digital marketing, a clear sign of its perceived value and potential ROI.
A report from Gartner projects that by the end of this calendar year, digital channels are expected to make up about 75 percent of total marketing budgets across all industries, which includes the manufacturing sector.
Likewise, numbers from Statista show that manufacturers have increased their digital marketing investments by more than 10 percent just in the past couple of years, including major investments in search engine optimization (SEO) and paid advertising.
2) SEO is propelling manufacturers to new heights.
Another important consideration: SEO is playing an increasingly critical role in driving organic traffic, helping manufacturers to become more visible among search engine users. And the effects of SEO are compounded when paired with robust content marketing, allowing manufacturers to demonstrate their subject matter expertise.
The Content Marketing Institute notes that 85 percent of manufacturing marketers with a documented content marketing strategy also leverage SEO to drive traffic, with 67 percent of those manufacturers reporting direct business success as a result of their investment.
3) More manufacturers are embracing digital transformation to become more competitive.
There is also ample evidence of manufacturing companies pursuing digital transformation as a way to improve their position in the marketplace. Specifically, this denotes investments in advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and cloud computing.
For example, McKinsey reports that seven out of 10 manufacturing companies are actively investing in digital transformation initiatives. According to PwC, the number of manufacturers investing in digital factories surpasses 90 percent.
4) Digital technology increasingly supports sales and marketing success.
Still another area to consider: Within the manufacturing world, advanced digital technology is enabling greater and greater success in the sales and marketing departments. From marketing automation tools to customer relationship management (CRM) software, there are countless examples of manufacturers adopting robust tech solutions to manage their sales pipeline.
A study from Forrester finds that more than half of all manufacturers have implemented or are planning to implement marketing automation tools. Meanwhile, Accenture notes that the manufacturers who do pursue digital transformation see a 20 percent increase in sales productivity, while their marketing costs are reduced by almost a third!
5) Shifts in customer behavior are driving manufacturer marketing trends.
Today, more and more consumers (along with B2B buyers) conduct copious amounts of online research, often encompassing several different digital touchpoints, before they complete a transaction. This behavior has made it essential for manufacturing companies to be more visible online, particularly in the research phase of the customer journey.
There are a couple of relevant stats here. For instance, Google’s B2B Buyer Survey finds that more than seven out of 10 B2B buyers, including those in manufacturing, start their research with a basic Google search.
Meanwhile, the Content Marketing Institute shows that 74 percent of B2B buyers conduct more than half of their research online before they feel ready to make a final purchase.
Find the Right Partner for Digital Transformation & Marketing
These statistics demonstrate the extent to which digital marketing has already rocked the manufacturing world… and how manufacturers who don’t embrace digital transformation run the risk of being forever left behind.
To embrace digital manufacturer marketing, reach out to Clarity Digital Agency. We have a proven track record helping manufacturing companies achieve their marketing and sales goals through the strategic implementation of SEO, PPC, content marketing, and beyond. We’d love to tell you more about bringing digital transformation to your business.
