The Web is becoming the hub of industrial marketing. Industrial marketers rely on their web sites to educate their customers, fill their sales pipeline and build brand loyalty,” according to SVM E BusinessSolutions’2009 Business Trends in Industrial Marketing Report. One key fact: 81% of industrial marketers will be enhancing their web sites in 2009.

 
Per SVM, the report results demonstrate that “…industrial marketers have embraced the Web as a marketing tool. Every manufacturer and distributor that participated in [the SVM] study has a web site, with 93% stating they have had a web site for three years or longer. When asked about the primary goals for their web site, most respondents listed the top objectives as follows > >
 
• Provide more or better product information – 87%
• Generate sales leads – 79%
• Build greater brand loyalty – 56%
• Enhance customer service – 51%
• Improve sales force productivity – 40%
 
To help achieve these goals, manufacturers and distributors have packed their web sites with features and capabilities that showcase their products and capabilities, as well as fill their sales pipeline by offering lead generation features that encourage prospects to take the next step…”