For most businesses the year end is a chance to evaluate what worked, what didn’t and decide what strategies could lead to increased sales in the New Year. Many B2B companies are in the midst of setting a marketing budget and planning tactics for 2013. Lisa Shepherd, author of Market Smart: How to Gain Customers and Increase Profits with B2B Marketing, and President of The Mezzanine Group, offers the following five tips for B2B Marketing planning and success next year:

1- Review, and Learn from, This Year’s Marketing Results

Review the objectives you set for 2012. What initiatives had the most success and why? For those that didn’t achieve the intended results, explore whether it was simply a tactic that wasn’t the right fit, or if it was poor execution of a solid marketing idea. By taking the time to thoroughly assess performance, companies will improve their performance meaningfully, rather than randomly. Also, make time to analyze sales data and look for new trends that may inform market opportunities that are currently untapped.

2- Plan to Capitalize on Emerging Opportunities

Over the course of any year, opportunities always arise. Whether it’s a product upgrade or going to market with a new service, potential opportunities need to be explored. If you’re not holding formal business planning sessions for the coming year, you should. These are the perfect forum to discuss strategic opportunities, assess the firm’s capabilities, and prioritize what to pursue based on market size, customer demand and ability to execute internally. These new opportunities will be core pillars of the marketing strategy and plan for the following year.

3- Prepare Initiatives to Market to Existing Customers – e.g. Bundling Products & Services

If you have a customer who likes product A, they may not know that you also offer products B, C and D. If you do a good job educating your customer base about the full breadth of your offerings, you’ll sell more. But you have to tell them often and get that message out there consistently. One way to get customers to try something new is by adding it to something they already buy. If you sell a lot of product A, and you want them to try the brand new (or underperforming) product B, sell them together. People love getting free stuff – by getting B for free, they’re more likely to try it. You can start charging for B once people know how great it is.

4- Make Lead Nurturing a Top Priority in 2013

Research consistently shows that it takes seven touches before a potential B2B customer will remember the name of your company. The best way to manage that necessary series of customer touches is by using a lead-nurturing system or automation software. These automated programs let you send emails, newsletters, video case studies and more at pre-determined times to ensure that you get on your prospects’ radar and stay there.

5- Consider Offering Free Trials to Potential Customers

If your prospects can try it, they’re more likely to buy it. Allowing your potential B2B clients to use your product or service for a free trial period is a proven sales tool. Granted, this approach doesn’t work for every product or service. But it’s ideal for products such as software or high-margin items, ones in which a positive initial experience gives the prospect the assurance he or she needs to make the decision to start paying for your offering.

For more information on developing an effective B2B marketing strategy and tactical plan you can find a step-by-step easy to follow guide in Market Smart: How to Gain Customers and Increase Profits with B2B Marketing.

*About Lisa Shepherd

Lisa Shepherd is the founder and president of The Mezzanine Group, a B2B strategy and marketing company based in Toronto, Canada. She has worked with over 200 companies to increase their profits through effective marketing, and has grown Mezzanine into a four-time winner of PROFIT’s Fastest Growing Company award. Lisa is a recognized expert on B2B strategy and marketing, and speaks and writes extensively on B2B growth. Her expertise has been featured in The Globe & Mail, PROFIT Magazine, 20/20 Magazine, The Toronto Star and The National Post.