{"id":20308,"date":"2022-12-01T19:43:17","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T19:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/01\/6-inbound-marketing-strategies-sales-managers-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2022-12-01T19:43:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T19:43:17","slug":"6-inbound-marketing-strategies-sales-managers-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/01\/6-inbound-marketing-strategies-sales-managers-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Inbound Marketing Strategies Sales Managers Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We all know how chaotic sales environments can be.<\/p>\n

From reps hosting back-to-back discovery calls to managers gathering the team to go over sales metrics and responsibilities, there\u2019s a lot going on. Not to mention the additional long list of to-dos sales managers have to take care of.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sales managers are like a cross between firefighters, football coaches, and marketers. They\u2019re constantly putting out fires, revving up their team, and taking care of marketing responsibilities, too.<\/p>\n

But honestly \u2026 it doesn\u2019t have to be this way.<\/p>\n

In fact, what if we told you there is something sales managers can employ to both hit their sales targets and manage their responsibilities more efficiently?\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s called inbound marketing<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019re clearing the air on what inbound marketing is and how it can help sales managers succeed. We\u2019re also sharing six specific inbound marketing strategies that sales managers can start using right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ready?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n

What is Inbound Marketing?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Inbound marketing is a methodology used to attract customers by creating valuable content and personalized experiences.<\/p>\n

Instead of using outbound marketing campaigns, which interrupt audiences with content they may not want, inbound marketing focuses on forming connections by solving problems they already have.<\/p>\n

\"inbound
(Image Source<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In other words, instead of chasing after customers, inbound marketing helps you create opportunities so they can come to you. That means less juggling, less hands-on marketing, and more sales.<\/p>\n

Over time, inbound marketing strategies can help you lighten your load and focus on your top priorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inbound marketing typically uses three types of strategies:<\/p>\n

1. Attracting strategies: <\/strong>Publishing optimized, relatable, and valuable content to attract customers to your business in your sleep.<\/p>\n

2. Engaging strategies: <\/strong>Generating, nurturing, and converting leads using engagement strategies like email marketing, community building, and delivering pristine customer service.<\/p>\n

3. Delighting strategies: <\/strong>Nurturing the customer experience throughout the entire buyer\u2019s journey. Strategies may include hosting product demos to top-of-funnel leads (which can be part of a product-led growth<\/a> methodology), providing post-purchase support, or asking your best customers to join your VIP program.<\/p>\n

How can Inbound Marketing Help Sales Managers Succeed?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Inbound marketing helps sales managers succeed by doing the following.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Attracting Customers Rather Than Having to Chase Them Down\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Handling a long list of marketing tasks when you already have other responsibilities can feel overwhelming. With inbound marketing strategies, you don\u2019t have to hunt customers down. Customers come to you.<\/p>\n

Lightening the Load On Your Sales Team\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Your sales team is constantly managing lead lists, performing sales calls, and doing everything they can to hit targets. But expecting sales reps to always be consistent isn\u2019t realistic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From market variations to changes in audience needs, there are countless factors that can affect a sales rep\u2019s performance. Inbound marketing can help alleviate the burden that comes with heavy sales responsibilities, so your reps can breathe a little easier.<\/p>\n

Creating Passive Income in Your Sleep\u00a0<\/h3>\n

From generating multiple income streams to making money in your sleep, inbound marketing can help you build an evergreen business model.<\/p>\n

Building Trust and Community With Your Audience<\/h3>\n

Your customers are looking for more than just convenient product features and a great design. They\u2019re looking for a sensational customer experience all the way through. They want to buy from businesses they trust and can engage with easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inbound marketing helps you establish trust by focusing on community-building experiences like delivering personalized content and engaging with your audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to Make the Most Of Inbound Marketing: 6 Strategies<\/h2>\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered the basics let\u2019s look at six strategies to make the most of inbound marketing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Set Inbound Marketing Goals\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Our first strategy is about getting clear on your goals.<\/p>\n

When a lead is drawn to your business, what do you want them to do? What specific products do you want them to buy? What kind of content do you want them to consume? What kind of nurturing would help them get closer to conversion?\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this section, get laser-specific about your goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Use the template: \u201cspecific desire + reason\u201d to help you formulate actionable goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For instance:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to boost our life insurance sales by 10% so we can exceed our goals every quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to build deeper and more meaningful connections with our audience. We believe that strong connections can help us build a long-term community of loyal, happy customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The goals you set should be SMART. This has nothing to do with the intelligence level behind them. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SMART
(Image Source<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After setting concrete goals, keep them at the front of your mind as you implement your inbound marketing strategies. Always ask yourself how inbound marketing can support you on your way to achieving goals.<\/p>\n

2. Create a Content Marketing Plan\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Creating a content marketing plan<\/a> is the main way you\u2019ll attract, delight, and engage your leads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It carries different levels of importance for different niche websites. For example, content marketing for SaaS<\/a> is essential because in order to become popular, new software usually needs not only advertising but also explaining and clearly presenting its functions to potential users.<\/p>\n

Content marketing is so important because it\u2019s one of the only tactics that checks every box on the inbound marketing checklist.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A content marketing plan is how you deliver massive value, implement lead conversion strategies, and build authority with search engines.<\/p>\n

When deciding on a plan, we recommend focusing on the following three channels:<\/p>\n

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  1. Blogging\u00a0<\/li>\n
  2. Social media marketing\u00a0<\/li>\n
  3. Knowledge base creation\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Here\u2019s an example of what that might look like:<\/p>\n

    Blogging\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    You\u2019ve done heavy keyword research and pinpointed the top keywords you\u2019d like your blog to rank for. Every article on your blog is based on a specific keyword and commonly asked questions. Search engines love your content because it\u2019s actionable, helpful, and based on search intent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Every article on your blog has a clear intention, call to action, and enticing offer that gently pushes readers toward conversion.<\/p>\n

    Social media marketing<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Your social channels help you connect with your audience in a personal and meaningful way. You take engagement seriously and use social listening tools to spot brand mentions that don\u2019t show up in your notifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    You tailor your social media content with your audience in mind and always look for ways to deliver value. Over time, you build a tight-knit community of VIP customers, hot leads, and top-of-funnel prospects that are on their way to conversion.<\/p>\n

    Knowledge base creation<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Your knowledge base is full of helpful tips, in-depth guides, product reviews, and tutorials. Your audience can count on you to teach them something, guide them through challenges, or look to you for support.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    As a result, your knowledge base content alleviates common customer pain points and helps you establish trust and customer loyalty. There are several AI writing tools<\/a> that can help you with this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    3. Scale Your Content With Workflow Automation\u00a0<\/h3>\n

    Content marketing requires time, resources, and a dedicated group of people to see it through.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    We recommend implementing workflow automation into your content marketing plan to save time creating tasks, assigning articles to your team, and managing content.<\/p>\n

    Not only does workflow automation streamline just about every aspect of content marketing, but it\u2019s also a key player in content scalability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    By automating the process, you can make sure you\u2019ll always have a steady stream of content to drip into your marketing channels.<\/p>\n

    4. Create an Email Marketing Plan<\/h2>\n

    Email marketing<\/a> is the closest way to have a conversation with your audience without having to jump on a sales call.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Email marketing is a direct marketing channel that can help you:<\/p>\n