B2b and B2c Marketing

B2B and B2C Marketing

In this paper a firm idea of how marketing works for B2B as well as B2C sites. Although the two entities differ, the overall marketing strategy is the same in theory. "In marketing to other businesses or individuals one of the most important things is to establish good relationships. In B2B or business to business this requires a commitment of time and good customer service prior to ever making that first sale."(Brown, 2007)

"Think about it... products & services change but good sales, marketing, & advertising is one thing that remains. It is one of the most important aspects of an organization. It must be taken seriously, with the implementation of a strategic plan of attack." (2007) After the market has been established then the team can proceed with a marketing plan. Developing a marketing strategy, considerations the marketing team need to have an understanding of the company's target market. This makes marketing easy for thus the team can target the consumer base. While this brainstorming, goes on the team should determine whether the consumer is B2B or B2C. Does the site need to speak to individuals with an IT background or the to the average person? However, some websites should be designed to attract both entities. In B2B and B2C internet marketing the team must know the consumer and the business as well. Failure to reach the perceived target market is essential. Thus, this failure could cause the company to lose or not reach the target market.

Business' often make the mistake that being the new company in the industry will cause the consumer to be drawn to the website and want to shop with them. Some business' believe that they do not have to reinvent the wheel thus keeping the same web format that all the businesses have in the industry. This can cause the new company to be considered the same as the other in the industry preventing consumers from wanting something new. Understanding what the company sells, what services that are provided, understanding and identifying keywords or key phrases in the search engines help to set up web pages and determining other internet strategies. In addition, elements to keep in mind are competitors' vulnerabilities, possible partnerships, special markets, knowing upper and lower management qualifications and doing a S.W.O.T.T analysis. This gives the marketing team an idea of whom the perceived target market is and allows them to build from.

"One of the key differences is in market segmentation. It is of course true that some of the ways of slicing up data are common to both business and consumer markets. For example, recency/frequency/value of past sales is one way of segmenting a data list that can be applied to both B2B and B2C data.

However, beyond this the B2C data can be cut in a myriad of ways to provide the marketing manager with an almost infinite number of ways to Ð''slice the cake' and find common attributes, behaviours and values between markets to build better quality direct marketing campaigns."(Brown, 2007) This information is important to the marketing team because it allows the team to understand their consumers and cater to their perceived wants and needs. In doing this, it gives a business the upper hand in the market. Businesses have to do whatever it takes to gain the upper hand.

"Some companies serve both the B2B and the