Waarom berichten deel moeten uitmaken van uw B2B of B2C marketingstrategie

Het was een hete, zwoele dag in Shanghai en ik wachtte om een ​​bagel te kopen. De rij was lang. Iedereen was enthousiast voor hun carb-fix.

Uiteindelijk bereikte ik het aanrecht en haalde ik een heldere rekening van 50 yuan. Het gezicht van de kassier is gevallen. Hij fronste terwijl hij mijn wissel telde.

Toen ik mijn ontbijt pakte en me omdraaide om weg te gaan, snoof de vrouw achter me. Bijna staarde iedereen met een mengeling van minachting en irritatie.

Wat had ik verkeerd gedaan?

Toen sloeg het me.

Niemand anders had contant betaald of zelfs een creditcard of bankpas. Ze gebruikten allemaal WeChat Pay op hun mobiele telefoons. Mijn old-school transactie had de wachtrij vertraagd - zelfs voor een paar seconden. Ik zag eruit als een naïeve toerist die muntjes probeerde uit te rekenen voor de bus.

This was five years ago.

Not only did I learn a key cultural lesson, but the experience sparked my interest in messaging technology.

I asked friends and colleagues about WeChat and started to explore what messaging apps could do for both B2B and B2C organizations.

While China (and Asia as a whole) is at the forefront of messaging technology and user adoption, this is a growing global trend. Messaging platforms are here to stay — and they’re only going to be exponentially more important.

It’s time for businesses to get serious about using messaging platforms to connect with customers and prospects.

The evolution of online communication

Before a business wades into the messaging waters, it’s important to understand why these apps represent such a critical behaviour shift.

We all know that the internet started with email and websites. Information flowed outward, from the screen to the user. Point and click. You could reply to an email or submit a web form, but there’s usually a delay between requesting information and receiving an answer.

Mobile phones got smarter and suddenly, we all had a super-computer in our pocket. We could access data on the go and use SMS (texting) to reach people even faster.

Mobile phones also accelerated social media adoption. The age of swiping began. We could read, comment, like and share, but the exchange wasn’t always in real-time.

Messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Line and Slack now provide instant messaging. Everyone is connected in the network, in real-time. You can immediately interact with anyone who uses the same platform (and accepts the connection).

The shift from SMS to messaging might seem inconsequential, but it’s a critical change for anyone who wants to have real conversations.

For example, imagine receiving an SMS promotion from your telecom provider. Out of the blue, you get a text message about an iPhone X sale. You probably delete it immediately, because an SMS message is a one-way communication experience.

A messaging platform could turn that one-way street into a true conversation. The recipient could ask questions or tell the sender (which was probably an automated program) to share only Android promotions. The formerly one-way blast become an opportunity to learn more about individual customer preferences.

Social messaging conquers the planet

Now that people have experienced the power of messaging, the technology is spreading to every corner of the globe. Let’s look at the numbers.

As of August 2017, the top four social media platforms were: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Total worldwide users: 3.5 billion

The top four social messaging platforms were: Viber, WeChat, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

Total worldwide users: 4 billion

That means 53% of everyone on Earth uses one of the top four messaging apps. Facebook Messenger alone has 1.3 billion users. And WhatsApp is active in 107 different countries.

Use chat and messaging to delight your customers

In the past year or two, you’ve probably visited a website with a chat pop-up. You’re scrolling and a window appears with a question like, “How can I help you today?"

That’s a bot, or an automated computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users. Bots are the engines that drive messaging platforms.

A pop-up is more than just snappy site copy. The goal is to give users, visitors and prospects an immediate way to interact with us. They can instantly get answers to common questions or connect with a real, human support team member.

Immediacy matters, because customer behaviour has undergone a massive paradigm shift. People don’t want to submit a form or email anymore. Overwhelmingly, they prefer to interact with a bot or a human in real-time.

Many tech companies have already adopted basic website messaging, and even retail brands are starting to use chat pop-ups. Standout organizations leverage these bots to enhance the customer journey. So, how can you start that process?

Whether you’re B2B or B2C, think about using messaging to deliver a more delightful user experience. Imagine implementing technology in a way that leaves people thinking, “that was really easy," or “that saved so much time," or even better: “I feel more connected to this brand now."

Messaging for B2B organizations

Some people think messaging apps don’t work for business or B2B. I don’t think that’s true, and I can share a recent HubSpot experiment that backs me up.

We wanted to generate leads for an upcoming webinar, so we bought Facebook ads that clicked through to a signup form. We also used Facebook Messenger-based ads to communicate directly with prospects, who completed a quick registration process right in the app.

In the end, we spent 70% less on each lead through messaging, versus newsfeed ads, and we received more signups through chat. People even shared the webinar ad and encouraged their friends to check out the Messenger sign-up interaction.

When does that ever happen? And why were people so pleased?

Beyond the novelty factor, conversation is a natural way to collect information. It feels less onerous for the user. It’s an experience, rather than another irritating task to complete, especially if you do it well. I’m not saying we nailed it, but I want to emphasize that by thinking more deeply about how your customer wants to interact, you can stand out and deliver something special.

So, where should I start chatting?

The best new products and service providers will integrate seamlessly with widespread messaging apps. You just need to choose the right playgrounds for your messaging adventures. For example, we’re building our new GrowthBot to work with over a dozen systems and APIs, plus platforms like LinkedIn and Slack.

Today, WeChat is even more embedded in Chinese life than I experienced five years ago. People use the app to talk with friends, split restaurant bills, buy airline or train tickets, and arrange deliveries. Even a roadside vendor selling jianbing accepts WeChat Pay. You can’t be a fully functional adult in China without using WeChat.

That’s not the case in North America. You can easily accomplish daily tasks without Facebook Messenger or another platform. Few people would ridicule you for paying with cash. But, Facebook is still the dominant player, especially if you’re a B2C company. In that case, Messenger is a no-brainer platform.

Maybe you’re trying to target tech companies or innovative design, media and creative organizations. In that case, Slack might be a better choice. It sees massive traffic during typical business hours and engagement levels are often higher than Messenger.

Mine the conversations you’re already having

The rush to adopt new technologies can feel like an arms race. For many founders and marketers, there’s a sense that you need to get there first — that you just need to establish a presence in any shape or form. I understand. I know that the first-mover advantage is real, but I would also advise people to be strategic.

What kind of experience do you want to provide through messaging? Consider the problems, questions, and friction points that your customers already have:

What do they often ask your customer support team?

What do they complain about?

What do they praise you for?

Where do they get stuck during buying, research or signup processes?

What do they need from you — such as details about clothing sizes, package options, technology upgrades, delivery or add-ons?

Identify the questions and messages that people are already sharing with you through older technologies, like email, web forms and phone support. If you’re thinking about opening a messaging channel or building a bot, this is a great place to start.

At GrowthBot, we what to help people regain their daily focus. We know they struggle to achieve flow during the work day, so we’re reducing the friction of task-switching by using conversational messaging to conduct research, pull files, connect accounts and do administrative work behind the scenes. We want to solve a problem — not add to the noise.

Don’t forget what you already know

A final point about messaging technology: while the mechanisms might be new and evolving, human needs are not. Sure, our preferences can change (such as preferring chat over email support), but the core feelings that drive us remain the same.

For example, people download software to solve both tactical and emotional needs. They use Slack to communicate instantly with colleagues, to keep projects moving, and to quickly share files. It serves a practical purpose and can simplify teamwork.

On an emotional level, I think Slack makes people feel connected. Teams that share cat videos on the platform are reinforcing their unique culture. We all have an innate need to belong, and the informal, conversational nature of Slack communication (or any other effective messaging platform) binds the group together.

Elk goed product of dienst voldoet aan zowel emotionele als praktische behoeften. Dat is geen nieuwe informatie. Maar het is zo gemakkelijk voor bedrijven, verkoopteams en marketeers om die behoeften te vergeten wanneer ze nieuwe technologieën verkennen.

Of je nu begint te graaien in berichten of je bent diep in het bot bouwen, blijf je zinnen richten op die menselijke behoeften. Maak het leven eenvoudiger, eenvoudiger, boeiender en bevredigender. Help mensen om de beste versies van zichzelf te bereiken.

Of maak het gewoon makkelijker om een ​​bagel te kopen.