IT Buyers Rely on Targeted Communities While Marketers Focus on Broad Social Networks
AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - Sep 23, 2014) - Spiceworks, the professional network for IT, today announced the results of its "How to Win Friends and Influence IT Pros" report, a survey examining technology marketing strategies and how they compare to the preferences of IT buyers. Released at SpiceWorld Austin, the report highlights IT buyer behavior while identifying potential disconnects between their research and purchasing habits and the way technology marketers approach them.
According to the survey, lead generation was the top priority for 66 percent of technology marketers followed by sales conversion at 45 percent and brand awareness at 42 percent. When asked to select the barriers to achieving campaign priorities, 43 percent of respondents cited budget constraints, 35 percent said audience targeting was a challenge, and 33 percent reported an insufficient quantity of leads.
IT professionals cited a preference for an open and honest approach to marketing that allows for more direct engagement with brands and their peers. However, marketers continue to bank on traditional marketing tactics to reach IT buyers. On average, 95 percent of IT professionals report relying on IT forums or targeted communities when justifying purchases, while only 60 percent of marketers cite using these channels to reach their buyers.
"Technology buyers want to be approached in an authentic way, yet we're seeing investments in automated forms of marketing that, when executed poorly, significantly diminish the opportunity for a real, human-to-human relationship between the marketer and customer," said Sanjay Castelino, VP of Marketing at Spiceworks. "Technology marketers have an opportunity to rethink 'assembly line marketing' strategies and double-down on an engagement model that humanizes their brand, its employees and solutions."
Pressured to drive new leads, the marketing industry is transforming on the back of new tools and technologies designed to streamline and automate the lead generation and nurturing process. Meanwhile, IT professionals report valuing personal interactions with brands and peers who can help them through the buying process. Despite the importance placed on a human connection with brands, technology marketers ranked social engagement at the bottom of their priority list. Only 14 percent said it was a priority.
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Methodology
The survey was conducted in August 2014 and included 136 global respondents. Respondents represent a variety of technology company sizes including small-to-medium-sized businesses and enterprises. 450 IT professional responses were collected in January 2014. IT professionals surveyed represent a variety of industries and company sizes. For the full report and a complete list of survey results, visit http://www.spiceworks.com/voit/reports/how-to-win-friends/.
About SpiceWorld
Spiceworks' SpiceWorld user conference draws attendees from businesses across the world. The event features break-out sessions, expert discussions, and topics voted on by the network of IT professionals in Spiceworks. Sessions include in-person talks with the company's founders and product developers, top technology vendors, and industry experts. SpiceWorld keynotes and general sessions can be viewed live at http://community.spiceworks.com/tv/live and conversations from the conference can be followed on Twitter at #SpiceWorldAustin.
About Spiceworks
Spiceworks is the professional network 6 million IT professionals use to connect with one another and over 3,000 technology brands. The company simplifies how IT professionals discover, buy and manage more than $600 billion in technology products and services each year. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Spiceworks is backed by Adams Street Partners, Austin Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), Goldman Sachs, Shasta Ventures and Tenaya Capital. For more information visit http://www.spiceworks.com.
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Spiceworks and Voice of IT are registered trademarks of Spiceworks, Inc. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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Jennifer Faulk