Angelfish Marketing Blog

The challenge

Five months ago, we started working with a recruitment consultancy, M&E Global, who specialise in subcontracting work for the defence industry. Over the past 20 years, they’ve been offering a range of project solutions, supporting various global military contracts. They take a well-rounded approach to recruitment, not only finding their candidates jobs but also supporting them throughout the entirety of their contracts. This holistic approach to recruitment is what makes M&E unique, working closely with both candidates and clients so that all parties get exactly what they need.

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? Perhaps you’re an early riser, taking the dog out for a walk as the sun climbs over the rooftops. Or maybe you stay in bed as long as possible, hitting the snooze button until you absolutely have to get up. No matter your morning routine, it’s absolutely possible to be successful in your role as a marketing manager.

With 55% of marketers saying that blog content creation is their top marketing priority, it’s clear to see that marketing strategies are moving from traditional, ‘outbound’ techniques to more up-to-date, ‘inbound’ methods where it’s all about enticing people to engage with the business. Producing blog content is a great way to offer potential leads something valuable so that, when they’re at the point where they’re ready to make a purchase, they pick you over your competitors. Plus, the stats are pretty promising: marketers who prioritise blogging efforts are 13x more likely to see a positive return on investment (ROI) and content marketing gets three times more leads than paid search advertising. 

Whether we’re in the market for a new phone, a car, or a different type of cereal, the digital era has changed how we decide on what we buy, and when we buy it. No longer do we talk to a sales rep first. Instead, we browse the internet to research exactly what we’re looking for, reading a wealth of information and reviews from existing customers. Only when we’re settled on a decision do we approach the business we’d like to buy from. In 2011, Google defined this critical new marketing moment as the ‘Zero Moment of Truth’. Put simply, it’s when people immediately turn to the internet, taking charge of the information they want to gather rather than having it pushed on them by marketers.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Put simply, the preparation of any business marketing strategy is just as important as the implementation of it; a detailed and strategic plan sets the foundation to successful marketing and, therefore, better results. So, it’s clear that your business needs an inbound marketing Growth Plan - without one, you’d struggle to see your goals and how to get there.

Did you know inbound marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing and has a greater return on investment?

The industry is changing, and inbound marketing seems to be the most effective way to go. But if outbound marketing worked before, why doesn't it work as effectively now?

Well, consumer habits are changing, and the marketing landscape is riding along. While outbound marketing activities such as cold calling and promoting products in trade shows and seminars still have their place, modern consumers spend most of their time on the web, where inbound marketing thrives.

To craft an inbound strategy with a compelling ROI, consider working with an inbound marketing agency. Read on to learn 4 ways an agency will benefit your business.

As we enter 2019, how is digital marketing changing? And how will this impact your inbound methods?

In this blog, we highlight what’s influencing the marketing industry, and how you can leverage digital marketing changes...

If the term ‘topic clusters’ sounds more like a breakfast cereal to you than an inbound marketing term, there’s no need to worry! This article will take you through the fundamentals you need to structure your web content.

To build a strong website presence, it’s important to have a strong SEO and content strategy. But where do you start? Let’s start by breaking down the jargon first…

In a world of increasingly stretched budgets and advancing marketing methods, you may not know which strategies to use to boost your business’s brand and reputation.

However, inbound marketing could help you to reach your target audience and get more customers in a highly cost-effective manner.

Inbound marketing is simply a marketing method based on attracting customers through content and interactions. The key to a successful inbound marketing strategy is that this content and these interactions are relevant and helpful to your customers, which builds your brand, creates true customer loyalty and transforms your customers into brand advocates.

But how much of your inbound marketing budget will have an impact on your marketing strategies cost?

It’s a fair question and one that many businesses are keen to answer.

Inbound marketing is a highly effective marketing solution. On average, businesses spend significantly less on their inbound marketing compared to traditional outbound techniques. However, over 50% more leads come from inbound marketing services.

Inbound marketing is also a long-term and ongoing solution. There are a range of inbound marketing services and strategies available to your business. For example, you may decide to invest in a blog or create a series of targeted landing pages. As a result, its cost can vary greatly depending on the extent and range of strategies you decide to adopt.

At the Inbound 2018 conference earlier this year, Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot, announced that the inbound marketing methodology is changing. As marketers, we have become very accustomed to using the marketing ‘funnel’ model when devising and managing our marketing strategies. We know how it works; the process is simple: attract, convert, close, delight. The focus in recent years has been on the attract stage; creating valuable content to pull customers in has been the best way to generate new leads and grow your business. But now, 'cracks' are starting to appear in this funnel.