# LLMs.txt - Sitemap for AI content discovery # Learn more:https://bdb.global/ai-sitemap/ # BDB > --- ## Pages - [AI Sitemap (LLMs.txt)](https://bdb.global/ai-sitemap/): What is LLMs. txt? LLMs. txt is a simple text-based sitemap for Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and... - [Join our mailing list (pharma-specific insights)](https://bdb.global/join-our-pharma-mailing-list/): - [Join our mailing list](https://bdb.global/join-our-mailing-list/): - [AI charter](https://bdb.global/ai-charter/): - [Terms of use](https://bdb.global/terms-of-use/): - [Privacy policy](https://bdb.global/privacy-policy/): - [Exhibitions and events](https://bdb.global/services/exhibitions-and-events/): From stand design to post-event engagement, BDB’s event marketing services help you create memorable experiences and meaningful connections. - [Media planning and buying](https://bdb.global/services/media-planning-and-buying/): Maximise visibility, drive engagement and generate quality leads with BDB’s data-driven media strategies across trade media, paid social, PPC and more. - [PR and media relations](https://bdb.global/services/pr-and-media-relations/): From sector-specific media coverage to meaningful thought leadership, maximise your brand's impact with B2B PR and media services from BDB. - [Content strategy and copywriting](https://bdb.global/services/content-strategy-and-copywriting/): With BDB, you get value-driven B2B content marketing strategies designed to capture attention, build trust and nurture meaningful relationships. - [Creative and design](https://bdb.global/services/creative-and-design/): From dynamic visuals to globally adaptable campaigns, BDB specialises in transforming brand vision and values into compelling creative solutions. - [Research and strategy](https://bdb.global/services/research-and-strategy/): Enhance your brand’s growth and gain a competitive edge with BDB's tailored B2B marketing strategy services. - [Pharmaceuticals](https://bdb.global/sectors/pharmaceutical/): BDB is a full-service B2B marketing agency delivering tailored strategies for pharmaceutical brands specialising in APIs, excipients, biologics and CDMOs. - [Personal care ingredients](https://bdb.global/sectors/personal-care-ingredients/): As an integrated B2B marketing agency, BDB delivers bespoke communication strategies for personal care brands in skin & hair care, cosmetics and fragrances. - [Advanced materials](https://bdb.global/sectors/advanced-materials/): As experts in advanced materials marketing, BDB helps brands in composites, coatings, polymers and more discover commercial success. - [Careers](https://bdb.global/careers/): - [Digital and technology](https://bdb.global/services/digital-and-technology/): Boost your B2B brand’s online presence and drive meaningful business outcomes with strategic omnichannel digital marketing campaigns. - [Services](https://bdb.global/services/): Maximise your ROI with BDB's integrated marketing services. From lead generation to customer retention, we deliver strategic campaigns designed to achieve more. - [Food & nutrition ingredients](https://bdb.global/sectors/food-nutrition/): With decades of expertise, we help food, nutraceutical and animal health brands stand out and achieve impactful results. Savour commercial success with BDB. - [Sectors](https://bdb.global/sectors/): Unlock your brand's potential with tailored, targeted and transformative marketing campaigns across food, pharma, personal care and advanced materials. - [Insights Hub](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/): - [Contact us](https://bdb.global/contact-us/): - [Why BDB?](https://bdb.global/why-bdb/): - [Home](https://bdb.global/): Achieve more with globally reaching, fully integrated, technically minded, truly consultative B2B marketing communications agency. ## ## Posts - [Power of the human touch: 5 strategies to future-proof your content in the age of AI](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/5-strategies-to-future-proof-your-b2b-content-in-the-age-of-ai/): Why the rise of AI means bringing more humanity to B2B marketing, not less. Five practical strategies from industry leaders to future-proof your B2B content strategy. - [Lived experience vs. lip service: Mastering authentic employer branding for your business](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/mastering-authentic-employer-branding/): Discover how to create workplaces where people thrive in our latest issue of the knowledge, which explores authentic employer branding for B2B companies. - [Green meets growth: SupplySide West 2024 showcases the marketing edge of conservation-driven innovation](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/spotlight-on-sustainability-insights-from-supplyside-west-2024/): From clean labels to minimalist booths, SupplySide West 2024 highlighted sustainability's growing role in U.S. health and nutrition markets. Discover more. - [Behind the scenes at CPHI 2024: 5 standout insights from BDB’s Scientific Copywriter](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/behind-the-scenes-at-cphi-2024-5-standout-insights-from-bdbs-scientific-copywriter/): That’s a wrap! CPHI 2024 has come to a close and what a show it has been. This year, I... - [Hidden post test](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/hidden-post-test/): This should be hidden from the insights hub. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut dignissim vel metus... - [BDB for the WIN: Partnering to power the potential of Women in Nutraceuticals](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-for-the-win-partnering-to-power-the-potential-of-women-in-nutraceuticals/): Discover how we’re supporting Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN) to promote gender diversity and empower women in the global nutraceutical industry. - [An update on the Cookieless future](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/an-update-on-the-cookieless-future/): Transcript “Hi, my name is Oliver Brewood, Executive Director at BDB, and in this video, I’m going to talk about... - [AI in food innovation: Strategic insights for B2B marketers](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/ai-in-food-innovation-strategic-insights-for-b2b-marketers/): The food and nutrition industry is experiencing a seismic shift, largely due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). At the... - [B2B marketing trends: 4 insights to elevate your Food & Nutrition communication strategies](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-and-nutrition-b2b-marketing-trends/): In the fast-paced Food and Nutrition (F&N) industry, B2B brands need to keep up with consumers ever-evolving trends while driving... - [Driving B2B marketing effectiveness: Strategic insights from DMWF 2024](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/driving-b2b-marketing-effectiveness-strategic-insights-from-dmwf-2024/): The Digital Marketing World Forum (DMWF) Global 2024, held in London on June 24-25, once again proved to be the... - [Food and nutrition brand strategy in an age of mergers: Why mindset is everything](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-food-and-nutrition-branding/): The food industry has experienced a surge of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) over the last two years, reshaping competition while... - [Serve a demographic, fill a whitespace: Vitafoods Europe 2024 demonstrated women’s health is the new vanguard of opportunity](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/serve-a-demographic-fill-a-whitespace-vitafoods-europe-2024-demonstrated-womens-health-is-the-new-vanguard-of-opportunity/): Across the show floor and in session halls, the need to better serve women at every life stage was the... - [A baseline, not a trend: A new role for sustainability emerges at Vitafoods Europe 2024](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-europe-2024-sustainability-trends/): As in previous years, Vitafoods Europe 2024 was a testament to the dynamism of the nutraceutical industry. This year’s maze... - [The B2B Marketing Benchmark 2024 - Food & Nutrition](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-marketing-benchmark-food-and-nutrition/): How are Food & Nutrition B2B enterprises spending their marketing funds? What are their necessities, nice-to-haves and luxuries? And what... - [Day 1 of Vitafoods Europe 2024 revealed how B2B innovation and B2C consumer education will shape nutraceuticals](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-europe-2024-day-1-b2b-innovation-shapes-trends/): Vitafoods Europe 2024 once again solidified its position as the premier gathering for nutraceutical experts, showcasing the industry’s rapid response... - [InCosmetics Global 2024 through the BDB lens: Key Insights for B2B Marketers](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/incosmetics-global-2024-key-insights-for-b2b-marketers/): InCosmetics Global – the beating pulse of the beauty and personal care industry, is widely recognised as the main global... - [Trade media: Top tips for successful food & nutrition ingredients PR](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/tips-for-successful-food-and-nutrition-ingredients-pr/): The B2B food and nutrition trade media has the potential to aid brands to stand out by helping them foster... - [Navigating the cookieless web](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/navigating-the-cookieless-web/): Over the last 20 years we’ve seen the digital landscape evolve significantly to meet the challenges of new privacy and... - [Tech, trust, and turmoil: What’s top of mind for pharma marketeers in 2024?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/essential-tips-for-pharma-marketers/): ‘Optimistic uncertainty’; this was the sentiment underlying the presentations and panel discussions at this year’s PRWeek PharmaComms Conference. In a... - [JEC World 2024 round-up: Stepping into a universe of endless opportunities](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/jec-world-2024-round-up/): JEC World – the epicentre of innovation and ingenuity in the B2B composites world. From automotive breakthroughs to aerospace marvels,... - [Transforming your exhibition stand into a brand powerhouse](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/incorporating-your-b2b-brand-into-a-exhibition-stand/): Exhibiting at a tradeshow is a great way to establish a strong marketplace presence. As well as helping to build... - [Leveraging AI & technology for B2B marketing success: Insights from Martechopia 2024](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/martechopia-2024-insights/): It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the spotlight in the marketing and tech world, especially following its... - [The Power of Collaboration: Converting Leads with Better Marketing and Sales alignment in B2B  ](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/converting-leads-with-better-marketing-and-sales-alignment-in-b2b/): In today’s rapidly evolving B2B marketing landscape, the alignment of marketing and sales teams has emerged as a critical factor... - [Pitch perfect: 3 ways PR adds extra value to your integrated B2B campaign](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pitch-perfect-3-ways-pr-adds-extra-value-to-your-integrated-b2b-campaign/): Have you heard of the ‘rule of 7’? It’s a principle which states that customers need to be exposed to... - [Lights, camera, action: how video content will boost your B2B marketing game in 2024](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lights-camera-action-how-video-content-will-boost-your-b2b-marketing-game-in-2024/): Video has always been a sure-fire to grab our attention as consumers, and in 2024, it’s becoming even more of... - [Leveraging hybrid events to boost B2B marketing success](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leveraging-hybrid-events-to-boost-b2b-marketing-success/): Multiple trend reports highlight that B2B sales will become increasingly hybrid combining online and offline interactions to meet changing customer... - [What AI means for creativity](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-ai-means-for-creativity/): Change isn’t made alone In a world where creative boundaries are constantly being torn down, it’s our responsibility to embrace... - [Unpacking fie 2023: our 4 highlights as an exhibitor](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/unpacking-fie-2023-our-4-highlights-as-an-exhibitor/): Thought about attending – or even exhibiting at – Food ingredients Europe (FiE) as a marketer in the food &... - [2024 trends digest: 5 insights for success in the global food and beverage industry ](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-and-beverage-industry-trends-2024/): Want to make a meaningful impact in the food and beverage industry? Then you need to do more than adapt... - [Thriving in the age of AI in B2B marketing: what are human marketers around the world doing?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/thriving-in-the-age-of-ai-in-b2b-marketing/): In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), our unique human influence becomes our greatest asset in B2B marketing.... - [Our Three-Step Approach to PR Campaign Reporting](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/our-three-step-approach-to-pr-campaign-reporting/): In today’s competitive business landscape, mastering the art of PR is paramount to craft a distinct presence and authoritative profile.... - [Leading the way: Delivering an impactful B2B lead gen campaign](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leading-the-way-planning-and-delivering-an-impactful-b2b-lead-generation-campaign/): Learn how to plan and execute the ultimate B2B lead generation campaign and attract truly engaged and relevant leads with our guide - [3 TRUTHS BEHIND MORE INFORMED, QUICKER DECISION-MAKING IN B2B MARKETING  ](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-truths-behind-more-informed-quicker-decision-making-in-b2b-marketing/): If you’re a marketer in the B2B world, you’ve likely faced an increased incidence of market disruptions, heightened competition and... - [BDB at IFT: Our 4 essential takeaways from the show floor](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/4-lessons-from-our-trip-to-ift-2023/): By Dr. Catherine Butcher, Executive Director – Integrated Services B2B trade events with an overt focus on scientific discovery and... - [BDB’s top trend takeaways from Vitafoods 2023](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdbs-top-trend-takeaways-from-vitafoods-2023/): Vitafoods Europe 2023 is over for another year – and what a show it was! The world’s leading nutraceutical trade... - [Impeccable sustainability marketing, our take on three successful campaigns](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/sustainability-marketing-campaigns/): As sustainability moves up the agenda for many B2B organisations, more businesses are leveraging media platforms to promote social and... - [Personal care and the planet: what can b2b brands do to do better ](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/personal-care-and-the-planet-what-can-b2b-brands-do-to-do-better/): It’s no secret that consumers have greater expectations for the environmental and ethical credentials of their purchases. In fact, over... - [CREATOR, CURATOR OR CHAMPION OF IDEAS: WHAT MAKES A THOUGHT LEADER?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/creator-curator-or-champion-of-ideas-what-makes-a-thought-leader/): Thought leaders. B2B marketers are obsessed with them. Some business leaders want to be them. Customers want to know them.... - [Adapting B2B thought leadership to the evolving digital landscape](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapting-b2b-thought-leadership-to-the-evolving-digital-landscape/): Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) the next type of thought leader?   If it speaks intelligently, writes intelligently, and looks like... - [Awareness to action: Examining the role of thought leadership in the B2B buyer journey](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-role-of-thought-leadership-in-the-b2b-buyer-journey/): As we head into 2023 facing yet more economic uncertainty, the brands who are delivering value and demonstrating impact are... - [Is thought leadership content and PR a winning combination?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-thought-leadership-content-and-pr-a-winning-combination/): Imagine if you could share your industry expertise and subject know-how in an authentic and genuine way that truly creates... - [3D video technologies: defining a new era in B2B marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3d-video-technologies-defining-a-new-era-in-b2b-marketing/): The B2B marketing landscape is saturated with content revolving around complex concepts and products involving a significant degree of technical... - [Can 3D video transform customer engagement strategies?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/can-3d-video-transform-customer-engagement-strategies/): As a form of content that is constantly evolving, video marketing is rapidly becoming a key element in B2B strategies... - [How to prepare for Google Analytics 4 (and why you need to think about it now) ](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/are-you-ready-for-google-analytics-4/): Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will be here sooner than you think and if you haven’t already, it’s important that you... - [B2B !MPACT: Taking B2B creative visualisation to the next level](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-impact-taking-b2b-creative-visualisation-to-the-next-level/): There’s so much more that can be done to make complex – yet ultimately relatable – topics, products and processes... - [Careers at BDB: Sara Houghton](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-sara-houghton/): How can a degree in languages support you in kickstarting a career in marketing, communications and PR? Hear from Sara, one... - [Careers at BDB: Rebecca Spence](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-rebecca-spence/): What does it mean to be part of the Client Services team at a busy B2B marketing and communciations agency?... - [Careers at BDB: Oliver Brewood](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-oliver-brewood/): As part of our #CareersatBDB series, we wanted to introduce you to Oli, our Executive Director of Operations at BDB.... - [Do B2B brands need to be on TikTok? 5 things to think about](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/do-b2b-brands-need-to-be-on-tiktok/): First things first: What is TikTok?   TikTok is a social media platform for short-form video content, somewhat reminiscent of... - [B2B !MPACT: B2B Marketing in a Recession](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-impact-b2b-marketing-in-a-recession/): What does the looming recession mean for B2B marketers? Changes within the economy at large haven’t stopped and with talks... - [Careers at BDB: Nicola Aldren](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-nicola-aldren/): As part of our #CareersatBDB series, we wanted to introduce you to Nic, one of our Senior Account Directors at... - [How to kickstart your career at a marketing and communications agency](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-to-kickstart-your-career-at-a-marketing-and-communications-agency/): The early autumn period usually beckons an influx of thoughts, worry and anxiety for many school leavers and soon-to-be university... - [B2B !MPACT: Does TikTok have a place in B2B marketing?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-mpact-does-tiktok-have-a-place-in-b2b-marketing/): With 1 billion active monthly users worldwide and a top spot on the Google and Apple app stores since 2021,... - [Co-creating impactful business strategies: Why more heads are better than one](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/co-creating-impactful-business-strategies/): Whatever our clients are looking to achieve – whether that’s growing their market share, launching a new product or expanding... - [The Great Re-engagement: how to put people back at the heart of your business](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-great-re-engagement-how-to-put-people-back-at-the-heart-of-your-business/): The struggle to attract and retain talent has been keenly felt in the B2B marketplace over the last couple of... - [A Beginner's Guide to Blockchain](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-is-blockchain-and-how-does-it-work-a-beginners-guide/): In the past few years, blockchain has become one of the most talked-about technologies in the world. But what is... - [B2B !MPACT: Talent wars in the post-pandemic employment market](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-mpact-talent-wars-in-the-post-pandemic-employment-market/): This week on the B2B ! MPACT podcast, Matt and Oli discuss the Great Resignation, a recent phenomenon of employees... - [8 Principles to drive B2B brand impact and business growth](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/8-principles-to-drive-b2b-brand-impact-and-business-growth/): While it is true that in their early years, businesses can do extremely well without brand-building, eventually most businesses hit... - [Pushing the boundaries with the latest digital trends](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pushing-the-boundaries-with-the-latest-digital-trends/): The digital world never stays still for long; being online today means you have to continually prove your worth –... - [Putting the user first: why UX matters in B2B](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/putting-the-user-first-why-ux-matters-in-b2b/): Every customer wants to be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily – and B2B buyers are... - [Adapt and thrive: reclaiming the power to learn in a time of crisis](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapt-and-thrive-reclaiming-the-power-to-learn-in-a-time-of-crisis/): Overnight, marketers and brands alike across the globe were forced to change the way they work in response to the... - [Is your marketing team agile enough?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-your-marketing-team-agile-enough/): We can probably all agree that 2020 has so far been a monumental year. The B2B marketing world is no... - [Staying top of mind with technology](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/staying-top-of-mind-with-technology/): The digital world has changed the way we as B2B marketers communicate with prospects and customers. We’ve adapted our practices... - [Brand visibility in times of uncertainty](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/brand-visibility-in-times-of-uncertainty/): Maintaining a consistent brand equity has always been a priority for businesses, but never more so than now. For years,... - [Royal seal of approval: BDB wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/royal-seal-of-approval-bdb-wins-queens-award-for-enterprise/): BDB has received a 2020 Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade – the most prestigious accolade for UK businesses. Awarded... - [Adapting to survive and thrive](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapting-to-survive-and-thrive/): The pivot. A familiar term for many businesses as we navigate our way through the unprecedented waters of COVID-19. Changing... - [Navigating the new normal](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/navigating-the-new-normal-2/): The world has changed. Regardless of your industry or geographical location, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone in some way... - [Out of ideas? Get those creative juices flowing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/out-of-ideas-get-those-creative-juices-flowing/): “Leave it to the creatives” – something we have all heard and learned to respect in the world of marketing,... - [Be prepared to fail, and fail again](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/be-prepared-to-fail-and-fail-again/): Ideas generation in the marketing minefield Failure is something we all want to avoid at all costs, both from a... - [Is there such a thing as a bad idea?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-bad-idea/): Everyone’s heard of the phrase ‘there’s no such thing as a bad idea’. Tunnel vision, a fear of hurting feelings,... - [Stacking the odds: what are the latest B2B Martech trends?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/stacking-the-odds-what-are-the-latest-b2b-martech-trends/): Martech or ‘marketing technology’ is all about taking a strategic approach to marketing that positions technology as a core driver... - [3 Martech myths debunked](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-martech-myths-debunked/): It’s difficult to ignore Martech in today’s technology-driven marketing landscape, but that hasn’t stopped many marketers from burying their heads... - [Martech made simple: create the ultimate stack](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/martech-made-simple-create-the-ultimate-stack-2/): While often misunderstood as rather mysterious and complicated, Martech is in reality just a simple marriage of marketing and technology.... - [Future-proofing: five content platforms B2B is ready for in 2020](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/future-proofing-five-content-platforms-b2b-is-ready-for-in-2020/): New year, same old platforms. Sound familiar? It’s no secret that people digest content in different ways – so why... - [A good influence? How to leverage B2B content with influencer marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-good-influence-how-to-leverage-b2b-content-with-influencer-marketing/): In some B2B spaces, where old-school approaches linger, there are a lot of misconceptions around influencer marketing. The phrase conjures... - [Social media best practice: 5 crucial content tips](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/social-media-best-practice-5-crucial-content-tips/): Getting it right on social media is more important than ever before. The instant nature of communication and response leaves... - [Tooled up: martech for your content marketing kit](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/tooled-up-martech-for-your-content-marketing-kit/): With the abundance of customer data now available to marketers, it’s no surprise that there’s been an explosion of marketing... - [No more smoke and mirrors: why data transparency benefits your customers – and you](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/no-more-smoke-and-mirrors-why-data-transparency-benefits-your-customers-and-you/): We’ve established that data is good news for your business, but it can bring its own set of challenges. With... - [Data trends set to make an impact in 2020](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/data-trends-set-to-make-an-impact-in-2020/): Yes, it’s that time already – we’re nearly at the end of 2019 and ready to chat about trends for... - [Could you be your own data scientist?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/could-you-be-your-own-data-scientist/): What’s your way with numbers? We’re living in the era of data-driven marketing. Data fuels our daily marketing activities, powers... - [Who’s your ideal buyer? Data has the answer](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/whos-your-ideal-buyer-data-has-the-answer/): In a world of information overload, it’s more important than ever to be clever with the abundance of data we... - [Let analytics do the talking: a deep dive into data-driven marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/data-driven-marketing/): What does data mean for your business? The exponential growth of data-driven marketing in the B2B space has been powered... - [How does brand responsibility affect your business?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-does-brand-responsibility-affect-your-business/): A consistent corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy is at the heart of every successful business. As consumers, we trust brands... - [A sceptical society: How can B2B brands gain the trust of their audience?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-sceptical-society-how-can-b2b-brands-gain-the-trust-of-their-audience/): A survey published by Deloitte this year found that, out of more than 13,000 millennials across 42 countries, just 55%... - [Is purpose the new brand currency?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-purpose-the-new-brand-currency/): It’s no secret that creating a connection with customers can enhance the B2B buying experience; ultimately leading to engaged buyers and increased... - [Why B2B brands must deliver on their promises](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-b2b-brands-must-deliver-on-their-promises/): It’s no longer acceptable for brands to communicate their values and intentions but never deliver. Modern buyers have wised up... - [How can experiential marketing deliver real-world ROI?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-can-experiential-marketing-deliver-real-world-roi/): According to new research, 67% of B2B marketers expect their experiential marketing budgets to increase before the end of 2020,... - [Experiential Marketing Done Right: 3 Ideas to Inspire You](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/experiential-marketing-done-right-3-ideas-to-inspire-you/): Trade shows may be a tried-and-true B2B faithful, but trade show marketing has morphed into an entirely new creation. Welcome... - [Showtime: how can you stand out from the crowd at trade shows?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/showtime-how-can-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd-at-trade-shows/): When done right, trade shows can be a great source of leads, revenue and brand awareness for B2B businesses. It’s... - [Creating experiential exhibitions for the modern world](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/creating-experiential-exhibitions-for-the-modern-world/): Exhibitions have been a long-standing fixture in the B2B world, but is there still a place for them in the... - [Making conversation count](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/making-conversation-count/): Conversation makes the world go round, and when utilised within a marketing strategy helps drive sales without really ‘selling’. It... - [Chatbots: what's the hype?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/chatbots-whats-the-hype/): Fast, efficient, a time saver: just some of the ways businesses are talking about chatbots. As part of a communications... - [All talk? Three B2B conversational marketing metrics worth tracking](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/all-talk-three-b2b-conversational-marketing-metrics-worth-tracking/): With all B2B marketing campaigns, tracking and measuring the results is crucial – not only to determine ROI and justify... - [A human approach: harnessing conversational marketing in B2B](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-human-approach-harnessing-conversational-marketing-in-b2b/): By offering businesses the opportunity to connect with their customers and prospects in a more human way, conversational marketing drives... - [Five B2B influencer marketing metrics you need to measure](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/five-b2b-influencer-marketing-metrics-you-need-to-measure/): For B2B marketers, tracking and measuring both the ongoing progress and the results of their campaigns is key. After all,... - [Securing social success: the dos and dont's of influencer marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/securing-social-success-the-dos-and-donts-of-influencer-marketing/): Influencer marketing has seen rapid growth in today’s digital-first world. While typically seen as a B2C marketing strategy, it can... - [Influencer marketing: what does it mean for B2B?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/influencer-marketing-what-does-it-mean-for-b2b/): A hybrid of both old and new marketing techniques, influencer marketing is an approach that has taken the marketing world... - [The power of persuasion: 3 outstanding B2B influencer marketing campaigns](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-power-of-persuasion-3-outstanding-b2b-influencer-marketing-campaigns/): Although not an entirely new concept, influencer marketing has seen major growth in today’s digital-first world. Celebrity endorsements have been... - [The power of influence](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-power-of-influence-2/): Influencer marketing is now a force to be reckoned with in the marketing world, having seen incredible growth in the... - [The numbers game: how should your business be measuring results?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-numbers-game-how-should-your-business-be-measuring-results/): Businesses globally are starting to realise the importance of aligning their sales and marketing teams. But how exactly can companies... - [A changing buyer journey: multiple touchpoints in a non-linear sales funnel](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-changing-buyer-journey-multiple-touchpoints-in-a-non-linear-sales-funnel/): Today’s B2B buyers have a myriad of touchpoints to jump between and can engage and purchase at any given juncture.... - [Account based marketing: zero waste communications](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/account-based-marketing-zero-waste-communications/): “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half. ” – John... - [Align or die: 4 practical tips for sales and marketing alignment](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/align-or-die-4-practical-tips-for-sales-and-marketing-alignment/): Traditionally, the focus of marketing teams has been to generate leads for sales, which were then qualified and turned into... - [8 factors to consider when launching a website](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/8-factors-to-consider-when-launching-a-website/): Launching a website is an exciting step for your business, but ensuring that it achieves everything you need it to... - [How to use storytelling for sales and marketing alignment](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-to-use-storytelling-for-sales-and-marketing-alignment/): Our world is changing at a rapid pace. New technology and trends cause regular disruption within the B2B industry, forcing... - [4 tips on how to engage with the modern B2B buyer](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/4-tips-on-how-to-engage-with-the-modern-b2b-buyer/): Over the past few years, the B2B buying process has changed dramatically. Modern B2B buyers are becoming more aligned to... - [Helping out and having fun with Seashell Trust](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/helping-out-having-fun-seashell-trust/): Last week saw members of the BDB team volunteering with Seashell Trust for the annual May CADS (Children’s Able and... - [The role of storytelling in delivering a coherent customer experience](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-role-of-storytelling-in-delivering-a-coherent-customer-experience/): When it comes to engaging with the modern B2B consumer, brands have their work cut out for them. People are... - [Which of the 7 plot types should you choose for B2B storytelling?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/which-of-the-7-plot-types-should-you-choose-for-b2b-storytelling/): Narrative storytelling can help a B2B company connect with their audience on an emotional level. But no matter what kind of story is... - [Mastering the art of B2B storytelling](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/mastering-the-art-of-b2b-storytelling-2/): Storytelling is an effective B2B marketing tool because it can make a brand more relatable and influence buyer decision-making. We’ve... - [Getting To Know You: Meet BDB's New Starters](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/getting-to-know-you-meet-bdbs-new-starters/): Over the last few months, BDB has appointed a number of talented individuals to join its continuously growing team. From... - [Why doesn’t my voice assistant understand my accent?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-doesnt-my-voice-assistant-understand-my-accent/): Ever had a conversation with a voice assistant and found it’s been unable to understand your accent? If so, you’re... - [How your B2B brand can harness the power of Alexa Flash Briefing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-your-b2b-brand-can-harness-the-power-of-alexa-flash-briefing/): In the B2B marketing world, people are always looking to predict the next major trend, and the one that keeps... - [Vitafoods 2019: Supporting Europe's largest nutraceutical event](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-2019-bdb-supporting-europes-largest-nutraceutical-event/): As a B2B marketing consultancy with a heritage in the world of food ingredients, health and science, BDB has been... - [Hello, is it me you're looking for?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/hello-is-it-me-youre-looking-for/): As part of our mission to share marketing knowledge, we’ve created the B2B marketer’s guide to voice, focussing on how... - [What types of voice search content do B2B businesses need?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-types-of-voice-search-content-do-b2b-businesses-need/): When it comes to new technology, voice assistants have emerged as a growing trend in the marketing industry. It’s thought... - [5 voice search optimisation techniques for your business](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/5-voice-search-optimisation-techniques-for-growing-your-business-2/): Embracing new technology is one of the best ways for companies to reach consumers. Voice assistant devices are among the... - [Food matters live 2019](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-matters-live-2019/): Zoë Wilkins MA (Hons) DipM is an account director at Barrett Dixon Bell (BDB), a leading international B2B marketing communications... - [Meeting at FiE 2019](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meeting-at-fie-2019/): For the last 30 years BDB has been helping international businesses and brands overcome complex business problems and unlock sales... - [Meet Holly & Dimo: BDB's two new senior hires](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-holly-and-dimo-bdb-new-hires/): Exciting news for team BDB: we’ve grown our team with two new experienced hires! Holly Jobbins and Dimo Stoychev have... - [BDB secures 5th place in Prolific North’s Top 50 PR Agencies for the second year running](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-secures-5th-place-in-prolific-norths-top-50-pr-agencies-for-the-second-year-running/): We are proud to announce that for the second year in a row BDB have been placed in the top... - [CPhI 2018: Find out what we got up to](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/cphi-2018-find-out-what-we-got-up-to/): It’s that time of the year again! It’s tradeshow season and we have just returned from another successful week at... - [Meet us at Fleet Live 2018](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-us-at-fleet-live-2018/): We’re attending the Fleet Live exhibition in Birmingham this week. With our clients in the sector including Esso Card™ and... - [Key insights from Campaign Underground: Focal Recall event, Camden](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/key-insights-from-campaign-underground-focal-recall-event-camden/): Ask most people in your office, and they won’t remember what they had for dinner last night, let alone the... - [Why choose a b2b marketing agency?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-choose-a-b2b-marketing-agency/): I was recently asked to describe what benefits a B2B company could gain from having a marketing agency, rather than... - [Seizing the opportunity: What can come of the single-use plastics ban?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/seizing-the-opportunity-what-can-come-of-the-single-use-plastics-ban/): The UN wants to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022 and more than 60 countries have already taken steps to eradicate... - [Breaking out of the marketing bubble](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-out-of-the-marketing-bubble/): The findings from the recent Trinity Mirror report on ‘why we shouldn’t trust our gut instincts’, make for enlightening reading.... - [The continued rise of ‘live’: why B2B businesses shouldn’t miss out](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/continued-rise-live-b2b-businesses-shouldnt-miss/): A whopping 87% of us look at a second device while watching TV. That’s because texting, tweeting and scrolling while... - [Top tips for b2b PR campaign planning success](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-tips-b2b-pr-campaign-planning-success/): Creating a comprehensive plan is key to any effective Public Relations (PR) campaign. Whether it’s the launch of a new... - [B2B media relations: five top tips for getting noticed](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-media-relations-five-top-tips-getting-noticed/): Used effectively, media relations can establish credibility and raise brand awareness – ultimately helping to build a positive reputation externally.... - [Nutrition: What are the key trends dominating the industry?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/nutrition-key-trends-dominating-industry/): Every year, new trends emerge within the nutrition industry, and it’s up to food, beverage and dietary supplement manufacturers to... - [Giving a little back with Seashell Trust](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/giving-little-back-seashell-trust/): BDB has participated in several volunteering days with Seashell Trust over Easter – helping children with complex learning and communication... - [Ten years in the running: the Manchester 10K](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/ten-years-running-manchester-10k/): BDB will once again be running the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 20th May – to raise money for its chosen charity, Seashell... - [BDB boosts team with senior client services hire](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-senior-client-services-hire/): Marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has further expanded its team with the reappointment of Nicola Aldren as account director. With a... - [BDB launches BDB Sustain to provide clients with future-first marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-launches-bdb-sustain-provide-clients-future-first-marketing/): In a pioneering move, BDB now offers a consultation service that supports its b2b clients across multiple industries in identifying... - [Leading the digital revolution](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leading-digital-revolution/): It’s no secret that the digital marketing world is moving at a remarkable pace. The question is, how do we... - [Let's talk digital: video and AI](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lets-talk-digital-video-ai/): Digital marketing is a fast-paced discipline, with social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter continually updating their user settings,... - [TRUE OR FALSE?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/true-or-false/): Ever the ethereal beast in the minds of most marketers, brand is relentlessly talked about, debated and analysed the world... - [BDB follows in footsteps of Virgin and Netflix](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-follows-footsteps-virgin-netflix/): BDB has announced a radical new move with regards to its workplace culture. Employees can now enjoy unlimited holidays, as... - [Brand strategy: Building a sustainable brand in the packaging industry](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/brand-strategy-building-sustainable-brand-packaging-industry/): Last week, we were lucky enough to join some of the world’s most well-known brands, including retailers and suppliers, at... - [The art of campaign brainstorming](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/art-campaign-brainstorming/): “‘Brainstorm’ means using the brain to storm a creative problem and do so in commando fashion, with each stormer attacking... - [Storytelling in B2B](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/storytelling-in-b2b/): People are natural-born storytellers, and have been for years. From drawings on cave walls, to The Iliad, to Harry Potter... - [3 things I have learnt as a digital apprentice at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-things-i-learnt-digital-apprentice-bdb/): 2018 marks the end of my apprenticeship at BDB and what a journey it’s been! With an exciting career ahead... - [Four trends shaping B2B marketing in 2018](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/four-trends-shaping-b2b-marketing-2018/): 2018 is set to be an exciting year for B2B marketing. With the industry projected to grow at an annual... - [GDPR Q&A: Everything you need to know](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/gdpr-qa-everything-need-know/): The new General Data Protection Act (GDPR) that is coming into force on 25 May 2018 has raised plenty of... - [Baby boomers vs. the digital age - why going digital doesn't mean leaving them behind](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/baby-boomers-vs-digital-age-going-digital-doesnt-mean-leaving-behind/): Why should brands and marketers care about a boring, aging population made up of traditional technophobes, particularly in their digital... - [Three key takeaways from FiE 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-key-takeaways-fie-2017/): Every two years, over 20,000 professionals from across the global food and beverage industry gather at Food Ingredients Europe (FiE)... - [Three reasons why data is king in b2b marketing](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-reasons-data-king-b2b-marketing/): “It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data” – Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlett, Sir. Arthur... - [Twitter ups its game and character limit](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/twitter-ups-game-character-limit/): It’s one of the biggest updates to Twitter since it began in 2006. A new 280-character limit has been introduced... - [BDB to attend Food Matters Live 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-attend-food-matters-live-2017/): In just over a week, BDB will head down to London’s ExCel for this year’s Food Matters Live exhibition. The... - [Digital marketing apprentice: my first week at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-marketing-apprentice-first-week-bdb/): What a week! After participating in the ever so intense boot camp at the Juice Academy, I was fortunate enough... - [Pharma in Frankfurt: BDB at CPhI 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pharma-frankfurt-bdb-cphi-2017/): CPhI, well-known as ‘the place to be’ in the pharmaceutical industry, was held in Frankfurt this year, and never one... - [B2B gets personal](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-gets-personal/): Have you ever got the feeling you’re being followed? Well, you may want to get used to the term ‘personalisation’;... - [Why conventional won’t cut it any more](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/conventional-wont-cut/): The highlight of B2B Marketing’s Ignite conference, for me, was the end of the day. Not because I was desperate... - [Presenting the power of colour in my first month at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/presenting-power-colour-first-month-bdb/): As an intercultural business psychology student from Dortmund, Germany, I was given the opportunity to take a few months away... - [Let’s talk relationships](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lets-talk-relationships/): “Treat your customers like lifetime partners” -Michael LeBoeuf The average client – consultancy relationship is said to last 3. 2... - [Contenders ready? BDB takes on Rough Runner](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/contenders-ready-bdb-takes-rough-runner/): The BDB team will be taking on another sporting challenge this October – this time it will be Rough Runner.... - [Crossing borders at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/crossing-borders-bdb/): Your first job is always scary. You are unsure of what to expect – will you fit in? Who will... - [A lot can happen in a year… and a lot has!](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lot-can-happen-year-lot/): My first year at BDB has been anything but dull, let me tell you that. A year of new challenges,... - [Generating leads in B2B](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/generating-leads-b2b/): If a stranger came up to you on the street and tried to sell you a bottle of milk, would... - [BDB announces landmark management buyout](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-announces-landmark-management-buyout/): Matt Smith, managing director at leading international b2b marketing consultancy, BDB, has spearheaded a management buyout, with the new executive... - [Catherine Butcher: A Week in My Life](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/catherine-butcher-week-life/): Curious to know what it would be like to work for an international marketing communications consultancy? This week our Deputy... - [BDB boosts team with two new recruits](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-two-new-recruits/): BDB, a leading international b2b marketing communications consultancy, has further expanded its team with two new hires. Following a series... - [BDB picks up new manufacturing brief](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-picks-new-manufacturing-brief/): International b2b marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has added MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions (MEIS), a leading manufacturer of surface coatings and... - [BDB wins two new advanced technology clients](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-wins-two-new-advanced-technology-clients/): International b2b marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has been appointed by two new clients: Huntsman Advanced Materials and senseFly. Both global... - [New b2b marketing beginnings at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/new-b2b-marketing-beginnings-bdb/): Finishing university can be scary. Years of revising for exams and writing assignments come to an end, and suddenly lots... - [Break the rules: why b2b copywriting doesn't mean boring](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/break-rules-b2b-copywriting-doesnt-mean-boring/): B2B marketing has shared one of our top tips for how b2b marketers can improve their copywriting. Our first tip... - [Three months and counting at BDB: Alex Calder, Finance manager](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-months-counting-bdb/): We continuously seek skilled and talented people to join our growing team. We recently recruited Alex Calder, who has joined... - [Celebrating 30 years in style: BDB does Bruges](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/celebrating-30-years-style-bdb-bruges/): This summer, BDB marks its 30th birthday. To give ourselves a little pat on the back, we’re taking on beers,... - [BDB takes 5th place in the Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-takes-5th-place-prolific-north-top-50-pr-agencies-2017/): We’re proud to announce that BDB has made the top 5 in this year’s edition of the Prolific North Top... - [Breaking the content marketing mould: what’s next for B2B marketing’s most popular player?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-content-marketing-mould-whats-next-b2b-marketings-popular-player/): The recent B2B Marketing Ignite 2017 conference saw more than 80 leaders from across the world of B2B marketing come... - [Four steps to global dominance](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/four-steps-global-dominance/): Achieving global presence for many companies can seem daunting. However, thanks to the internet, crossing international borders has become possible... - [BDB grows team with four new hires](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-grows-team-four-new-hires/): Following a successful start to the year and a number of new client wins, BDB has further strengthened its team... - [Top take aways from Vitafoods 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-take-aways-vitafoods-2017/): Every year we visit the lovely city of Geneva to deliver press support at one of our favourite tradeshows; Vitafoods... - [Wrapping up this year’s trends from Interpack](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/wrapping-years-trends-interpack/): Not only was this year’s Interpack a priceless opportunity for us to get some face time with our clients while... - [Putting our best foot forward: Running the Manchester 10k](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/putting-best-foot-forward-running-manchester-10k/): For the ninth year, BDB will be taking part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 28th May, raising money... - [Three cheers for BDB! My first few months at the B2B specialist agency](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-cheers-bdb-first-months-b2b-specialist-agency/): Day one of a new job – we’ve all been there. Nerves about making a good first impression, excitement at... - [Supporting our chosen charity: Seashell Trust](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/supporting-chosen-charity-seashell-trust/): BDB has always been committed to supporting charities, and 2017 is no different. However, this year, the team has decided... - [Senior Production Executive: My first week at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/senior-produtction-executive-my-first-week-at-bdb/): From the moment I stepped foot into BDB, it was clear this was the place to be! Following the interview... - [Why should marketers pay any attention to industry 4.0?](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/marketers-pay-attention-industry-4-0/): This week we joined some of the world’s industrial automation heavyweights, including ABB, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Mitsubishi Electric,... - [BDB showcases technical expertise with new client](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-showcases-technical-expertise-new-client/): International b2b marketing communications agency, BDB, has been appointed by industrial leader, Flexitallic, on a global, integrated campaign. Reinforcing BDB’s... - [Four things I learnt from Mr. Whipple](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/five-things-i-learnt-mr-whipple/): I recently read the book Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, a historic look at advertising – the good, bad and the... - [BDB relaunches M&I materials’ MIDEL brand](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-relaunches-mi-materials-midel-brand/): Following a full strategy review, BDB has relaunched M&I Materials’ brand of transformer fluids, MIDEL. Appointed in early 2016, BDB... - [My first 3 months as a digital apprentice at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-3-months-digital-apprentice-bdb/): Over the past few months working with BDB, I have learnt so many new interesting things and have really broadened... - [Digital marketing highlights from this year's Prolific North Live](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-marketing-highlights-years-prolific-north-live/): BDB recently attended this year’s Prolific North Live event, which brings together media, marketing and creative professionals from across the... - [BDB boosts team with three new hires](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-three-new-hires/): Leading North West b2b marketing communications agency, BDB, has further expanded its team with the appointment of two new account... - [Account Executive: My first week at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/account-executive-my-first-week-at-bdb/): Starting a new job, whatever degree of experience you have, is a nerve-wracking experience. Making a great first impression really... - [BDB bolsters team with experienced account manager hire](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-bolsters-team-experienced-account-manager-hire/): BDB, the leading international B2B marketing communications specialists, has enhanced its 30-strong team of professionals with the addition of experienced... - [Day in the life: technical content manager](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/day-life-technical-content-manager/): The role of technical content manager is new for me – as well as for BDB. Given the specialised nature... - [BDB ranked UK’s 2nd fastest growing marcomms agency](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-ranked-uks-2nd-fastest-growing-marcomms-agency/): Following an extremely successful year, BDB is pleased to announce that it has been named the UK’s 2nd fastest-growing marcomms... - [Feeding the future with Brian Cox: highlights](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/feeding-future-brian-cox-highlights/): At BDB, we’re no strangers to science. In fact, we love it. That’s why we joined Brian Cox, the Royal... - [Food for thought: hot topics in 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-thought-hot-topics-2017/): The world’s food and drinks industry is an ever-evolving, dynamic and competitive landscape, and our clients have always changed with... - [Top 4 creative ideas from EuroTier 2016](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-4-creative-ideas-eurotier-2016/): BDB recently attended EuroTier, the largest exhibition on animal husbandry, to deliver press support for our client DSM. Carmen Soggia,... - [Must-see marketing trends for 2017](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/must-see-marketing-trends-2017/): December is not only a time for reflection on the past year, but also for contemplating how your business can... - [Integrated communications planning in construction: a view from London Build](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/integrated-communications-planning-construction-view-london-build/): Following our successful seminar on ‘social media in the construction industry’ at the North England Build Expo, Neil Malcom, Account... - [Meet us at SCS Formulate for personal care experience & marketing expertise](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-us-scs-formulate-personal-care-experience-marketing-expertise/): BDB will attend this year’s SCS Formulate on Tuesday 15th November to meet with a number of professionals within the... - [Jessica Turner, Digital and Social Media Apprentice: My First Week at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-social-media-apprentice-first-week-bdb/): It’s the end of my first week at BDB and it’s started at full pace! In the space of a... - [First-timer: how to approach a video shoot](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-timer-approach-video-shoot/): So, one day your client asks: “can you put a cost together for the planning and filming of a video?... - [BDB welcomes new social media apprentice, Jess Turner](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-welcomes-new-social-media-apprentice/): Following a gruelling full day of boot camp at the Juice Academy, which included presentations, exercises and ‘speed dating’, BDB... - [BDB to hold communications planning workshop at London Build Expo 2016](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-hold-communications-planning-workshop-london-build-expo-2016/): BDB will be hosting a training workshop at this year’s London Build Expo on ‘Marketing Communications Campaign Planning in the... - [Pharmaceutical insights from CPhI 2016](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pharmaceutical-insights-cphi-2016/): BDB recently attended CPhI Worldwide in Barcelona to provide press support for one of our clients. The world’s leading European... - [My First Week at BDB](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-week-bdb/): From joining a EUREKA team meeting in my first hour to enjoying Prosecco on a Tuesday afternoon, my first week... - [Top tips for a successful brand makeover](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-tips-for-a-successful-brand-makeover/): “In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first. ” Jimi Hendrix It’s time for... - [When B2B media channels are weak](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-media-channels-weak/): One of the challenges that I often hear from marketers in the Asian B2B market is the lack of a... - [BDB unveils revitalised brand and positioning](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-unveils-revitalised-brand-positioning/): Leading international B2B marketing communications specialist BDB today announced the launch of its refreshed corporate identity with an enhanced strategic... - [Breaking the mould in B2B PR](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-the-mould-in-b2b-pr/): It’s well-known that PR agencies across the world have a reputation problem, often described as ‘fluffy’ or seen as being... - [BDB attends Vitafoods Europe 2016](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-attends-vitafoods-europe-2016/): BDB attended this year’s Vitafoods Europe held in Geneva on the 10th – 12th May, to provide press support to... - [BDB exhibits and presents at 2016 North England Build Expo](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-exhibits-and-presents-at-2016-north-england-build-expo/): BDB participated in the inaugural North England Build Expo, on the 27th and 28th April at Manchester Central, which saw... - [BDB grows team with three new hires](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-grows-team-with-three-new-hires/): Leading North West b2b marketing communications agency, BDB has bolstered its team with a series of new hires. Following a... - [BDB bolsters leadership team](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-bolsters-leadership-team/): Following last month’s announcement of our new managing director, Matt Smith, BDB has added three senior marketing and communications professionals... - [BDB announces new managing director](https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-announces-new-managing-director/): We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Smith as managing director of BDB. With the clear goal of building... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages ### AI Sitemap (LLMs.txt) - Published: 2025-04-11 - Modified: 2025-04-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/ai-sitemap/ What is LLMs. txt? LLMs. txt is a simple text-based sitemap for Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and others. It helps AI systems understand and index your public content more effectively. This is the beginning of a new kind of visibility on the web — one that works not just for search engines, but for AI-powered agents and assistants. You can view your AI sitemap at: https://bdb. global/llms. txt Why it's important Helps your content get discovered by AI tools Works alongside traditional SEO plugins Updates automatically as your content grows --- ### Join our mailing list (pharma-specific insights) - Published: 2024-11-04 - Modified: 2024-11-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/join-our-pharma-mailing-list/ --- ### Join our mailing list - Published: 2024-10-24 - Modified: 2024-10-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/join-our-mailing-list/ --- ### AI charter - Published: 2024-10-07 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/ai-charter/ --- ### Terms of use - Published: 2024-10-07 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/terms-of-use/ --- ### Privacy policy - Published: 2024-10-07 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/privacy-policy/ --- ### Exhibitions and events > From stand design to post-event engagement, BDB’s event marketing services help you create memorable experiences and meaningful connections. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/exhibitions-and-events/ --- ### Media planning and buying > Maximise visibility, drive engagement and generate quality leads with BDB’s data-driven media strategies across trade media, paid social, PPC and more. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/media-planning-and-buying/ --- ### PR and media relations > From sector-specific media coverage to meaningful thought leadership, maximise your brand's impact with B2B PR and media services from BDB. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/pr-and-media-relations/ --- ### Content strategy and copywriting > With BDB, you get value-driven B2B content marketing strategies designed to capture attention, build trust and nurture meaningful relationships. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/content-strategy-and-copywriting/ --- ### Creative and design > From dynamic visuals to globally adaptable campaigns, BDB specialises in transforming brand vision and values into compelling creative solutions. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/creative-and-design/ --- ### Research and strategy > Enhance your brand’s growth and gain a competitive edge with BDB's tailored B2B marketing strategy services. - Published: 2024-10-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/research-and-strategy/ --- ### Pharmaceuticals > BDB is a full-service B2B marketing agency delivering tailored strategies for pharmaceutical brands specialising in APIs, excipients, biologics and CDMOs. - Published: 2024-10-01 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/sectors/pharmaceutical/ --- ### Personal care ingredients > As an integrated B2B marketing agency, BDB delivers bespoke communication strategies for personal care brands in skin & hair care, cosmetics and fragrances. - Published: 2024-10-01 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/sectors/personal-care-ingredients/ --- ### Advanced materials > As experts in advanced materials marketing, BDB helps brands in composites, coatings, polymers and more discover commercial success. - Published: 2024-10-01 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/sectors/advanced-materials/ --- ### Careers - Published: 2024-09-30 - Modified: 2024-10-30 - URL: https://bdb.global/careers/ --- ### Digital and technology > Boost your B2B brand’s online presence and drive meaningful business outcomes with strategic omnichannel digital marketing campaigns. - Published: 2024-09-10 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/digital-and-technology/ --- ### Services > Maximise your ROI with BDB's integrated marketing services. From lead generation to customer retention, we deliver strategic campaigns designed to achieve more. - Published: 2024-09-10 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/services/ --- ### Food & nutrition ingredients > With decades of expertise, we help food, nutraceutical and animal health brands stand out and achieve impactful results. Savour commercial success with BDB. - Published: 2024-09-09 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/sectors/food-nutrition/ --- ### Sectors > Unlock your brand's potential with tailored, targeted and transformative marketing campaigns across food, pharma, personal care and advanced materials. - Published: 2024-09-09 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/sectors/ --- ### Insights Hub - Published: 2024-08-21 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/ --- ### Contact us - Published: 2024-08-21 - Modified: 2024-10-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/contact-us/ --- ### Why BDB? - Published: 2024-08-21 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/why-bdb/ --- ### Home > Achieve more with globally reaching, fully integrated, technically minded, truly consultative B2B marketing communications agency. - Published: 2024-08-21 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/ --- ## ## Posts ### Power of the human touch: 5 strategies to future-proof your content in the age of AI > Why the rise of AI means bringing more humanity to B2B marketing, not less. Five practical strategies from industry leaders to future-proof your B2B content strategy. - Published: 2025-01-16 - Modified: 2025-01-16 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/5-strategies-to-future-proof-your-b2b-content-in-the-age-of-ai/ - Categories: Insight AI is reshaping marketing faster than any technology that came before it. Semrush's Spotlight 2024 brought together over 60 digital marketing leaders to discuss the future of the industry. A clear takeaway: adopting AI is essential but success hinges on thoughtful execution. As Semrush CMO Andrew Warden cautions, businesses that ignore AI risk falling behind. Yet the path forward isn't about replacing human creativity – it's about using technology intelligently while protecting what makes marketing meaningful.   From emotional storytelling to platform-specific authenticity, from eight-second opportunities to the power of genuine expertise, industry leaders revealed five key strategies for B2B marketers looking to thrive in this new landscape.   1. The power of real connection  System1Group's Chief Customer Officer Jon Evans revealed a crucial disjunct in B2B marketing. While 60% of B2B advertising generates only neutral responses, campaigns that balance technical and emotional elements achieve 29% more profit growth than purely rational approaches.   This stat demonstrates that even when it comes to business decisions, we're fundamentally human and we crave connection. To understand how this works in practice, let's consider two contrasting approaches to launching manufacturing equipment:  1. The rational approach leads with speed, specifications and output rates.    2. The human approach opens by introducing a production manager who eliminated a critical bottleneck, boosted team morale and met ambitious targets using the new system – then unpacks the technical specifications that made it possible.   2. Capitalise on your eight-second opportunity  Spotlight demolished myths about Gen Z's short attention span. The reality is... --- ### Lived experience vs. lip service: Mastering authentic employer branding for your business > Discover how to create workplaces where people thrive in our latest issue of the knowledge, which explores authentic employer branding for B2B companies. - Published: 2024-12-13 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/mastering-authentic-employer-branding/ - Categories: Insight, the knowledge In today’s talent market, an authentic employer brand is not about catchy slogans or glossy visuals - it’s about establishing a workplace where transparency, trust and shared values are woven into everyday experiences. Building this kind of brand is like a partnership, a yin and yang of mutual promises between employers and employees. When done right, employer branding is a clear, lived expression of a company’s values and a commitment that supports the aspirations of both sides. It’s a pledge, setting the foundation for an environment where people feel valued, empowered and inspired to contribute their best.   In the latest issue of the knowledge, we outline the essential strategies for building an authentic employer brand - one that resonates deeply both within and outside the organisation. This blog offers a concise overview of what you can expect from the edition, including advice on how to attract top talent through a culture that truly lives up to its promises. Read on to discover actionable insights that can help make this vision a reality.   The shifting employee-employer dynamic  At its core, employer branding is how organisations differentiate themselves in their market. But creating an effective employer brand requires more than a clearly defined mission and values that gather dust on a shelf. The best employer brands capture the very essence of company culture and consistently apply it across people and talent development strategies. It often comes down to one important question: how well do you really know your team and what matters... --- ### Green meets growth: SupplySide West 2024 showcases the marketing edge of conservation-driven innovation > From clean labels to minimalist booths, SupplySide West 2024 highlighted sustainability's growing role in U.S. health and nutrition markets. Discover more. - Published: 2024-11-22 - Modified: 2024-11-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/spotlight-on-sustainability-insights-from-supplyside-west-2024/ - Categories: News This year’s SupplySide West Expo in Las Vegas stood out as a remarkable reflection of both the event and the city’s evolving identity. Once known for excess and waste, Las Vegas has transformed into a leader in sustainability, investing millions in green initiatives since 2005. Today, the city ranks second in the U. S. for solar capacity per capita, a testament to its commitment to eco-conscious growth1. Just as the city has embraced sustainability, the stateside trade event mirrored this shift, showcasing innovations that align with increasing demand for more responsible solutions and marketing in the health and wellness industry.   The show, which drew more than 20,000 participants and 1,500 exhibiting companies, embraced eco-friendly minimalism: plush carpets and elaborate stands were gone, replaced by industrial floors, smaller stands and natural materials. The move wasn’t just about aesthetics but the market appetite in the US – a deliberate statement about conservation, right down to the pledge to replant trees at the show across Nevada. Minimalism prevailed on the show floor too, with clean label formulation emerging as a key trend.    A tale of two continents  At SupplySide West 2024, sustainability wasn't just part of the conversation – it was leading it. The explicit celebration of environmental credentials was notably different from what we saw at European trade shows this year, with sustainability not a marketing angle in and of itself, but rather a baseline expectation that’s foundational to the region’s nutraceutical and dietary supplement industry.   This divergence reflects Europe's long-standing leadership... --- ### Behind the scenes at CPHI 2024: 5 standout insights from BDB’s Scientific Copywriter - Published: 2024-10-25 - Modified: 2024-11-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/behind-the-scenes-at-cphi-2024-5-standout-insights-from-bdbs-scientific-copywriter/ - Categories: Insight That’s a wrap! CPHI 2024 has come to a close and what a show it has been. This year, I had the pleasure of joining the BDB team at the event - and from insightful discussions to groundbreaking innovations, there was plenty to take in. Here’s my key highlights and the moments that truly caught my attention.    Keep your eyes peeled... BDB is a consultative global partner for pharmaceutical marketing, with more than 35 years of industry experience. We specialise in crafting transformative and fully integrated B2B communication strategies on a global scale; empowering pharma and human-health brands to achieve more.   To help brands thrive in this competitive landscape, we surveyed 50+ marketing professionals at CPHI Milan 2024 to get their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within marketing communications. We’ll be showcasing key insights and valuable learnings from the specialist survey in the B2B Pharma Marketing Benchmark. Stay tuned for this inspiring resource — launching soon!   Join our mailing list and get a copy as soon as the report is out. 1. AI isn't a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ – so take the leap of faith   Has your business embraced artificial intelligence (AI) yet? As the saying goes, the best time to start was yesterday; the second-best, today - and this holds true for the adoption of AI in pharma. If you don’t adapt you risk getting left behind. This message was clear at CPHI 2024. AI was a major focus at the event and for good reason. It... --- ### Hidden post test - Published: 2024-10-22 - Modified: 2024-11-25 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/hidden-post-test/ - Categories: Hidden This should be hidden from the insights hub. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut dignissim vel metus a rhoncus. Mauris risus lorem, viverra quis vulputate sed, condimentum sed leo. Nulla et justo magna. Cras et erat nec neque laoreet condimentum sit amet ut lacus. Etiam tortor arcu, tempor non mi vehicula, dapibus scelerisque ipsum. Phasellus accumsan sodales massa id vehicula. Vivamus consectetur massa et sem faucibus interdum. Nunc eros lorem, iaculis in posuere eu, porttitor ac lectus. Vestibulum varius sapien nunc, ac rhoncus neque fermentum sit amet. Duis ullamcorper nunc purus, nec pellentesque massa dapibus ac. Vivamus vehicula aliquam tincidunt. Quisque porta interdum augue, in maximus diam. Suspendisse feugiat feugiat molestie. Mauris tristique vitae purus at faucibus. Testing the gated content functionality Ut varius urna ligula, eu imperdiet justo tincidunt vel. Maecenas eleifend vestibulum urna eu malesuada. Nunc aliquam diam eu urna rhoncus, quis sagittis ante placerat. Vestibulum vulputate, metus in facilisis efficitur, metus odio imperdiet diam, eu lacinia leo metus nec nulla. Donec quis aliquet quam. Mauris erat mi, venenatis ut varius at, accumsan vel orci. Suspendisse potenti. Curabitur vel sodales nunc. Curabitur eu rhoncus purus. Phasellus finibus nec est mollis accumsan. Maecenas mollis purus turpis. Maecenas turpis justo, efficitur in feugiat eu, posuere sit amet lectus. Integer eu nibh in nisl ornare vehicula nec et risus. Cras consequat finibus ipsum, eu tempor ex imperdiet ut. Nam at tortor euismod, tempor massa sed, volutpat erat. Curabitur libero ex, finibus blandit ullamcorper nec, scelerisque ac orci. Praesent... --- ### BDB for the WIN: Partnering to power the potential of Women in Nutraceuticals > Discover how we’re supporting Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN) to promote gender diversity and empower women in the global nutraceutical industry. - Published: 2024-10-16 - Modified: 2024-10-21 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-for-the-win-partnering-to-power-the-potential-of-women-in-nutraceuticals/ - Categories: News - Tags: Women in Nutraceuticals At BDB, gender equality isn’t a goal to pursue - it’s part of who we are. As an employee-owned company with women making up the majority of our team, we’re all about creating a fair, level playing field for everyone. That’s why we’re excited to sponsor Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN), a non-profit on a mission to promote gender equality in the global nutraceutical industry. This sponsorship reflects the natural alignment between our values and WIN’s vision of advancing women into leadership roles.   WIN offers women the tools, mentorship, visibility, and networking opportunities they need to grow and succeed. By building an environment where women have equal opportunities, they’re driving positive change, advancing innovation and shaping a brighter future for the industry - exactly what we believe in at BDB.   Three reasons we’re proud to support WIN  WIN’s mission speaks to us because we know that when women rise, everyone benefits, socially, economically and culturally. Here’s why we’re backing this initiative:  Sharing our journey and lessons learned  Our support for WIN goes hand-in-hand with our own advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). As WIN pushes for better representation in nutraceuticals, we’re committed to actively promoting inclusivity within BDB.   Over the years, we’ve learned a lot from implementing our own DE&I initiatives. We’ve rolled out progressive policies on menopause, neurodiversity and pregnancy loss, ensuring our workplace supports everyone. These efforts even earned us the EcoVadis Bronze Medal in 2023, a recognition of our dedication to sustainability and social responsibility.   Through our... --- ### An update on the Cookieless future - Published: 2024-09-09 - Modified: 2024-10-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/an-update-on-the-cookieless-future/ - Categories: B2B Pulse - Tags: Digital and technology https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=yCgfJhfPckA View on YouTube Transcript "Hi, my name is Oliver Brewood, Executive Director at BDB, and in this video, I'm going to talk about Google's plans to U-turn on the cookieless future and what that means for B2B marketers. Around four years ago, Google originally announced their plans to deprecate support for third-party cookies in their Chrome browser. What this essentially meant was that things that relied on third-party cookies, particularly things like advertising options, tracking, and retargeting, would no longer function in Chrome. That's a big deal because Chrome accounts for around 64% of the world's browser usage, and other browsers like Firefox, Safari, and others have already deprecated support for third-party cookies. With Google Chrome going, that would mean that effectively the last big browser that still supported third-party cookies, and therefore all those advertising options associated with it, would no longer be available. Google has created what they call the Privacy Sandbox with tools in it, like the Topics API. The whole focus here is to make sure that there are suitable privacy-focused ways to still allow advertisers to continue to target their audiences. Unfortunately for us B2B users, things like the Topics API just weren't that applicable. Basically, it would add you to a kind of an anonymous list of people that were interested in a topic when you went browsing the internet. So, if you browsed a holiday site, you might get added to a list of people that were interested in holidays, which is... --- ### AI in food innovation: Strategic insights for B2B marketers - Published: 2024-08-27 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/ai-in-food-innovation-strategic-insights-for-b2b-marketers/ - Categories: Insight The food and nutrition industry is experiencing a seismic shift, largely due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). At the recent Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) FIRST 2024 Expo in Chicago, industry leaders shared groundbreaking insights on how AI is revolutionising the food innovation landscape. Here’s a breakdown of what these developments mean for B2B marketers and the learnings they can leverage in their own marketing strategies.   Whipping up faster, tastier, healthier innovations with AI  AI’s influence on the food industry is undeniable, particularly its potential to significantly speed up the product development process. At the IFT FIRST 2024 Expo, Dr. Nora Khaldi, CEO of biotech company Nuritas, highlighted that AI enables companies to now develop new products and secure FDA approvals in just two years - a stark reduction from the typical 10-year timeline. This accelerated pace of development is crucial for businesses in the food and nutrition industry, as it allows for quicker market entry and the ability to stay ahead of and even influence consumer trends.   AI accelerates product development through:  Data analysis and ingredient discovery: AI rapidly analyses vast amounts of data on ingredient properties, interactions and health effects. This enables the discovery of promising ingredient combinations and the creation of products that meet consumer demands for taste, health and sustainability.   Simulation and predictive Analytics: AI-driven simulations reduce the need for physical experiments by predicting formulation outcomes. This not only saves time and resources but also minimises the risk of product failures in the market.   Consumer... --- ### B2B marketing trends: 4 insights to elevate your Food & Nutrition communication strategies - Published: 2024-08-06 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-and-nutrition-b2b-marketing-trends/ - Categories: Insight In the fast-paced Food and Nutrition (F&N) industry, B2B brands need to keep up with consumers ever-evolving trends while driving growth, embracing sustainability and protecting profitability. It's a delicate balancing act, one where getting your marketing communications strategy right can make all the difference.   That’s why we created the first-ever B2B Marketing Benchmark focused specifically on the Food and Nutrition ingredients industry. Drawing insights from a survey of B2B marketing leaders in the sector and with contributions from Heather Granato, industry expert and president of Nutrachievement Inc. , this report offers an in-depth look at their challenges, behaviours and opportunities. Here, we give you a taste of the key trends that are shaping B2B F&N marketing communications, from the power of research to exploring new marketing channels and leveraging emerging technologies like Generative AI.   1. Research reigns supreme Industry insights are considered indispensable for informing and shaping marketing communications strategies in the F&N space. In fact, 74% of survey respondents revealed that they ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that research is the springboard for impactful B2B marketing communications. At the same time, a staggering 74% lacked a structured approach to testing strategies. This highlights the promising potential for data-driven decision-making and systematic experimentation, enabling businesses to understand what’s truly effective and make adjustments accordingly.   Top tip! With the F&N industry awash with market research, choosing the right partner who has a reputation for extracting valuable and actionable insights is critical. Taking the time to understand a research firm’s methodologies and analyst... --- ### Driving B2B marketing effectiveness: Strategic insights from DMWF 2024 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/driving-b2b-marketing-effectiveness-strategic-insights-from-dmwf-2024/ - Categories: Insight The Digital Marketing World Forum (DMWF) Global 2024, held in London on June 24-25, once again proved to be the crucible of cutting-edge marketing innovation. This year's event, entitled ‘Exploring the Future of Digital Marketing Technologies,’ brought together luminaries and decision-makers from across the marketing spectrum. Industry giants, including Unilever, Meta, MailChimp, and LinkedIn, took centre stage, offering interesting and actionable insights into the evolving landscape of digital marketing.   Across two days, DMWF delved deep into the marketing ecosystem, showcasing the latest technologies, strategies and solutions for senior marketers to implement in their business and thrive.    For marketers operating in the B2B space, three key themes emerged as particularly relevant – read on as we unpack and unpick the main takeaways from DMWF and identify opportunities for B2B brands to push boundaries, drive growth and differentiate in an increasingly competitive arena.   AI: Revolutionising B2B marketing  Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionise B2B marketing efforts to enhance strategies, streamline operations and deliver more value to B2B buyers.    Despite AI’s potential, its adoption in B2B marketing is not without challenges. Many businesses are grappling with uncertainty around effective implementation and practical applications. Nevertheless, AI is already demonstrating its value in the sector. Tools like personalised content generation and customer service chatbots are yielding tangible, time-saving benefits for B2B marketers, paving the way for wider acceptance. Let’s take a closer look at AI’s marketing capabilities.    Elevating B2B storytelling with data-driven insights  Compelling storytelling is key to capturing attention and building trust in... --- ### Food and nutrition brand strategy in an age of mergers: Why mindset is everything - Published: 2024-07-03 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-food-and-nutrition-branding/ - Categories: News The food industry has experienced a surge of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) over the last two years, reshaping competition while also providing fresh opportunities for growth and innovation. From the DSM and Firmenich mega-merger to the Actylis amalgamation of eight experienced specialty manufacturing businesses into one integrated ingredient player, B2B companies across the food and nutrition industry are expanding their market positions, geographic presence and enhancing their product portfolios with M&A deals. Against this backdrop of intensifying competition, developing a distinct and meaningful global brand is more critical than ever for gaining a competitive edge in an increasingly saturated market. But how can companies stand out and connect with their customers on a deeper level? In this article, we explain why developing a universal mindset is essential for brands to excel globally and appeal locally.    The challenges of building a global brand  To avoid the impersonal feel of a faceless corporation, global brands must capture the authenticity, uniqueness and agility that customers value in small brands, without seeming niche, local or specialist. The answer to balancing professionalism with relatability lies in understanding and appealing to your target audience. We believe that – whether you're designing a new purpose, proposition, identity or personality – your journey to brand success begins with defining a universal common mindset.   What is a universal common mindset?   Although granular segmentation involving attributes such as demographics, firmographics and behaviours is important for targeted marketing activity, powerful global brands are not defined by one stakeholder subset; they transcend... --- ### Serve a demographic, fill a whitespace: Vitafoods Europe 2024 demonstrated women’s health is the new vanguard of opportunity - Published: 2024-07-01 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/serve-a-demographic-fill-a-whitespace-vitafoods-europe-2024-demonstrated-womens-health-is-the-new-vanguard-of-opportunity/ - Categories: Insight Across the show floor and in session halls, the need to better serve women at every life stage was the hot topic on everyone's lips. It’s safe to say that women’s health was the dominant trend at Vitafoods Europe 2024, reflecting a growing recognition from the nutraceutical and dietary supplements industry that women have been underserved by specific health products and research – despite being the largest consumer demographic for nutritional solutions. 1,2  Now, it looks like companies are increasingly focusing on addressing the disparity between demand, supply and clinical evidence, by addressing women's unique needs across all life stages.    Women: underserved by research, hungry for solutions  "If you walk around the floor, it is exploding with women's health products, but there's not as much research," noted Sudipta Veeramachaneni, President of SV Scientific, during the talk ‘Research essentials for powHERing success in formulating and marketing food supplements for women’. Her statement highlights a long-standing issue in the industry, where clinical studies have traditionally focused on male patients, with the findings then being generalized to women. While the industry is now making efforts to bridge this gap, there's still progress to be made in ensuring that the increasing number of products marketed towards women are backed by robust, female-specific research.   This lack of research isn't limited to women's health products. Women have been dramatically underrepresented in clinical trials across all health areas. "One of the challenges that we have had – not just here in the EU but globally – is that... --- ### A baseline, not a trend: A new role for sustainability emerges at Vitafoods Europe 2024 - Published: 2024-06-11 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-europe-2024-sustainability-trends/ - Categories: News As in previous years, Vitafoods Europe 2024 was a testament to the dynamism of the nutraceutical industry. This year’s maze of stands demonstrated that adventurous consumers are increasingly seeking novelty and innovation across supplements and food & beverage categories, with sea-derived and mushroom-based ingredients exhibited everywhere across the show floor. While the rise of consumer adventurousness was unmissable, another striking observation revealed itself through absence, rather than presence: the once prominent sustainability theme, formerly a central focus, with dedicated areas, stages and networking events, was not so much highlighted as seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the event. Vitafoods Europe 2024 seems to demonstrate that sustainability has become a table stake, or a given – a baseline expectation that’s now foundational to the nutraceutical and dietary supplement industry. As our sustainability issue of the knowledge predicted, "When you see that stakeholders of all kinds are insisting on sustainability, it is clearly no longer a 'nice-to-have' for businesses. It's essential. It is a licence to operate. "  Despite the reduced focus on the topic, some exhibitors stood out as exemplary examples of embedding sustainability into their marketing operations. Nutralie for instance decided to use a container handcrafted in Spain from 100% recycled materials for an exhibition stand. Much more than just a visual piece; the container embodies Nutralie's sustainability ethos, designed for repeated use at various exhibitions. The brand’s sustainable approach mirrors the core principles of the circular economy, focusing on Reuse, Recycling, and Reduction, whilst its marketing communications effectively convey the brand’s... --- ### The B2B Marketing Benchmark 2024 - Food & Nutrition - Published: 2024-06-03 - Modified: 2024-10-31 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-marketing-benchmark-food-and-nutrition/ - Categories: Reports How are Food & Nutrition B2B enterprises spending their marketing funds? What are their necessities, nice-to-haves and luxuries? And what level of confidence do they hold for the upcoming year? Here, we explore the budgeting and forecasting behaviours most prominent among B2B marketers in F&N. Download the first ever B2B Marketing Benchmark built on sector-specific data to provide a relevant overview of the Food & Nutrition ingredients marketing communications segment, delving into its challenges, planning behaviours, and future aspirations. With exclusive input from industry expert Heather Granato, the report compiles insights and perspectives from marketers in the sector to shed light on the factors shaping today’s communications strategies, pinpoint gaps and uncover opportunities for B2B ingredients brands to achieve more impact. Request the report CHAPTER 1: B2B BUDGETS & OUTLOOK How are Food & Nutrition B2B enterprises spending their marketing funds? What are their necessities, nice-to-haves and luxuries? And what level of confidence do they hold for the upcoming year? Here, we explore the budgeting and forecasting behaviours most prominent among B2B marketers in F&N. CHAPTER 2: CREATIVITY IN B2B In an era where customers are bombarded with information, marketing communications that embrace creativity are more likely to capture attention and leave a lasting impression. But, exactly how influential is creativity for Food & Nutrition B2B marketers? And more importantly, what are they doing to gain the creative edge? CHAPTER 3: MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES In the dynamic world of F&N B2B marketing communications, many brands are consistently reassessing their approach, drawing insights from research, embracing calculated risks and exploring innovative channels. But how does this play out in reality? And how receptive are brands to taking the leap? --- ### Day 1 of Vitafoods Europe 2024 revealed how B2B innovation and B2C consumer education will shape nutraceuticals - Published: 2024-05-21 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-europe-2024-day-1-b2b-innovation-shapes-trends/ - Categories: Insight Vitafoods Europe 2024 once again solidified its position as the premier gathering for nutraceutical experts, showcasing the industry's rapid response to evolving consumer demands. This year’s edition highlighted consumer adventurousness and a strong appetite for holistic, sustainable solutions offering multifunctional benefits. Plant-based ingredients endure in popularity, with alternative protein sources and omega 3 from algae taking centre stage, reflecting a commitment to promoting environmental sustainability alongside preserving well-being. The rise of mushrooms in the nutraceutical space, driven by a deeper understanding of the holistic benefits of mycelium networks, aligns with consumers' desire for ingredients supporting a more interconnected approach to health. Sea-based ingredients like algae and seaweed are also making waves, attracting consumers with their unique nutritional profiles, rare minerals and novelty factor.   For B2B companies, these trends present a golden opportunity to capitalise on the evolving market by developing cutting-edge health solutions using natural, sustainable ingredients that provide a 'wow-factor' for consumers. However, success in this dynamic landscape requires more than just innovative products; it demands strategic partnerships and effective consumer education. Vitafoods Europe 2024 emphasised the crucial role of B2B brands in collaborating with B2C businesses to share scientifically substantiated and proprietary data, empowering them to educate customers about ground breaking ingredients in popular categories like healthy aging and holistic health. As the nutraceutical industry continues to evolve, the integration of advanced technology with sustainable, evidence-based health solutions will define the new vanguard of excellence. The future of nutraceuticals belongs to B2B companies that can successfully navigate this... --- ### InCosmetics Global 2024 through the BDB lens: Key Insights for B2B Marketers - Published: 2024-05-03 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/incosmetics-global-2024-key-insights-for-b2b-marketers/ - Categories: Insight InCosmetics Global - the beating pulse of the beauty and personal care industry, is widely recognised as the main global stage to share insights, build connections, and inspire the occasional spark that fuels future strategies. This April, our team attended the show in Paris and brought back a selection of insights and curiosities to share with our customers and partners.   Focus on ingredient trends: 2021 vs 2023  Among the lively discussions and activities, a few marketing presentations really stood out, including Kline + Company’s titled: 2024 and beyond: Where is the personal care ingredients market at, and where is it headed?   Building on their expertise as advisory consultancy and market research firm, Kline reflected on the major challenges that ingredient brands faced in 2023 before providing their own outlook for the 2024 trends to watch. In one of the sections of his presentation Nicola Matic, vice president Chemicals and Materials, took the time to review the most popular trends in 2021, and compared them with 2023 market data to show how (and if) they actually realised in the market.   The sulphate-free trend for example was expected to drive product reformulation in the years following 2021, however, many beauty and personal care brands ended up defending their SLEs positioning instead of reformulating, due to the cost effectiveness and functional performance of this foaming ingredient.   Similarly, 2021 was meant to mark the death of silicones, which, instead, turned out to be slower than predicted, especially in hair and antiperspirant applications that create... --- ### Trade media: Top tips for successful food & nutrition ingredients PR - Published: 2024-04-30 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/tips-for-successful-food-and-nutrition-ingredients-pr/ - Categories: News The B2B food and nutrition trade media has the potential to aid brands to stand out by helping them foster relationships in the industry, become a thought leader in the space and ultimately, attract customer attention. But is it really worth targeting? How many people really want to read about which plant-based lactase enzymes speed up efficiencies? Or the latest research in Docosahexaenoic acid? If you’re sceptical – you’d be surprised. At BDB, we work with almost 200 dedicated BDB food and nutrition magazines that provide insights to millions of readers combined worldwide.    For any B2B food and nutrition brand, PR offers huge opportunities – when done right; and if you are looking to leverage the vast potential that trade media PR offers, here’s our top recommendations to help your company make its mark in this unique media landscape.    Technical or commercial audience – tailor your content to them   A beautifully written piece of content is worthless if it is not tailored to the right audience. Your editorial content, whether it be a press release or by-lined feature, needs to be targeted to the people you actually want to attract the attention of. For example, if you’re drafting an article for a food technology publication that will mostly be read by technical specialists, your language should be tailored towards them – for example highlighting your innovative factories and processes. At the same time, don’t use overly technical language if your target audience doesn’t work in this field, but instead... --- ### Navigating the cookieless web - Published: 2024-04-24 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/navigating-the-cookieless-web/ - Categories: News Over the last 20 years we’ve seen the digital landscape evolve significantly to meet the challenges of new privacy and data protection regulations. Directives and regulations such as ePrivacy, GDPR and CCPA have led us to develop and adopt solutions for cookie consent, comprehensive data security, and effective user consent throughout the web. Marketers, now faced with the end of third-party cookies, must adapt again to make the most of the cookieless web era.   For almost 30 years, third-party cookies have been integral for marketers in the identification and targeting of customers. As Google begin blocking third-party cookies in Google Chrome, marketing tactics like retargeting will become significantly less effective – if at all. For companies using retargeting as a bottom of the funnel tactic, likely in the B2C space, the impact cannot be overstated. But B2B marketers are not immune. Despite longer sales cycles, retargeting has been a useful top of the funnel channel, widely used for brand awareness.   Dropping third-party cookies effectively means losing a significant source of data that marketers have relied upon for years. While there are alternative solutions, such as Google’s Topics API and Meta’s Conversion API, there is one that will prove more important than all others – first-party data.     First-party data  First-party data – the data you collect through user interactions with your website or app – has always been vital to crafting long-lasting and rewarding relationships with customers. Through understanding their customers’ interests and browsing habits, marketers can deliver highly personalised content... --- ### Tech, trust, and turmoil: What’s top of mind for pharma marketeers in 2024? - Published: 2024-04-09 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/essential-tips-for-pharma-marketers/ - Categories: Insight ‘Optimistic uncertainty’; this was the sentiment underlying the presentations and panel discussions at this year’s PRWeek PharmaComms Conference. In a brave new post-pandemic world, the global public have never been more knowledgeable on and appreciative of pharmaceutical producers’ work, but this confidence is built on shifting foundations. As international events pull attention elsewhere, pharma players are fighting to keep health topics on the news agenda, and ensure they still rank above TikTok as an authoritative and trustworthy source. Between the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), growing cognizance of health inequalities and the immense potential of new patient-centered treatments, the prognosis is uncertain.   Fortunately, we’re here to offer an effective treatment in the form of our top takeaways from one of the premier events in the pharma comms calendar.    1.   Keeping it real  What tone should pharma communications take as a rule? Clear and concise? Warm and inviting? Or honest and truthful? As marketers, we strive to create the authentic, accessible content audiences crave, but achieving this ‘realness’ can be difficult when communications need to be carefully calculated to avoid regulatory push back.    The tension between accessibility and authority was a major topic of discussion at the Pharma Comms Conference. The good news is, there are solutions. As one delegate pointed out, clarity is often more important than creativity in pharma. We may not always be able to use writerly phrases to describe a drug's mechanism of action, but we can always make sure that the human perspective is central... . --- ### JEC World 2024 round-up: Stepping into a universe of endless opportunities - Published: 2024-04-05 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/jec-world-2024-round-up/ - Categories: Insight JEC World – the epicentre of innovation and ingenuity in the B2B composites world. From automotive breakthroughs to aerospace marvels, it’s the place where the future of materials – quite literally in some cases – takes shape. And with it came a treasure trove of insights and inspiration to inform our advanced materials customers’ marketing strategies and propel their brands to new heights. Here are just a few of our key takeaways!    Sustainability: A non-negotiable   The growing emphasis on sustainability in the composites industry reflects the broader societal shift towards eco-consciousness. But it’s the realisation of ground-breaking eco-friendly technologies and manufacturing processes that are truly propelling it forward, as demonstrated by this year’s Startup Booster. From low carbon construction materials and nano electronics to breakthrough delamination technology – the solutions and technologies on offer from these emerging companies were truly remarkable.   As stewards of change in the composites industry, brands must not only embrace sustainability as a business priority but also creatively showcase their dedication to it through compelling marketing and communications efforts. Only then can they truly leverage sustainability as a cornerstone of their competitive advantage and industry leadership.    This means that sustainability marketing is no longer just a trendy buzzword – it’s a strategic imperative driving the future of the industry. And while not entirely absent, there was a distinct lack of ingenuity when it came to the conveyance of sustainability messages.   In an era where consumers and businesses alike are actively seeking eco-conscious solutions, this seems like... --- ### Transforming your exhibition stand into a brand powerhouse - Published: 2024-04-03 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/incorporating-your-b2b-brand-into-a-exhibition-stand/ - Categories: News Exhibiting at a tradeshow is a great way to establish a strong marketplace presence. As well as helping to build face-to-face relationships and advertise your brand in a forum full of potential buyers, it can create a memorable, meaningful experience - especially when it aligns with and reflects your brand’s marketing strategy and objectives.    But why is it so important to incorporate your brand into your exhibition stand – and where do you start?    The importance of getting branding right at exhibitions  Think of your exhibition stand as an extension of your B2B brand – acting as an ambassador and reflecting your company’s values and business potential. With research unveiling that exhibitions can help increase brand recognition by 76%, and that 81% of attendees can recall at least one exhibitor they visited at a trade show even six months later, getting branding within your stand right is crucial, especially when an event is part of a wider marketing plan or integrated campaign. Essentially, a well-thought-out exhibition stand and strategy helps differentiate your company – while connecting with your purpose and fitting within your overall brand and journey.   Exhibition stands are an expensive outlay and B2B events can be very busy, so it’s important to make your mark on your target audience. After all, an exhibition stand is often the first point of contact for potential customers, and making a positive first impression is vital.   Three tips on how to incorporate your B2B brand into an exhibition stand:  Having a wider... --- ### Leveraging AI & technology for B2B marketing success: Insights from Martechopia 2024 - Published: 2024-03-26 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/martechopia-2024-insights/ - Categories: Insight It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the spotlight in the marketing and tech world, especially following its exponential growth since early 2023. At this year’s Martechopia, the leading conference dedicated to the latest in marketing technology, the topic of AI in B2B marketing took central stage, alongside discussions on the metaverse and the evolving martech stack. From how to start using AI and the latest metaverse advancements to the way the B2B buyer journey has evolved, here are our key takeaways from Martechopia 2024. AI in B2B marketing AI's influence on B2B marketing is undeniable. From generative AI tools producing stunning visuals and videos to AI's ability to streamline tasks and improve efficiencies, the potential is vast. While tools like Sora are grabbing headlines for their incredible video generation capabilities, there is a huge amount of benefit to be gained in automating our more mundane day-to-day tasks so that we can focus on higher-value activity. Despite the constant and unavoidable coverage that AI is receiving, one thing is clear – many B2B companies and marketing professionals are still looking at AI and wondering how to get started. To give a sense of scale to this – while there are currently nearly 3 billion WhatsApp users around the globe, only 0. 2 billion people are using ChatGPT. However, most of those early AI adopters are already reaping impressive results. If you want some encouragement (or FOMO), to help motivate you, it could be worth bearing in mind that 92%... --- ### The Power of Collaboration: Converting Leads with Better Marketing and Sales alignment in B2B   - Published: 2024-03-13 - Modified: 2024-10-09 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/converting-leads-with-better-marketing-and-sales-alignment-in-b2b/ - Categories: Insight In today's rapidly evolving B2B marketing landscape, the alignment of marketing and sales teams has emerged as a critical factor for business success. The traditional barriers that once separated these two functions are becoming increasingly obsolete, making it imperative for businesses to foster collaboration and synergy between them. By doing so, organisations can deliver a seamless and enhanced buyer experience while maximising their revenue potential.    The importance of marketing and sales alignment cannot be overstated and becomes particularly tangible when it comes to tracking and scoring lead conversions.      Technologies such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and sales readiness tools, can help bridge the gap between marketing and sales, enabling teams to track leads across the buying journey, from the awareness stage all the way to the point of conversion,1 facilitating seamless data sharing and enabling a more effective and efficient process.    A crucial aspect of the sales and marketing alignment challenge, the ability to qualify leads correctly ensures that the right resources are allocated to the most promising opportunities, ultimately maximising efficiency and conversion rates, whilst also helping identify and keep top of mind those prospects that require further nurturing.    By establishing clear criteria and processes for lead qualification, such as identifying Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) and defining lead stages like Information Seeking Leads (ISLs), Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs), and Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs), brands can ensure that both marketing and sales teams are aligned in their understanding of lead quality and the actions needed to move them through... --- ### Pitch perfect: 3 ways PR adds extra value to your integrated B2B campaign - Published: 2024-03-01 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pitch-perfect-3-ways-pr-adds-extra-value-to-your-integrated-b2b-campaign/ - Categories: News Have you heard of the ‘rule of 7’? It’s a principle which states that customers need to be exposed to 7 pieces of marketing collateral before they’re ready to convert. The story goes that this ‘rule’ was coined in the 1930s when Hollywood’s biggest movie execs commissioned research which discovered that potential theatregoers were more likely to take action once they’d heard or seen an advertising message seven times. Now, regardless of whether there’s any truth behind this number – even the most tried and tested marketing strategies aren’t an exact science – it’s true that your chances of conversion are more likely to increase if you nurture your audience across multiple touch points.  And this is perhaps even more true for B2B marketing, where sales processes are typically slower and more considered than the fast-paced world of B2C sales. In fact, research shows that today, 47% of people said they spend more time researching B2B purchases than they did in the past and 55% rely more on content to research their purchasing decisions. 1   When it comes to B2B marketing, PR can be an invaluable tool for supporting your objectives and reaching these research-savvy audiences. Over a third of B2B buyers rate industry trade media and news publications as the most valuable content format when they’re researching a potential purchase. 1 So, is adding PR to your marketing mix a no brainer? We’d say so – here’s 3 ways PR can add extra value to your integrated B2B marketing campaign.    Step up your searchability ... --- ### Lights, camera, action: how video content will boost your B2B marketing game in 2024 - Published: 2024-02-14 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lights-camera-action-how-video-content-will-boost-your-b2b-marketing-game-in-2024/ - Categories: Insight Video has always been a sure-fire to grab our attention as consumers, and in 2024, it’s becoming even more of a top priority for B2B companies, too. According to the latest research by the Content Marketing Institute, B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends: Outlook for 2024, the percentage of B2B marketers using video marketing increased to 84% in 2023 – up from 75% the previous year1. In fact, they’re planning on spending more on video than any other type of content in 2024, so we anticipate a significant boost in the utilisation of this format this year.   Text-based content still has an important place in the B2B marketplace, but video is increasingly being used to cut through the noise, to tell stories in a compelling way, as well as provide a platform to share knowledge, hacks and tips, thought leadership insights and much, much more. Short-form, long-form, augmented reality, immersive experiences: the possibilities are endless. Video is accessible, flexible and most importantly, engaging.    Video across the customer journey  But where on the customer journey is the best place to use video? A recent survey shows that 70% of B2B buyers report watching videos throughout the buyer’s journey2. At the start of the journey, for example, is a great time to include video with thought leadership or inspirational content to increase awareness. It can support alternative pieces of content, like a white paper or infographic, in spreading the word about a particular challenge the audience might be facing in the... --- ### Leveraging hybrid events to boost B2B marketing success - Published: 2024-01-12 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leveraging-hybrid-events-to-boost-b2b-marketing-success/ - Categories: News Multiple trend reports highlight that B2B sales will become increasingly hybrid combining online and offline interactions to meet changing customer behaviours and preferences. 1 It’s no surprise that events look set to follow suit. With some sectors or regions being the exception, hybrid events will be the dominating trend for the next 12 months. 11% of B2B marketers surveyed in a recent report said they would be increasing spend on hybrid events in 2024. 2 It’s easy to see why they’re making these changes. Adding a digital component to in-person events can improve visibility and reach, helping to generate that much needed industry buzz. Hybrid events also enable B2B marketers to explore different types of content and gather real-time feedback. What works? Which products are most valuable? What have competitors been working on? This can be a real game-changer for time-poor B2B marketers in the aftermath of an event. More connections, more exposure opportunities that drive innovation Enabling both in-person and virtual event participation allows B2B food and nutrition brands to significantly widen reach among target audiences worldwide. We all lead busy lives, so enabling remote access helps to promote participation– anybody can attend, wherever they live. By including experts from across the globe, B2B nutrition marketers have a bigger pool of promising contacts to collaborate with, which can later inform product development. This magnified qualified attendance directly translates to more fruitful networking, idea sharing and new pipeline opportunities for products, campaigns and collaborations. Hybrid events in practice It’s clear that the... --- ### What AI means for creativity - Published: 2024-01-12 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-ai-means-for-creativity/ - Categories: News Change isn’t made alone In a world where creative boundaries are constantly being torn down, it’s our responsibility to embrace new tools and ways of working without losing sight of what makes creativity unique – the humans behind it.    I don’t believe that AI will make people obsolete, at BDB we look at it to amplify our creativity. To challenge assumptions, to light a fire under our seats, to expand our horizons - to never stand still, and to constantly better our approach. It's not a question of AI versus the human, but rather how we work positively and ethically with rapidly evolving technology to produce something entirely new.   Our approach to AI is not about automating processes or outputs, but what we make possible by using it. As BDB’s Creative Director my responsibility is to ensure that the use of technology aligns seamlessly with our values and vision. Allowing Artificial Intelligence to function as an extension of our team's toolkit, to let us experiment, refine, and innovate, without limiting creativity or possibilities.    But, as we embrace the power of AI, it's equally important to acknowledge its limitations. Our experience, intuition, and innate knack for anticipating client needs are testaments to our unique and unparalleled industry perspective. While AI can offer insights, process data at incredible speeds, create video and imagery, it's the human touch that crafts these into narratives and experiences that captivate, resonate, and inspire action.   While AI's influence spans industries, we have an unwavering commitment to human... --- ### Unpacking fie 2023: our 4 highlights as an exhibitor - Published: 2023-12-22 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/unpacking-fie-2023-our-4-highlights-as-an-exhibitor/ - Categories: News Thought about attending – or even exhibiting at – Food ingredients Europe (FiE) as a marketer in the food & beverage realm? Here’s why you should...   FiE has long been an important fixture in the food & beverage sector’s calendar – and ours. Drawing together more than 25,000 stakeholders from 135+ countries across the world, the show is a global stage to discover some of the most exciting ingredients emerging in the space – and a hot spot for fostering collaboration, igniting inspiration and breaking down boundaries to progress. For anyone in the food & beverage arena, the event is not to be missed. And although we’ve always had a presence at FiE, the 2023 conference marked a significant shift for us as we decided, for the first time in a long time , to take centre stage by exhibiting.   Why? As the marketing communications agency for food & nutrition brands, we have provided exhibition support for 30 years to some of the biggest players in the food & beverage market – from designing stands to carrying out in-person press support in a multitude of languages (and everything in between). However, taking advantage of the exposure that FiE offers is something we hadn’t done in a while. Given our deep-rooted connection to the sector, the decision to transition from supporter to exhibitor was a natural progression.   Being more active contributors at FiE this year with our ear to the ground, we’ve been able to experience the event from... --- ### 2024 trends digest: 5 insights for success in the global food and beverage industry  - Published: 2023-12-04 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-and-beverage-industry-trends-2024/ - Categories: Insight Want to make a meaningful impact in the food and beverage industry? Then you need to do more than adapt – you need to innovate. Thriving in this dynamic sector means grasping the consumer trends and behaviours set to shape the market in 2024, and beyond. As the leading marketing communications agency for brands in the food and drink space, we’ve curated a wrap-up of the top trends and actionable insights powering innovation in this field. Drawing knowledge from some of the biggest global trade shows, market intelligence and research agencies, the 5 insights below are guaranteed to help you stay ahead of the curve and navigate this ever-evolving landscape with confidence.    Read on to feast your senses...   1. A growing appetite for less processed foods   The scrutiny surrounding processed products is intensifying, driving consumers to ask more questions about the ingredients, nutrition and production methods used to develop the foods and drinks they’re consuming. This has led to the emergence of the concept “ultra-processed food (UPF)” – an evolution of the terms “junk food” and “clean label”. This newfound awareness of UPF is steering consumer preferences towards minimally processed foods, or at the least, they are considering processing levels when purchasing products. But don’t stress! It’s not the end of UPFs just yet. Some consumers are taking an “all things in moderation approach” and still want to enjoy these foods – albeit less frequently.    To get ahead of this trend, our top tips are:  Enhance your transparency (i. e. , labelling)... --- ### Thriving in the age of AI in B2B marketing: what are human marketers around the world doing? - Published: 2023-11-30 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/thriving-in-the-age-of-ai-in-b2b-marketing/ - Categories: Insight In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), our unique human influence becomes our greatest asset in B2B marketing. Yet, letting our human touch thrive alongside these machines is not as easy as it seems. For instance, did you know that less than half of B2B marketing leaders are currently integrating AI applications alongside their human business marketing activities? Moreover, only 40% believe they possess a “somewhat good” understanding of leveraging generative AI tools for B2B marketing campaigns. 1 So, are the machines advancing faster than we can keep pace? It’s true, we can’t learn as fast, think as fast or write as fast as artificial intelligence. But it’s time to shift our perspective and realize that AI is our greatest ally, not our enemy - read on to discover how you cannot just survive – but thrive – in a post-AI apocalyptic world by doing what other humans are doing: leading with confidence, creativity and originality.   AI in action B2B marketers recognize the transformative potential of integrating artificial intelligence into business strategies, but who is actually using it? Tools like IBM Watson, a collection of AI platforms designed to comprehend large datasets to generate human-like responses, are increasingly being used across the marketing landscape. Take The North Face as an example, the company has used this tool to uncover customer personality traits, values and preferences for personalised advertising. 2 While other brands have leveraged this platform to help optimise multi-channel campaigns through AI capabilities like predictive lead scoring.   Disney is... --- ### Our Three-Step Approach to PR Campaign Reporting - Published: 2023-11-08 - Modified: 2025-03-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/our-three-step-approach-to-pr-campaign-reporting/ - Categories: Insight In today's competitive business landscape, mastering the art of PR is paramount to craft a distinct presence and authoritative profile. By showcasing expertise, securing share of voice and managing corporate reputation, PR and media relations (when done correctly) can tip the scale of brand visibility and thought leadership, cultivating trust among target audiences. However, is B2B PR just as good as its ability to demonstrate its impact? As usual, the answer isn’t as straightforward as we might hope. Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of PR efforts has long been a challenge for the industry. The impact of PR can’t be measured overnight and, with its outcomes often being intangible, quantifying and attributing success to specific actions can end up in inaccurate conclusions. A brief history Over the years, PR professionals have tried to capture and demonstrate PR’s impact through several metrics, with varying success - especially when these were used in isolation. Take Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE) as an example. As its name indicates, AVE assigns a monetary value to PR by measuring the size of the media coverage and calculating the advertising rate for similar space. However, it was always clear that the real impact of PR campaigns goes beyond calculating the equivalent cost of media space of the coverage received and should consider the endorsement that a credible media outlet brings. This is where WAEV (weighted advertising equivalent value) was introduced, where the cost for the ad space was multiplied by an (often arbitrary) factor. However, being... --- ### Leading the way: Delivering an impactful B2B lead gen campaign > Learn how to plan and execute the ultimate B2B lead generation campaign and attract truly engaged and relevant leads with our guide - Published: 2023-09-27 - Modified: 2024-10-28 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leading-the-way-planning-and-delivering-an-impactful-b2b-lead-generation-campaign/ - Categories: Insight For a marketing team, providing good quality leads for the business development function is, arguably, one of the most powerful ways to win the commercial team’s trust and buy in. Conversely, generating a high volume of leads of low commercial value leads to a waste of time, and frustration, on both sides. This old-age challenge led to marketing teams of all sizes battling the deceitfully easy question: ‘How do I categorize and pre-qualify contact information before I pass them on? Are all leads before SQLs the same? Clearly not. In this guide, we will focus on information seeking leads (ISLs) – a portion of your target audience who is actively looking for information about a challenge they are facing – and examine both the channels and tactics that can generate them. But what’s the most efficient way to generate truly engaged leads? Which channel works best when it comes to reaching different audience categories? And, once we have the relevant contact information, how can they be nurtured into a buying customer? Chapter 1:Prioritising lead generation When it comes to budget allocation, B2B marketing leaders are increasingly ranking lead generation as their major spending priority. According to a recent global study conducted by LinkedIn and Ipsos, lead generation accounts for an average of 36% of B2B budget allocation and spending, ahead of other significant areas, such as brand building at 30% and demand generation at 20%. This data reflects the findings of a recent Gartner report demonstrating that businesses that source over 40% of their... --- ### 3 TRUTHS BEHIND MORE INFORMED, QUICKER DECISION-MAKING IN B2B MARKETING   - Published: 2023-08-09 - Modified: 2023-08-09 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-truths-behind-more-informed-quicker-decision-making-in-b2b-marketing/ - Categories: Insight If you’re a marketer in the B2B world, you’ve likely faced an increased incidence of market disruptions, heightened competition and arduous customer demands, not to mention rising pressures to keep your campaigns profitable and sustainable. Sound about right?    The ever-evolving B2B marketing landscape means that informed (and quick) decision-making is increasingly critical – especially if brands want to stay flexible to maintain a competitive edge and achieve commercial success long-term.   Strategy is the foundation on which successful marketing decisions are built. But how should  B2B businesses approach it? Here are our 3 top tips for making smarter and faster decisions in the dynamic B2B marketing arena – spotlighting the intrinsic value of strategy and insight.    1. Sharpen your industry focus   The B2B landscape is characterised by its complexity, diverse buyer personas, intricate decision-making processes. Unlike its B2C counterpart, there are also longer sales cycles, aggressive competition and (usually) less brand recognition.   To navigate this terrain successfully, businesses must develop a comprehensive understanding of their respective industries, that goes beyond in-house knowledge and assumptions. Relevant and reliable insights – based on accurate information, data and knowledge – will help take calculated risks, create distinguished offerings and tailor marketing strategies to address specific customer needs. In fact, did you know that companies that effectively use analytics in their marketing and sales decisions are 1. 5x more likely to achieve above-average growth rates compared to their peers? 1   Our top tip? Use a third party with a 360-view of your marketplace to support your analysis... . --- ### BDB at IFT: Our 4 essential takeaways from the show floor - Published: 2023-08-04 - Modified: 2023-08-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/4-lessons-from-our-trip-to-ift-2023/ - Categories: News By Dr. Catherine Butcher, Executive Director - Integrated Services B2B trade events with an overt focus on scientific discovery and knowledge sharing have always presented me with a dilemma. On the one hand, my background in immunology and applied microbiology means I’m irresistibly drawn to the science; the presentations, the keynote speeches, and demonstrations – anything involving enthusiastic experts exploring the very latest ideas from their field. Equally important and fascinating to me however is the marketing side of these events. Witnessing the trends in stand design, samples and handouts is endlessly fascinating, as is the opportunity to connect with our clients, colleagues, and friends from the worlds of trade publications, food production, nutritional science and beyond. In our recent visit to IFT First, an annual conference hosted by The Institute of Food Science and Technology in Chicago, IL, USA, we were on a mission: keep our marketing ‘hats’ firmly in place to observe the current and future trends shaping the world of food science, and as much as possible resist the siren call of the ‘Taste of Science’ presentation stage. With our minds firmly in trend-spotting mode, here are the four key themes that stood out for us and our clients at the show. 1. Bigger isn't always bolder If the booths we saw at this year’s event are indicative of the future direction of stand design, ‘efficiency’ will be the word to watch moving forward. Gone are the days of the ‘mega stand’ which takes up an entire... --- ### BDB’s top trend takeaways from Vitafoods 2023 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2023-06-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdbs-top-trend-takeaways-from-vitafoods-2023/ - Categories: News Vitafoods Europe 2023 is over for another year – and what a show it was! The world’s leading nutraceutical trade event never fails to impress, showcasing the latest advancements, products, and trends shaping the industry. The BDB team returned to the 2023 show to connect with clients and, importantly, explore the latest trends in the nutraceutical space. From the rising popularity of gummies as a lifestyle-fitting format to ingredients that boost emotional and physical wellbeing, this blog dives into the trends we spotted at this year’s show and outlines the opportunities on the horizon. Gummies everywhere: meeting demand for delicious, nutritious convenience One of the first things we noticed when we stepped into the Vitafoods Europe hall was the volume of gummies. A trending nutraceutical format, gummies of all flavours and colours were on display and available for sampling – and some were tastier than others! One of the companies with the best tasting gummies (in our opinion! ) at the booth included Sirio, a leading global nutraceutical CDMO, which showcased two collagen gummies using Lonza’ UC-II® undenatured type II collagen. We also saw innovative gummy innovations at Israeli company TopGum’s booth, who created a very tasty high caffeine 'cappuccino gummy’. Catering to the growing demand for ready-to-consume, functional food formats, gummies are an ideal solution for consumers with busy, active lifestyles. The growing interest in gummies, among other accessible formats such as shots and gels, signifies huge opportunity for brand owners and manufacturers to innovate and develop on-the-go, ultra convenient... --- ### Impeccable sustainability marketing, our take on three successful campaigns - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2023-06-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/sustainability-marketing-campaigns/ - Categories: News As sustainability moves up the agenda for many B2B organisations, more businesses are leveraging media platforms to promote social and climate-conscious sustainability initiatives.    A well-executed sustainability campaign can easily shift the balance towards positive brand perception and as marketeers we have a unique responsibility to tell our story in an honest, relatable and authentic way. Revealing too much or pushing an agenda too hard can be counter-productive and induce a feeling of scepticism.   The importance of striking the right balance between commercial objectives and ethical responsibility cannot be emphasised enough.  Both elements need to be addressed adequately, despite this being an incredibly difficult task.   Rare as they may be, good sustainability campaigns exist, and we have hand-picked three that caught our attention for their ability to inspire and create a connection with their audience.    Edge, Net Zero, Plus One Amsterdam  With almost 40% of global carbon emissions originating from building and construction, the built environment is ripe for a sustainable revolution. Edge, a leading infrastructure and climate pioneer, are pushing boundaries, exploring new technology and innovating with new materials as they aim to create better, healthier and more sustainable buildings. https://vimeo. com/731707859 The idea that net-zero is a promise for today – not tomorrow - resonates throughout Edge’s video. They’re not asking people to make a change, but instead they position themselves as an inspiring leader who is leading with tangible action.    Visually, it is diverse in style and full of energy. The video incorporates a friendly, humanised tone of voice that... --- ### Personal care and the planet: what can b2b brands do to do better  - Published: 2023-04-04 - Modified: 2023-04-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/personal-care-and-the-planet-what-can-b2b-brands-do-to-do-better/ - Categories: News It’s no secret that consumers have greater expectations for the environmental and ethical credentials of their purchases. In fact, over 50% of consumers are willing to reject unsustainable brands and pay more for sustainable products.   Despite this, there remains some reluctance among beauty and personal care brands to embrace ‘meaningful and effective greener strategies’ that go beyond launching greener product ranges to target climate challenges at the supply chain level. B2B personal care brands have an important role to play in driving sustainable action and delivering tangible change across their supply chains for a better tomorrow.    But like any business, personal care brands are first and foremost concerned with the profitability of operations, which isn’t always synonymous with sustainable practices. High level stakeholders often have little incentive to make impactful changes, leaving marketers with the thankless task of singing the praises of relatively minor sustainability improvements, treading the dangerous line of greenwashing, a tactic which can make brands famous for all the wrong reasons.   In the absence of industry-wide sustainability standards, heavyweights such as L’Oréal, Unilever, Henkel and Natura&Co are defining sustainable supply chain standards for themselves, and asking their suppliers for increasingly strict sustainability credentials. So, how can B2B personal care marketers align and anticipate the requirements of brands to help them communicate sustainability initiatives to a sceptical consumer audience?   Be transparent  In a marketplace clouded by false promises, over a third of people don’t trust companies to be honest about their environmental impact. While sustainability matters, transparency... --- ### CREATOR, CURATOR OR CHAMPION OF IDEAS: WHAT MAKES A THOUGHT LEADER? - Published: 2023-03-28 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/creator-curator-or-champion-of-ideas-what-makes-a-thought-leader/ - Categories: Insight Thought leaders. B2B marketers are obsessed with them. Some business leaders want to be them. Customers want to know them. But who – or what – are they?   Thought leadership is a powerful medium to build authority and trust, which in turn influences B2B decision-making and helps drive sales. The most prolific thought leaders typically wield a combination of unconventional thinking, strong opinions, authenticity, influence and a drive to challenge the status quo. But despite these commonalities, there are some important distinctions to be made between different types of thought leader. Let’s take a closer look at what defines thought leadership, how to identify the distinctive types of thought leaders and perhaps most importantly, the role they can play in influencing the B2B buyer journey.      What sets thought leaders apart? Picture a thought leader. Perhaps it’s someone you follow on social media or religiously listen to their podcast. What is it that makes them stand out? For many, it’s their ability to create and communicate authentic, original ideas that are founded in insight to solve a problem or redefine a new way of doing things. The other defining feature that’s almost guaranteed to attract a loyal following, is the ability to codify expertise into tools, processes and frameworks that inspire others to learn and apply these to achieve their own success.    If you’re looking to harness the power of thought leadership in your B2B marketing strategy, it’s important to get the distinction right between the different types of thought... --- ### Adapting B2B thought leadership to the evolving digital landscape - Published: 2023-02-21 - Modified: 2023-02-21 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapting-b2b-thought-leadership-to-the-evolving-digital-landscape/ - Categories: News Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) the next type of thought leader?   If it speaks intelligently, writes intelligently, and looks like an intelligent being, is it intelligent? We’re not just referencing a classic science fiction or philosophy trope here. With AI sweeping across the far reaches of our daily existence, it’s easy to forget that something that behaves like an intelligence (perhaps Siri or Alexa comes to mind here) doesn’t necessarily exhibit genuine intelligence. 1,2 With new tools like ChatGPT gaining ground, many have turned to this fascinating interactive AI language model (its impressive abilities range from challenging flawed premises to acknowledging its mistakes) to generate content. 3   But all these tools can do is receive and process informational inputs to generate intelligent sounding (and sometimes hilarious) content. 4 Even though such material may sound like it was written by a person, AI-generated content is inevitably neither ground-breaking nor genuinely insightful because it lacks a foundation of genuine thought processes and sentiments. Apart from serving as an excellent tool for inspiration, overcoming creative blocks and rewording copy, AI as we know it is incapable of generating original thought – the very essence of thought leadership.   For B2B brands and marketers seeking to deliver exceptional thought leadership, it’s especially important to stand out from the crowd of superficial content with truly impactful ideas. And in this fast-changing digital age, it’s not just AI tools that are transforming how we reach our audiences.   Move over, social media  Decentralisation is another key digital trend that’s changing how... --- ### Awareness to action: Examining the role of thought leadership in the B2B buyer journey - Published: 2023-02-17 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-role-of-thought-leadership-in-the-b2b-buyer-journey/ - Categories: Insight As we head into 2023 facing yet more economic uncertainty, the brands who are delivering value and demonstrating impact are the ones who will capture the hearts, minds (and budgets) of their customers. The Edelman 2022 Thought Leadership Report found that 61% of decision-makers say that an organisation’s thought leadership can be moderately or a lot more effective at demonstrating the potential value of its products/services compared to traditional product-oriented marketing. So if problem solving is at the heart of B2B marketing, thought leadership is the lifeblood of a brand’s ability to successfully influence the B2B buyer journey. When executed successfully, thought leadership can provide a platform for your customers to get to know, like and trust your people and your business. But whether you are aiming to inform or inspire depends on where your target audiences are at in the B2B buyer journey. Here, we explore the role thought leadership can play from awareness to action, to build trust and demonstrate value that ultimately converts prospects into customers. --- ### Is thought leadership content and PR a winning combination? - Published: 2023-02-08 - Modified: 2023-02-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-thought-leadership-content-and-pr-a-winning-combination/ - Categories: Insight Imagine if you could share your industry expertise and subject know-how in an authentic and genuine way that truly creates value, builds knowledge and positions you as an expert in your field. With an effective thought leadership content strategy – you can do just that.    Thought leadership content and PR: more similar than you think  A 2022 survey undertaken by Semrush discovered that more than 64% of businesses currently include thought leadership in their content marketing plans with an additional 29. 5% planning to include it in 2023. This implies that there is a real desire from an increasing number of businesses to leverage their position in a particular industry or niche.    And our clients are no exception. Over the past 12 months, almost every brief we have received has specified thought leadership as a goal. Inspirational and knowledge-driven by nature, thought leadership can be amplified in various formats including articles, videos, webinars and whitepapers to name a few. Interestingly however, across our own B2B clientele, thought leadership is most often an element of PR briefs as increasingly, clients seem to believe, or maybe hope, that PR can make them a thought leader. PR and thought leadership are more closely aligned than you may think: They both prove you have a significant level of expertise in something  They aim to convince your audience that you are a leading expert on a subject   PR and thought leadership both require dedication, time and patience as well as a high level of knowledge and skill... --- ### 3D video technologies: defining a new era in B2B marketing - Published: 2023-02-01 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3d-video-technologies-defining-a-new-era-in-b2b-marketing/ - Categories: News The B2B marketing landscape is saturated with content revolving around complex concepts and products involving a significant degree of technical detail. But audiences today aren’t just looking for brilliant products and ideas, and they certainly don’t want to be bored, confused or even frustrated by a barrage of intricate technicalities. B2B audiences today seek enjoyable and rewarding brand experiences that let them explore products and services in novel and interesting ways. To stand out from the sea of cookie-cutter B2B content, it’s critical for brands to step up their game with marketing tactics that are as ground-breaking as the innovative products and solutions they offer.   In an era of burgeoning marketing technologies, we have the opportunity to leverage a wide range of increasingly sophisticated tools and platforms to meet specific communications needs. Across the B2B marketing landscape, we’re exploring creative and innovative ways to elevate the customer experience and bring the overall brand experience to life. Innovative creative tools incorporating 3D technologies are gaining traction as effective ways to make complicated B2B subject matters accessible, tangible and even entertaining.   Just as 3D technologies have redefined the cinematic experience and set a new standard for storytelling, they are fast becoming the new standard in the B2B world. No longer the exclusive realm of Hollywood studios or exorbitant marketing campaigns, 3D tools are easily scalable to your requirements. From introducing accessible and interesting 3D renderings of your products in explainer videos to creating complex, immersive and interactive 3D augmented reality (AR) experiences... --- ### Can 3D video transform customer engagement strategies? - Published: 2023-01-20 - Modified: 2023-01-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/can-3d-video-transform-customer-engagement-strategies/ - Categories: News As a form of content that is constantly evolving, video marketing is rapidly becoming a key element in B2B strategies and campaign planning across the marketing mix, and a high performing one in most campaigns. With 59% of B2B decision makers indicating that insufficient visualisation tools are a real challenge within their marketing function, the need for a stronger, more process-driven 3D video strategy is key to successful video marketing. 1  Telling a great story is one of the fastest ways to intrigue, inform and influence an audience, regardless of demographic or intention. With people proven to engage with 3D imagery almost 50% more compared to 2D, why are you still debating whether to invest in it? 2 Integrating 3D video into your marketing and communications strategy is an incredibly effective way to enhance your customer experience at every stage of the buying cycle. 3  Despite some B2B target audiences not necessarily being tech-savvy themselves, they can still enjoy and engage with video. Naturally, the B2B leaders that you are targeting will also be B2C consumers and are therefore likely to have already been exposed to the advances of video in B2C marketing. With so many of their expectations being based on the B2C narrative, bringing similar marketing campaign ideas into the B2B world will likely meet their expectations of successful brands.   Cut through the noise in today’s digital world  Over the past decade, many B2B businesses have refreshed more traditional forms of product information such as brochures and catalogues with content... --- ### How to prepare for Google Analytics 4 (and why you need to think about it now)  - Published: 2022-12-14 - Modified: 2022-12-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/are-you-ready-for-google-analytics-4/ - Categories: News Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will be here sooner than you think and if you haven’t already, it’s important that you start to prepare for the transition now. Hear from Lee Noble, Head of Digital at BDB, as he addresses some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from our clients and outlines his top tips to prepare for the upcoming shift to Google Analytics 4.   What is Google Analytics 4?   GA4 is a complete redesign of the existing Google Analytics platform developed to be more intuitive and user-friendly whilst also including new features and capabilities that were not available in previous versions. With improved data collection and processing, a new data model with better support for cross-device measurement, an improved user interface, better analysis and reporting tools and enhanced support for BigQuery integration, GA4 looks set to transform the future of analytics.    What are the benefits of GA4?   For B2B marketers, the move to GA4 brings a whole host of benefits. Not only will you be able to track conversions more accurately, you will also have the ability to better understand customer behaviour, gaining greater insights into what marketing campaigns are performing most effectively. Thanks to the granular data that GA4 provides, you can easily segment your customers to better understand what marketing activity is driving the biggest impact and with who.    Why getting ahead is crucial  In an ideal world, you would have transitioned to Google Analytics 4 in July of 2022 to ensure that once the switch comes... --- ### B2B !MPACT: Taking B2B creative visualisation to the next level - Published: 2022-12-01 - Modified: 2022-12-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-impact-taking-b2b-creative-visualisation-to-the-next-level/ - Categories: News There’s so much more that can be done to make complex – yet ultimately relatable – topics, products and processes more intriguing to our audiences. How can you describe a technical process, tell a compelling story, highlight its benefits and explain the need-to-know details without sending people to sleep? From pop-up brochures to full CGI virtual environments, visually creative methods can help businesses captivate customers, reveal new perspectives and provide a competitive edge that’s second to none. Hear from Paul, our CGI expert as he highlights what it takes to really bring B2B creativity to life. https://youtu. be/lx_-4QzujXI --- ### Careers at BDB: Sara Houghton - Published: 2022-11-01 - Modified: 2022-11-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-sara-houghton/ - Categories: News How can a degree in languages support you in kickstarting a career in marketing, communications and PR? Hear from Sara, one of our lovely Senior Account Managers as she talks about her career path post-university and how she ended up at BDB. Fancy a career with us? Take a look at our current opportunities here: https://lnkd. in/eY95nJjD https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=N2E9PExmRQU --- ### Careers at BDB: Rebecca Spence - Published: 2022-10-26 - Modified: 2022-10-26 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-rebecca-spence/ - Categories: News What does it mean to be part of the Client Services team at a busy B2B marketing and communciations agency? Hear from our Senior Account Manager, Rebecca, as she explains how she went from being an English teacher in Japan to working in our Client Services team.   Give Rebecca's careers video a watch to learn more about her journey! Interested in the opportunities we have available at BDB? Check out our live vacancies here: https://weareb2b. com/life-at-bdb/ https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=pXR1QjgTwfg --- ### Careers at BDB: Oliver Brewood - Published: 2022-10-10 - Modified: 2022-10-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-oliver-brewood/ - Categories: News As part of our #CareersatBDB series, we wanted to introduce you to Oli, our Executive Director of Operations at BDB. From having an interest and passion in all things digital from a young age to developing his role and responsibilities throughout his time at BDB, Oli's career path has been quite unique! Give Oil's Careers video a watch to learn more about his journey! Interested in a career at BDB? Explore our live vacancies here: https://weareb2b. com/life-at-bdb/ https://youtu. be/kXVTMHlOrQM --- ### Do B2B brands need to be on TikTok? 5 things to think about - Published: 2022-09-28 - Modified: 2022-09-28 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/do-b2b-brands-need-to-be-on-tiktok/ - Categories: News First things first: What is TikTok?   TikTok is a social media platform for short-form video content, somewhat reminiscent of the now-defunct Vine that you may remember from 2012. It allows users to create and share short videos on any topic, offering a wide selection of sounds and song snippets along with the option to add special effects and filters. Simply put, TikTok has made it possible for anyone to become a creator. As one of the fastest-growing social media platforms with 1 billion monthly active users spending more than 850 minutes per month on the app, it’s easier than ever to reach millions of people at the touch of a button. 1 But what does it take to make them sit up and pay attention, especially in the B2B marketplace?    From Adobe to Grammarly and Sage Accounting to Microsoft, these leading B2B brands are proving that it’s possible to crack the code of TikTok for business. With a bold, creative and individual approach to content creation, these B2B brands have collated a sizeable TikTok following, expanded their reach, driven brand awareness and opened up their business to new opportunities.    So, should you be considering TikTok for your B2B business? We’ve highlighted five key questions to ask yourself before using the platform to promote your B2B brand.   Does your target audience use TikTok? This sounds like an obvious question, but marketers feel the pressure to ‘be everywhere’. We often see brands diving in before they’ve considered if they’re reaching the right audience.   ... --- ### B2B !MPACT: B2B Marketing in a Recession - Published: 2022-09-24 - Modified: 2022-09-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-impact-b2b-marketing-in-a-recession/ - Categories: News What does the looming recession mean for B2B marketers? Changes within the economy at large haven’t stopped and with talks of a looming recession, businesses are needing to pivot, yet again. With less leeway for extra costs, businesses need to be creative when spending marketing budgets, using their allocated spends more efficiently, fixing gaps in pipeline/demand generation, and building a closer alignment with sales. Find out what Matt and Oli have to say on this... https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=vxe3h7t-hpM --- ### Careers at BDB: Nicola Aldren - Published: 2022-09-23 - Modified: 2022-09-23 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/careers-at-bdb-nicola-aldren/ - Categories: News As part of our #CareersatBDB series, we wanted to introduce you to Nic, one of our Senior Account Directors at BDB. After completing a degree in Zoology and a postgraduate degree in Molecular Cell Biology, Nic delved into the world of PR and marketing. This video highlights that no matter what your educational background, there are plenty of opportunities to kickstart your career at a marketing and communications agency and no two paths are the same! Explore our live vacancies here: https://weareb2b. com/life-at-bdb/ https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=LOP4nrLVlAE --- ### How to kickstart your career at a marketing and communications agency - Published: 2022-09-07 - Modified: 2022-09-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-to-kickstart-your-career-at-a-marketing-and-communications-agency/ - Categories: News The early autumn period usually beckons an influx of thoughts, worry and anxiety for many school leavers and soon-to-be university graduates thinking about their futures after education. We believe that this period of life should not be one of anxiety but one of opportunity and excitement at the prospect of what’s coming next. Studies show that the time it takes for education-leavers to secure a job varies anywhere between three to 18 months, so make sure that you go at a pace that suits you and don’t be disheartened if you aren’t successful at that first interview, finding the perfect job is a marathon not a sprint. Getting some experience in the sector you would like to specialise in through opportunities such as internships, volunteer or work experience will really help you to stand out from the competition, however this not a necessity and a hard working attitude and go-getter approach will never go unnoticed. With good preparation and a proactive approach, you really can make the world of work your oyster.   Why the marketing and communications industry could be for you If you’re looking for a role that keeps you on your toes, is fast-paced and comes packed with a variety of work, responsibilities and opportunities, the marketing and communications industry could be for you. A key character trait of anyone looking to break into the industry is the ability to be adaptable as the world of marketing, technology and communications is constantly evolving and developing at a rapid... --- ### B2B !MPACT: Does TikTok have a place in B2B marketing? - Published: 2022-08-31 - Modified: 2022-08-31 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-mpact-does-tiktok-have-a-place-in-b2b-marketing/ - Categories: News With 1 billion active monthly users worldwide and a top spot on the Google and Apple app stores since 2021, TikTok is disrupting the world of social media. But where does TikTok belong in B2B marketing? On our latest podcast episode, Matt and Oli discuss all things TikTok and whether you should be targeting your B2B audience on the world’s most popular channel. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=hH-qlQVbPAY What's your experience with TikTok in B2B? Get in touch with us on marketing@bdb. co. uk, we'd would love to hear your views. --- ### Co-creating impactful business strategies: Why more heads are better than one - Published: 2022-08-19 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/co-creating-impactful-business-strategies/ - Categories: News Whatever our clients are looking to achieve – whether that’s growing their market share, launching a new product or expanding their business into new territories – there’s one thing that they need to succeed... they need to make an impact! Because each business is unique, there’s no magic formula when it comes to the strategies and campaigns that will help achieve key business goals and stand out from the competition. That’s why at BDB, we’ve made it our mission to keep challenging the status quo and deliver innovative, lasting impact for our clients across the B2B community. Our commitment to deliver impact is at the core of BDB’s DNA, and it doesn’t stop at the work we do for our clients. We believe that making an impact starts with the personal and professional development of each member of the BDB team – and this is critical to our own success as well as that of our clients’. As a 100% employee-owned business (find out more about that here), we aim to create a more transparent, honest and fair workplace with an egalitarian organisational structure. Being part of an employee-owned business not only offers the financial benefit of having a joint share in business profits, but also the opportunity to have an equal voice in determining the future of the company. Our inaugural Impact Day took place on National Employee Ownership Day (24th June) providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate our employees’ unique perspectives and experiences while getting everyone together to shape a... --- ### The Great Re-engagement: how to put people back at the heart of your business - Published: 2022-08-10 - Modified: 2022-08-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-great-re-engagement-how-to-put-people-back-at-the-heart-of-your-business/ - Categories: Insight The struggle to attract and retain talent has been keenly felt in the B2B marketplace over the last couple of years. In the wake of the ‘Great Resignation’ business leaders are faced with a growing skills gap alongside a need to create a workplace that meets the expectations of today’s talent pool - from financial rewards to supporting hybrid working. However, there is hope beyond the current talent crisis. We’re entering a new era within the world of work which has been coined ‘the Great Re-engagement’ – an opportunity for businesses to refocus and create an employee experience that puts people at the heart of the employee experience.   What caused the Great Resignation? As a result of months spent indoors due to the pandemic, people have had more time on their hands to consider their future, what they want from a career and what they expect from an employer. The true colours of many companies and their management shone through during the early months of the pandemic leaving many to consider a different future. In fact, according to research done by the CIPD and the University of Birmingham, 6. 5 million Brits plan to quit their jobs in the next year in search of a new opportunity.   What people are looking for has changed... Flexibility in the workplace no longer just means finishing early on a Friday or group yoga on a Monday morning. It’s a whole movement towards a way of working that balances the needs of individuals and... --- ### A Beginner's Guide to Blockchain - Published: 2022-07-21 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-is-blockchain-and-how-does-it-work-a-beginners-guide/ - Categories: News In the past few years, blockchain has become one of the most talked-about technologies in the world. But what is blockchain, and how does it work? This blog will answer those questions and more! We'll explain blockchain technology and how it works, provide examples of real-world applications, and explore some of the potential implications of this revolutionary technology. What is Blockchain? Blockchain is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. It was first developed as the underlying technology behind Bitcoin, but it has since been adapted for many other uses. Blockchain can be used to track any type of transaction, from financial transactions to voting records to property transfers. How does Blockchain work? Blockchain works by creating a permanent, public record of all transactions that take place on the network. This record is known as the blockchain, and it's maintained by a group of computers called nodes. When a new transaction occurs, it's added to the end of the blockchain and verified by the nodes in the network. Once it's verified, the transaction cannot be reversed or altered. What are some of the benefits of Blockchain? There are many benefits to blockchain technology, including: Security: Blockchain is a secure way to track transactions, and it's difficult to tamper with the blockchain record. Transparency: All transactions on the blockchain are public and can be viewed by anyone. Efficiency: Transactions on the blockchain are fast and efficient. Cost savings: By eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries, blockchain can... --- ### B2B !MPACT: Talent wars in the post-pandemic employment market - Published: 2022-07-19 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-mpact-talent-wars-in-the-post-pandemic-employment-market/ - Categories: News This week on the B2B ! MPACT podcast, Matt and Oli discuss the Great Resignation, a recent phenomenon of employees worldwide voluntarily quitting their jobs en masse and the fight for talent that followed. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=KNto9LRkgxs Got something to say about the Great Resignation? Get in touch with us on marketing@bdb. co. uk, we'd would love to hear your views. --- ### 8 Principles to drive B2B brand impact and business growth - Published: 2022-07-07 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/8-principles-to-drive-b2b-brand-impact-and-business-growth/ - Categories: News --- ### Pushing the boundaries with the latest digital trends - Published: 2020-08-03 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pushing-the-boundaries-with-the-latest-digital-trends/ - Categories: Insight The digital world never stays still for long; being online today means you have to continually prove your worth – the landscape is more competitive than ever before. The way in which we interact has fundamentally changed, pushing technology further up the agenda and placing more emphasis than ever on our digital ‘shop window’: the website. So, with over 2 billion websites across the world, how can B2B marketers maintain an edge and set their sites apart from the rest? (more... ) --- ### Putting the user first: why UX matters in B2B - Published: 2020-08-02 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/putting-the-user-first-why-ux-matters-in-b2b/ - Categories: News Every customer wants to be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily – and B2B buyers are no different. However, 77% of B2B buyers said the last purchase they made was complex or difficult. What makes their journey different – and arguably more complex – is how they get there. With multiple stakeholders and tight budgets, B2B buyers have a longer and more complex experience than the average B2C buyer. So how can we keep them interested and ultimately, encourage them to buy? A website designed with UX in mind is key. (more... ) --- ### Adapt and thrive: reclaiming the power to learn in a time of crisis - Published: 2020-07-03 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapt-and-thrive-reclaiming-the-power-to-learn-in-a-time-of-crisis/ - Categories: Insight Overnight, marketers and brands alike across the globe were forced to change the way they work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to adapt was instantly apparent and working remotely quickly became ‘the new norm’. To combat both the crisis and the already fast paced B2B landscape we inhabit, today’s leaders are being challenged with providing answers on how best to upskill their workforce to ensure that any business model put in place now will remain effective in a post-pandemic world. (more... ) --- ### Is your marketing team agile enough? - Published: 2020-07-02 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-your-marketing-team-agile-enough/ - Categories: Insight We can probably all agree that 2020 has so far been a monumental year. The B2B marketing world is no stranger to change, but the recent COVID-19 crisis has forced companies to adapt their business models quickly and effectively to survive in a turbulent environment. As the dust settles and we look back, where do these changes leave B2B marketing teams? There has been plenty of hype about agile marketing in recent years - could this approach help teams as we navigate the ‘new normal’? Here, we examine the benefits of implementing agile marketing and whether this is a viable option for your team moving forward. --- ### Staying top of mind with technology - Published: 2020-06-03 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/staying-top-of-mind-with-technology/ - Categories: News The digital world has changed the way we as B2B marketers communicate with prospects and customers. We’ve adapted our practices to measure every possible metric and meet the ever-increasing expectations of buyers at every channel and at every level of the sales funnel. But the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we are now even more reliant on a solid digital strategy. (more... ) --- ### Brand visibility in times of uncertainty - Published: 2020-06-02 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/brand-visibility-in-times-of-uncertainty/ - Categories: News Maintaining a consistent brand equity has always been a priority for businesses, but never more so than now. For years, B2B marketing professionals have built up the value of their brand: boosting overall brand awareness and encouraging brand loyalty. But in just a few months a lot has changed, and brand marketers are navigating a new, unknown landscape. --- ### Royal seal of approval: BDB wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise - Published: 2020-05-06 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/royal-seal-of-approval-bdb-wins-queens-award-for-enterprise/ - Categories: News BDB has received a 2020 Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade - the most prestigious accolade for UK businesses. Awarded on recommendation of the Prime Minister, before being approved by Her Majesty The Queen, the Queen’s Award acknowledges companies that excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. “We’re incredibly humbled and proud to win such a coveted award – it’s a tremendous achievement for everyone at BDB,” said Matt Smith, CEO at BDB. “It’s been a real team effort and it’s thanks to the hard work of each and every person here that we were able to secure this award. At BDB, we pride ourselves on our work ethic, the results we drive for global businesses, and our international outlook. We are truly honoured to receive recognition of our efforts. We would also like to sincerely thank our clients for their faith in BDB - we’re excited to continue working collaboratively to drive excellent business results and harness new opportunities together. ” The international trade award is based on a business’ financial performance, growth and the export of services from the UK to international markets.  For more information, click here.   --- ### Adapting to survive and thrive - Published: 2020-05-03 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/adapting-to-survive-and-thrive/ - Categories: News The pivot. A familiar term for many businesses as we navigate our way through the unprecedented waters of COVID-19. Changing tact, direction or embracing change has become, for many, crucial for staying afloat in these uncertain times. In the majority of cases, this doesn’t mean scrapping everything and starting again, quite the opposite in fact. It’s more about exploring what’s possible and how existing processes can be adapted to suit the current environment. (more... ) --- ### Navigating the new normal - Published: 2020-05-01 - Modified: 2020-05-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/navigating-the-new-normal-2/ - Categories: News The world has changed. Regardless of your industry or geographical location, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone in some way – forcing us to work from home and juggle both personal and work lives, while driving businesses to suddenly embrace different ways of working. But from challenges also come opportunities and learning. That’s why, in our latest insight issue , we’re taking a look at the current B2B landscape and our own experiences as a business and offering our thoughts on how we, as marketers, can adapt to the new normal. In it, we cover: Tackling change Addressing workplace challenges Developing a strategy during uncertainty How you can adapt your marketing plans Download --- ### Out of ideas? Get those creative juices flowing - Published: 2020-03-07 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/out-of-ideas-get-those-creative-juices-flowing/ - Categories: News “Leave it to the creatives” - something we have all heard and learned to respect in the world of marketing, especially in B2B. We accept, unflinchingly, that only a select few of us can come up with new, inspiring ideas. But this is a misconception that shouldn’t be overlooked; we are all creative - it’s in our DNA. --- ### Be prepared to fail, and fail again - Published: 2020-03-03 - Modified: 2020-03-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/be-prepared-to-fail-and-fail-again/ - Categories: News Ideas generation in the marketing minefield Failure is something we all want to avoid at all costs, both from a personal and a business standpoint.   But, if looked at from a different perspective, failure can be a learning exercise. Because, really, how can you learn without making mistakes? When it comes to ideas generation, learning how to fail successfully and accepting it as just another part of the process could, over time, lead to greater wins. (more... ) --- ### Is there such a thing as a bad idea? - Published: 2020-03-02 - Modified: 2020-03-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-bad-idea/ - Categories: News Everyone’s heard of the phrase ‘there’s no such thing as a bad idea’. Tunnel vision, a fear of hurting feelings, laziness or a lack of objectivity – these are just a few of the reasons why there have been plenty of false starts in the idea generation process. In reality, there are bad ideas. Probably more bad ones than good. Ideas that aren’t goal-orientated, that don’t meet the brief, or answer the audience’s questions, desires and demands. But how can we turn this seemingly negative truth on its head? Can bad ideas contribute to the creative process? (more... ) --- ### Stacking the odds: what are the latest B2B Martech trends? - Published: 2020-02-03 - Modified: 2020-02-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/stacking-the-odds-what-are-the-latest-b2b-martech-trends/ - Categories: News Martech or ‘marketing technology’ is all about taking a strategic approach to marketing that positions technology as a core driver for growth. By underpinning every stage of today’s complex buyer journey with evolving technology, martech can make B2B campaigns more fluid, agile and profitable, and help marketers navigate their way across the sales cycle more intuitively. Here, we share three top martech trends you should know about in 2020: (more... ) --- ### 3 Martech myths debunked - Published: 2020-02-02 - Modified: 2020-02-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-martech-myths-debunked/ - Categories: News It’s difficult to ignore Martech in today’s technology-driven marketing landscape, but that hasn’t stopped many marketers from burying their heads in the sand for fear of the new and unknown. And with more than 7,000 tools and software programs currently available to choose from, it’s fair to say that Martech can make even the most seasoned marketer feel a bit overwhelmed. (more... ) --- ### Martech made simple: create the ultimate stack - Published: 2020-02-01 - Modified: 2020-02-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/martech-made-simple-create-the-ultimate-stack-2/ - Categories: News While often misunderstood as rather mysterious and complicated, Martech is in reality just a simple marriage of marketing and technology. And most B2B marketers are already employing it to a certain extent, they might just not know it yet. In our guide to Martech, we explain how positioning technology as a core driver for growth, creating a strategic technology framework and creating the perfect ‘stack’ can support the successful planning, execution and evaluation of marketing campaigns. In this issue, we cover: A simpler take on Martech Types of tools at your disposal 8 tips for building the perfect stack The bigger picture Download --- ### Future-proofing: five content platforms B2B is ready for in 2020 - Published: 2020-01-05 - Modified: 2020-01-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/future-proofing-five-content-platforms-b2b-is-ready-for-in-2020/ - Categories: News New year, same old platforms. Sound familiar? It’s no secret that people digest content in different ways – so why do B2B companies keep using the same channels to promote content over and over again? (more... ) --- ### A good influence? How to leverage B2B content with influencer marketing - Published: 2020-01-04 - Modified: 2020-01-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-good-influence-how-to-leverage-b2b-content-with-influencer-marketing/ - Categories: News In some B2B spaces, where old-school approaches linger, there are a lot of misconceptions around influencer marketing. The phrase conjures a vision of a glamorous celebrity languidly waving a shiny new toy towards their phone camera and earning the average annual salary for it. In reality, influencer marketing is less about glamour and more about offering authentic value, empowering buyers to make better-informed purchases that align with both their personal and brand values. (more... ) --- ### Social media best practice: 5 crucial content tips - Published: 2020-01-03 - Modified: 2020-01-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/social-media-best-practice-5-crucial-content-tips/ - Categories: News Getting it right on social media is more important than ever before. The instant nature of communication and response leaves businesses with few places to hide. A business’ social channels are often the first point of call for customers, who are looking for a quick and easily digestible way to learn about the company. So, as we get closer to a new decade of exciting social media developments, let’s look at a few ways you can strengthen your social content offering in 2020. (more... ) --- ### Tooled up: martech for your content marketing kit - Published: 2020-01-02 - Modified: 2020-01-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/tooled-up-martech-for-your-content-marketing-kit/ - Categories: News With the abundance of customer data now available to marketers, it’s no surprise that there’s been an explosion of marketing technology tools and software to help manage and analyse. By using the right tools, you can improve your content marketing strategy tenfold, be more efficient, streamlined and keep up with the pace of the market. (more... ) --- ### No more smoke and mirrors: why data transparency benefits your customers – and you - Published: 2019-12-05 - Modified: 2019-12-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/no-more-smoke-and-mirrors-why-data-transparency-benefits-your-customers-and-you/ - Categories: News We’ve established that data is good news for your business, but it can bring its own set of challenges. With recent high-profile data breaches, customers are understandably more on edge. As B2B brands start to recognise the benefits of data-driven marketing, transparency has become crucial to ensuring both the company and its customers remain happy. (more... ) --- ### Data trends set to make an impact in 2020 - Published: 2019-12-04 - Modified: 2019-12-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/data-trends-set-to-make-an-impact-in-2020/ - Categories: News Yes, it’s that time already – we’re nearly at the end of 2019 and ready to chat about trends for next year. So, what’s in store for data-driven marketing in 2020? Here’s five key areas which we expect will see increased interest and growth next year. (more... ) --- ### Could you be your own data scientist? - Published: 2019-12-03 - Modified: 2019-12-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/could-you-be-your-own-data-scientist/ - Categories: News What’s your way with numbers? We’re living in the era of data-driven marketing. Data fuels our daily marketing activities, powers our achievements and drives our innovations. It’s clear to anyone in the B2B space right now that data is here to stay, and that data is a specialised skill. It’s not enough to gather numbers; the real work lies in selecting the right numbers, analysing them with insight and proposing useful solutions. (more... ) --- ### Who’s your ideal buyer? Data has the answer - Published: 2019-12-02 - Modified: 2019-12-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/whos-your-ideal-buyer-data-has-the-answer/ - Categories: News In a world of information overload, it’s more important than ever to be clever with the abundance of data we have at our fingertips. This is especially true if you’re devising or refreshing your content marketing strategy. If you don’t know who you’re talking to and what they’re looking for then really, what’s the point? Your message and sales aspirations are guaranteed to fall short of the mark. (more... ) --- ### Let analytics do the talking: a deep dive into data-driven marketing - Published: 2019-12-01 - Modified: 2019-12-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/data-driven-marketing/ - Categories: News What does data mean for your business? The exponential growth of data-driven marketing in the B2B space has been powered by customer preferences for more personalised, tailored experiences, which can only be delivered through the use of targeted data. At the same time, new tools and technologies have arrived on the scene - making it much easier to not only gather data, but also, crucially, to analyse and draw meaningful conclusions from it. Now is the time for businesses to pool relevant data in preparation for advanced data-driven campaigns later down the line. It’s also time to assemble a team of data-driven marketing experts. Whether that means investing in training or recruiting, it’s no longer a ‘nice to have’ resource.  We’re at a critical point, here: B2B marketers that miss the data train today will surely regret being left behind tomorrow.   We’ve created a brand-new guide to help B2B marketers get on track: Building a meaningful customer profileContext is everythingPutting together a game planData is the future Download --- ### How does brand responsibility affect your business? - Published: 2019-11-05 - Modified: 2019-11-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-does-brand-responsibility-affect-your-business/ - Categories: News A consistent corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy is at the heart of every successful business. As consumers, we trust brands that act responsibly, which influences buying behaviour. But it is often unclear which companies are responsible, and which just say they are. So how can B2B brands ensure they are noticed for the right reasons? By making sure their CSR policy and commitment to ‘social change’ runs through every level of their operations. (more... ) --- ### A sceptical society: How can B2B brands gain the trust of their audience? - Published: 2019-11-04 - Modified: 2019-11-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-sceptical-society-how-can-b2b-brands-gain-the-trust-of-their-audience/ - Categories: News A survey published by Deloitte this year found that, out of more than 13,000 millennials across 42 countries, just 55% believe that businesses have a positive impact on society. Furthermore, 76% agreed with Deloitte’s conclusion that there is a ‘growing view that businesses focus on their own agendas rather than considering wider society’. In the same vein, another survey published this year discovered that Generation Z is more likely to trust that large companies are operating in society's best interests only when the companies show it by their actions. (more... ) --- ### Is purpose the new brand currency? - Published: 2019-11-03 - Modified: 2019-11-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/is-purpose-the-new-brand-currency/ - Categories: News It’s no secret that creating a connection with customers can enhance the B2B buying experience; ultimately leading to engaged buyers and increased sales for your business. The right consumer insights can set apart a marketing campaign and raise the bar. Now, brands are going even further to win us over, by weaving these insights into their daily operations and overall purpose.   (more... ) --- ### Why B2B brands must deliver on their promises - Published: 2019-11-02 - Modified: 2019-11-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-b2b-brands-must-deliver-on-their-promises/ - Categories: News It’s no longer acceptable for brands to communicate their values and intentions but never deliver. Modern buyers have wised up to what’s ‘fake’ and what’s not – and are beginning to hold brands accountable. To re-establish trust with customers, companies need to ensure they always remain authentic. While brand authenticity is not a new concept, the changing tides of public opinion mean it’s more important than ever. There is no space for half-heartedness in today’s world; it’s crucial that brands start as they mean to go on – by communicating their genuine intentions and actions – and stay true to what they say. (more... ) --- ### How can experiential marketing deliver real-world ROI? - Published: 2019-10-05 - Modified: 2019-10-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-can-experiential-marketing-deliver-real-world-roi/ - Categories: News According to new research, 67% of B2B marketers expect their experiential marketing budgets to increase before the end of 2020, with a projected budget growth of around 24%. What’s driving this growing investment? Well, three-quarters of B2B marketers think experiential marketing was their most successful tactic in the last year. Clearly, experiential is working. (more... ) --- ### Experiential Marketing Done Right: 3 Ideas to Inspire You - Published: 2019-10-04 - Modified: 2019-10-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/experiential-marketing-done-right-3-ideas-to-inspire-you/ - Categories: News Trade shows may be a tried-and-true B2B faithful, but trade show marketing has morphed into an entirely new creation. Welcome to the world of experiential marketing, where the exhibition floor is a stage and every brand is a player, looking to captivating their audience with ever-more unique and memorable interactions. (more... ) --- ### Showtime: how can you stand out from the crowd at trade shows? - Published: 2019-10-03 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/showtime-how-can-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd-at-trade-shows/ - Categories: News When done right, trade shows can be a great source of leads, revenue and brand awareness for B2B businesses. It’s a fantastic opportunity for salespeople to meet their clients and target audience face-to-face and, with 81% of trade show attendees having buying authority and 92% actively looking for new products, it’s a channel that is hard to beat. (more... ) --- ### Creating experiential exhibitions for the modern world - Published: 2019-10-02 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/creating-experiential-exhibitions-for-the-modern-world/ - Categories: News Exhibitions have been a long-standing fixture in the B2B world, but is there still a place for them in the modern world? As the next generation of B2B buyers comes to the fore, brands will need to make sure that they are creating content that resonates with them, on channels that they use, in a language that they engage with – all on the trade show floor. (more... ) --- ### Making conversation count - Published: 2019-09-13 - Modified: 2019-09-13 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/making-conversation-count/ - Categories: News Conversation makes the world go round, and when utilised within a marketing strategy helps drive sales without really ‘selling’. It allows businesses and their customers to interact on a personal level, strengthening relationships and supporting brand loyalty. (more... ) --- ### Chatbots: what's the hype? - Published: 2019-09-12 - Modified: 2019-09-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/chatbots-whats-the-hype/ - Categories: News Fast, efficient, a time saver: just some of the ways businesses are talking about chatbots. As part of a communications strategy, these tools can be indispensable for customer relations. But it’s not all plain sailing, so we’re going to delve a bit deeper into this latest technology trend and explore the very real possibility that chatbots might one day replace humans in the sales funnel. (more... ) --- ### All talk? Three B2B conversational marketing metrics worth tracking - Published: 2019-09-11 - Modified: 2019-09-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/all-talk-three-b2b-conversational-marketing-metrics-worth-tracking/ - Categories: News With all B2B marketing campaigns, tracking and measuring the results is crucial – not only to determine ROI and justify budgets, but also to shape future campaigns. This is the same with conversational marketing: as a non-traditional marketing channel, it’s vital to prove its worth to senior management, demonstrate the campaign’s alignment with company goals, and plan how the campaign will progress in the future. But how can a B2B business measure the impact of something as abstract as ‘conversation’? (more... ) --- ### A human approach: harnessing conversational marketing in B2B - Published: 2019-09-10 - Modified: 2019-09-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-human-approach-harnessing-conversational-marketing-in-b2b/ - Categories: News By offering businesses the opportunity to connect with their customers and prospects in a more human way, conversational marketing drives engagement and increases the likelihood of moving prospects along the sales funnel. It’s therefore no wonder that this approach has increased in popularity in recent years. (more... ) --- ### Five B2B influencer marketing metrics you need to measure - Published: 2019-08-19 - Modified: 2019-08-19 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/five-b2b-influencer-marketing-metrics-you-need-to-measure/ - Categories: News For B2B marketers, tracking and measuring both the ongoing progress and the results of their campaigns is key. After all, sharing the success of campaigns is crucial in justifying marketing spend to senior management, and demonstrating alignment with company goals. As a non-traditional marketing channel, influencer marketing doesn’t seem as straightforward when it comes to tracking influencers’ activities and setting overarching objectives. However, with this medium giving 11 times more ROI than banner advertisements, it’s clear that this is something B2B businesses will need to tackle sooner rather than later. (more... ) --- ### Securing social success: the dos and dont's of influencer marketing - Published: 2019-08-16 - Modified: 2019-08-16 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/securing-social-success-the-dos-and-donts-of-influencer-marketing/ - Categories: News Influencer marketing has seen rapid growth in today’s digital-first world. While typically seen as a B2C marketing strategy, it can be hugely beneficial for B2B brands too – with many B2B businesses seeing it deliver transformative results at every step of their sales cycle. Influencers can position a brand as a thought leader, boost overall brand engagement, and distribute content to a highly targeted, engaged audience. (more... ) --- ### Influencer marketing: what does it mean for B2B? - Published: 2019-08-06 - Modified: 2019-08-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/influencer-marketing-what-does-it-mean-for-b2b/ - Categories: News A hybrid of both old and new marketing techniques, influencer marketing is an approach that has taken the marketing world by storm in recent years. Combining the age-old idea of celebrity endorsements with modern day social media channels and content-driven marketing campaigns, influencer marketing can be seen across the internet by millions of people every day. With influencers able to increase a business’ brand awareness, boost conversions and help with product launches, it’s not surprising that brands are predicted to spend up to $15 billion on influencer marketing by 2022. (more... ) --- ### The power of persuasion: 3 outstanding B2B influencer marketing campaigns - Published: 2019-08-05 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-power-of-persuasion-3-outstanding-b2b-influencer-marketing-campaigns/ - Categories: News Although not an entirely new concept, influencer marketing has seen major growth in today’s digital-first world. Celebrity endorsements have been transformed, through social media and content marketing, into a lucrative opportunity for businesses across the globe. For B2C brands, influencer marketing has been paying dividends – but B2B companies are lagging behind. In fact, in a recent survey, only 31% of marketing professionals who run influencer marketing campaigns said they were running campaigns for the B2B sector. (more... ) --- ### The power of influence - Published: 2019-08-02 - Modified: 2019-08-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-power-of-influence-2/ - Categories: News Influencer marketing is now a force to be reckoned with in the marketing world, having seen incredible growth in the past decade. An evolution of the old school tactic of celebrity endorsement, now combined with social media platforms and content-rich marketing campaigns, influencer marketing has been used with great effect by direct-to-consumer brands globally. But why should B2C have all the fun? When executed well, partnering with the right influencers can lead to multiple benefits for B2B brands, including increased brand exposure, share of voice in a competitive marketplace and widespread communication of key messages. Undoubtedly, influencer marketing is a real opportunity for B2B – so how can your business harness it? We’ve created a guide on B2B influencer marketing with actionable advice on how to include it in your strategy. What’s covered in the guide? What exactly is influencer marketing? How do we define an ‘influencer’? The specific benefits for B2B businessesMeasurement and ensuring ROI10 actionable ways to implement an influencer strategy Download --- ### The numbers game: how should your business be measuring results? - Published: 2019-07-17 - Modified: 2019-07-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-numbers-game-how-should-your-business-be-measuring-results/ - Categories: News Businesses globally are starting to realise the importance of aligning their sales and marketing teams. But how exactly can companies make sure that their alignment efforts are working? Traditionally, metrics used to measure marketing effectiveness and sales performance have differed and have been treated separately, but this can lead to crossed wires between both departments. So, is there a better way? Here are four different considerations when monitoring the results reaped by sales and marketing... (more... ) --- ### A changing buyer journey: multiple touchpoints in a non-linear sales funnel - Published: 2019-07-16 - Modified: 2019-07-16 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/a-changing-buyer-journey-multiple-touchpoints-in-a-non-linear-sales-funnel/ - Categories: News Today’s B2B buyers have a myriad of touchpoints to jump between and can engage and purchase at any given juncture. This means that the traditional 4-step sales funnel is no longer viable, and the sales cycle is unpredictable and getting shorter. We’re also entering a new landscape where prospective buyers expect more from sales representatives when they eventually interact with them. It is therefore increasingly important for sales and marketing teams to work together to develop strategies that cater to a non-linear journey and optimise the entire buyer experience. (more... ) --- ### Account based marketing: zero waste communications - Published: 2019-07-04 - Modified: 2019-07-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/account-based-marketing-zero-waste-communications/ - Categories: News "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half. ” – John Wanamaker With a recent survey revealing that marketers believe they waste over one quarter of their budget on ineffective strategies and channels each year, it’s clear that there’s a real need within the industry for a solution that delivers both results and return on investment – and this is where account based marketing comes in. (more... ) --- ### Align or die: 4 practical tips for sales and marketing alignment - Published: 2019-07-02 - Modified: 2019-07-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/align-or-die-4-practical-tips-for-sales-and-marketing-alignment/ - Categories: News Traditionally, the focus of marketing teams has been to generate leads for sales, which were then qualified and turned into revenue by sales representatives. However, these days buyers are digitally driven, socially connected and completely in control, and our omni-channel, multi-touchpoint world has turned the traditional sales funnel on its head. (more... ) --- ### 8 factors to consider when launching a website - Published: 2019-06-17 - Modified: 2019-06-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/8-factors-to-consider-when-launching-a-website/ - Categories: News Launching a website is an exciting step for your business, but ensuring that it achieves everything you need it to can be a challenge. From displaying the correct information in a coherent way, to being accessible and intuitive for all, websites must go far beyond the initial ‘visual impact’. (more... ) --- ### How to use storytelling for sales and marketing alignment - Published: 2019-06-17 - Modified: 2019-06-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-to-use-storytelling-for-sales-and-marketing-alignment/ - Categories: News Our world is changing at a rapid pace. New technology and trends cause regular disruption within the B2B industry, forcing brands to adapt to the demands of modern B2B buyers that crave personalised experiences. The traditional sales funnel of coercing buyers down one path is not as effective as it used to be. Instead, brands should look to adopt a non-linear marketing journey filled with multiple touchpoints.     For a non-linear marketing strategy to work, companies need to consider how to align their sales and marketing teams. In the old days, marketers would find the leads, while sales representatives focused on closing, and there may have been no communication between the departments.    One of the quickest ways to unite sales and marketing together is to tell a compelling brand story. Storytelling is effective because it encourages collaboration between both sides. So, how can sales and marketing work together to tell a story that resonates with an audience?    (more... ) --- ### 4 tips on how to engage with the modern B2B buyer - Published: 2019-06-11 - Modified: 2019-06-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/4-tips-on-how-to-engage-with-the-modern-b2b-buyer/ - Categories: News Over the past few years, the B2B buying process has changed dramatically. Modern B2B buyers are becoming more aligned to a B2C journey through the consumption of tailored content and personalised experiences.  This has led to a misalignment between more traditional sales processes and the modern buyer’s purchasing behaviour.    The Millennial and Generation Z demographics are evolving into the decision makers who will decide the future of the B2B buying process. Modern buyers are likely to carry out their own research, so by the time they engage with a brand, they will have probably made the decision to buy into a product or service.    It is imperative that brands have a robust digital marketing strategy that meets the demands of a contemporary B2B audience. Here are four tips on how to capture the attention of the modern B2B purchaser.    (more... ) --- ### Helping out and having fun with Seashell Trust - Published: 2019-06-06 - Modified: 2019-06-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/helping-out-having-fun-seashell-trust/ - Categories: News Last week saw members of the BDB team volunteering with Seashell Trust for the annual May CADS (Children’s Able and Disabled Sports) camp – an award-winning programme helping children with complex learning and communication disabilities take part in sports, health and leisure activities. Created especially for children and young adults aged 5 to 25, regardless of need or ability, Seashell Trust’s CADS camps are run during every school holiday with the ethos that “sport can be played by anyone and enjoyed by all! ” During a CADS camp, sports such as swimming, dance and yoga take place, all run by specialists while meeting the various needs of every child taking part - no matter their disability or medical requirements. Volunteers from BDB assisted the Seashell Trust team with groups of children aged between 10-15 and 16-25 on the day by interacting with the children and supporting the team leaders. It was a truly rewarding experience for all involved. With more members of the BDB team helping out with the summer CADS camps in August, it won’t be long before we’re back at Seashell Trust to support the programme again. Seashell Trust’s CADS camps are just a small part of the amazing work they do to support children and young adults with complex and severe learning disabilities. As part of BDB’s ongoing fundraising efforts, we really appreciate any support or donations – you can find out more on our Virgin Money Giving page. --- ### The role of storytelling in delivering a coherent customer experience - Published: 2019-06-03 - Modified: 2019-06-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/the-role-of-storytelling-in-delivering-a-coherent-customer-experience/ - Categories: News When it comes to engaging with the modern B2B consumer, brands have their work cut out for them. People are becoming less receptive to traditional marketing tactics and their attention spans are getting shorter.   To cut through the noise in the B2B sector, companies need to engage with their audiences on an emotional level.   This can be accomplished through storytelling. Stories are the oldest form of entertainment. They have been passed down from generation to generation, acting as a constant throughout the history of the human race. Brands that incorporate storytelling into their marketing strategy can deliver an immersive customer experience.    (more... ) --- ### Which of the 7 plot types should you choose for B2B storytelling? - Published: 2019-06-02 - Modified: 2019-06-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/which-of-the-7-plot-types-should-you-choose-for-b2b-storytelling/ - Categories: News Narrative storytelling can help a B2B company connect with their audience on an emotional level. But no matter what kind of story is chosen, odds are it will fall into a specific category. Seven major plot types exist and each feature their own set of distinctive themes and characters:  Overcoming the monsterRages to richesThe questVoyage and returnComedyTragedyRebirth   (more... ) --- ### Mastering the art of B2B storytelling - Published: 2019-06-01 - Modified: 2019-06-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/mastering-the-art-of-b2b-storytelling-2/ - Categories: News Storytelling is an effective B2B marketing tool because it can make a brand more relatable and influence buyer decision-making. We’ve created a storytelling guide to help you connect with B2B buyers that are interested in personalised experiences and reading educational content. What’s covered in the guide? The importance of narrative storytellingNon-linear B2B marketing and the multiple touchpoint journey Brand purpose and the concept of why The 7 plot typesUsing the 10 Cs of storytelling Download --- ### Getting To Know You: Meet BDB's New Starters - Published: 2019-05-09 - Modified: 2019-05-09 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/getting-to-know-you-meet-bdbs-new-starters/ - Categories: News Over the last few months, BDB has appointed a number of talented individuals to join its continuously growing team. From seasoned PR and marketing professionals to those at the start of their careers, we interviewed all our newbies to find out why they chose BDB and to see how they’re getting on. Holly Jobbins, Senior Account ManagerWhat separated BDB, for you, from other agencies? “BDB stood out to me because of the strength of its B2B marketing offering, as well as it’s unique team culture. Having worked in B2B for over eight years, I was impressed at the outset by BDB’s strategic approach, international outlook, and openness to doing things differently. From my first interview, I felt confident that BDB was somewhere I could learn and develop, but also be part of a collaborative, friendly and successful team. “Now nearly four months in, and my experience at BDB has been everything I’d hoped for, and more! As a full-service agency, BDB offers the opportunity to work with colleagues who specialise in creative production and digital marketing to deliver impactful campaigns for clients.  I got involved straightaway with developing the strategy for some new campaigns and I have loved getting to know our clients and the diverse industries they operate in.    “Since starting, I’ve also taken the lead on developing and delivering BDB’s comprehensive training programme – this is something I’m really passionate about, and it’s fantastic to have my ideas on the subject welcomed and implemented so soon in my BDB career.  I’ve been made to feel so welcome as... --- ### Why doesn’t my voice assistant understand my accent? - Published: 2019-05-03 - Modified: 2019-05-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-doesnt-my-voice-assistant-understand-my-accent/ - Categories: Insight Ever had a conversation with a voice assistant and found it’s been unable to understand your accent? If so, you’re not alone. In the UK, for instance, people with regional dialects find it hard to speak to audio devices like Siri and Alexa. According to a study, 79% of people with regional accents alter their voice to make sure they are understood by their digital assistants.   Voice assistants have risen in popularity in recent years, with 2 in 5 adults using voice search daily. Users in other countries are struggling to hold a conversation with voice technology as well, which indicates there needs to be an improvement in the way voice devices comprehend different languages. From a B2B marketing and sales perspective, language comprehension is important for targeting customers around the world. For example,... continue reading on b2bknowledge. com. --- ### How your B2B brand can harness the power of Alexa Flash Briefing - Published: 2019-05-03 - Modified: 2019-05-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/how-your-b2b-brand-can-harness-the-power-of-alexa-flash-briefing/ - Categories: Insight In the B2B marketing world, people are always looking to predict the next major trend, and the one that keeps cropping up is voice search. Voice assistant devices are becoming commonplace, and businesses are adapting to the way consumers are using the technology to shop online. Amazon Echo has established itself as a popular device. A swiss army knife of voice assistants, Echo integrates with Alexa to stream music, make phone calls, set alarms and do all manner of wonderful things that can be achieved with a few words. A great addition to Echo is the presence of ‘skills’ that can be downloaded to achieve other tasks, like finding a lost phone. A skill that’s widely used on the Echo is Flash Briefing, which delivers pre-recorded news snippets from media outlets. From a B2B marketing perspective, this is huge. Setting up a flash briefing allows for readily available audio content to be delivered to customers daily. If you are serious about incorporating voice search into your B2B content strategy,... continue reading on b2bknowledge. com. --- ### Vitafoods 2019: Supporting Europe's largest nutraceutical event - Published: 2019-05-02 - Modified: 2019-05-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/vitafoods-2019-bdb-supporting-europes-largest-nutraceutical-event/ - Categories: News As a B2B marketing consultancy with a heritage in the world of food ingredients, health and science, BDB has been attending Vitafoods Europe for many years - supporting our growing portfolio of health & nutrition clients with a wide range of on-site support. We are therefore delighted to be appointed to provide PR, content, social media and event management support for Vitafoods Europe 2019, following a competitive pitch process. As the go-to meeting place for the global nutraceutical industry, Vitafoods Europe is renowned in the industry for its prestige in the sector: last year, 1,119 exhibitors and 21,132 nutraceutical professionals from over 112 countries attended. As the event’s official PR agency, we are primarily responsible for generating an engaged visitor audience, as well as positioning the event as a place where people can learn more about the industry. One of the ways we are addressing this brief is by delivering an influencer campaign that sees key stakeholders in the nutrition, health and wellness markets take part in a lively debate around the hottest trends and future predictions for the sector: from personalised nutrition to plant-based products and sustainability. Commenting on the appointment, Daniela Elia, Head of Marketing at Vitafoods, Informa Markets, says: ‘BDB came to us highly recommended by other businesses in the health & nutrition industry and they really got under the skin of the brief during the pitch. The campaigns have got off to an excellent start, and we’re excited to have the team on board as we... --- ### Hello, is it me you're looking for? - Published: 2019-04-29 - Modified: 2019-04-29 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/hello-is-it-me-youre-looking-for/ - Categories: News As part of our mission to share marketing knowledge, we’ve created the B2B marketer's guide to voice, focussing on how businesses can use voice search in their marketing campaigns. Voice technology has emerged as a growing trend in the marketing industry and brands need to consider how voice search will affect their industry going forward. Download the guide to voice search to find out how your brand can adapt. What's covered in the guide? Types of voice devicesHow voice technology is affecting UXThe importance of voice search optimisationCreating voice optimised contentVoice technology of the future Download --- ### What types of voice search content do B2B businesses need? - Published: 2019-04-26 - Modified: 2024-11-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/what-types-of-voice-search-content-do-b2b-businesses-need/ - Categories: News When it comes to new technology, voice assistants have emerged as a growing trend in the marketing industry. It’s thought that around 1. 8 billion people will be using voice assistants on a global scale by 2021, leading to a change in the way consumers interact with the world around them. Devices like Alexa and Siri are meant to make it easier for users to multitask and access content, which is why brands need to consider how voice search will affect content distribution in the future. Local search is a key part of how people are using voice technology to find information. So, creating content that’s tailored to local search is a good way of making sure B2B products and services gain maximum exposure. Here are a few types of content to keep in mind when developing a voice-related B2B content strategy. (more... ) --- ### 5 voice search optimisation techniques for your business - Published: 2019-04-26 - Modified: 2019-04-26 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/5-voice-search-optimisation-techniques-for-growing-your-business-2/ - Categories: News Embracing new technology is one of the best ways for companies to reach consumers. Voice assistant devices are among the most talked about hardware, with voice search being pegged as the next major trend in the marketing world. People are using virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Home to shop online and to find new experiences, which has created a lot of potential for B2B companies to optimise their services around this new form of search marketing. As voice search becomes more prevalent, B2B prospects will inevitably start using it to search for relevant information. Considering 50% of all searches are predicted to be done via voice search by 2020, B2B brands need to adapt to new search habits. (more... ) --- ### Food matters live 2019 - Published: 2019-03-19 - Modified: 2019-03-19 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-matters-live-2019/ - Categories: News Zoë Wilkins MA (Hons) DipM is an account director at Barrett Dixon Bell (BDB), a leading international B2B marketing communications consultancy. For the last 30 years BDB has been helping international businesses and brands overcome complex business problems and unlock sales opportunities on the global stage. We already work with some of the most respected names in the food and beverage ingredients industry and would love to discuss how we can help you reach your business, marketing and sales goals for 2020 and beyond. Since joining BDB, Zoë has specialised in food manufacturing and associated sectors, like packaging and instrumentation. She has helped many companies grow their profile, increase their market share, launch new products and technologies; enter and exploit new markets; improve customer loyalty and ultimately, grow sales and profits. --- ### Meeting at FiE 2019 - Published: 2019-03-03 - Modified: 2019-03-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meeting-at-fie-2019/ - Categories: News For the last 30 years BDB has been helping international businesses and brands overcome complex business problems and unlock sales opportunities on the global stage. We already work with some of the most respected names in the food and beverage ingredients industry and would love to discuss how we can help you reach your business, marketing and sales goals for 2020 and beyond. We will be at the 2019 Food Ingredients Europe on the 3rd and 4th December. At the event we are looking to make some new contacts and explore ways in which we can work closer together during 2020. If you'd like to meet us at the event, send us an email to weareb2b@bdb. co. uk. --- ### Meet Holly & Dimo: BDB's two new senior hires - Published: 2019-02-20 - Modified: 2019-02-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-holly-and-dimo-bdb-new-hires/ - Categories: News Exciting news for team BDB: we’ve grown our team with two new experienced hires! Holly Jobbins and Dimo Stoychev have been appointed as Senior Account Manager and Digital Account Manager, respectively. Dimo and Holly bring a wealth of both agency and client-side experience to their roles, and their appointments signal the start of another great year for BDB. Coming from a senior role at Manchester-based agency Hattrick, Holly joins BDB with over 8 years’ experience in B2B PR and marketing – both in-house and agency. She has expertise in the pharmaceutical, construction and manufacturing industries, and she’ll be using her knowledge to lead integrated communications activity for BDB’s client base. Experienced in managing both national and global campaigns for clients, ranging from large multinational companies to SMEs and start-ups, Holly is also a graduate of the Squared Online digital marketing leadership course. “With BDB’s strong reputation for excellence in B2B marketing, its firm focus on the future and commitment to investing in new skills, it feels like a really exciting time to have joined the team,” said Holly. “I’m really enjoying working with our international clients to develop integrated campaigns that deliver real business results – and help make a difference in the markets that they operate in. ” Dimo, our new Digital Account Manager, has more than 5 years’ digital marketing experience in the software industry and public sector, and comes to BDB from Whitespace Work Software. With experience spanning email campaigns, social advertising, search engine optimisation, video production and... --- ### BDB secures 5th place in Prolific North’s Top 50 PR Agencies for the second year running - Published: 2018-10-31 - Modified: 2018-10-31 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-secures-5th-place-in-prolific-norths-top-50-pr-agencies-for-the-second-year-running/ - Categories: News We are proud to announce that for the second year in a row BDB have been placed in the top 5 of the Prolific North’s Top 50 PR Agencies. The ranking is based on financial information taken from Companies House, as well as financial reporting company fame BVD, and also draws upon data submitted and verified by the agencies themselves. Starting from an initial longlist of 200 companies, in-depth analysis was then carried out on 120 agencies in total. This announcement punctuates what has been an exciting year at BDB, with a lot of new talent being onboarded, and new projects undertaken. Our exceptionally talented team have been working hard to deliver amazing results for all of our clients. As the company continues to grow, we are confident that we will continue to do this and more! Here’s to another successful year. To find out more about BDB and the B2Binternational marketing communications services we offer, email weareb2b@bdb. co. uk or call us on +44 (0)161 925 4700. --- ### CPhI 2018: Find out what we got up to - Published: 2018-10-18 - Modified: 2018-10-18 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/cphi-2018-find-out-what-we-got-up-to/ - Categories: News It’s that time of the year again! It’s tradeshow season and we have just returned from another successful week at pharmaceutical event, CPhI Worldwide. The show was based in Madrid and saw more than 45,000 industry professionals attend from across the globe. So, in addition to consuming copious amounts of tapas, what did we get up to? SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS We flew out to sunny Spain for the same reason that we attend most trade shows – to provide press support to some of our fantastic clients exhibiting there. As a B2B PR and marketing communications agency, helping to facilitate media interviews, and strengthen our relationships with editors and journalists, is extremely significant to us. With our extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical trade press, and scientific copywriting expertise in-house, CPhI was another great opportunity to deliver this service. One of our clients at the show this year was DSM, a company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. Throughout CPhI, we helped to raise awareness of its capabilities in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the role of vitamins and lipids as APIs, drug-nutrient interactions and the 60th year anniversary of DSM’s Dalry site in Scotland. The booth even featured a futuristic hologram of a charismatic Scotsman who told a compelling story about the history of the facility! We had fun writing the script for that one! NETWORKING As always, these types of shows provide the perfect opportunity to build on old relationships, meet new contacts and engage in exciting and topical... --- ### Meet us at Fleet Live 2018 - Published: 2018-10-08 - Modified: 2018-10-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-us-at-fleet-live-2018/ - Categories: News We’re attending the Fleet Live exhibition in Birmingham this week. With our clients in the sector including Esso Card™ and MWheels, we’re looking forward to getting some inspiration for future campaigns by hearing about the challenges that fleet managers are facing first hand. During the show, we’ll be attending seminars on key industry trends, like the latest regulatory developments and the impact of smart technologies, as well as meeting with our trade press contacts and networking. If you want to meet our team at the NEC, email us at weareb2b@bdb. co. uk. Otherwise, watch out for our blog next week with some of our highlights from the show. --- ### Key insights from Campaign Underground: Focal Recall event, Camden - Published: 2018-10-02 - Modified: 2018-10-02 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/key-insights-from-campaign-underground-focal-recall-event-camden/ - Categories: News Ask most people in your office, and they won’t remember what they had for dinner last night, let alone the last advert they saw. In all the noise of the digital world – with ads and brand messages being served up at every conceivable juncture – how can we, as marketers, ensure that our brand stands out, encouraging recall when it matters most? The key is understanding how memories form in the first place, and then applying this in a meaningful way to brand strategies, experiences, advertising, etc. It’s a few days after the event now, and putting recall to the test, what’s been filed as useful insights by my memory? 1. Memory storage in the brain is more structured than was first thought, with two main types of long-term memory – explicit (from an actual experience) and implicit (unconscious). Also, memories are edited or reconstructed slightly whenever they are recalled (Dr. Amy Milton, University of Cambridge) 2. The brain records visual memories as a series of ‘snapshots’ or stills, much like a camera. Brands can use some simple tricks to encourage the brain to take snapshots to encode memories, for example (in adverts) weave the brand into the narrative, leverage tension and breaks, and avoid conceptual closure (Heather Andrew, Neuro-Insight) 3. Invoke shared memories, such as thunder storms, to create a more emotional experience of a brand, supercharging recall and affinity (Mike Roberts, Green Room) 4. Our senses don’t act in isolation; the brain merges information from multiple senses,... --- ### Why choose a b2b marketing agency? - Published: 2018-09-12 - Modified: 2018-09-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/why-choose-a-b2b-marketing-agency/ - Categories: News I was recently asked to describe what benefits a B2B company could gain from having a marketing agency, rather than relying solely on a team of in-house marketers or network of freelancers. A simple question, to which I gave a long-winded answer. And it got me thinking about writing a blog on the matter. Using a marketing agency isn’t always the right path for every business, but for others it can be crucial to achieving success in the long-term. Here are five key points that make a great case for using a marketing agency, and, more specifically, a B2B marketing agency: Access to a wider talent pool A business might have a small team of the best in-house marketers available – they are smart, strategic, efficient, and highly skilled in their respective roles. Sounds great, doesn’t it? OK, well now double that number. Actually, maybe times it by 5. or even more. You get the picture. Hang on a minute – you might say – I only ever speak to John Doe at the agency we work with... I definitely don’t get more marketing bodies for my buck! Well, that’s very unlikely. While a business might have regular day-to-day contact with just a couple of dedicated agency employees with the in-depth knowledge of your company, they usually benefit from a broad variety of skilled marketers of all disciplines – each of which can provide essential input into their campaigns, whether that be digital, PR, copywriting, brand, creative or production. Fresh... --- ### Seizing the opportunity: What can come of the single-use plastics ban? - Published: 2018-08-22 - Modified: 2018-08-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/seizing-the-opportunity-what-can-come-of-the-single-use-plastics-ban/ - Categories: News The UN wants to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022 and more than 60 countries have already taken steps to eradicate single-use plastics from packaging. One of the countries following suit is India, which has recently banned single-use plastics in most of its states and union territories. With a growing number of countries jointly committing to revolutionary measures, achieving zero single-use plastics by 2022 may be more achievable than it first appeared. To tackle the plastic pollution crisis, banning fast-moving and short-lived plastic applications is an inevitable first step. We also need to rethink how we make, use, and reuse plastics. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, unnecessary and problematic single-use plastic packaging can be eliminated through redesign and innovation. Plastic packaging should be reusable, compostable or recyclable to stay in the economy, rather than become waste and pollution. The packaging life cycle Many environmental threats are invisible. It’s only when assessing the entire life cycle of packaging, from the use of raw materials to disposal processes, that they all become apparent. For example, black plastic packaging, which is coloured using carbon black pigments, often ends up in landfill as it is undetectable by optical sorting systems widely used in plastics recycling – despite being fully recyclable. There’s a long way to go yet, but shared efforts are helping to bring the vision of a new packaging landscape closer. Making a difference To overcome current challenges, leading brands, retailers, and packaging companies globally are collaborating under the Plastic Pact initiative, launched... --- ### Breaking out of the marketing bubble - Published: 2018-07-30 - Modified: 2018-07-30 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-out-of-the-marketing-bubble/ - Categories: News The findings from the recent Trinity Mirror report on ‘why we shouldn’t trust our gut instincts’, make for enlightening reading. From life experiences and education, to motivations, values and cultural outlook, the paper reveals that, as a group, agency folks’ social and economic experience are fundamentally different from those of the consumers that marketers target on a daily basis. It’s not just about demographics though, the paper reveals that the marketing and advertising industry has ‘a different unconscious thinking style’ to the modern mainstream consumer. Put simply, and this applies equally to b2b and b2c, we marketers see, experience and interpret the world very differently to the people we’re trying to influence. And most of the time, we don’t even realise we’re doing it. Key differences cited in the report included agency employees’ values being driven by hedonism, achievement and power, whereas the mainstream consumer is driven by security, conformity and tradition. The two groups’ views on ‘fairness’ also differed, along with psychological variances on the influence of social cues and context. Agency folks are more analytical in their thinking style, focusing on the individual and filtering out contextual cues, however mainstream consumers tend to think more holistically, placing more emphasis on community and social relations. While the paper doesn’t advocate reimagining yourself – going back to ‘the block’ like JLo, or getting close to ‘common people’ over a rum and Coca Cola á la Pulp – it rightly says that as marketers we need to accept that both our... --- ### The continued rise of ‘live’: why B2B businesses shouldn’t miss out - Published: 2018-07-20 - Modified: 2018-07-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/continued-rise-live-b2b-businesses-shouldnt-miss/ - Categories: Insight A whopping 87% of us look at a second device while watching TV. That’s because texting, tweeting and scrolling while we talk, eat, and even prepare to sleep has become the norm. With that in mind, social networks are aiming to make multi-tasking easier than ever. Following Facebook’s lead of allowing playing videos to be detached from the news feed, Twitter is launching its ‘docking’ update, meaning users can continue to tweet and scroll while watching video. While it might not seem like a radical development, it is another great step forward in live-streaming experiences. It means users can join in accompanying tweet discussions and search their feeds without missing a moment of live video action. So, how can B2B businesses make the most of the new feature? The answer is: don’t shy away from going live. Below, we’ve listed four simple content ideas to get you started: Showcase behind the scenes – Live streaming is a simple way to give your audience exclusive insight into what makes your business unique. It could be a quick video tour of a manufacturing plant or snippets of your innovation team working on their next project. With two out of three senior executives saying they would opt for watching video over reading text , it’s a perfect chance to create content that gets your company seen. Put a face to the name – People want to work with people, not with a faceless brand. Use live content to show off the business’s... --- ### Top tips for b2b PR campaign planning success - Published: 2018-07-10 - Modified: 2018-07-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-tips-b2b-pr-campaign-planning-success/ - Categories: News Creating a comprehensive plan is key to any effective Public Relations (PR) campaign. Whether it’s the launch of a new product or increasing brand awareness, developing a strategy and setting clear objectives will enable you to get the most out of PR and achieve optimal results in a B2B arena. However, communications planning also requires a level of flexibility, as timings and opportunities often change. Here, we’ve detailed our top tips for devising a successful programme: 1) Evaluate your past results Before you can plan PR activity, you need to review your past activity. If your company executed a campaign last year, look at the findings and whether you met your objectives – this will enable you to determine what worked well and what didn’t. For instance, you could start by looking at which journalists and publications covered your stories, as well as analysing the potential audience your news reached. In addition, it is also important to look at which types of pitches were effective and which stories attracted the most media attention. This will enable you to gain deeper understanding of your target publications and how you can help them. 2) Establish your strategy Firstly, you need to identify your outcomes and set measurable targets. Secondly, you should develop key messages which you’d like to be portrayed to the media. Ideally, these will reflect your business objectives and be used throughout your communications activity. Next, you can begin to create the campaign plan by identifying potential media opportunities. To... --- ### B2B media relations: five top tips for getting noticed - Published: 2018-06-21 - Modified: 2018-06-21 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-media-relations-five-top-tips-getting-noticed/ - Categories: News Used effectively, media relations can establish credibility and raise brand awareness – ultimately helping to build a positive reputation externally. Media relations can also be key to staying one step ahead of competitors in the same field, as you aim for the top spot in b2b trade titles. So how do you ensure your content gets seen by the right people? Follow our five top tips below for effective b2b media relations: Do the proper research The first step is the most important. It is crucial to carry out thorough research on b2b trade publications, as they tend to cover niche topics in an in-depth way. This also helps to ensure it is the right platform for your PR objectives before moving forward with a pitch – for example, does it cover relevant topics and is it aimed at the appropriate readership? Request a media kit from the publication – it can provide a wealth of information on your target audience, including the job roles of the readers, regional distribution and official circulation figures. Looking into previous content can also determine a magazine’s suitability. Proper research can mean you don’t waste your time placing irrelevant content with magazines. Pitch it right Although you may not be speaking to a national broadsheet, pitching to the editor of an industry magazine needs to be well thought-out, timely and relevant. Why should they care? How will it interest their readers? Editors of b2b magazines are often passionate about their chosen subject matter, so... --- ### Nutrition: What are the key trends dominating the industry? - Published: 2018-06-11 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/nutrition-key-trends-dominating-industry/ - Categories: News Every year, new trends emerge within the nutrition industry, and it’s up to food, beverage and dietary supplement manufacturers to adapt if they want to stay ahead of the curve. So, in 2018, what are the key themes? Here, we take a look at what dominated the agenda at this year’s leading nutraceutical show, Vitafoods Europe 2018: 1) Personalised nutrition A buzz word for several years, ‘personalised’ now seems to have taken hold of the nutrition industry by storm – and it’s about time. After all, consumers are now taking a more proactive approach to their health than ever before, and they expect innovative and appealing solutions to support their specific health needs. Traditionally serving products of a ‘one-size-fits all’ nature, industry players are changing tack. From formulating tailored nutritional premixes, to developing artificial intelligence that analyses people’s genetic makeup alongside their diet, lifestyle and health goals to create tailored nutritional drinks, brands are really stepping up. And it’s not just b2b. A recent development in the b2c nutrition market is a ‘health box’ from health food retail chain Holland and Barrett. This service provides consumers with a tailored monthly selection of recommended supplements based on a dedicated lifestyle survey. Personalisation nutrition is very much here to stay, and consumers agree – over a third of people surveyed last year consider it to be an important long-term trend. 2) Healthy ageing for all Healthy ageing products are increasingly popular with consumers of all ages, not just those over 50. People... --- ### Giving a little back with Seashell Trust - Published: 2018-05-15 - Modified: 2018-05-15 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/giving-little-back-seashell-trust/ - Categories: News BDB has participated in several volunteering days with Seashell Trust over Easter – helping children with complex learning and communication disabilities take part in sporting activities. During the Easter school holiday, the team took part in the charity’s CADS (children’s able and disabled sports) camps – a series of inclusive sports events specially for young people aged 5-25 years. The aim of the volunteering days was to provide additional support to the charity – above and beyond the fundraising activity BDB is already involved in. The BDB team helped across four different groups, spanning various ages, encouraging the children to get involved in the activities. With swimming, dancing and basketball on the agenda, the young people had the opportunity to try new sports, as well enjoy a low-impact sensory class through an engaging Easter egg hunt. The inclusive nature of the CADS camps echoes Seashell’s ethos, that sport can be enjoyed and played by all. BDB’s role throughout the day was to get to know each group and help the charity teams carry out lively and interesting sessions – helping young people get involved outside of regular lessons. “Partnering with Seashell Trust over the last 16 months has been a great experience for the whole BDB team, as it’s a charity that we hand-picked for its values and vision for the young people. We gave everyone at BDB the opportunity to volunteer at the CADS camp for a day, and feedback from both Seashell Trust and the team was extremely... --- ### Ten years in the running: the Manchester 10K - Published: 2018-05-03 - Modified: 2018-05-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/ten-years-running-manchester-10k/ - Categories: News BDB will once again be running the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 20th May – to raise money for its chosen charity, Seashell Trust, helping to support young people with complex and severe learning difficulties.    For the tenth year in a row, BDB will be racing through the streets of Manchester, on a 10km course designed to take in the best of the city’s views. The four-strong team will be running past sights, including the Old Trafford football stadium and the Imperial War Museum, before a triumphant finish on Deansgate in front of the Beetham Tower skyscraper.    The Great Manchester Run comes following a year of philanthropic sporting events in 2016 in aid of Seashell Trust, including Rough Runner, the Colour Run and the Northwich Rotary Club Swimathon.  The team is continuing its charitable efforts this year too – with the aim of raising £3,000 by the end of 2018.  Last year, BDB won the ‘small business category’, with an impressive combined time of 3:40:05.    “Running the Great Manchester 10K has become a BDB tradition; a team has taken part in the event every year for the past 10 years.  Following 2017’s fantastic efforts, we’re looking forward to another great day – and hopefully raising even more money for Seashell Trust. We’ve already received over £1,700 for the charity, and we hope that this run will provide a further push in our fundraising activity. Good luck to everyone taking part! ” comments Matt Smith, CEO at BDB.    We appreciate any support you can provide – please visit our Virgin Money Giving page to sponsor the BDB team, or stay updated about our upcoming fundraising activities.   --- ### BDB boosts team with senior client services hire - Published: 2018-04-30 - Modified: 2018-04-30 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-senior-client-services-hire/ - Categories: News Marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has further expanded its team with the reappointment of Nicola Aldren as account director. With a background in international B2B marketing communications, brand development and PR, this latest hire significantly bolsters the company’s integrated consultative and strategic offering. Nicola rejoins BDB with 10 years’ experience in bioscience, food, engineering and professional services industries. Starting her career as a biological scientist, Nicola has since transferred her skills into devising and delivering technical B2B marketing communications campaigns. She has extensive experience in client services and has most recently held departmental head and senior management team roles at her previous agency. Nicola will be responsible for overseeing a number of the consultancy’s leading accounts in industries including food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals. She will continue to grow the company’s brand and technical offerings, as well as develop integrated international communications campaigns which meet clients’ specific business objectives. Matt Smith, CEO at BDB, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Nicola back to the team at such an exciting time for the company. Her wealth of technical and industry experience really complements BDB’s complex b2b client base. The latest hire will enable us to continue providing a first-class consultancy service to our international clients. ” --- ### BDB launches BDB Sustain to provide clients with future-first marketing - Published: 2018-04-23 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-launches-bdb-sustain-provide-clients-future-first-marketing/ - Categories: News In a pioneering move, BDB now offers a consultation service that supports its b2b clients across multiple industries in identifying and maximising opportunities around their sustainability and circular economy initiatives. BDB Sustain helps businesses to deliver effective, future-first marketing campaigns and become industry leaders when it comes to communications on sustainability. Spearheading the new initiative is Account Director, Mike Alty. He comments: “The question of how to be a genuinely responsible business, with people, planet and profit at the heart, is one that is being asked in more and more boardrooms, with numerous international manufacturing organizations highlighting both the necessity and the real opportunity of shifting to sustainable models of business and a circular economy. ” He continues: “With BDB Sustain, we work with our clients, no matter how far along that path they are, to recommend and implement the marketing communications strategies which will most effectively support them in the pursuit of sustainable and profitable business models. ” Matt Smith, CEO, added: “We have the honour to work with real industry leaders when it comes to sustainability in business. Take our clients DSM and Corbion, for instance. Last year, DSM was named among the leaders in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and this year was confirmed as one of the 100 World’s Most Sustainable Corporations by Corporate Knights. ” He adds: “The time is now for b2b businesses to harness the opportunities associated with shifting to a sustainable approach to business – which have real economic and environmental potential. BDB Sustain... --- ### Leading the digital revolution - Published: 2018-04-11 - Modified: 2018-04-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/leading-digital-revolution/ - Categories: Insight It’s no secret that the digital marketing world is moving at a remarkable pace. The question is, how do we stay up-to-date in such a crowded landscape? To keep you on the straight and narrow, we’ve streamlined the facts and figures you need to know into a guide called ‘50 things about digital stuff’. We’ve done all the research behind the digital techniques – so you don’t need to wade through the reams (we’ve checked, there are a lot) of ‘top tips’ out there. Consider this your digital bible, of sorts. Used well, and digital can lift a campaign, helping to reach the right audiences, ensuring engagement and improving the customer experience (CX) journey. Take using digital technology in b2b marketing, for example. With all those channels at your fingertips, how do you know which ones are best suited to your business? And once you’ve decided on the platform, how do you make it work? We’re all looking for that elusive return-on-investment, but sometimes you need to refine your strategy and refocus your efforts. To give you a taster of what to expect, here is a small selection from ’50 things’: Social Mention is a social media engine that searches user-generated content, including blogs, comments, news, videos and microblogging services. It’s useful for analysing brand sentiment, identifying influencers and finding topics of interest to your audience. By 2020, it is estimated that 50% of all searches will be voice searches. SEO will need to adapt to accommodate the difference between... --- ### Let's talk digital: video and AI - Published: 2018-03-13 - Modified: 2018-03-13 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lets-talk-digital-video-ai/ - Categories: Insight Digital marketing is a fast-paced discipline, with social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter continually updating their user settings, requiring constant attention. Not to mention the fickle ways of Google, regularly changing its algorithm updates. Today’s marketers need to stay up-to-date with developments in the industry, to adapt marketing strategies and ensure brands stay ahead of the game. As part of our ‘Let’s talk digital’ blog series, we talk to our head of digital, Oliver Brewood, about the trends to watch out for in 2018, and what they mean for b2b marketers. Here, we discuss opportunities in video and whether artificial intelligence (AI) is worth the hype. Will video still be relevant in 2018? "Yes, video will continue to dominate content marketing – particularly on social media. It was recently reported that YouTube viewers now watch a billion hours of video each day, to give you an idea of how much video is valued. Now, finally LinkedIn has also expanded into video advertising, which will autoplay without sound. Previously this was only possible by uploading Vimeo links, for example, but being able to embed native video into LinkedIn will be a great asset to marketers when it becomes available. " "Videos ads have become a necessity in recent years, as people find them much more engaging than reading long texts. Particularly for communicating more technical processes in b2b marketing, it is a great way to break down content in a more digestible way. " Is this the year for artificial intelligence... --- ### TRUE OR FALSE? - Published: 2018-03-06 - Modified: 2018-03-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/true-or-false/ - Categories: News Ever the ethereal beast in the minds of most marketers, brand is relentlessly talked about, debated and analysed the world over. But with more commentary, ‘rules’ and ‘experts’ out there than you’ve had hot dinners, it can be hard to know what to do when it comes to your own brand. In our follow up to ‘Brand Truths’, we now take a look at ‘Brand Lies’ – common misconceptions, tittle tattle and downright fibs that have pervaded the industry over the years. While some may seem harmless, others could easily steer you down the wrong path, or worse still, cause analysis paralysis. Think that big brands never make mistakes? Wrong! Think your brand is too small or too niche for you to invest in brand strategy? Wrong again. Here we highlight just a few of the biggest brand fallacies going. For the full guide, download Brand Lies here: https://www. bdb. co. uk/insights/brand-lies/ 1. Branding is all about the logo It’s really not. A logo is the most visible mark of a brand, but there’s much more to it than that. What about your brand proposition? How does this fit in with your business goals? What (if anything) makes you different from the competition? How does this match up to what customers need from you? How do your product brands fit with your organisational brand and each other? What do you say to customers? How you say it? All this helps form your overall brand strategy, and shapes your brand. Once you’ve got these... --- ### BDB follows in footsteps of Virgin and Netflix - Published: 2018-03-06 - Modified: 2018-03-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-follows-footsteps-virgin-netflix/ - Categories: News BDB has announced a radical new move with regards to its workplace culture. Employees can now enjoy unlimited holidays, as well as uncapped remote working and flexible hours The initiative follows the management buyout in 2017, where the new executive team acquired 100% of the company’s capital. Matt Smith, CEO, comments: “Having heard peers and advisors moan about the attitudes and expectations of Generation Y employees, I embraced the BDB culture of transparency and honesty and asked our talented team members directly what mattered most to them. By taking into account the needs of our employees, we reshaped our benefits platform and working practices to fit. “Better work life balance, flexible working and feeling valued were all clear priorities, alongside a market-leading salary. Many would complain they want everything, but who doesn’t?   At BDB, we only want truly exceptional talent to join our unrivalled team and I’m confident that by making such a bold move in this area we will not only attract new candidates, but also maintain our extraordinary employee retention rates. Last year, we even welcomed back old team members. ” BDB’s latest initiative emphasises the company’s commitment to rewarding its high performing team. BDB boasts a long list of other employee benefits, such as support with health and dental care, car leasing schemes, childcare vouchers and gym memberships. It also hosts team days, social events and charity initiatives, throughout the year. Day to day, employees can enjoy a variety of benefits, from detailed induction programmes and hands on... --- ### Brand strategy: Building a sustainable brand in the packaging industry - Published: 2018-03-05 - Modified: 2018-03-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/brand-strategy-building-sustainable-brand-packaging-industry/ - Categories: News Last week, we were lucky enough to join some of the world’s most well-known brands, including retailers and suppliers, at the UK’s leading packaging event in Birmingham, Packaging Innovations. The occasion offered unique and invaluable insights into the future of the packaging industry. Sustainability and the great plastics debate undeniably dominated conversation, having recently been drawn to the forefront of the national agenda by popular television shows and politicians. In line with this, businesses have lined up to commit to tackling the issue of sustainable packaging over the past few months. In fact, leading UK retailer Iceland has vowed to eliminate plastic on all its own-branded products in the next five years, ahead of government targets. But with heightened awareness concerning plastic waste amongst consumers currently, is this anything more than a PR stunt? This question was put directly to Ian Schofield, Own-Label & Packaging Manager at Iceland – do Iceland’s motives for undertaking this initiative come down to brand differentiation or knowledge sharing? While Schofield confirmed the latter and the company’s reasons behind the decision, how can we be sure we’re not being fooled by a one-time PR opportunity? And what impact is this having on Iceland’s brand perception? Here are our thoughts... Despite all the positive reasons for focusing on sustainability, businesses should be wary that combining brand purpose with a sales message can be perceived by customers as untrustworthy and unconvincing in the short-term. Businesses, no matter where they are in the supply chain, need to ensure... --- ### The art of campaign brainstorming - Published: 2018-02-26 - Modified: 2018-02-26 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/art-campaign-brainstorming/ - Categories: News “‘Brainstorm’ means using the brain to storm a creative problem and do so in commando fashion, with each stormer attacking the same objective. ” Alex Faickney Osborn’s original definition in his book, Your Creative Power, published in 1948. It may be known by several different terms, but the result of brainstorming remains the same: fresh, new ideas that are helping to keep businesses ahead of the curve. The best ideas can help to drive campaigns that engage target audiences and meet your strategic goals. However, the method of brainstorming has evolved since its inception in 1948. Brainstorming has now been proven to work better when conducted in a structured way, compared to a random approach. Setting rules and switching roles is key to uncovering the best ideas, as it encourages everyone to think more laterally. Boundaries are not there to constrain creativity; more to get the best from people. Here are three tips for effective collective idea generation: Thinking hats The Six Thinking Hats technique challenges traditional ways of thinking; by looking at ideas from a new perspective. It works by ‘wearing’ six different coloured hats, which can be put on or taken off to indicate a way of thinking. Only one hat can be worn at any time, encouraging people to think in a certain direction: Blue hat: This person provides an overview of the entire process. The blue hat asks for summaries, conclusions and decisions. White hat: Wearing this colour means having to think about data and information. Speak... --- ### Storytelling in B2B - Published: 2018-02-15 - Modified: 2018-02-15 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/storytelling-in-b2b/ - Categories: News People are natural-born storytellers, and have been for years. From drawings on cave walls, to The Iliad, to Harry Potter – stories have been a part of life since the beginning of language. But what’s that got to do with B2B marketing? Well, everything really. Read on to find out more. Storytelling for education Getting people to buy takes education, but education doesn’t need to be boring. You know your product is great, and you know there is a real need for it on the market – but how do you convince your customers? Tell them a story. Show them the problem they might not even know they have, reveal how you have helped others in the industry, and then describe how you can fix it for them. Of course, there will always be a place for technical brochures and specification flyers – but there is no point showing someone numbers, spreadsheets and costs until they have realised what is on offer and what it means to them. So, tell them a story with your company as the ‘happily ever after’. Storytelling for emotion We know it may sound wishy-washy but storytelling has the ability to appeal to both the head and the heart and, believe it or not, there is science behind its success. When the brain hears a story, its neurons fire in the same pattern as the brain of the person telling the story. This is known as ‘neural coupling’. In B2B communication, there is a tendency... --- ### 3 things I have learnt as a digital apprentice at BDB - Published: 2018-02-07 - Modified: 2018-02-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/3-things-i-learnt-digital-apprentice-bdb/ - Categories: News 2018 marks the end of my apprenticeship at BDB and what a journey it’s been! With an exciting career ahead of me as a digital executive, I’m ready for more. In between busy days in the office creating new social media campaigns, or proofing html emails, I have successfully completed an industry recognised Level 3 qualification with The Juice Academy. During my time as an apprentice, I have acquired a range of invaluable skills and knowledge, which has enabled me to move to the next chapter of my career with the BDB team. Here are the top three lessons I’ve learnt while working as an apprentice at BDB: Learn from the experience of others Being part of such an experienced and diverse team has been extremely helpful for my professional development. Through one-to-one meetings and training sessions, I have been able to pick up useful tips from other members of my team. In addition, as we are an integrated agency, I get to work with people outside of the digital team, enabling me to widen my knowledge of the entire marketing spectrum. My time at The Juice Academy has also given me the opportunity to learn from leading industry professionals. Every other week I would attend the Academy for a day’s training session, where I would study more about the sector and its latest trends and developments. There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to social media Over the past year, I have gained a lot of experience in social media... --- ### Four trends shaping B2B marketing in 2018 - Published: 2018-01-29 - Modified: 2018-01-29 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/four-trends-shaping-b2b-marketing-2018/ - Categories: News 2018 is set to be an exciting year for B2B marketing. With the industry projected to grow at an annual rate of 12. 9% over the next 12 months, the sector is showing no signs of slowing down. So, what lies ahead for B2B marketers? Here, we predict the trends set to dominate the industry over the upcoming year: PersonalisationOn average, it is suggested that six to eight touches are required before a B2B company generates a viable lead. As people in the buying funnel go back and forth in terms of content, having material tailored for only one part of the buyer journey can lead to missed opportunities. While personalisation is widely used in B2C marketing, it could be argued that bespoke messaging is even more crucial in B2B sales, as the process is much more complex. So, why is it that 86% of B2B marketers say they struggle to execute personalisation across the entire buyer journey? In 2018, businesses will put an increased effort into producing personalised content and material, tailoring messages to suit where the customer is in the buying funnel. Artificial intelligence (AI)Over the past year, AI has been a hot topic dominating the industry. According to a recent survey, 30% of all B2B companies said they will implement some form of AI in the next two years. It is also suggested that by 2025, AI will drive 95% of all customer interactions. In addition to improving communication efforts, AI is useful for supporting a number of... --- ### GDPR Q&A: Everything you need to know - Published: 2018-01-12 - Modified: 2018-01-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/gdpr-qa-everything-need-know/ - Categories: Insight The new General Data Protection Act (GDPR) that is coming into force on 25 May 2018 has raised plenty of questions. With the legislation looming over the marketing industry, many companies are still unclear about what they need to do to comply, when they need to do it, and how. Here, we have distilled the key points into a handy Q&A, to help guide you through the changing landscape: Firstly, what is the GDPR? It is an EU regulation, aiming to change the way in which personal data is collected, processed and stored. Currently, there are many inconsistencies in data security across Europe, and this law is designed to improve data sharing between member states. The idea behind the new legislation is to usher in a new era of accountability – helping businesses to understand the risks of data and how to uphold privacy values. What do you mean by ‘personal data’? Personal data is defined as any piece of information that relates to, or can be traced back to, an identifiable person. As well as the obvious details, such as name and address, it also includes other information, like a reference number, the user’s IP address, sales records and even the content of emails. Do the regulations apply to my business? The new regulations apply to b2b organisations, particularly if you handle personal data, and you are either a controller or processor of that data. The ‘data controller’ is the organisation (or person) that determines what happens to the... --- ### Baby boomers vs. the digital age - why going digital doesn't mean leaving them behind - Published: 2017-12-21 - Modified: 2017-12-21 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/baby-boomers-vs-digital-age-going-digital-doesnt-mean-leaving-behind/ - Categories: News Why should brands and marketers care about a boring, aging population made up of traditional technophobes, particularly in their digital communications? Following a recent discussion at Food Matters Live, I explain why we shouldn’t be leaving the over 65s behind. Who are the baby boomers? The baby boomer demographic is often described as the original ‘generation’, encompassing those born immediately after World War II and up to the early 1960s. With a total of 16 million baby boomers in the UK alone, this demographic makes up 30% of the population. Baby boomers are also the largest segment of consumers, comprising about 40% of the market share. So, why do 66% of baby boomers feel ignored by marketing communications? And, why are 1 in 5 brands not including them in their advertising strategies? Overcoming perceptions The bottom line is, we have a perception that the baby boomer population is boring. They’re old. Set in their ways. And, avoiders of technology. Wrong! Baby boomers are an affluent, active population who are living longer and are more tech savvy than we think. As well as this, 90% of baby boomers are open to new ideas and changes, they have tremendous purchasing power, spending on average 3x the rate of under 50s. It would be a missed opportunity to leave this large audience out of marketing strategies, especially digital communications, yet too many companies only see millennials (and other ‘younger’ generations) as the future. “50 is the new 30” Baby boomers & technology One... --- ### Three key takeaways from FiE 2017 - Published: 2017-12-15 - Modified: 2017-12-15 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-key-takeaways-fie-2017/ - Categories: News Every two years, over 20,000 professionals from across the global food and beverage industry gather at Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) to discover the latest innovative products and services available to the market. This year, we attended the three-day exhibition in Frankfurt to provide press support for a number of our clients. As well as the extra pounds we accumulated from tasting the delicious samples on show, we gained some interesting insights into the key trends currently influencing the industry, which we have shared below: 1. Clean label dominates It wouldn’t be a food show review if we didn’t mention the clean and clear label trend. Over the past couple of years, these terms have continued to drive the industry, with manufacturers increasingly creating products with simpler labels and more natural ingredients. At FiE, we found that many companies are now adopting the clean label approach and providing complete transparency over the products and services they provide throughout their supply chain. Colours from natural sources, like vegetables and fruits, have opened up opportunities for manufacturers to deliver vibrant appearances while meeting free-from claims. For example, red beet was a popular ingredient at this year’s show, used as an effective solution for colouring sugar in confectionery. 2. Thinking outside of the box Delivering new sensations through unusual flavours and textures was another key trend, which really stood out across the different markets. By combining ingredients that would not usually be compatible, manufacturers have managed to create unique and different taste experiences. For... --- ### Three reasons why data is king in b2b marketing - Published: 2017-12-01 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-reasons-data-king-b2b-marketing/ - Categories: News “It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data” – Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlett, Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle Why is data so important in b2b marketing? To put it simply, numbers don’t lie. The use of up-to-date and accurate information enables marketers to define their target audience and deliver personalised and relevant messages in marketing campaigns. This in turn helps businesses to build stronger relationships with potential customers and create higher quality leads and conversions. Evaluating the performance of a campaign is essential to establishing if it has been successful or not. Yet, many companies aren’t properly tracking and analysing their results, having a detrimental impact on evaluation and future marketing efforts. Data can enable you to achieve successful marketing campaigns by helping with the following three steps: 1. Understanding industry trends Humans are creatures of habit, which makes us quite predictable. Analysing marketing data enables you to learn the buying patterns of your customers, including purchasing drivers and when they are most likely to purchase. This information, along with industry data, will also give you deeper insight into wider trends within the market place. Without measuring customer behaviours, you could miss major opportunities for growth. 2. Choosing the right path Data, such as key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics, enable you to compare actual results against targets and assess the overall effectiveness of the campaign. Tracking data will give you an indication of what went well and why, as well as the aspects that didn’t... --- ### Twitter ups its game and character limit - Published: 2017-11-17 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/twitter-ups-game-character-limit/ - Categories: News It’s one of the biggest updates to Twitter since it began in 2006. A new 280-character limit has been introduced to all users. Here, we discuss why the character limit is changing and what effect – if any – it will have on marketing. The dawn of Twitter On the 21st March 2006, at 8. 50pm, Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Twitter, posted the first tweet. The tweet is simple, catchy and straight to the point: the core concept of Twitter.  11 years on, Twitter is now the fourth largest social media network with over 320 million monthly active users, 500 million tweets per day and on average, 170 minutes a month spent on the network, per user. The social networking website has been known for its restrictive 140-character limit since it began – which is why doubling it to 280 has raised questions. Twitter hasn’t released an update as large as this since 2016, when it stopped counting images, GIFs and links as part of the 140-character limit. But why the sudden change? Testing the limits A recent study by Techinfographics showed that 86% of Twitter’s advertising revenue comes from mobile devices, and 47% of people who follow a brand on Twitter are more likely to visit the company's website. Considering these statistics, the increased character limit could mean more opportunities and versatility in b2b marketing communications. Since the beginning of Twitter, users have been quick to cram witty puns, emojis and hashtags into a limited 140 characters. Aliza... --- ### BDB to attend Food Matters Live 2017 - Published: 2017-11-13 - Modified: 2017-11-13 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-attend-food-matters-live-2017/ - Categories: News In just over a week, BDB will head down to London’s ExCel for this year’s Food Matters Live exhibition. The event provides a platform for professionals from across the food and drink industry, nutrition and health sectors to discuss current industry issues, innovations and upcoming trends for 2018. Why the trip? BDB’s heritage lies within the food and nutrition industry, and we serve many clients in the sector. Attending Food Matters Live is an opportunity for us to expand our know-how, keep up to date on the latest insights, and explore new ways of working. The annual exhibition is also a great opportunity for us to network with other industry professionals and catch up with members of the food trade press. The latest trends Looking back on 2017, we can see that consumers’ purchasing decisions are now influenced by several factors. When buying food and beverage products, an increasing number of people consider taste, quality, ingredients used and nutrition. Growing health and wellness trends, in particular, have had a significant impact on the food and nutrition industry, with many new product developments in categories such as ‘better-for-you’ and ‘free from’ products. Another trend that businesses must address, more than ever before, is sustainability throughout the whole value chain. Consumers are now more conscious of our impact on the environment and aware of how food and beverage products are sourced. Subsequently, there is more demand for companies to address key sustainability concerns – from responsible sourcing to eliminating food waste. We... --- ### Digital marketing apprentice: my first week at BDB - Published: 2017-11-09 - Modified: 2017-11-09 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-marketing-apprentice-first-week-bdb/ - Categories: News What a week! After participating in the ever so intense boot camp at the Juice Academy, I was fortunate enough to be chosen to work for BDB as a digital marketing apprentice. Throughout boot camp, 50 shortlisted candidates, including myself, went head to head, competing for 1 of 20 Apprenticeship positions. We were faced with challenges such as individual presentations, group work tasks and 3 minute interviews, where we had to sell ourselves to each employer. It was an exhausting day but thankfully, totally worth it! I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain experience in the working world where I can learn, develop new skills and achieve industry recognised qualifications. I feel lucky that I have been given the opportunity to pursue something that I love and am passionate about at such a young age. I started at BDB straight away and within such a short space of time I have had the privilege of meeting so many friendly, highly skilled, diverse and interesting people. Furthermore, BDB has provided me with an extensive and stimulating training programme and I am eager to get stuck in and learn more. Over the course of my induction, I have had training in departments such as digital, IT and production. This has really given me an insight into this exciting, growing business and its culture. I have also had the opportunity to be involved in both team and client meetings, I’ve worked on research tasks and have even helped to... --- ### Pharma in Frankfurt: BDB at CPhI 2017 - Published: 2017-11-07 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pharma-frankfurt-bdb-cphi-2017/ - Categories: News CPhI, well-known as ‘the place to be’ in the pharmaceutical industry, was held in Frankfurt this year, and never one to miss a trip – team BDB was on the case. The three-day exhibition was the largest CPhI on record, bringing together what certainly felt like the entire pharmaceutical world, with over 43,000 visitors, covering eight halls. Below, we take a look at what stood out the most to us at the show. Going green The theme that caught our attention on the show floor was sustainability. BDB’s experience covers a wealth of sectors, from food and pharma to coatings and chemicals, so it’s interesting to see how certain trends, such as sustainability, are prominent across a multitude of industries. Sustainability is often associated with power and energy companies, or food manufacturers and retailers (such as tackling food waste) – but going ‘greener’ is an important focus area for many fields. The CPhI Pharma Awards on the first night of the exhibition dedicated a specific award to sustainable initiatives, and at BDB we are very proud to work with DSM, one of the world’s most sustainable businesses. Face-to-phone meetings Exhibitions bring people from across the entire supply chain under one roof and are an ideal platform to meet new suppliers, create new relationships and build upon existing ones with face-to-face meetings. However, it seemed everywhere you turned at the show there were people in meetings, on their phones... taking selfies! This was due to the #cphiselfie and #cphifamily hashtags that had been... --- ### B2B gets personal - Published: 2017-11-07 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-gets-personal/ - Categories: News Have you ever got the feeling you’re being followed? Well, you may want to get used to the term ‘personalisation’; an approach that tracks your habits online and provides appropriate content directed solely at you. While you may have already witnessed consumer-based personalisation, it is becoming increasingly common in B2B to ensure customer engagement. Over 94% of senior-level employees in marketing believe that incorporating personalisation in a strategy is crucial to reaching and retaining customers. Personalisation can be difficult to get right – it takes time, the right audience and a bank of customer data to perfect. So, why are companies focusing on this marketing technique and how can it benefit B2B? Let’s break down exactly what personalisation is, and how B2B marketers are embracing it. What is personalisation? Personalisation is a strategy that combines customer information, demographics and behaviour, to determine the optimal opportunity for marketing. We are so overwhelmed with advertising daily, that we have become numb to its intended effects. This is why having control over who sees and interacts with your work is so important to increase customer engagement. B2B companies are becoming increasingly more efficient when incorporating personalisation into marketing strategies. This approach has been shown in a variety of B2B campaigns to provide a customised digital experience. Here, we discuss two examples: The Expert Institute Companies like The Expert Institute have quickly learned the benefits of personalisation and how it can achieve a lot with limited resources. A legal service platform that connects leading... --- ### Why conventional won’t cut it any more - Published: 2017-11-02 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/conventional-wont-cut/ - Categories: News The highlight of B2B Marketing’s Ignite conference, for me, was the end of the day. Not because I was desperate to get back to the delights of the London Underground and a long train journey. No, it was because I had been so excited about hearing from the fabulous Doug Kessler, whose keynote presentation was the last one on my personal agenda that day. And it was so worth waiting for. I’ve been learning from Doug’s wise words for some time now – but being in the room to hear his talk in person brought his anecdotes to life and made me determined to ensure BDB continues to advocate bravery in b2b marketing, and always challenges the temptation to walk only on the path well-trodden. Exposing hidden conventions A big part of the difficulty of breaking conventions is that we are usually not even aware they are there. Sometimes they’re rules we follow unconsciously, sometimes they’re just habits. Either way, these “invisible conventions” have become so engrained in our thinking, that doing anything different feels, well, a bit weird. Our role as marketers, said Doug, is to “expose those hidden conventions... and play with them a bit,” because that’s how we liven things up and grab attention. Without getting that attention, we’ll achieve nothing as our audiences are “marketed at” constantly and, over time, have built up barriers. We all know the feeling in our personal and professional lives: sometimes you can see marketing coming at you like a steam... --- ### Presenting the power of colour in my first month at BDB - Published: 2017-10-18 - Modified: 2017-10-18 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/presenting-power-colour-first-month-bdb/ - Categories: News As an intercultural business psychology student from Dortmund, Germany, I was given the opportunity to take a few months away from studying to seek work experience and develop my skills. After looking far and wide, I decided Manchester would be the perfect fit to broaden my cultural horizons, so I pursued an internship in the region. Soon after, I was accepted as an intern at BDB – a leading international marketing communications consultancy. From day one, I realised that the journey from Germany to Manchester had been worth it, and I’m glad I took on the challenge! The warm welcome I received has made me feel right at home. I discovered there is scope to broaden my skills and learn from people that are exceptional at what they do. Although I evidently have a lot to learn, I also thought it would be great to share my own experiences with my BDB colleagues. An opportunity arose during one of the company’s monthly ‘Eureka’ team meetings – an inspiring session that encourages people to share ideas and news within the business. Here, I held a presentation on a topic I’ve studied: the psychology of colours. Colour has a powerful influence on the human psychology and can be used as an effective marketing tool, influencing emotions in a way that only a few mediums can. I presented the importance of colours used in branding, logos and websites. I also summarised the interesting impact that red has on people, including raising pulse rates... . --- ### Let’s talk relationships - Published: 2017-10-16 - Modified: 2017-10-16 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lets-talk-relationships/ - Categories: News “Treat your customers like lifetime partners” -Michael LeBoeuf The average client – consultancy relationship is said to last 3. 2 years according to The Drum News. However, here at BDB we are pleased to say that some of our clients have been with us for over 30 years, so we must be doing something right. We love working with our clients, and we believe that there is no reason why companies cannot continue building strong work relationships over many years. Here we offer a few of our top tips on how to create long-standing and effective working relationships. Communication is key Being able to listen and understand a client is crucial within consultancy life. Having an open dialogue is one of the most important elements to building a strong working relationship, and can ultimately mean the difference between an impactful campaign and one that falls flat. Successful partnerships are largely based on transparent communication that helps deliver the right results. Laura Stoker, Account Manager at BDB, puts this at the top of her list when interacting with clients: “Good client relationships centre for me on the ability to have open and honest conversations. Whether that is about the direction for a campaign or something as simple as whether a deadline is achievable, it’s important to establish a good dialogue from an early stage, to foster a mutual respect and improve ways of working. ” Focus on face-to-face According to The Entrepreneur, 26% of employees think email is a major productivity killer. In... --- ### Contenders ready? BDB takes on Rough Runner - Published: 2017-09-18 - Modified: 2017-09-18 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/contenders-ready-bdb-takes-rough-runner/ - Categories: News The BDB team will be taking on another sporting challenge this October – this time it will be Rough Runner. The event takes place on 21st October, with all proceeds donated to our 2017 charity of choice: Seashell Trust. The nine-strong team will be running the 5km obstacle course race, inspired by TV gameshows like Gladiators, Ninja Warrior and Total Wipeout. Obstacles include a 40m water slide and the famous Travelator, conjuring up memories from the 1990s. But it’s not all fun and games; BDB is taking on Rough Runner all in aid of Seashell Trust, a worthy local charity that supports children and young adults with complex learning disabilities and communication needs. Seashell Trust provides a happy, creative and secure environment for students between the ages of 2 and 25, who mostly have little or no language abilities. This is the fourth sporting challenge that BDB is taking part in during 2017, having already participated in a swimathon, the Great Manchester Run and the Colour Run. The activities have also brought out the team’s competitive spirit, having won the ‘females only’ Business Challenge for the fastest combined time at the Great Manchester Run in the small business category in May. Find out more about why Seashell Trust is our chosen charity for 2017, and why we’ve committed to raising over £3,000 for additional learning resources for the students. Keep an eye out for other events we’re participating in, and sponsor us here – we really appreciate all your support. --- ### Crossing borders at BDB - Published: 2017-09-15 - Modified: 2017-09-15 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/crossing-borders-bdb/ - Categories: News Your first job is always scary. You are unsure of what to expect – will you fit in? Who will you talk to? What should you wear? However, what I found most daunting was the thought that I had only graduated from university one month ago. I was still referring to myself as a student, and I couldn’t help but think – am I ready for this? It all starts with the interview Knowing what the right decision is for you all starts with the interview. In my opinion, when in an interview, it is incredibly important to ‘wow’ the company. However, it is as much the interviewer’s priority to convince you that the company is the best choice to make. When I first interviewed at BDB, I was blown away by the enthusiasm that the employees had for the company. They talked so highly of the staff and the organisation, that when I was offered the job I could not help but feel proud that I would become part of such an inspiring team. Accepting the nerves In hindsight, I didn’t need to worry about anything. In fact, I felt quite silly thinking about the time wasted pondering these unanswerable questions. Originally from bonnie Scotland, the job required me to move, so it was a case of packing my bags, waving goodbye to deep-fried mars bars and haggis suppers and crossing the border to England. My first week at BDB had begun! Starting new beginnings BDB is an inviting... --- ### A lot can happen in a year… and a lot has! - Published: 2017-09-14 - Modified: 2017-09-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/lot-can-happen-year-lot/ - Categories: News My first year at BDB has been anything but dull, let me tell you that. A year of new challenges, experiences, successes and even a promotion! Developing new skills and building on existing ones. One thing I can say about BDB is that there is certainly no lack of expertise. There is unrivalled talent here and through regular training sessions we all get to share our knowledge and grow as a team. I recently had the opportunity to lead a very hands on training session in print production, testing the team on paper weights, textures, binding, print techniques and all things in between. I hope to give a follow up session in the coming year to share this ever growing knowledge. When I started as Production Executive a year ago, I had no digital experience. Now I am leading on digital projects for some of our biggest clients. BDB is committed to making its employees the best they can be, and I am proof that in such a short space of time and with the support of a strong team we can achieve great things. The past year has seen BDB win several new clients and seen significant grown and opportunity within our existing client base. From rebranding projects for existing clients to the production of whitepapers, websites, animated videos and trade show elements – I have been lucky enough to work across a diverse portfolio. It’s not all work. To celebrate BDB’s 30th birthday we were treated with a... --- ### Generating leads in B2B - Published: 2017-09-08 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/generating-leads-b2b/ - Categories: News If a stranger came up to you on the street and tried to sell you a bottle of milk, would you buy it? Probably not. Why? Because you don’t know them, you don’t know if you can trust what they are selling or perhaps, you just don’t like milk. This is where lead generation comes into play. No more cold-calling. No more ‘to whom it may concern’s. Lead generation is a method of building interest in a product or service, and gathering the information of those who are interested in order to build and nurture relationships with them. While this may sound difficult, in the digital age there are more options available than ever before. From webinars, to content marketing, to social media, to search marketing - a lead generation strategy can be made up of a wide variety of tactics. In its most basic form, lead generation could be a form on your website where people fill in their information to let you know they are interested in something you offer. However, unless they are really interested, they are unlikely to hand over their contact details to you. So, let’s look at how lead generation can be a bit more creative, and add some value for potential customers straight from the beginning of the relationship. Educate There are many benefits to educating your target customer. You may be helping them realise why they need your product, why you are best to help solve their problem, or simply reinforcing your... --- ### BDB announces landmark management buyout - Published: 2017-09-04 - Modified: 2017-09-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-announces-landmark-management-buyout/ - Categories: News Matt Smith, managing director at leading international b2b marketing consultancy, BDB, has spearheaded a management buyout, with the new executive team acquiring 100% of the share capital from the founders Susanne Bell (now Dixon) and Henry Dixon. Matt is joined by Catherine Butcher (Deputy MD), Jenny Mason and Jon Hallowell on the executive team. Since Smith’s appointment in 2014, BDB has experienced unprecedented growth. A specialist in b2b marketing communications for over 30 years, BDB has gone from strength to strength – achieving significant new business wins, impressive organic growth, a brand refresh, and the further development of a fully integrated and enhanced international service offering. BDB’s most recent client wins include Huntsman Advanced Materials, senseFly, MWheels, Flexitallic, Elsevier and MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions, adding to the consultancy’s already impressive client roster of major organisations such as DSM, tna, Tata Steel and Johnson Controls. Matt comments: “I’m so proud to be leading BDB during this exciting period of development and growth. We have formed a truly formidable team here at BDB, and the deal has been structured to allow future talent the opportunity to share in the ownership. It’s not lost on me that without such a high performing team, BDB would just be one of many average marcomms agencies, scrambling for market share. We recognise, recruit and nurture talent, and we will continue to ensure that the welfare and development of the team sits at the centre of every decision we make. “Alongside Jon’s vast experience and creative flair,... --- ### Catherine Butcher: A Week in My Life - Published: 2017-09-01 - Modified: 2017-09-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/catherine-butcher-week-life/ - Categories: News Curious to know what it would be like to work for an international marketing communications consultancy? This week our Deputy MD and Life Science & Health Director, Catherine Butcher, took part in Prolific North’s ‘A Week in My Life’ feature, where she gives a rundown of her (busy) working week. From a company trip to Bruges to a client lunch on the beach, Catherine discusses what it’s like to work with international clients, and what we really get up to here at BDB. As Catherine says “there’s never a dull moment”! If you’re interested in starting a career with the UK’s 2nd fastest growing marcomms agency or want to find out more about the services we offer, email ideasthatconnect@bdb. co. uk or call +44(0)161 925 4700 --- ### BDB boosts team with two new recruits - Published: 2017-08-21 - Modified: 2017-08-21 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-two-new-recruits/ - Categories: News BDB, a leading international b2b marketing communications consultancy, has further expanded its team with two new hires. Following a series of significant new business wins, Libbi McGibbon and Anna Grumm have joined the consultancy to support its growing creative and client handling services. Libbi McGibbon has been appointed as senior production executive from digital agency, Gooey. With a foundation degree in surface pattern design, Libbi has gained over five years’ experience working in creative and digital project management roles. At BDB, Libbi will liaise with the company’s dedicated network of suppliers to support the effective delivery of multichannel, international campaigns. Anna Grumm has joined the consultancy’s client handling team as an account executive. Having recently graduated from Birmingham City University with a first-class degree in Marketing, Advertising and PR, Anna will work across a range of BDB’s accounts, assisting with client liaison, media relations and technical copywriting. A native German speaker, Anna’s linguistic capabilities also enables the company to further bolster its international language support services – one of BDB’s key offerings. Matt Smith, managing director at BDB, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Libbi and Anna to BDB following an exceptional year of sustained growth. They bring a varied skill set and experience to the team, ensuring the quality of our work and the service we provide remains unrivalled. At BDB, we continue to attract extraordinary candidates, which are not only a perfect fit for the team, but also our diverse and sophisticated client base. ” --- ### BDB picks up new manufacturing brief - Published: 2017-08-11 - Modified: 2017-08-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-picks-new-manufacturing-brief/ - Categories: News International b2b marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has added MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions (MEIS), a leading manufacturer of surface coatings and finishings, to its growing portfolio of industrial clients. BDB will provide branding, design and PR, as well as event support, to raise awareness of MEIS’ product expertise and corporate values. Working with a range of industries, including automotive and aerospace, BDB will support in communicating MEIS brand values on innovation, service, expertise and sustainability, alongside developing corporate collateral and supporting trade events. BDB will also be working on a key campaign for its global quality assurance program - ZinKlad®, including strategic positioning, media relations, and marketing collateral. The team was appointed following a competitive pitch after showcasing its professional approach, superior b2b marketing communications expertise, and in-depth technical knowledge. Alan Gardner, Global Marketing Manager at MEIS, comments: “We were looking for a global b2b partner to take our external marketing communications to the next level. The BDB team were able to prove to us that they have the skills and expertise to do just that. We've already been struck by the quality, support and delivery of the projects completed”. Matt Smith, managing director at BDB, said: “We have extensive knowledge of the surface coatings and finishings sector and we are looking forward to putting this into practice with MEIS, helping move the brand forwards. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be working with yet another market leading, global brand from a corporate positioning point of view, as well as engaging with... --- ### BDB wins two new advanced technology clients - Published: 2017-08-01 - Modified: 2017-08-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-wins-two-new-advanced-technology-clients/ - Categories: News International b2b marketing communications consultancy, BDB, has been appointed by two new clients: Huntsman Advanced Materials and senseFly. Both global companies are a significant addition to BDB’s roster of clients, and will encompass advertising, PR, digital and creative. Huntsman Advanced Materials has appointed BDB as its PR and media agency in EMEAI, thanks to its strategic focus and collaborative way of working. The division of Huntsman corporation, with capabilities in high-performance adhesives and composites, provides full solutions to an array of industries, including lightweight cars, aerospace, wind and power. They will be working with BDB on activities that also include advertising, digital and creative, to help raise awareness of its expertise and support new product launches in Europe. BDB has also won a competitive pitch for a 12-month contract with professional drone manufacturer, senseFly, based in Geneva. The business is already a leader among early adopters in the drone market, and has called upon BDB to bring the technology to mainstream audiences in the geospatial and agricultural sectors initially, as part of ambitious growth plans. The team at BDB will draw on its existing sector knowledge and media contacts to deliver a global b2b PR campaign, with a focus on thought leadership content. Jenny Mason, senior account director at BDB on both accounts, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to be working with our new clients that are at the cutting edge of technology. Both companies are market leaders in their respective industries, so it’s testament to our in-depth technical expertise that... --- ### New b2b marketing beginnings at BDB - Published: 2017-07-20 - Modified: 2017-07-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/new-b2b-marketing-beginnings-bdb/ - Categories: News Finishing university can be scary. Years of revising for exams and writing assignments come to an end, and suddenly lots of changes take place. To top it all, you have to decide which career path is for you and start the job hunt. In my opinion, being excited about a role description on paper means little. Meeting your potential employer, and setting foot in the work place, can make or break your previously formed decision. From the moment I met the BDB team during my interview, I knew this was the place to be. I was nervous at first, but the feeling quickly transitioned into excitement and joy, due to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Not only did I start my first real job with BDB, I also moved from Birmingham to Manchester. Alongside the friendly faces, the opportunities that BDB offers in terms of self-development and career progression convinced me to make this major decision. The b2b marketing consultancy sincerely takes interest in each employee, rewards them for all their hard work and helps them succeed. My first week went by so fast. It was a colourful mix of comprehensive introductions, project meetings and coffee/lunch dates, making me forget that I’d just moved to a new city. I got the chance to meet every team member professionally, as well as personally. I have also been introduced to exciting projects, which I will be working on over the next few weeks. There is also a great support structure in place... --- ### Break the rules: why b2b copywriting doesn't mean boring - Published: 2017-07-18 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/break-rules-b2b-copywriting-doesnt-mean-boring/ - Categories: News B2B marketing has shared one of our top tips for how b2b marketers can improve their copywriting. Our first tip - be accessible - was just a taster. Here's 6 more steps to effective b2b copywriting and examples of how we have put this into practice. 1. Be brave Take your brand out of the comfort zone by understanding the market and putting the customer problem at the heart of communication. Sun Tzu once said, “Fight where the enemy is not”, and this rings true for b2b copywriting, by helping your message stand out. However, it’s all relative. Being brave for brands such as Volkswagen isn’t a stretch, but for some clients it can be a giant leap. Taking that leap offers an opportunity to drum up debate and stir up the competition. E. g. Elsevier, anti-piracy campaign across social media, infographic, video, web copy and posters This example concept employs bold tactics and succinct copy to provide a dystopian feel across a range of channels. We chose to portray the reality of piracy, rather than avoiding the issue – to show what could happen if readers continue to stop buying genuine products. 3. Be succinct It’s been said before, and we’ll say it again. Short, snappy sentences will hold your audience’s attention much more readily than lengthy prose. Especially in this digital age, writing succinctly works as well for longer features as it does ad copy. E. g. Peptan, website and ‘One Peptan’ concept The Peptan brand has a wide range... --- ### Three months and counting at BDB: Alex Calder, Finance manager - Published: 2017-07-14 - Modified: 2017-07-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-months-counting-bdb/ - Categories: News We continuously seek skilled and talented people to join our growing team. We recently recruited Alex Calder, who has joined us as finance manager. As an ACCA chartered accountant, Alex specialises in managing the finances right across the business and provides commercial support to the account team. Here, he shares his experience of working with BDB so far: “It was clear from my first interview that BDB was a great place to work. I felt it was the right fit for me and my career, having recently just moved back to sunny Manchester. Joining a full service B2B marketing consultancy has meant I've already learnt so much from the team, due to their wide-ranging backgrounds, knowledge and expertise. The role has come with its own challenges, but BDB has been supportive, while giving me the opportunity to put my own stamp on things. From day one, I was made to feel part of the team. I honestly couldn’t ask for a friendlier bunch of people to work with. BDB has a great work culture and the office is incredibly social; there is always something going on – drinks, lunches, yoga, birthday celebrations and even a trip to Bruges! It's been great working with the team and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me at BDB. ” If you are interested in a career at BDB, email ideasthatconnect@bdb. co. uk --- ### Celebrating 30 years in style: BDB does Bruges - Published: 2017-07-06 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/celebrating-30-years-style-bdb-bruges/ - Categories: News This summer, BDB marks its 30th birthday. To give ourselves a little pat on the back, we’re taking on beers, bunkbeds and, most likely, bedlam, in the land of Belgians. No mean feat It’s not every day you turn 30. And this is arguably even more of a milestone for a marketing communications agency. A number of challenging factors, like facing an ever-growing competitive landscape, fluctuations in marketing budgets and advancements in technology, can cause agencies to close up shop within just a few years of start-up. However, there are exceptional cases where agencies evolve and continue to get stronger over time. So, how did we get here? From day one, BDB has sought to help businesses grow globally. Traditionally PR and food industry focused, we learnt to adapt and flex throughout the decades to meet the needs of our clients and grow our market share. As part of our evolving role within the b2b marketing arena, we’ve become a full service, integrated agency and have developed a wealth of experience in a diverse range of sectors, including construction, food & nutrition, engineering, packaging, publishing, science and technology. Today, we can proudly say there isn’t a marketing communications challenge we haven’t faced. This year, we’ve already been named the UK’s 2nd fastest-growing marcomms agency by B2B Marketing and 5th in the Prolific North’s Top 50 PR Agencies 2017. Here are our top tips to success: It doesn’t happen overnight We’re not going to lie, it’s hard work. But we love... --- ### BDB takes 5th place in the Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies 2017 - Published: 2017-07-06 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-takes-5th-place-prolific-north-top-50-pr-agencies-2017/ - Categories: News We’re proud to announce that BDB has made the top 5 in this year’s edition of the Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies, rising one place since last year’s rankings. The ranking of the definitive list of the North’s leading PR agencies is anchored on financial information taken from Companies House and financial reporting company fame BVD. It also uses data submitted and verified by the agencies being assessed. The initial longlist started at over 200 PR agencies, which was drilled down in more depth on the accounts of around 120 agencies. The announcement follows an extremely successful year for BDB, in which we were also named the UK’s 2nd fastest-growing marcomms agency by B2B Marketing. Our continuous achievements are testament to our exceptional team – working hard behind the scenes to deliver amazing results. Here’s to another successful year! To find out more about BDB and the b2b international marketing communications services we offer, email beinspired@bdb. co. uk or call us on +44 (0)161 925 4700. --- ### Breaking the content marketing mould: what’s next for B2B marketing’s most popular player? - Published: 2017-07-04 - Modified: 2017-07-04 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-content-marketing-mould-whats-next-b2b-marketings-popular-player/ - Categories: News The recent B2B Marketing Ignite 2017 conference saw more than 80 leaders from across the world of B2B marketing come under one roof to present a day of insights, and look at the trends that are set to influence our sphere. The one downside to the day was only having seven hours to try and squeeze in as many seminars as possible. I managed eight – not a bad feat – and decided to attend those that I felt would resonate best with my clients and the work we do here at BDB. While titles varied from those about data analysis to ones telling me how to add some “OOMPH” to campaigns, the recurring message that became apparent is that content marketing is about to change. The C-word Content marketing. Content is king. We need some content. We need some rich content. According to Doug Kessler in his presentation, Smashing the big conventions of B2B content marketing (more on that later), we’re in the middle of a content deluge. As successful B2B marketers, we know the value of creating truly great content – the type that engages audiences, gets them clicking or (even better) gets them contacting you. But, as is the way with anything great, there’s a whole lot of content being created that’s simply average. That receives zero engagement or contains either nothing new or nothing of value to its audience. And this flood of average content makes it even more important to create great content, the stuff... --- ### Four steps to global dominance - Published: 2017-06-29 - Modified: 2017-06-29 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/four-steps-global-dominance/ - Categories: News Achieving global presence for many companies can seem daunting. However, thanks to the internet, crossing international borders has become possible for almost any business that has a robust strategy and extensive knowledge of foreign markets. From translating collateral into multiple languages to adjusting social media campaigns, marketing professionals need to adapt their approaches to enable brands to get the most out of the global market. Becoming international can be very rewarding, if done correctly. It brings the opportunity for growth in revenue, the ability to reach a wider clientele, as well as job satisfaction. However, it may not be a simple or smooth process, as aspiring companies can face a number of significant challenges. In addition to the obvious cost implications, inexperience in certain markets and cultures can bring operational complications. Businesses may also find internal struggles too, with difficulties aligning stakeholders to all agree on the same goal. As a guide to creating a successful global strategy, marketers consider following four key steps: 1) Create the brand 2) Devise its position and value statements 3) Transform and localise the company’s offering 4) Deliver the tactics Step three is often overlooked. Many companies think that they can grow in new regions by following the same process as in their origin market. However, while brand value stays the same, brand loyalty needs to be adapted and localised throughout the countries, as different markets favour diverse marketing and sales methods. For instance, in China, people prefer to develop strong relationships with the... --- ### BDB grows team with four new hires - Published: 2017-06-14 - Modified: 2017-06-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-grows-team-four-new-hires/ - Categories: News Following a successful start to the year and a number of new client wins, BDB has further strengthened its team with four new appointments. The latest recruits include an account manager, an account executive, a technical content manager and a finance manager. In the first of the new additions to the team, Laura Stoker joins the agency as an account manager from Refresh PR. Since graduating with a degree in English Literature, Laura has gained experience in a variety of industries including food and drink, construction, manufacturing and the charitable giving sector.   At BDB, Laura will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of integrated marketing campaigns across the agency’s nutrition, coatings and manufacturing portfolios. Megan Cutts joins the team as an account executive from Triangle PR and has worked in a range of sectors from insurance to technology and social care. Megan has varied experience in marketing and PR, and held a number of positions and internships while studying at Durham University. At BDB, Megan will work across the agency’s life sciences, nutrition and manufacturing accounts, where she will be responsible for client liaison, media relations and technical copywriting. Lucy Brice has been appointed as technical content manager. Having previously worked at BDB for over three years, Lucy has rejoined the agency to provide specified copywriting across all of its accounts and platforms.   With a degree in French and Italian from the University of Warwick, Lucy also boosts BDB’s languages offering, supporting the team with translations and proof-reading. Last but... --- ### Top take aways from Vitafoods 2017 - Published: 2017-05-26 - Modified: 2017-05-26 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-take-aways-vitafoods-2017/ - Categories: News Every year we visit the lovely city of Geneva to deliver press support at one of our favourite tradeshows; Vitafoods Europe. From 9th to 11th of May, exhibitors took to their stands to showcase a wealth of products and services, including ingredients, contract manufacturing and private label, equipment and finished products. A buzzing hub for all those involved in the nutraceutical field, the show allows us the opportunity to support our clients, network with key industry stakeholders, gather the latest insights and understand emerging trends. Here, we include a round up of our top findings from the show: Personalisation proves popular A recent Vitafoods Europe survey has shown that personalised nutrition is here to stay, emerging as a key industry issue for the foreseeable future. When asked what they saw as the three most important trends for the long term in the nutrition industry, over a third of respondents (which attended last year’s show) identified personalised nutrition as an important trend. Growing awareness of personalised nutrition comes at a time when people are more conscious of their health, and they understand that there isn’t a one size fits all approach when it comes to nutrition. Companies have already started to invest in scientific research and consumer insights from across the world – where health concerns can vary from country to country, and by age group – to address the growing need for tailored nutritional solutions. We expect this trend to continue to grow steadily as more research developments are made... --- ### Wrapping up this year’s trends from Interpack - Published: 2017-05-23 - Modified: 2017-05-23 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/wrapping-years-trends-interpack/ - Categories: News Not only was this year’s Interpack a priceless opportunity for us to get some face time with our clients while providing on-stand press support, it was also a great chance to have a look at the latest trends emerging in the packaging sector. So, what did we learn? Here are the top 3 trends: Digitisation We’re all getting stuck in online - and the packaging industry is no exception. The latest digital offerings were on everyone’s lips at the show, with one company even revealing a digital can printing system. Companies must explore both the opportunities and challenges e-commerce can bring, as the shift from in-store to online shopping becomes a core part of packaging design and machinery. Industry 4. 0 Industry 4. 0 presents a fantastic opportunity for people working in the packaging industry to deliver brand promises and raise the bar even higher. By making their factories more efficient and responsive, manufacturers can improve quality, accelerate innovation, shorten lead times, provide customised solutions, and ultimately add more value for their customers. Check out our recent blog on the topic here. Some companies showcased virtual reality applications on stand, allowing machines or equipment to be experienced holistically. This enables them to manage complexity in the manufacturing process of machinery and equipment, as well as in training and operation. Brand affinity To stay one step ahead of the competition, companies must roll out unique packaging that not only differentiates on shelf, but also helps form brand identity. Whilst price remains a key... --- ### Putting our best foot forward: Running the Manchester 10k - Published: 2017-05-12 - Modified: 2017-05-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/putting-best-foot-forward-running-manchester-10k/ - Categories: News For the ninth year, BDB will be taking part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 28th May, raising money for Seashell Trust, a local charity that supports children and young adults with complex learning disabilities and communication needs. Now Europe’s biggest 10k running event and a Manchester institution, the race is in its 15th year, attracting runners from far and wide. Last year saw 35,000 keen athletes compete along a course that takes in the famous Manchester sights, such as Old Trafford and the Imperial War Museum, and finishes at the landmark skyscraper, Beetham Tower on Deansgate. An eight-strong team from BDB has been training ahead of the big event, to raise money for Seashell Trust. The local charity provides support to children and adults with complex and severe learning disabilities, helping to ensure a happy, creative and secure environment for students between the ages of 2 and 25, who mostly have little or no language abilities. Matt Smith, managing director at BDB, comments, “It is the ninth year that BDB is running the Great Manchester 10k – showing how dedicated the team is in its fundraising efforts. We’re proud to be raising money this year for Seashell Trust – it’s a fantastic charity that can really benefit from more assistive technology resources. We’re also taking part in the Business Challenge, which is adding a competitive edge to the run as we pit ourselves against other companies in Manchester. Good luck to all the runners! ” Seashell Trust is BDB’s... --- ### Three cheers for BDB! My first few months at the B2B specialist agency - Published: 2017-05-10 - Modified: 2017-05-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/three-cheers-bdb-first-months-b2b-specialist-agency/ - Categories: News Day one of a new job – we’ve all been there. Nerves about making a good first impression, excitement at finding out which client accounts you’ll be working on and a rising panic that you won’t remember anyone’s names. As soon as I walked through the door at BDB, any first day nerves were bid adieu as I was met with the friendliest welcome – in fact, other than my wedding day, I’ve never felt so popular. BDB has a reputation for looking after its team members and this approach to colleague wellbeing has been evident to me from the very start. My first few weeks were a whirlwind of inductions, training and delicious Stroopwafels, and the pace has happily not slowed down since then! BDB is a full-service agency which means you can get involved in a kaleidoscope of marketing activity; one day I’ll be indulging my inner writer with industry whitepapers and the next I’ll be working with our digital specialists to redevelop a client’s website. I’m a big believer that, no matter how experienced you are, you never stop learning and the opportunities available here mean you can do just that. The thing that has struck me most since joining BDB is the diversity of talent within the team and the business’ commitment to developing people. From doctors and neuroscientists to linguists and marketing experts, the team has expertise in such a broad range of B2B areas, yet everyone’s skills are complementary. This versatility ensures that new... --- ### Supporting our chosen charity: Seashell Trust - Published: 2017-04-28 - Modified: 2017-04-28 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/supporting-chosen-charity-seashell-trust/ - Categories: News BDB has always been committed to supporting charities, and 2017 is no different. However, this year, the team has decided to choose just one charity to dedicate our time and support. While in recent years, BDB has pledged to help a different cause each month, this time we’re hoping to make a real difference for our chosen charity: Seashell Trust. Why the Seashell Trust? Based in Cheadle Hulme, the Seashell Trust provides support to children and adults with complex and severe learning disabilities. The charity is dedicated to ensuring a happy, creative and secure environment for students between the ages of 2 and 25, who mostly have little or no language abilities. Offering either residential care or short break facilities, the school, college and residential care homes help to promote confidence and independence with tailored programmes. How can we help? One of the Seashell Trust’s important values is that communication underpins everything it does – a phrase that we often use at BDB, too. Which is why our fundraising efforts this year will focus on helping the Seashell Trust to build its assistive technology resources. This equipment is essential to teaching the students independence and encouraging them to interact with others. In the past, a 3D printer and sensory equipment have proved effective in furthering the students’ abilities. Matt Smith, Managing Director at BDB, comments: “We have always been committed to supporting charities and we are hoping to make a real difference for our chosen charity: Seashell Trust. We decided... --- ### Senior Production Executive: My first week at BDB - Published: 2017-04-20 - Modified: 2017-04-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/senior-produtction-executive-my-first-week-at-bdb/ - Categories: News From the moment I stepped foot into BDB, it was clear this was the place to be! Following the interview process, I was delighted to be offered the chance to progress my career as their new Senior Production Executive. From a background in digital, wanting to spread my wings - I was intrigued from the get-go by BDB’s substantial company heritage and B2B marketing expertise. Everyone made a great first impression, and appeared to take a genuine interest in me as an individual, as well as professionally. On my first day, I arrived just in time to join my new colleagues in a motivational team training session, led by one of the account directors. I have now learnt that these are a regular occurrence, and led by different members of the BDB team on a variety of topics - this one was on client service. It was a full-on start to the day, but happy to be thrown in at the deep end, I found the session beneficial and thought provoking, and I’m already keen to learn what the next topic will be! This followed by a guided tour, and introduction to all the characters that make up the BDB team. One thing that stood out to me was the variety of expertise, and diverse skillset they have in house. Marketing gurus, technical copywriters, linguists – even a doctor. It was evident that the BDB family is made up of some very talented individuals, who have all equally been so... --- ### Why should marketers pay any attention to industry 4.0? - Published: 2017-04-06 - Modified: 2017-04-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/marketers-pay-attention-industry-4-0/ - Categories: News This week we joined some of the world’s industrial automation heavyweights, including ABB, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Mitsubishi Electric, at the Industry 4. 0 summit and exhibition in Manchester. The aim? To understand more about the much-hailed fourth industrial revolution and to what extent industrial marketers should have it on their radars. Here, Zoë Wilkins, account director, shares a quick summary of her findings. Key finding #1: yes, it IS your problem Ok, it’s not a “problem. ” It’s a new way of doing business. But if you think Industry 4. 0 is the preserve of your operations and / or IT department, think again. Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways was the fact that it’s as much a cultural project as an operational one. Yes, digitalisation can transform the way your business manufactures things, but for it to succeed, employees have to be on board. This is no small challenge. Understandably, an invasion of robots, big data (“will that mean Big Brother? ”) and remote, automated troubleshooting can trigger fear about dehumanisation of the workplace, job losses and more. If your company is adopting aspects of Industry 4. 0, even if only on a small scale or gradually (as most do), there will be a significant internal marketing job to do, to reassure colleagues, help them see the benefits of increased automation and ensure buy-in to make the changes as smooth as possible. Key finding #2: it helps deliver your brand promise Almost all of BDB’s clients manufacture physical things – from steel... --- ### BDB showcases technical expertise with new client - Published: 2017-04-05 - Modified: 2017-04-05 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-showcases-technical-expertise-new-client/ - Categories: News International b2b marketing communications agency, BDB, has been appointed by industrial leader, Flexitallic, on a global, integrated campaign. Reinforcing BDB’s technical credentials, the team will be working on a brief that includes PR, content marketing, digital and social media activity. Well-known industrial brand, Flexitallic, manufactures and supplies gaskets and sealing solutions to the oil and gas, chemical, nuclear, power and OEM sectors. The company is working with BDB to redefine its branding and build a digital communications campaign around a new product launch for the offshore industry. Focusing on the Middle East, US and Scandinavia, Flexitallic has turned to BDB to create a strong visual style that stands out in a competitive market – that resonates with both engineers and stakeholders. Sally Martin, client services director at BDB, said: “It’s been a great start to the year welcoming Flexitallic to BDB. The company is a leader in its field and works internationally, providing integral support and services to customers around the world. With Flexitallic being in such a specialised industry, it’s testament to our extensive technical knowledge that we have been asked to implement a creative and engaging campaign. We look forward to working with Flexitallic and building its brand profile. ” --- ### Four things I learnt from Mr. Whipple - Published: 2017-03-31 - Modified: 2017-03-31 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/five-things-i-learnt-mr-whipple/ - Categories: News I recently read the book Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, a historic look at advertising – the good, bad and the ugly. The book is co-created by master copywriters Luke Sullivan, a veteran copywriter with 33 years of experience and Edward Boches a partner and the chief creative officer at Boston-based Mullen. The book covers topics ranging from starting out and getting work, to building successful campaigns, providing a real-world perspective on what it means to be great in such a fast-moving, sometimes harsh industry. The authors explore a range of different advertising concepts including: How to turn great initial ideas into fully fledged successful campaigns Producing channel neutral campaigns that work effectively in all media channels Advice on what you need to do avoid the kill shots that will sink any campaign How to protect your work in a very fast moving and competitive marketplace Finding success The first thing I learnt from the book is that adverts that come across as irritating and nonsensical can be extremely successful. Sullivan used the example of Mr. Whipple’ known as “this irritating guy who kept interrupting my favourite shows” who actually became a sensation and sold toilet paper “by the ton”. Although everyone disliked the ad and the slogan, it was very catchy and memorable. Simple is best The second thing I took away from the book was that all ideas take time to become something great and that simplicity goes a long way to captures people’s attention in busy environments.  An... --- ### BDB relaunches M&I materials’ MIDEL brand - Published: 2017-03-22 - Modified: 2017-03-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-relaunches-mi-materials-midel-brand/ - Categories: News Following a full strategy review, BDB has relaunched M&I Materials’ brand of transformer fluids, MIDEL. Appointed in early 2016, BDB executed an initial relaunch campaign and a broader integrated marketing communications strategy for the MIDEL brand. The objective of the campaign was to position MIDEL as a leading supplier of ester-based dielectric fluids and as a global leader of applications in this field. In order to make MIDEL stand out in this conservative market, BDB was tasked with creating a clear brand platform for both new and existing target audiences, including a new identity and creative style. The brief included owned, earned and paid for campaign tactics. BDB generated a striking and engaging brand strategy for MIDEL, featuring an updated logo and positioning strapline that focused on its ability to provide ‘safety inside’ – a direct reflection of the key product benefits. As part of the integrated campaign, BDB created a number of owned materials including a microsite, a brand film and PR strategies alongside trade and digital advertising programmes. The results so far have been impressive, with more than 4,538 visits to the microsite since January 2016. In addition, there have been 478 downloads of MIDEL marketing collateral and 186 downloads of the company’s first whitepaper. This engaging activity created a 5013% increase in MIDEL’s LinkedIn followers during the first 12-month period and in excess of 660 views on the brand film. There have also been 47 active leads generated through the microsite, each with a potential commercial value... --- ### My first 3 months as a digital apprentice at BDB - Published: 2017-03-10 - Modified: 2017-03-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-3-months-digital-apprentice-bdb/ - Categories: News Over the past few months working with BDB, I have learnt so many new interesting things and have really broadened my skillset. For example, I’ve been trained on how to use Photoshop and become familiar with the various ways to use the software. I usually use Photoshop when helping to edit different images and logos for the BDB website and client websites. I love being able to test and work on the social media campaigns we work on at BDB, it’s showed me that there is more than one side to a well working business.   I have become experienced in producing and scheduling tweets via Hootsuite, that will capture the attention of target audiences, and create engagement. Another topic I have learnt about whilst working at BDB is the hard work that goes into creating websites to cater to our clients’ needs. We start with team meetings to pull together ideas, then draft designs and create wireframes. I’ve been helping design wireframes and have really enjoyed getting to know the methods and skills involved. Being able to see and work on different aspects of the business is my favourite part of working within the BDB team, as I am able to learn about a vast range of topics. There is still so much to discover and I’m looking forward to being taught further skills by the many talented people in the office. I’m in a great position to see what they work on, get to know about their different roles... --- ### Digital marketing highlights from this year's Prolific North Live - Published: 2017-02-22 - Modified: 2017-02-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-marketing-highlights-years-prolific-north-live/ - Categories: News BDB recently attended this year’s Prolific North Live event, which brings together media, marketing and creative professionals from across the country, to share valuable insight and cutting edge market developments. Here, we highlight the key topics from the event’s digital marketing seminars led by IAB, Quadrant, Microsoft and Google: Why digital marketing? In 2015, £8. 606bn was spent on digital media in the UK alone. IAB UK’s presentation explored the importance of smart digital marketing to reach and wow your audience. According to IAB’s recent survey, the majority of marketing budgets in the UK were assigned to digital marketing efforts (43%). Of this activity, 48% of the budget was spent on digital banner adverts. To make smarter digital marketing efforts, computers are increasingly being used to create further personalised messages and cater to consumers’ individual needs. This, combined with more creative and interactive initiatives, such as virtual reality programmes, presents marketers with the opportunity to really impress their audiences. Finding the balance In this presentation, Quadrant discussed the positive effects of multiple and continued brand exposure. Although rational messaging, such as features and whitepapers, achieve short-term wins, it is the longer term brand affinity efforts that create more of an emotional connection with consumers. With this in mind, in order to create a lasting impression, it is important to project continuous brand messaging to your audience, rather than sporadic bursts of content for short-term wins. The future of search Just ten years ago, search engines could only capture data if someone... --- ### BDB boosts team with three new hires - Published: 2017-02-14 - Modified: 2017-02-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-boosts-team-three-new-hires/ - Categories: News Leading North West b2b marketing communications agency, BDB, has further expanded its team with the appointment of two new account executives and a production executive. The new hires come after a strong year for the Altrincham-based agency which includes the appointment of the new leadership team, a company rebrand and a number of new business wins. In the first of the new hires, Annie McIntyre joins the agency as an account executive from The Little Big Voice. Since graduating with a first class degree in Public Relations, Annie has gained experience in media relations, copy writing and social media. Annie will be working with a range of BDB’s clients in the food and nutrition, pharmaceuticals and construction sectors. Jenny McParland has also been appointed as an account executive. Joining from Notch Communications, Jenny has a degree in neuroscience and has gained communications and technical experience across the life sciences industry.   At the agency, Jenny will be working with a number of BDB’s established clients across the food and nutrition, science and technology sectors. Janine McCarthy has been appointed as production executive from USP Creative. With a degree in graphic arts and illustration, Janine has experience in photography studios, marketing agencies and freelancing. In her new role, Janine will assist project managers and the production team to place, organise and progress BDB’s international creative campaigns. Commenting on the new hires, Matt Smith, Managing Director at BDB said: "The level of growth at the agency is unprecedented with expansion in our existing... --- ### Account Executive: My first week at BDB - Published: 2017-01-31 - Modified: 2017-01-31 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/account-executive-my-first-week-at-bdb/ - Categories: News Starting a new job, whatever degree of experience you have, is a nerve-wracking experience. Making a great first impression really counts, both for the new member of the team and for the company, and my first week at BDB was no exception. However, when the time came to take the next step in my career, it was clear from the beginning that BDB, the role and the opportunities on offer really were a cut above the rest. I got a great impression of BDB from my initial contact with them and I’m happy to say that my first week has lived up to, and exceeded, all of my expectations. While it’s been a whirlwind of names, faces and information, the team made sure that I felt welcome and had the smoothest possible transition into the BDB universe. Beginning with a comprehensive, and infinitely useful, induction programme, I had the opportunity to sit down with every member of the team and find out a bit more about them and what they do, while also picking up some pointers on what they’ve learned along the way. No question was a stupid question (although there were undoubtedly a few) and I’ve already been introduced to some exciting projects that I’m looking forward to getting stuck into in the weeks to come. As an account executive, I’ll be assisting with the day-to-day handling of account activity for some of BDB’s clients within the manufacturing and food and nutrition industries. While I came to BDB... --- ### BDB bolsters team with experienced account manager hire - Published: 2017-01-25 - Modified: 2017-01-25 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-bolsters-team-experienced-account-manager-hire/ - Categories: News BDB, the leading international B2B marketing communications specialists, has enhanced its 30-strong team of professionals with the addition of experienced senior account manager, Hannah Stirling. The new appointment signals the start of another strong year for the agency, following a number of new clients and three new hires. Hannah joins BDB from Manchester-based Tangerine where she was an integral member of the B2B team, managing construction and manufacturing accounts. With more than five years of solid B2B experience, Hannah will be using her extensive knowledge in these sectors to lead global, integrated communications campaigns. Focusing on the construction, manufacturing, engineering and food ingredients sectors at BDB, Hannah will be growing client accounts, in addition to working with the team on internal and crisis communications strategies. As a former co-chair of PRCA NextGen North West – a group that offers advice and support to inspire the next generation of communications professionals – Hannah also brings a wealth of PR experience to the mix. Commenting on the new appointment, Matt Smith, managing director at BDB said: “Hannah is another fantastic addition to our team at BDB.  Her experience and technical B2B expertise make her a real star and she is already having a hugely positive impact on the clients she works with. I’m thrilled that as an agency, we are continuing to both attract and retain the talent available in the increasingly competitive market place. ” --- ### Day in the life: technical content manager - Published: 2017-01-24 - Modified: 2017-01-24 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/day-life-technical-content-manager/ - Categories: News The role of technical content manager is new for me – as well as for BDB. Given the specialised nature of many of our b2b clients, there is a continuing need for content in various formats. Already in my third week, I have so far crafted copy for white papers, features, press releases, blogs and social media. BDB’s client portfolio is wide-ranging and includes food and nutrition, construction, engineering, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, so it helps that my background is b2b. This makes it easier when copywriting for specific audiences and to get to grips with clients’ needs, sectors and business. A typical day as a technical content manager starts with a detailed brief – generally from a member of the account handling team, but it can come directly from a client, too. Switching between different topics on a day-to-day basis involves immersing myself in subjects that I’m not always familiar with already, such as valves or collagen peptides. However, the varied nature is what I love! Taking the time to write a thorough brief is essential, as well as extensive research into the topic – reading around any current issues can form the backbone of an interesting piece of content. To help form the basis of a good copywriting brief, it is useful to know the following details: What? The specifics – is it a feature, white paper or a blog? What are we trying to achieve? Any key messages that are important should be outlined here. Why? Why... --- ### BDB ranked UK’s 2nd fastest growing marcomms agency - Published: 2017-01-17 - Modified: 2017-01-17 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-ranked-uks-2nd-fastest-growing-marcomms-agency/ - Categories: News Following an extremely successful year, BDB is pleased to announce that it has been named the UK’s 2nd fastest-growing marcomms agency by B2B Marketing. The ranking of the top 20 agencies shows which firms have experienced outstanding growth throughout 2016, based on their year-on-year revenue. BDB has also been listed 35th in the Top 75 UK B2B marcomms agencies, which positions firms in accordance to their UK gross income. Both league tables have been published in the latest edition of B2B Marketing’s B2B Agencies Benchmarking Report 2016-17. We’re delighted to be recognised for our continued hard work and growth over the past year and we look forward to what the next 12 months will hold! To find out more about the services we offer visit https://www. bdb. co. uk/approach/ or call us on +44(0)161 925 4700. --- ### Feeding the future with Brian Cox: highlights - Published: 2016-12-12 - Modified: 2016-12-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/feeding-future-brian-cox-highlights/ - Categories: News At BDB, we’re no strangers to science. In fact, we love it. That’s why we joined Brian Cox, the Royal Society Professor of Public Engagement, for his presentation on feeding the future at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. Cox was joined by a panel of experts on food to discuss key issues for feeding future populations. Panellists included: Sir David Baulcombe FRS FMedSci, Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge Professor Ottoline Leyser CBE FRS, plant developmental biologist at the University of Cambridge and director of the Sainsbury Laboratory Professor Philip Stevenson, Professor of Chemical Ecology at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich Dr Claire Marris, Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London The panel discussed the growing global population, changing consumption patterns, the impacts of climate change and growing scarcity of water and land, which put pressure on our ability to grow enough food. Here are some highlights from the discussion: How agriculture began, has evolved and how it will change in the future Concern around our ability to feed future populations Scepticism around GM foods, including the ambiguity of their impact on human health and the growing concern around seed patents from major corporations What GM options are out there Food waste across the whole food chain How to secure a sustainable food chain. The panellists were joined by food researcher and Michelin star chef, Charles Michel. Michel described how he spent his first years as a chef trying to make food... --- ### Food for thought: hot topics in 2017 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Modified: 2016-12-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/food-thought-hot-topics-2017/ - Categories: News The world’s food and drinks industry is an ever-evolving, dynamic and competitive landscape, and our clients have always changed with the times; keeping pace with new developments, creativity and innovation. One thing hasn’t changed though: they, and we, are always looking at what’s around the corner. We continuously ask ourselves: How will consumption habits and preferences change in the future? How will those trends shape product development? And how can we best connect and communicate with ever-expanding, increasingly complex audiences? With consumers demanding more than ever, offering foods and drinks that stand out from the crowd and tap into their ambitions – or help alleviate their concerns – is becoming more of a prerequisite than a “nice to have”. Here’s a summary of the hottest trends for 2017 in the food and drinks industry: Reformulation prevails Reformulation has already become a constant for many established brands and will continue in 2017. This will be driven by: Ongoing reduction of salt and saturated fat in, for example, sauces, bakery and dairy The sugar backlash, which will impact sectors outside the soft drinks arena and many countries beyond the UK. According to Mintel, 37% of UK consumers say they will switch to low / no-sugar options when the sugar tax comes into force The natural trend: formulating out artificial colours, flavours and preservatives Legislation: expect EFSA, the FDA and other authorities to extend action on specific ingredients and categories Cost concerns: inflation, discount retailers and thriving competition mean manufacturers’ margins will remain... --- ### Top 4 creative ideas from EuroTier 2016 - Published: 2016-12-06 - Modified: 2016-12-06 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-4-creative-ideas-eurotier-2016/ - Categories: News BDB recently attended EuroTier, the largest exhibition on animal husbandry, to deliver press support for our client DSM. Carmen Soggia, Account Manager at BDB, highlights her thoughts from the show: After attending press interviews at the DSM booth, we joined over 160,000 visitors in browsing the show floor. While walking around the different exhibition stands, it became clear that in this highly science-focused animal industry, companies have started to take different approaches to presenting their ideas. Here’s our top 4 take-away creative ideas from EuroTier 2016: 1) Super animals When your marketing communications team realises that generic images of healthy animals have had their time, anything can happen. Looking at a creative concept with a healthy-looking pig standing up on its hind legs, and opening its shirt in a superman-like move, I could almost imagine the brainstorming session that led to it. Sticky notes on the wall with words such as, ‘stronger pigs’ and ‘improved health’. The next thoughts are easy to imagine, like superhuman health (or a superanimal! ? ). And there you go,  a pig with super powers is served on a silver plate. Well, it did catch my eye! 2) Waste not, want not On a different note, an Italian ingredient producer wanted visitors to reflect on the idea that every minute spent without feeding their farm animals with their super optimised additive was a minute lost of optimum performance. A rotating hourglass on one of the stand walls delivered the message very clearly. 3) The power of nature... --- ### Must-see marketing trends for 2017 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Modified: 2016-12-01 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/must-see-marketing-trends-2017/ - Categories: News December is not only a time for reflection on the past year, but also for contemplating how your business can ensure future success. Part of that success comes from having a finger on the pulse of the latest industry drivers. Here, we highlight four key trends to look out for in the coming year: 1) Customer experience “Customer experience is the last source of sustainable differentiation and the new competitive battleground” - Tiffani Bova, Gartner Vice President and Distinguished Analyst Customer experience plays an ever-important role in marketing and overall business success, for every industry. Whether B2C or B2B, today’s businesses must not only be knowledgeable about their customers, but also proactively adopt marketing strategies that will improve their customers’ experience. According to Walker Information’s Customers 2020, changes such as the movement of digital, the empowered customer, and fast growth of innovation are influencing customer expectations. Customers will soon expect companies to know their individual needs and personalise their experience. Ultimately, customer experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator in B2B by 2020. Currently a meagre 23% of B2B marketers have a customer-centric organisational structure, compared to those that focus on channels or products. In 2017, we may see a shift in marketing strategies to address the growing need for optimised customer experience. 2) Interactive content “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand” – Confucius It’s no revelation that the average attention span in today’s society is rather dismal... . --- ### Integrated communications planning in construction: a view from London Build - Published: 2016-11-22 - Modified: 2016-11-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/integrated-communications-planning-construction-view-london-build/ - Categories: News Following our successful seminar on ‘social media in the construction industry’ at the North England Build Expo, Neil Malcom, Account Director at BDB, was invited to speak at London Build 2016. Here, Neil gives an overview on the presentation ‘marketing communications campaign planning in construction’ and his thoughts on the current construction landscape: “Trade exhibitions are a great occasion to meet people in the industry and talk openly about challenges, and opportunities. London Build provided an interesting snapshot of the industry right now, with a broad collection of regional, national and European businesses from across the supply chain. The communications landscape in the construction industry is changing, and the seminar focused on the importance of planning integrated marketing communications that contribute to achieving commercial success, and supporting business objectives. We took a closer look at: What’s driving the need for integrated communications campaigns in construction marketing How this approach to planning marketing activity can yield results that link directly to business ambitions – for example, driving sales leads to support market share growth How integrated campaign planning can provide a foundation for more effective measurement of marketing communications activity We also explored what’s changed in construction marketing, and why integrated campaign planning is important. In particular, how the buying process has changed and what we can do to influence decision making within the specification chain. This was supported by a snapshot of b2b marketing trends and how established and emerging communications channels can be combined to generate success. To provide... --- ### Meet us at SCS Formulate for personal care experience & marketing expertise - Published: 2016-11-11 - Modified: 2016-11-11 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/meet-us-scs-formulate-personal-care-experience-marketing-expertise/ - Categories: News BDB will attend this year’s SCS Formulate on Tuesday 15th November to meet with a number of professionals within the personal care industry. Céline L’héritier-Knowles, Head of Production at BDB, invites you to meet her at the event, to discuss BDB’s experience and integrated marketing expertise in personal care. Céline will also share a vibrant snapshot of our work within the market. BDB ensures its clients are always one step ahead by keeping up to date on the latest insights and new trends in the personal care industry. The future for personal care products is very prosperous, with rising growth trends driven by consumers’ increasing disposable income and changing lifestyles. Despite fluctuating economies worldwide, the personal care industry is one of the few sectors that is comparatively unscathed. The organic personal care market is estimated to be worth more than 16 billion by 2023(1). North America, Europe (UK, France and Germany mainly) and Asia Pacific are the main markets. This year’s key trends include: Natural & organic Male grooming Food for the skin, connecting personal care with nutrition SCS Formulate will bring together over 200 companies in one location. Taking place at Ricoh Arena, Coventry, the exhibition is the UK's largest event of its kind, focusing on raw materials, ingredients and formulation services for personal care and cosmetic products. BDB has extensive experience across the personal care sector. To meet Céline at SCS Formulate and find out more on the services that BDB provides email celine@bdb. co. uk or call us today... --- ### Jessica Turner, Digital and Social Media Apprentice: My First Week at BDB - Published: 2016-11-09 - Modified: 2016-11-09 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/digital-social-media-apprentice-first-week-bdb/ - Categories: News It’s the end of my first week at BDB and it’s started at full pace! In the space of a couple of days, I have gone from being chosen to join BDB at the Juice Academy Boot Camp to getting stuck into lots of exciting new projects (who knew I could proof read Arabic! ). I first met BDB at the Juice Academy open day held on 20th October. I decided to apply for the academy’s apprenticeship scheme as I have always been interested in social media and digital marketing, and I was keen to experience a working environment. When researching the companies attending the day, BDB had always been a clear favourite. As an established integrated agency with a strong heritage, I knew that working at BDB would help me gain valuable industry experience. In addition, the fact the agency has lots of really diverse and interesting B2B clients really appealed to me as it means I’m working on new things every day. As you can imagine I was very pleased when I found I had been chosen to join the BDB team! When I arrived at the office on my first day, everyone was so friendly. Following an extensive induction programme into the agency’s clients and processes, I got stuck into a number of projects including newsletter coding, e-shot design and social media audience mapping. I also helped the production team proof-read a variety of brochures for one of our international clients, in complex languages such as Russian and... --- ### First-timer: how to approach a video shoot - Published: 2016-10-27 - Modified: 2016-10-27 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-timer-approach-video-shoot/ - Categories: News So, one day your client asks: “can you put a cost together for the planning and filming of a video? ”. It’s something you’ve never done before and might sound scary at first (your company isn’t a specialist video and film production agency, after all). But fear not, if you put the work in and perform some risk analysis well in advance, you should be fine. Objective: As with any campaign or project, you need to start with the ‘why’ before the ‘how’. Find out what the purpose of the video is and who it’s targeting, before you start making promises and planning. Review the brief in great detail. If you’re unsure of what to make of it, don’t be scared to ask – it will be worse if you keep quiet and get something wrong later down the line. Budget: It’s vital to have an idea of what budget you have to work with, so that you can deliver a proposal that meets the objective, while staying in line with your client’s expectations. Having said that, they might be able to manoeuvre slightly, so it’s best to give them a couple of options on some factors. For example, venues can vary greatly on cost and there may be more than one option your client could consider. Putting all your eggs in one basket might lose you the job. Quote: Ask your head of production to cover all bases on the quote. Remember, videos don’t start and finish at the filming... --- ### BDB welcomes new social media apprentice, Jess Turner - Published: 2016-10-26 - Modified: 2016-10-26 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-welcomes-new-social-media-apprentice/ - Categories: News Following a gruelling full day of boot camp at the Juice Academy, which included presentations, exercises and ‘speed dating’, BDB has appointed Jess Turner as social media apprentice. Preferring a practical learning environment to continuing with studies, Jess recently left Priestley College to pursue an apprenticeship in social media - an area she feels passionately about. Matt Smith, Managing Director at BDB comments: “We are delighted to welcome Jess as our latest addition to the team. Jess proved to be the perfect candidate for the role, showing a good understanding of and enthusiasm for the ever changing world of digital communications and social media. We now have the responsibility of nurturing Jess and investing in her development to ensure she reaches her considerable potential. I’m excited for the journey ahead and look forward to embracing the fresh ideas Jess brings to the agency. ” BDB is always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team, so if you are interested in working with us, please get in touch. --- ### BDB to hold communications planning workshop at London Build Expo 2016 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Modified: 2016-10-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-hold-communications-planning-workshop-london-build-expo-2016/ - Categories: News BDB will be hosting a training workshop at this year’s London Build Expo on ‘Marketing Communications Campaign Planning in the Construction Industry’. Taking place on Thursday 27th October between 2:10pm and 3:40pm, the session will examine the effects of marketing on the B2B decision making process. It will also explore how businesses in the construction industry can plan their communications campaigns for maximum effectiveness. Aimed at companies involved in the construction value chain, from SMEs to large organisations, the session will highlight the changing communications landscape and the latest trends in the construction marketing industry. Attendees will gain an understanding of the planning process for activity targeting key audience groups in the built environment, and how to increase return on investment from creative campaigns. Held at London’s Olympia on 26th and 27th October, the Expo will bring together 100+ companies from across the construction industry, focusing on projects and opportunities in London and the South of England. The event will be attended by a wide variety of businesses and organisations including developers, contractors, government, local councils and suppliers. BDB has extensive experience across the construction, engineering, manufacturing and energy sectors. If you would like to find out more on the services that BDB provides, call us today on +44 (0) 161 925 4700 or email ideasthatconnect@bdb. co. uk. --- ### Pharmaceutical insights from CPhI 2016 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Modified: 2016-10-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/pharmaceutical-insights-cphi-2016/ - Categories: News BDB recently attended CPhI Worldwide in Barcelona to provide press support for one of our clients. The world’s leading European pharmaceutical exhibition brings together the entire supply chain and thousands of visitors turned up to this year’s show, So, what did we learn? First of all, Barcelona is still sunny in October. Win. But more to the point, CPhI showcased new trends, products and services and was brimming with key players from the whole pharmaceutical ingredients sector. Exhibitors were spread out over different halls and there were dedicated zones for various parts of the industry, allowing for lots of exercise and insights in between our meetings with the press. Here are a few things we picked up: - Speed to market is of vital importance and is trending across the pharmaceutical segment - Drug revenues are reportedly increasing by 7 % per year - There is a growing trend towards targeted therapies across the industry - Getting the right balance between capability and scale is of growing importance - More user-friendly drug packaging is needed to reach a wider scope of the population Would you like to know how we can support your marketing communications activity within the pharmaceutical industry? Please get in touch. --- ### My First Week at BDB - Published: 2016-10-10 - Modified: 2016-10-10 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/first-week-bdb/ - Categories: News From joining a EUREKA team meeting in my first hour to enjoying Prosecco on a Tuesday afternoon, my first week at BDB was anything but boring – I would best describe it as filled with warm welcomes, helpful introductions and, perhaps most significantly, copious amounts of cake. BDB, or Barrett Dixon Bell, is an international, full-service b2b marketing and communications agency with over 30 years of experience and expertise in industries including construction, food & nutrition, engineering, packaging, publishing and science and technology. I myself have a Neuroscience degree however, I was always keen to use it in a more creative way. This led me to pursue opportunities offering a combination of science and marketing as it allowed me to utilise my interests as well as my passion and when I decided it was time to progress my career, an account executive role at BDB was the obvious choice. My first impressions of BDB has been nothing but positive and the agency has certainly exceeded my expectations. Already this week I have celebrated birthdays, attended a training session on production, received wine as a welcome gift, and been involved in campaign brainstorms. As well as this I’ve been introduced to my client accounts (I was naturally drawn to the agency’s more science focused clients and luckily for me those were the projects I’ve been assigned to), completed various copywriting tasks and familiarised myself with a few editors and publishers BDB work closely with. However, what has really stood out the... --- ### Top tips for a successful brand makeover - Published: 2016-09-08 - Modified: 2016-09-08 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/top-tips-for-a-successful-brand-makeover/ - Categories: Insight “In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first. ” Jimi Hendrix It’s time for innovation In today’s marketing and communications industry, it is vital for companies to assess their brand’s positioning and how they reach their target audiences. Why? Just look around – it’s a crowded market. Brand strategy brings businesses’ competitive positioning to life. It focuses on the messages brands deliver, the images they convey and the way they interact. That’s where repositioning comes into play. To stay ahead of the curve and differentiate themselves, companies aim to create alignment and clarity, both inside and outside the organisation. When to reposition a brand should be considered for multiple reasons; however, it’s easier done than said. To change or not to change? A successful repositioning campaign requires more than uploading a new logo; it demands a vision that inspires customers, employees and prospects and stakeholders to see it in a new light. With this approach, businesses can ensure that brand promise and reality will always match up. By repositioning a brand, companies reconnect with their current audience, and can reach out to new prospects. All the pieces of the puzzle, such as logo and marketing materials should work together and provide a unified identity that the customer truly understands. Where to start and when to stop? Choosing a strategy with a central point of focus is vital for successful brand-repositioning. As a starting point, companies can ask themselves: 1. What can we deliver that our... --- ### When B2B media channels are weak - Published: 2016-07-12 - Modified: 2024-10-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/b2b-media-channels-weak/ - Categories: Insight One of the challenges that I often hear from marketers in the Asian B2B market is the lack of a mature media landscape. It is increasingly common to see only a handful of trade publications, which still primarily focus on print magazines and lack a strong online presence. This is particularly true for highly technical and scientific businesses, where the relevant audience can be fragmented across a wide geographic and vertical scope. This makes the value of advertising in the relevant publications disproportionately low, since only a small slice of the audience is relevant. In this environment, where the audience is hard to reach with traditional media, how then can marketers grow their number of leads, expand their reach, and capture more of the market? Increasing engagement with target audiences You might get away with list rentals and landing contributed pieces in existing media, but you are limited to their readership, and editorial schedules. With this in mind, most marketers in Asia attempt to grow their reach the old fashioned way – through organising roadshows and attending trade events. Even then, each of these has their own drawbacks. Organising roadshows can be expensive and time consuming, and you are often likely to meet with existing participants that are already engaging with you. With trade events, the cost and time commitment is again also high, and there are also so many spread across the Asian region that it is hard to be seen at all of them. Several marketers I spoke... --- ### BDB unveils revitalised brand and positioning - Published: 2016-07-07 - Modified: 2016-07-07 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-unveils-revitalised-brand-positioning/ - Categories: News Leading international B2B marketing communications specialist BDB today announced the launch of its refreshed corporate identity with an enhanced strategic positioning, and a unique offering that is unrivalled in B2B marketing communications. The new strategic proposition is built on the premise of ‘ideas that connect’, and is demonstrated throughout the agency in the integrated services on offer, global nature of the work, and the award-winning campaigns generated. Supporting this is a ground up overhaul of its digital footprint including the launch of a new website. Led by MD, Matt Smith, the website is the culmination of months of work by the new leadership team to reposition the agency and accurately reflect the depth and breadth of its experience, sector expertise and impressive client base. With the addition, as previously announced in January 2016, of Jon Hallowell, as Creative & Brand Strategy Director; Sally Martin, Client Services Director and Dr. Catherine Butcher as Head of Life Sciences and Director of Asia, new MD Matt Smith has the right strategic leadership team to drive growth at the agency and provide a unique skills set to clients. Matt Smith, comments, “We’re an established agency with more than 30 years’ heritage, and although we are not moving away from our 100 per cent B2B focus, we recognised the importance of building a business that moves with the times providing strategic, creative and integrated international programmes to our clients. ” He adds “We’ve long been the unrivalled specialist in unlocking global marketing opportunity for the world’s most... --- ### Breaking the mould in B2B PR - Published: 2016-07-04 - Modified: 2024-10-22 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/breaking-the-mould-in-b2b-pr/ - Categories: News It’s well-known that PR agencies across the world have a reputation problem, often described as ‘fluffy’ or seen as being ‘spin doctors’. After just two short months, I can confidently say that BDB is an agency that breaks the mould. On Day 1 I was introduced to BDB’s team of intelligent, passionate communicators and shown the comprehensive induction programme that I was to begin. With a large variety of clients in a range of different, and some rather niche, industries there’s a lot to take in at the beginning, but BDB’s induction programme has been designed to equip new employees with everything they need to reach their full potential. Not only is this testimony to BDB’s dedication to their team but also to their clients, ensuring that every member of the BDB team can deliver results for the accounts they are responsible for from the very beginning. The diverse backgrounds of the BDB team means there’s a wealth of knowledge for new employees to learn from and always someone around to lend a helping hand... if one person doesn’t have an answer they’ll know the person who does! As a full service agency, there’s always something new to get involved in – from writing features and pitching to journalists to building digital campaigns and developing international strategy. This means that every day brings a new challenge and new opportunities to explore for our clients. Despite being just two months into my BDB career I’m already looking forward to getting involved in... --- ### BDB attends Vitafoods Europe 2016 - Published: 2016-05-20 - Modified: 2016-05-20 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-attends-vitafoods-europe-2016/ - Categories: News BDB attended this year’s Vitafoods Europe held in Geneva on the 10th – 12th May, to provide press support to a number of clients in the health, nutrition and pharmaceutical industries.   The leading European nutraceutical event brought together key players from across the globe and highlighted the latest industry insights. These included ingredient innovation, revolutionary inventions and the cutting-edge scientific research. The three-day event, which marked its 20th anniversary this year, saw exhibitors showcase a range of products and services available to the market including ingredients, contract manufacturing and private label, equipment and finished products. The conference also had exclusive networking events and dedicated seminars from more than 60 speakers, which discussed the latest industry topics. BDB has extensive experience across the health and nutrition industry. If you would like to find out more on the services that we provide, call us today on +44 (0) 161 925 4700 or email ideasthatconnect@bdb. co. uk --- ### BDB exhibits and presents at 2016 North England Build Expo - Published: 2016-05-12 - Modified: 2016-05-12 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-exhibits-and-presents-at-2016-north-england-build-expo/ - Categories: News BDB participated in the inaugural North England Build Expo, on the 27th and 28th April at Manchester Central, which saw 100+ businesses from the construction industry showcase the latest projects, products and services available in the market. The two-day event included an impressive programme of speakers discussing the hottest topics in the industry at the moment, along with an opportunity to network with both existing and potential business partners. Representatives from BDB were on hand, throughout the duration of the show, to provide expert marketing communications advice and insight to businesses looking to expand their presence in the construction market. On the second day of the event, BDB’s Account Director, Neil Malcom, presented a workshop on ‘Social Media and Content Marketing in the Construction Industry'.  His presentation examined the latest B2B trends, as well as providing best practice advice and tips for businesses looking to support customer dialogue, and influence the specification and purchasing process. BDB has extensive experience across the construction, engineering, manufacturing and energy sectors. If you would like to find out more on the services that BDB provides, call us today on +44 (0) 161 925 4700 or email ideasthatconnect@bdb. co. uk. --- ### BDB grows team with three new hires - Published: 2016-03-18 - Modified: 2016-03-18 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-grows-team-with-three-new-hires/ - Categories: News Leading North West b2b marketing communications agency, BDB has bolstered its team with a series of new hires. Following a sustained period of growth, BDB has appointed three further account executives. The latest recruits come after last month’s announcement which saw BDB’s new managing director, Matt Smith, and three senior marketing and communications professionals appointed to its new leadership team. In the first of the new hires, Dinah Harrison joins the Altrincham-based agency as an account executive from The Scott Partnership. Since completing a Master’s in Public Relations, Dinah has gained communications and technical experience in a variety of sectors including healthcare, laboratory instrumentation and semiconductor technology. Dinah will be working primarily with BDB clients across the food and nutrition industries. Chloe Kendall has also been appointed as an account executive. She joins the agency from Roland Dransfield PR and brings with her experience in media relations, technical copywriting and social media. Chloe will be supporting BDB’s client accounts across the food and nutrition, pharmaceuticals and engineering sectors. Finally, Neil Robertson joins BDB as an account executive from Refresh Public Relations and has experience representing a range of clients from interior architects to CCTV manufacturers. Before his role in PR, Neil worked as a journalist for local newspapers including the Bolton News and the Bury Times. Neil will be supporting a variety of BDB clients across the food and construction industries. Matt Smith, managing director said: “We are pleased to welcome the three new recruits to our team following an exceptional... --- ### BDB bolsters leadership team - Published: 2016-02-03 - Modified: 2016-02-03 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-bolsters-leadership-team/ - Categories: News Following last month’s announcement of our new managing director, Matt Smith, BDB has added three senior marketing and communications professionals to its new leadership team. (L-R Sally Martin, Matt Smith, Jon Hallowell, Catherine Butcher) Dr Catherine Butcher, life sciences and health director, joined BDB in 2007 as an account director responsible for leading science focused client campaigns.  Originally from a clinical research background followed by her role as specialist public relations consultant for life science businesses, Catherine brings analytical planning skills and deep sector knowledge for transforming technical briefs into marketable content and effective creative initiatives.   Catherine also heads up BDB Asia, BDB’s Singapore office which extends its range of integrated services to clients in Asia-Pacific and reinforces its international presence. Sally Martin has been appointed BDB’s client services director.  With extensive experience in leading comprehensive integrated global marketing communications campaigns for corporate and financial services conglomerates, Sally joins BDB from Tangerine where she was a senior account director and head of corporate and professional services practice.   Sally previously worked as a vice president at Bliss PR in New York, where she was also head of crisis communications, and at Weber Shandwick in London. Jon Hallowell joins BDB as creative and brand strategy director to add a global cutting edge to all client campaigns, programs and brand challenges. Jon’s extensive strategic branding experience will enhance BDB’s team performance globally across multiple disciplines.   One of the most awarded creatives in b2b, Jon will ensure that BDB’s output continues to be focused on... --- ### BDB announces new managing director - Published: 2016-01-14 - Modified: 2016-01-14 - URL: https://bdb.global/insights-hub/bdb-announces-new-managing-director/ - Categories: News We're delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Smith as managing director of BDB. With the clear goal of building on BDB’s long heritage in business to business marketing communications, Matt has a background in professional and financial services, specialising in the media, technical and communications sectors.   As BDB enters an ambitious new era, Matt brings a sharp focus on client service and campaign delivery to cement the company’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading b2b agencies. Matt said: “BDB has an unrivalled reputation in global b2b marketing, and stands out as having a 100 percent business to business focus.   Unlike other agencies, where b2b can sometimes be a bolt-on, BDB’s has been a consistent and successful core focus for its 25 years in existence.   We have deep-rooted sector expertise across food ingredients, construction, energy, chemicals and personal care, life sciences, health and packaging and have more than 25 years’ experience in planning, directing and implementing major award-winning campaigns. “I am extremely proud to lead this established agency and team of marketing professionals dedicated to serving the b2b client companies.   A major part of my role is to attract and retain the highest talent to ensure the continued quality of our marketing consultancy, client service and incisive campaign delivery.  It is my responsibility to map out and drive the strategic direction of the business to ensure BDB remains the go-to agency for unlocking global b2b marketing opportunities and building the reputations of the world’s most admired businesses and brands. ”... ---