B2B vs. B2C Marketing: What’s the Difference?

Business-to-business (B2B) companies know that their business-to-consumer (B2C) counterparts invest thousands in marketing every month and see great ROI.

Yet, B2B companies consistently underperform when adopting the same strategies as those consumer-facing brands.

WHY? Because (shocker!) B2B marketing is different from B2C marketing.

In this article, we will highlight the differences between B2B marketing vs. B2C marketing, as well as why we start with organic content long before we encourage our clients to invest in pricey ad campaigns.

What is B2B Marketing?

Business-to-business marketing, more commonly known as B2B marketing, is the process of selling products or services to other businesses. This can include anything from office supplies to software, to industrial equipment.

B2B marketing is usually more complex than B2C marketing, as it involves more decision-makers and requires a deeper understanding of the needs of businesses. 

Moreover, B2B marketing budgets are usually larger than B2C marketing budgets, as businesses have more money to spend on products and services.

What is B2C Marketing?

Business-to-consumer marketing, or B2C marketing, is the process of selling products or services to consumers. This can include anything from clothing to cosmetics, to appliances.

B2C marketing is typically more focused on emotion and creating a personal connection with consumers, while B2B marketing is more focused on logic and rational decision-making.

B2C marketing often has a shorter sales cycle than B2B marketing, as businesses take less time to make decisions about purchases.

What’s the Difference Between B2B vs B2C Marketing?

So, what’s the difference between B2B and B2C marketing? Here are a few key points to recap:

• B2B marketing is usually more complex than B2C marketing, as it involves more decision-makers and requires a deeper understanding of the needs of businesses.
• B2C marketing is typically more focused on emotion and creating a personal connection with consumers, while B2B marketing is more focused on logic and rational decision-making.
• B2B marketing often has a longer sales cycle than B2C marketing, as businesses take more time to make decisions about purchases.
• B2B marketing budgets are usually larger than B2C marketing budgets, as businesses have more money to spend on products and services.

Why Do We Focus on B2B Clients at Digital Storyteller?

At Digital Storyteller, we focus on marketing for B2B financial services companies. 

Why? Because we recognized a need and a gap in industry offerings. After all, there are plenty of agencies out there who spend their time on biotech, startups, and influencer marketing—but not a lot who spend their time with financial services.

We love to focus on this niche—using the “Digital Storyteller Hierarchy of Marketing”—because it’s a competitive and unique industry to market for.

Those in the financial services industry navigate the difficult terrain of regulatory and compliance hurdles while seeking to successfully market their products and services. This considered, it’s essential that financial services companies seek out the right marketing for their businesses.

Interested in learning more? Read on in “The Importance of Digital Marketing for Financial Services.”

A Final Word

So, there you have it! A brief overview of the difference between B2B marketing and B2C marketing. Keep these key points in mind when planning your marketing strategy, and you’ll be sure to appeal to the right audience.

Interested in finding out more? Read on to learn about the ROI of organic digital marketing (yes, it can be measured!) Then, get in touch with our team to schedule your FREE Brand Storytelling Session.