Closing deals in the B2B sector requires more than just a charismatic pitch.
B2B decision-makers require substance, research, and proof of value. This is where print collateral truly excels, offering a tangible reminder of the unique solutions your business brings to the table.
However, traditional methods of producing and distributing print collateral can significantly drain marketing resources. The litany of tasks involved—from selecting paper grades and finishes to securing approvals and printing to enforcing brand guidelines, managing inventory, coordinating distribution, and fielding custom design requests—can be overwhelming for even the most efficient marketing teams.
This is why marketing portals have become an indispensable asset for B2B marketing and sales teams. A marketing portal turns sales teams into closing machines armed with customized print collateral that hits the bullseye every time (without draining resources).
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn how a marketing portal makes it fast and easy to:
- Customize sales collateral without straying from brand guidelines.
- Modify, revise, and update print collateral with ease.
- Distribute personalized sales collateral faster and more efficiently.
Customize Sales Collateral Without Straying from Brand Guidelines
B2B buyers expect solutions tailored to their challenges. This is why sales reps crave personalized print marketing collateral that resonates with each prospect's unique pain points.
Unfortunately, this can put marketing and creative teams in a tough position.
If sales reps aren’t equipped with the tools they need, it can result in lost opportunities and revenue shortfalls. However, creating unique print materials for every prospect is time-consuming and resource-draining, especially in B2B sales environments where diverse audiences and decision-makers have varying needs.
This is where a marketing portal shines.
A marketing portal provides a foundation of brand consistency and messaging, which sales can customize to address the specific needs of each individual prospect.
Here’s how it works.
Marketing and creative teams implement design template files that designate what areas sales reps can and can’t customize. The design files are uploaded and added to a marketing portal's library, where sales reps can browse, customize, and order the print collateral and promotional products they need 24/7.
Since a marketing portal has customizable user settings and permissions, admins (typically members of the marketing department) have centralized control over who can access the portal and what each user is permitted to customize.
For instance, sales reps can customize a product brochure template with a personal touch:
- A prospect’s name, title, and company logo.
- Images and text that align with the solutions a prospect is looking for.
- Special offers.
- The sales rep’s contact information.
A marketing portal provides sales reps with self-service access to customizable templates, equipping them with a vast library of customizable resources. This ensures they have the right sales collateral for every situation–without having to rely on marketing to create custom marketing materials for every prospect.
Now, you might be thinking, “There’s no way we can give sales reps free rein to edit marketing materials however they want.”
Don’t worry, a marketing portal enables what we like to call “controlled customization.”
Marketing teams have full control over what can and can’t be customized for each asset in the portal library. Simply decide which elements of the template can be customized and which elements are locked (non-customizable), such as:
- Company branding.
- Key messaging.
- Logos and taglines.
- Regulatory and legal statements.
The portal also allows marketing teams to have full control over who can access the portal and what each user can access, order, or customize. For instance, senior sales reps can access customizable templates, whereas junior reps can only access static (non-customizable) pre-printed collateral from inventory.
Modify, Revise, and Make Updates to Print Materials with Speed and Ease
Product updates, pricing changes, and market shifts can swiftly render sales collateral obsolete. For marketing teams, this means a scramble to update print materials quickly since outdated or inaccurate print collateral can frustrate prospects, diminish credibility, and jeopardize sales efforts.
Since a marketing portal is a centralized location for all assets, marketing teams can update print collateral with ease. When an asset needs to be edited, simply upload a new design file template to the portal, and the updates will be instantly reflected across all user instances.
Distribute Sales Collateral Faster and More Efficiently
The 24/7 on-demand, self-service access of a marketing portal means sales reps can quickly find, customize, and order the print collateral they need exactly when they desire it. As we all know, timing is key in sales.
This eliminates the need to wait for marketing to process design requests for custom print collateral. Customizable user settings within the portal allow marketing teams to decide whether or not they want to approve custom orders. If the marketing team wants to approve custom orders before they are sent to production, automated approval workflows make it easy to review and approve customized print collateral.
But wait, there’s more!
A marketing portal is connected to a commercial printing and marketing fulfillment company that will take care of the entire process, including:
- Setting up the print technology and managing your custom-built marketing portal.
- Designing your print collateral and sales enablement tools.
- Processing orders from the marketing portal.
- Digital printing.
- Kitting and assembly of collateral.
- Packaging and labeling.
- Shipping and distribution.
This significantly expedites both production and delivery times. Personalized print marketing collateral can even be sent directly to prospects to speed the response process even further.
Ready to enable your sales team with the deal-sealing tools they need (without draining your resources)? Artisan Colour is here to help.
B2B Business Printing Solutions by Artisan Colour
At Artisan Colour, we specialize in more than just print collateral; we understand the intricacies of the B2B sales journey and specialize in printing solutions that make prospects eager to sign on the dotted line.
We offer an extensive range of best-in-class B2B printing solutions, such as OrderJet, our state-of-the-art B2B marketing portal.
Our team of artisans can also support all of your business printing, signage, direct mail, marketing fulfillment, and creative needs, including:
- Printing Services: Marketing collateral, product catalogs, custom packaging, fleet wraps, and variable data printing.
- Signage and Graphics: Business signage, wall and window graphics, indoor and outdoor banners, trade shows and events, retail displays, and wall wraps.
- Direct Mail Marketing: Direct mail campaigns, personalized direct mail, Informed Delivery, and omnichannel integrations.
- Creative Services: Color management, prepress, premedia, online image libraries, photography, graphic design, and image editing.
- Promotional Product Sourcing: Branded apparel, giveaways, corporate gifts, custom merchandise, and trade show swag.
Contact us today to learn more about our B2B printing solutions and let us help your business seal more deals.
