If you’re in the market for ABM software, you’re in luck … or not, depending on how you look at it!
According to sources such as Scott Brinker at chiefmartec.com, there are more than 200 SaaS vendors who would love to tell you about their ABM solutions.
There are literally thousands more vendors that would offer to help your company improve its account data, identify unknown prospects, predict intent to buy, automate targeted advertising, visualize attribution reports and even personalize content delivery.
Few of these are “full funnel” solutions (one-stop ABM shops), though many claim to be.
So, how does a company choose an ABM platform?
Or maybe the question is: When do you need to pick?
The answer is, of course, that it depends.
Consider starting with the tools you have, pick some spot solutions as your program matures, and go full-funnel when your MarTech can’t keep up. Considering the high cost of many of these platforms, this is a far more prudent way to manage your tech investments and work to supplement implementation of strong ABX-centric processes in your organization before really going all-in.
You should start low-tech if you haven’t met full ABM readiness:
Related: Three powerful (and simple) secrets for ABM success
Even if your company nails these requirements, you may be able to ramp up an ABM program using just your core MarTech stack. The major Marketing Automation Platforms, combined with Salesforce, provide much of the functionality you’ll need.
Adoption
Take a look at our (free and downloadable!) Adoption Timeline to understand a typical “order of approach” most enterprises take towards ABM. “Tackling Your Technology” may only be necessary after you’ve conquered other fundamentals.
However, you should consider additional tools if use cases like the following stand out:
- Your customer data is so fragmented or incomplete that you can’t identify a robust Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) or accounts like it.
- Many of your potential targets are unknown or coming through social media channels – and you need to identify them and understand their intent.
- Automated advertising and content syndication have proved to be a strong source of prospects from your target companies.
Software Capabilities
Finding the best solution for your organization’s needs requires due diligence. The differences between market leaders such as 6Sense, Demandbase, and Terminus or other, up-and-coming platforms can be minor, but have major consequences for how your team(s) leverage it.
Make sure you ask questions such as “How can our sales team use this to enhance their prospecting efforts?” and other specific questions that will help you visualize its use case!
You may be ready for a full-funnel ABM solution if…
…your existing MarTech is stretched to the limit in these key areas:
- Account and Contact Selection
- Account Insights / Intent Tracking
- Content Management / Personalization
- Programmatic Advertising
- Sales/Marketing Engagement Orchestration
- Performance / Attribution Assessment
Related: Build a harmonious tech stack with our consulting services
Be deliberate in selecting a full-funnel solution.
Each solution which will claim to have the exact functionality your company needs. That’s up to you to determine – and make sure your purchase criteria are specific!
Also, be sure to involve stakeholders from Marketing, Sales Development, and Field Sales so that everyone will buy into the decision. Otherwise, you’ll have an expensive subscription without broad adoption.
Consider a phased approach
If you need to start quickly, consider a phased approach:
A good phase one is to build your ICPs, BCPs, and CXPs (read our blog for help with marketing acronyms if needed). In other words, identify your ideal customer profile and accounts like it, understand the buying center personas within those ICPs, and create orchestrated journeys for each.
This will maximize the customer experience for key clients while you work on more advanced ABM tactics and techniques.
To optimize your approach and returns, consider working with a strategic consulting team like us to design and implement a phased roadmap.
Like most things in life, ABM isn’t an “all or nothing” proposition. Your path to increased key-account revenue will be different than the next enterprise. Just remember: there is no ABM software silver bullet (yet). Success comes from a strategic roadmap and disciplined rollout, no matter how the available tech evolves.
How’s Your ABM?
Can it be improved? Are you missing some of the key structures outlined in this article? Do something about it with the following options:
- Should it even be called ABM? Here’s why I don’t think so.
- Outclass your competitors with an optimized MarTech stack and our Account-Based Marketing consulting
- Learn three Powerful Secrets for Enterprise ABM success
