Fueling Growth: Proven Strategies for MSP Lead Generation
Unleash the power of your IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) business with our game-changing lead generation strategies. We understand the challenges...
17 min read
Marketing : Sep 2, 2024 12:00:00 AM
Generating leads for ERP software and services can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to the industry as an ERP Channel Partner or Value Added Reseller (VAR). Companies like SmithDigital, specialists in ERP lead generation, recognize these unique challenges and provide tailored solutions to help overcome them.
The ERP market is highly competitive. Major players like Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle invest billions in their sales and marketing strategies. At the same time, numerous ERP channel partners are vying for the attention of a limited pool of potential customers.
For ERP VARs, these challenges—combined with limited marketing expertise, evolving Google algorithms, and long sales cycles—can make it difficult to acquire high-quality leads while juggling the demands of current clients.
If you're an ERP Channel Partner, ERP VAR, or ERP Consulting firm struggling to build a strong sales pipeline, this blog post is for you. We'll provide actionable insights and proven strategies to kickstart your software and service lead generation efforts, helping you drive results more efficiently and effectively.
ERP Partners face several key challenges in selling enterprise software and generating leads, often struggling with inconsistent support and a lack of reliable lead sources. Let's explore some of the primary obstacles ERP VARs encounter in this competitive market.
One of the most significant challenges for ERP consultants is over-reliance on ERP vendors for leads. Many find themselves frustrated by the limited support they receive, making lead generation a daunting task.
Relying solely on vendor-provided leads can leave ERP VARs with an inconsistent sales pipeline and, worse, at the mercy of external changes that they can't control.
Even if your ERP ecosystem provides leads, it's critical not to depend entirely on this source. Referral leads can disappear without warning, leaving you without a predictable flow of new business.
For ERP VARs without their own lead generation strategies, this can be disastrous. To ensure the sustainability of your business, developing independent lead generation tactics is essential.
Compounding this issue is the fact that major ERP vendors, such as Oracle-NetSuite, have built extensive direct sales teams, including Account Executives (AEs) and Business Development Representatives (BDRs).
These teams are integral to the vendor’s own success, making it harder for ERP VARs to receive a sufficient number of leads from the partner network.
To overcome these challenges, ERP VARs must take the initiative and develop their own self-sufficient lead generation strategies.
By doing so, consultants can ensure a steady flow of qualified prospects, reducing their reliance on vendor-provided leads.
Diversifying lead generation efforts through content marketing, SEO, digital advertising, and networking will help ERP VARs maintain a consistent sales pipeline and avoid the risks of depending solely on external sources.
A significant portion of ERP sales cycles begin with online research. In this context, your website’s visibility on search engines is paramount for generating leads. Google, with over 90% of the global search market share, plays a critical role.
Notably, 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results, and less than 1% proceed to the second page. This means that securing a spot on the first page is essential if your ERP software or services are to be found by potential customers.
However, the rise of AI-driven tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard is reshaping the lead generation landscape. These tools provide users with detailed, instant responses based on massive datasets, meaning potential leads may gather all the information they need without ever visiting your site.
For example, if a prospect asks an AI assistant, "What are the best ERP software solutions for mid-sized businesses?" the AI can present a list of top ERP options, comparisons, and even pricing without pulling the user to a specific webpage.
To ensure your business/solution is featured in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini, it’s essential to expand your strategy beyond traditional SEO.
AI models don’t rely on backlinks; they focus on mentions, word associations, and structured data from their training sources.
By optimizing both content and visibility on platforms that AI tools reference, you can significantly improve your chances of appearing in AI-driven search results.
Here’s how you can integrate these strategies:
Boost Brand Mentions: Ensure your business is mentioned on high-authority sites that AI tools are likely to reference in training, such as industry publications and trusted ERP solution platforms. This increases the likelihood of your brand appearing in AI-generated answers when users search for relevant ERP solutions.
Implement Structured Data and Schema Markup: AI tools rely heavily on structured data to retrieve information accurately. By adding schema markup to your site (e.g., for pricing, product features, and use cases), you make it easier for AI models to display your content. This not only enhances your presence in AI results but also improves organic search performance. For example, marking up ERP pricing helps AI present your information when users inquire about "ERP pricing for mid-sized businesses."
Optimize for Rich Snippets: Rich snippets are prioritized by both search engines and AI tools, improving visibility. Include well-organized content like FAQs, comparison tables, and detailed product breakdowns to increase the chances of your site being featured in voice searches and AI responses. A page titled "ERP Solutions for Small Businesses" with clear comparisons could easily rank higher in AI-driven results.
Develop PR and Content Outreach: Create a strong PR and content strategy by pitching guest blogs, case studies, and thought leadership content on platforms relevant to ERP and business software. This will help build your authority in the space and ensure that AI models recognize your business as a credible source.
Leverage Tools to Identify Opportunities: Tools like SparkToro and BuzzSumo can help you pinpoint where your target audience is active and which sites are most likely to influence AI training data. Focus your efforts on getting featured on these platforms to boost visibility in AI-generated answers.
Target High-Impact Platforms: Prioritize mentions on well-known sites in your industry. These platforms are more likely to be included in AI model training, meaning your brand will be recognized when AI tools generate answers about ERP solutions.
Develop Authoritative, Comprehensive Content: AI platforms prioritize expert-level, in-depth content. Regularly updating your blogs, case studies, and product guides with relevant ERP trends and industry use cases will position your site as a trusted resource. This not only improves SEO but also increases the chances of being featured in AI-driven responses.
Even with advanced AI tools reshaping the landscape, a website optimized for traditional search engines remains crucial.
Once visitors land on your site, a well-designed user experience (UX) and clear value proposition are essential to converting them into leads.
The following are common issues that ERP VAR websites face and how you can address them:
Overly Complicated or Lengthy Forms: Potential ERP prospects often abandon forms if they’re too long or ask for excessive information. Simplify your lead capture forms by only collecting essential data at the initial interaction, such as name, email, and company size. You can always request more detailed information at a later stage.
Weak or Unclear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): The value proposition for ERP software isn’t always clear to first-time visitors. ERP buyers need highly specific information: pricing models, industry-specific features, or access to demo videos. Ensure your CTAs are targeted and offer meaningful incentives, such as a free demo, pricing calculator, or ERP comparison guide. Avoid generic CTAs like “Learn More”—be explicit and tie the CTA to the prospect’s needs.
User Experience (UX) Problems: Slow load times, confusing navigation, or poor mobile optimization can lead to high bounce rates. ERP buyers often spend significant time on research, and if your website isn't easy to navigate, you'll lose them early in their decision process. Run regular speed tests, optimize mobile layouts, and ensure that key information (like product features and pricing) is easily accessible.
Lack of Trust Signals: ERP buyers are cautious and risk-averse, especially since ERP implementations involve significant time and financial investment. Establish trust early by featuring high-profile customer logos, detailed case studies, and industry certifications. Trust signals such as “SOC 2 compliant” or “Gartner-recommended” carry significant weight. Incorporating video testimonials or client success stories can help convince leads that your solution is reliable.
Lack of Personalization: ERP buyers come from a range of industries, and what resonates with one might not work for another. Personalize content and messaging based on the visitor’s industry or role. Create dedicated landing pages for industries like manufacturing, retail, or healthcare, each with tailored content that speaks directly to the challenges and benefits of ERP for that sector.
Regularly publishing high-quality content is one of the most effective strategies for acquiring and maintaining valuable keyword positions in Google's organic search rankings.
Google's algorithm has a strong preference for fresh, relevant content, and websites that consistently update their material tend to receive better visibility in search results.
Google’s preference for fresh content isn’t just about keeping websites active; it’s a reflection of how users search. Fresh content is often more aligned with current user intent, particularly in industries like ERP or technology, where trends evolve rapidly.
Google prioritizes recent updates because they tend to provide more relevant answers to user queries. By publishing consistently, your website signals to Google that it is active, authoritative, and committed to providing up-to-date information—boosting the frequency with which your site is crawled and indexed.
In practical terms, this means that every new piece of content you publish, whether it's a blog post, case study, or product update, increases the likelihood of your site ranking for more keywords, including those that emerge as trends shift.
More frequent indexing can also help newly optimized pages rank faster, allowing you to capitalize on current search trends.
While consistency is critical, it's essential not to lose sight of quality. Google's algorithm not only rewards fresh content but also values content that provides real value to users. Rather than focusing solely on the frequency of your posts, prioritize creating content that is well-researched, engaging, and answers the specific questions your target audience is asking.
For example, instead of churning out numerous short blogs each month, it may be more effective to focus on in-depth, long-form content that dives deep into topics like ERP implementation best practices, software comparisons, or industry-specific use cases. This type of content not only ranks better but also drives longer engagement times, building your authority in the space.
As an SEO professional, I cannot stress enough the importance of thorough keyword research when it comes to generating ERP software leads. It's the foundation upon which your entire content strategy should be built.
By dedicating time and resources to identifying the ideal keywords your target audience is actively searching for, you can significantly enhance your content's visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract high-quality leads.
To excel in the competitive ERP software space, you must adopt a strategic and nuanced approach to keyword research. This involves striking a delicate balance between targeting high-volume keywords and long-tail keywords that directly map directly back to your revenue streams.
Many businesses make the mistake of solely focusing on popular keywords with high search volumes, believing that this will automatically translate into a flood of leads.
While these keywords may seem attractive, they often come with intense competition, making it challenging to rank on the first page of SERPs without a robust and well-executed marketing strategy. Investing all your efforts into these highly competitive keywords can lead to frustration and a lack of tangible results.
On the other hand, some businesses swing to the opposite extreme, targeting only long-tail keywords that are easier to rank for but generate minimal traffic. While these keywords may be less competitive, they may not attract the volume of leads necessary to drive significant growth for your business.
To develop a comprehensive and well-balanced keyword strategy, start by conducting thorough keyword research using tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.
Identify a mix of high-volume keywords that are relevant to your ERP software offerings and long-tail keywords that target specific pain points, features, or industries.
As an ERP consulting firm, you understand that selling ERP software solutions is not the same as selling commodity products and services. The ideal ERP buyer is highly knowledgeable and selective in their product choice, as the credibility of the software they choose directly affects their daily work life.
Furthermore, ERP systems tend to be incredibly sticky, often staying with a company for 5-10 years or longer. Given this, it is essential to have a deep understanding of your target audience, including their desires, fears, and objectives when it comes to this significant investment.
To help you start generating leads for your ERP software business, we have outlined seven steps you can take advantage of today.
These steps will help you reach and engage your target audience, build credibility, and establish yourself as a trusted advisor in the ERP space.
Thorough keyword research is critical for generating ERP software and services leads. This means pinpointing the search terms and phrases your target buyers use when seeking ERP solutions online. The "Big 5 Themes" serve as an excellent starting point:
Price or cost (e.g. "ERP pricing", "ERP implementation cost")
Product comparisons (e.g. "Oracle vs SAP", "compare ERP systems")
Customer and analyst reviews (e.g. "ERP reviews", "Gartner Magic Quadrant ERP")
"Best of" or "Top" lists (e.g. "best ERP software", "top 10 ERP")
Problems that your product resolves (e.g. "inventory management challenges", "improve supply chain efficiency")
These 5 themes encompass what a typical ERP buyer might search for on Google while doing research on various ERP solutions. Assess if your website currently ranks for any target keywords.
Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush streamline this process. They reveal existing keyword rankings and provide insights to improve your strategy.
After completing your research on phrases and keywords related to ERP, you'll want to align your selected keywords with the content you plan to create or optimize. You can do this by using an editorial calendar, which acts as a roadmap for your inbound marketing strategy. It'll help keep you organized and on track to meet your publishing and revenue goals.
To ensure your team stays organized, you can start with a basic Google Sheet template or consider using tools like HubSpot's SEO tool to visually structure and link your content.
In the industry, it's very common to find "marketing professionals" creating great content without proper search engine optimization (SEO) skills. Conversely, some SEO professionals write solely for search engines. Striking a balance between writing for human readers and search engines is crucial for successful content marketing.
When crafting assets for your target audience, focus on creating content that is engaging, readable, and relatable. Avoid using overly technical or formal language that may lose the reader's attention. Instead, aim to captivate your audience by delivering information in digestible and enjoyable segments.
While writing content exclusively for human readers is important, it is different from writing for search engines. Search engines have evolved to detect content that is solely written to manipulate their algorithms.
In the past, marketers could rank high in search results by overloading their pages with keywords. However, this tactic now leads to poor user experiences and high bounce rates, which can adversely affect your Google ranking.
On-page optimization plays a critical role in boosting your website’s visibility and attracting high-quality ERP leads. By carefully refining elements like keyword targeting, internal linking, content layout, and page speed, you can significantly improve your search engine rankings on platforms like Google and Bing. These optimizations ensure that your content is not only discoverable but also engaging, keeping users on your site longer and increasing the likelihood of conversion.
On-page optimization forms the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. It helps search engines understand your content better, which in turn improves your rankings and visibility. Optimized pages rank higher, attract more traffic, and improve user experience—factors that directly impact lead quality.
In the competitive ERP market, this optimization can mean the difference between securing a high-value lead or losing them to a competitor. Effective on-page SEO also enhances your site's authority, making it a go-to resource for users searching for ERP solutions.
To improve on-page optimization, begin by focusing on keyword targeting. Identify high-intent keywords specific to ERP and naturally integrate them into your content, particularly in headers and meta descriptions.
Internal linking is another critical factor, as it helps guide visitors to other relevant sections of your site while distributing SEO authority across pages.
Additionally, refining your content layout by breaking up large blocks of text, using headings, and incorporating images improves readability and encourages users to stay longer on your site.
Lastly, page speed is paramount—use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to compress images and optimize code for faster loading times.
Dwell time, which measures how long visitors stay on your page, signals to Google that your content is valuable. For ERP lead generation, long-form content often performs best.
Rather than offering generic product descriptions, consider creating detailed, informative resources such as ERP comparisons or comprehensive guides. For example, content like "How to Implement ERP in Manufacturing: A 7-Step Guide" engages readers for longer periods, improving both dwell time and lead generation potential.
To keep visitors engaged, it’s crucial to offer content that not only informs but also captures their interest. Long-form resources, detailed tutorials, and interactive elements like ROI calculators can help keep users on your page longer. Providing personalized insights makes your content actionable and more relevant to potential ERP buyers.
Interactive content is another powerful tool for increasing engagement. Offering resources like ROI calculators or quizzes allows potential buyers to gain personalized insights, which can make your content more valuable and actionable.
ERP decision-makers, in particular, are more likely to stay on your site if they feel they are getting tailored information that can directly help them make informed decisions.
Incorporating interactive content not only differentiates your ERP solution from competitors but also keeps visitors engaged, which leads to higher conversions.
Tools like calculators or assessments make complex topics, such as ERP implementation costs or ROI, easier to grasp and personalize the buyer’s journey.
High bounce rates, where visitors leave your site without taking any action, often indicate that the content is not meeting user expectations. Simplifying your CTAs (calls-to-action) can help reduce bounce rates.
Instead of vague phrases like “Contact Us,” opt for more specific, action-oriented options such as “Request a Personalized ERP Demo” or “Calculate Your ERP ROI.” These targeted CTAs speak directly to the needs and concerns of your visitors, making it easier for them to take the next step.
Clear, concise CTAs that align with your visitors' intent can significantly reduce bounce rates and encourage more meaningful interactions.
Offering relevant options that address the specific concerns of your audience ensures that they feel more compelled to stay and explore further, improving the likelihood of conversion.
Site speed is a crucial factor in both user satisfaction and search engine rankings. Studies show that around 40% of users will abandon a website if it takes longer than three seconds to load.
This is especially critical for ERP websites, where users are often accessing resource-heavy content such as whitepapers, guides, or videos.
To improve site speed, consider using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to audit your site, compress images, and minimize code. A faster website not only improves user experience but also enhances your search engine rankings, making your content more accessible to users.
Ensuring fast load times is particularly important for ERP providers, where decision-makers need quick access to detailed information.
Schema markup is a powerful tool for improving how search engines interpret your content. By using schema, you increase your chances of appearing in rich search results such as product comparisons, FAQs, or featured snippets.
This added visibility can significantly boost click-through rates, as rich results often stand out more in search listings. For ERP providers, schema markup can be used to highlight critical information such as pricing, features, or customer reviews, which can increase the likelihood of attracting relevant leads.
Adding schema markup to key pages, such as product and pricing pages, helps search engines display your content in an enriched format, which can improve both traffic and conversions.
Video content offers an effective way to engage potential ERP buyers, especially for simplifying complex topics. Instead of relying solely on long text blocks, videos such as tutorials or client testimonials can help explain the features and benefits of your ERP solutions.
For instance, a video titled "How ERP Optimizes Inventory for Retailers" can visually demonstrate the software’s value in a way that text may not fully capture.
Creating engaging video content helps capture and hold the attention of visitors who might otherwise be overwhelmed by technical details.
Incorporating videos into your content strategy is an excellent way to increase dwell time, improve user engagement, and drive conversions.
As voice search becomes increasingly popular, optimizing your content for featured snippets is essential. Voice search typically returns concise answers, with over 40% of results coming from snippets. By structuring your content to directly answer common ERP-related questions, you increase your chances of being selected for a featured snippet.
For example, creating FAQ pages that address questions like “What is the best ERP for small businesses?” can help capture leads through voice search.
To optimize for voice search, focus on creating clear, concise content that answers questions directly and succinctly. This increases the chances that your content will be featured in snippets, improving both visibility and lead generation.
Google’s ranking algorithm goes beyond keywords and on-page optimization. Domain authority (DA) plays a key role, signaling to Google how trustworthy and authoritative your website is.
What is Domain Authority?
Domain authority is a score from 0 to 100 that indicates a website's credibility. The higher your DA, the better your chances of ranking higher than competitors. Strong DA reflects a solid backlink profile and overall online presence.
The Importance of Backlinks
Backlinks are essential for improving DA. They act as “votes of confidence” from other websites, and Google considers these when ranking your content. Studies show that top-ranking pages have significantly more backlinks than lower-ranked ones.
Building a Backlink Profile
Guest posting on authoritative sites is one of the most effective ways to build a strong backlink profile. Quality matters more than quantity—Google penalizes spammy link-building. Focus on earning links from high-authority, relevant domains in your industry.
Anchor Text and Context Matter
The clickable text in backlinks (anchor text) should align with your target keywords, but don’t overdo it—keeping exact match anchor text below 15% is a good rule. Google also values the context around backlinks, so ensure that links appear naturally in content related to your ERP offerings.
Driving high-quality organic traffic is crucial, but what about all the potential customers researching ERP solutions off-site? That’s where buyer intent data steps in.
Buyer intent software helps businesses identify and track the online behaviors of companies actively researching products or services like ERP above and beyond their historical baseline.
By understanding what potential buyers are interested in and where they are in their decision-making process, you can craft targeted outreach strategies that resonate with their specific needs.
Tools like ZoomInfo and G2 provide real-time insights into buyer activity. Pairing these insights with a Business Development Rep (BDR) allows you to reach out to high-intent prospects. You can start meaningful conversations about how your ERP solutions can solve their specific challenges, making your outreach more effective and timely.
If you want to take it up a notch, you can automate the entire process of identifying, exporting and initiating your outreach, but that’s a topic for another day.
If you're interested in generating ERP leads using buyer intent data & BDRs, let’s talk—we can guide you through everything you need to know to build a strategy that drives qualified leads for your ERP software and services.
Account-Based Marketing (ABM) is a powerful strategy for ERP VARs and consulting firms looking to generate high-quality leads by focusing on specific, high-value accounts. Unlike broad marketing tactics, ABM targets businesses that are more likely to convert, making it a more efficient use of resources.
ABM allows you to concentrate efforts on accounts that are more likely to benefit from ERP solutions, resulting in higher engagement and better ROI. Focusing on high-value targets improves your chances of converting leads and strengthens your sales pipeline. With long ERP sales cycles, ABM ensures your marketing efforts are more strategic and yield better results.
Start by identifying high-value accounts using intent data tools like Bombora and 6sense. These platforms help you find companies actively researching ERP solutions, allowing for targeted outreach. Define your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), focusing on industries like manufacturing and healthcare, where ERP provides strong ROI.
Once you’ve identified target accounts, customize your messaging to their needs. For example, address specific pain points such as supply chain optimization for manufacturers, and use case studies and personalized emails to highlight how your ERP solution addresses their unique challenges. This tailored approach enhances engagement by making your outreach more relevant.
Successful ABM requires close alignment between sales and marketing. Marketing creates targeted content, while sales engages decision-makers with personalized outreach. For ERP lead generation, this could involve emphasizing operational benefits for department heads while showing CFOs the ROI potential. A unified approach ensures that both teams are working toward the same goal.
To engage decision-makers effectively, reach them through various channels. A mix of personalized emails, LinkedIn ads, and even direct mail offering an ERP consultation can help maintain visibility throughout the buyer’s journey. By engaging prospects across multiple platforms, you create more touchpoints and increase your chances of conversion.
Custom offers such as personalized demos or ROI assessments can significantly enhance engagement with high-value accounts. Demonstrating how your ERP solution meets their specific needs helps potential buyers visualize the benefits of your product, making it easier for them to commit.
Use tools like HubSpot or Salesforce to track engagement and refine your campaigns. A/B testing allows you to adjust messaging based on what resonates with target accounts, keeping your ABM strategy agile and effective.
ERP sales cycles are lengthy, so ongoing engagement is key. Use value-driven content like case studies and success stories to maintain contact with decision-makers. At SmithDigital, we use newsletters to stay top-of-mind and position ourselves as trusted advisors, ensuring prospects think of us when they're ready to buy.
For ERP companies, aligning sales and marketing teams is essential to generating qualified leads and closing deals. The complexity of ERP systems and long sales cycles make this collaboration even more crucial.
Both teams must share a clear understanding of the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), focusing on industries and decision-makers who would benefit most from ERP solutions. Sales should provide feedback to help refine marketing messages, ensuring targeted efforts toward the right leads.
Seamless lead handoffs between marketing and sales are key to nurturing leads effectively. Marketing should share insights on pain points and content engagement so that sales can continue meaningful conversations.
Using integrated platforms like HubSpot or Salesforce can centralize data and ensure smooth communication, allowing both teams to stay aligned and informed.
Content co-creation is another important aspect. Sales and marketing should collaborate to develop case studies, technical comparison sheets, and other in-depth materials that address the concerns of ERP buyers.
Additionally, leveraging AI and intent data from tools like Bombora or 6sense helps both teams prioritize leads and tailor their outreach.
Establishing regular feedback loops is critical for continuous improvement. Sales can provide insights on lead quality, while marketing can adjust campaigns based on this feedback, ensuring that both teams are always in sync.
Generating ERP software and services leads on a consistent basis can be a real challenge, but the financial rewards can be huge. With our deep expertise, we rank among the top ERP lead generation services in the market.
We have an winning track record helping ERP consulting firms drive more web traffic, more sales-ready ERP leads, and more customers. You can check out some real-life examples of our successes here: Inbound Marketing Examples.
If you are serious about enterprise software and professional service revenue growth and need a team that deeply understands the ERP industry and knows how to consistently generate qualified appointments for your sales team, you should request a meeting with one of our ERP marketing specialists. Let us show you how we can add immediate value to your ERP consulting practice.
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