10 Techniques You Should Steal From Great B2B Ads

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Bryttney Blanken
Demand Generation Consultant @BryttneyBlanken

Hey there, B2B marketer!  If you're having trouble with high CPLs and low CTRs, bad creatives could be the problem.
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In this article, I’ll unpack what great B2B advertising looks like and 10 techniques you can steal from these top B2B ads.
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So let’s dive in 👇

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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1. Address ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) Needs

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If you don’t know what your audience cares about, you’ll miss the mark entirely. 

The first thing to do is identify the job your customers are hiring your product or service to do so your ads will speak directly to their needs. Because remember, it's not about you. It’s about them.

In the Dooly example below, you can notice within the first five seconds that:

  • The ad is talking to sales teams and sales representatives.
  • It addresses a major pain point these audiences experience from deeply knowing their audience and having well-defined ad personas.

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Bright yellow ad by Dooly highlighting sales team efficiency, a great example of a B2B ad that address the ideal customer profile needs

2. Clear CTA (Call to Action)
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Clarity equals high conversions. Your ads need to have a clear call to action that is compelling and stands out in the headline.

Look at the Lusha ad call to action: “Turn prospects into sales faster with Lusha”. Pretty clear!
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Lusha ad emphasizing better contact data for sales teams, showcasing techniques from great B2B ads with clear call to action.

3. Optimized Elements
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High-converting ads optimize the elements. They effectively use all the ad components to avoid repetition and tailor the ads to the medium for the most impact, making it easier to convert.

Everyone is busy, and no one wants to waste time. So, by understanding how people use the platform you're advertising on, you can maximize your ad experience and use all the elements meaningfully.

‍Warning 🚨: When using a lead-gen form or landing page to convert demo requests, make sure the entire experience is as easy as possible to navigate, understand, and convert.

Too often, I’ve seen forms or landing pages that do not match the message in the ad, which is not only confusing but also more challenging to convert. 

Here’s a winning example from Zingtree. The goal is to book a demo using a lead gen form:
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Zingtree ad featuring AI tools for improving customer experience, an engaging example of techniques from great B2B ads with optimized elements.

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‍Why this is a winning ad

  • The ad copy clearly states that you can chat with an expert to learn more with a “Learn More” CTA button.
  • Matching ad and lead gen form headlines
  • Lead gen form copy is clear on what is involved with filling out the form and what will be on the call.
  • Lead gen form uses prefilled-in forms as much as possible to decrease the user needing to fill them in – only requiring one form field to be selected.
  • The lead gen form confirmation message clearly explains what happens next and points to helpful content.

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Where it can improve

  • It should  say how many business days or hours the team will reach out to schedule the demo
  • It could have also pointed to a booking link in the thank you message so leads could automatically book their meeting instead of pointing to content. This helps capture the attention  you already have in a more impactful way

4. Channel-Savy Ads
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Tailor ads to the medium for impact. “The medium is the message”.

This ad from Cognism is a great example. They repurposed the results from a poll on their organic page comparing their brand with their 2 most significant competitors in EMEA. Genius 😎
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Cognism ad promoting EMEA data solutions, a targeted use of techniques from great B2B ads that are channel savy

5. Direct Language
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Use 'you' and 'your' for engagement. 

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Let’s not forget that it’s B2B, but we’re still talking to people.
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Jiminy ad explaining advanced call recording tools, creatively employing techniques from great B2B ads using direct language

6. Plain Speak
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Cut the jargon and use the customer's words in the ads.
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Walnut ad discouraging generic demos with plain speak, a creative take on techniques from great B2B ads.

7. Concise Copy
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Keep your copy short, ideally between 60 to 120 characters, so it’s easy to consume.Your goal isn’t to explain everything your product does in the ad, it’s to make the prospect take the next step, which could be visiting your website, scheduling a demo, or signing up for a free trial.
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Foleon ad highlighting mobile-friendly documents, utilizing concise copy, a technique from great B2B ads.

8. Authentic Imagery
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Use authentic human images, no stock photos.

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There are millions of studies and experiments showing the psychological effect of adding people to the ads (this one from Incivus is a good one), but one of the main reasons is that it connects with the viewer on a human level and builds trust.
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Chili Piper ad humorously comparing MQLs to closed pipelines, an awesome example of authentic imagery, a technique from great B2B ads.

9. Break Norms
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Create ads that defy traditional expectations.

This ad from UserGems is pretty cool because it mimics the in-platform alerts to grab the audience's attention and lean into the pain point they were trying to talk about with their ICP.
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UserGems ad addressing CRM data gaps for SDR teams, effectively applying a technique from great B2B ads that breaks the norm..
Ledge ad advocating automation for accounts reconciliation, an impactful use of a technique from great B2B ads that breaks the norm.

10. Build Trust
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Leveraging social proof and addressing objections early can have a big impact.

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Social proof helps build trust, and your prospects will see all the other big brands and competitors using your tool, so it will also give them FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). 
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Metadata ad showcasing a 60% pipeline increase in 3 months, leveraging techniques from great B2B ads to build trust with marketers.

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Great B2B ads don’t just happen, they’re built on understanding your audience, removing friction, and breaking the norms. 

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I hope you found this article helpful!To learn more about B2B ads best practices, dive into the articles below:

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‍Connect with me on LinkedIn, and let’s keep the conversation going.

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You can also visit my website here for more valuable content.

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People Also Ask

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How can I effectively measure the success of my B2B ad campaigns?

Utilize key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI) to assess campaign effectiveness. Implement tracking tools like Google Analytics to monitor user engagement and conversions.

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What are the best practices for aligning ad creatives with my Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)?

Conduct thorough market research to understand your ICP’s pain points and preferences. Develop ad content that directly addresses these needs, using language and visuals that resonate with your target audience.

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How can I ensure my call-to-action (CTA) is compelling and drives conversions?

Craft clear and concise CTAs that communicate the value proposition. Use action-oriented language and place the CTA prominently within the ad to encourage immediate response.

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What strategies can I employ to create authentic imagery in my B2B ads?

Use real customer photos or behind-the-scenes images of your team to build trust. Avoid generic stock photos; instead, opt for visuals that genuinely represent your brand and resonate with your audience.

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How can I break industry norms in my advertising to stand out without alienating potential clients?

Innovate within the boundaries of your brand identity. Experiment with unique ad formats, storytelling techniques, or humor, ensuring that these elements align with your brand values and appeal to your target audience.

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Bryttney Blanken
Demand Generation Consultant @BryttneyBlanken
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