How are B2C and B2B Affiliate Marketing Differ from Each Other? 

B2C and B2B affiliate marketing are vastly becoming popular ways to sell products and services. When considering B2B SaaS, you need to understand B2B first. We will define some of the terminologies and how they differ. 

B2B is the abbreviation for "business to business." The term contains all companies that develop products and services customized toward other businesses. The process can incorporate SaaS products, B2B marketing firms, and general business supply companies.

If you have a B2C, you might not have considered some of the similarities in the process. We will discuss the parallels and disparities between B2B and B2C affiliate marketing. 

First, if you are unfamiliar with the term B2B or B2C, we will take you through a quick walkthrough of these terms.

What is a B2B company?

B2B companies are synergetic enterprises offering solutions to other businesses' necessities to operate and grow. Payroll processors and industrial suppliers are a few examples. However, this is in distinction to business-to-consumer (B2C) models, which market straight to individual customers, and consumer-to-business (C2B) models, where individuals deliver services for a business. 

The target audience for B2B companies is an entirely different target audience. B2Cs' and C2Bs' offer, the raw materials, finished parts, services, or consultations that other businesses need to operate, grow, and profit.

What is B2C?

B2C, or business to consumer, is where companies use commerce transactions to sell products or services directly to consumers. Conventional B2C transactions occurred by consumers selecting pay-per-view TV at home, shopping for clothes at the mall, or dinners at a restaurant. More recently, the term B2C has referred to the online selling of products, or e-tailing. The process is where manufacturers or retailers sell their products to consumers over the internet.

B2C is the second of four varieties of e-commerce we will discuss.

Of the four models, B2C is probably the most well-known. If you have purchased an item online for your use, you've e-tailed. Selling products through e-tailing, also known as virtual storefronts, can be pretty much done anywhere. In 1979 by Michael Aldrich, the concept was first developed by connecting a television screen to the computer to create a transaction processing with a telephone line and coined the term "teleshopping." 

Similarities in B2B and B2C Affiliate Marketing

Sometimes the intersection between B2B and B2C models can easily be noticed. Some companies have been successful at implementing both B2B and B2C initiatives happening at once.

Examples might give a clearer picture of how a business can implement both models. 

A builder that designs office spaces for businesses (a B2B service) may also construct houses or renovations for homebuyers (a B2C service). Another example is selling toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash by an oral care company to individuals (a B2C service) may also market its creations to dentist offices (a B2B service).

When the disparities between a B2B company and a B2C company are less obvious, as in the illustrations above, examining their different marketing strategies is most reasonable, and they can differ in several forms.

Differences in B2B and B2C Affiliate Marketing

B2B and B2C marketing vary primarily in periods of their audiences and how they speak. While B2C marketing concentrates on rapid solutions and pleasant content, B2B marketing is more concerned with constructing associations and delivering a product's return on investment (ROI) for a business client.

What does this distinction look like in reality? Check out the articles below to discover the specific objectives of B2B and B2C marketing and how you can navigate your strategy in the correct path.

B2B Affiliate Marketing 

ROI matters in B2B marketing.

B2B audiences seek efficiency and expertise, while the consumer audience is more likely to pursue discounts and entertainment. Accordingly, the B2B acquisition approach tends to be navigated more by reason and financial incentives. In other words, what's the product's ROI? How will the business profit as a consequence of this investment? After all, staffers purchase products they believe will make their business money by streamlining their workflow.

B2B Customers want Product Familiarity.

B2B customers often want to look like workplace heroes thanks to their excellent decisions. However, the decision-makers need to properly know the products they're browsing in order to make good decisions.

Affiliate marketing is where B2B content marketing provides this knowledge. Suppose you can help your audience think critically about the industry and assemble more proficient professionals in the strategy. In that circumstance, you will guarantee they make an investment decision they will not regret afterwards.

Detailed content is required.

Unlike a B2C audience, B2B customers wish to be "catered to" by sales and marketing groups. So, to produce on the third tip above, discern the necessary details for your content.

You should avoid content a B2C buyer might find trivial or unimportant. Walk into the weeds of your product. Ask yourself, "What can our product or services do for a business?", "What are the product or services limitations for a company? What does the customer need to understand to be successful with your creation?

B2B vs. B2C Affiliate Marketing Sales Process

Accounting and procurement department leaders often need to approve investments in B2B circumstances. While an individual B2C customer generally makes their own rapid purchase choices. Admittedly these purchases occur due to the growing influence of their friends and family. 

B2B customers must escalate every judgment to others before any funds are used for acquisition. As a result, this suggests you are not simply marketing to one person; you are selling to everyone who has a voice in the purchase.

The B2B buying cycle vs. the B2C decision process.

B2B marketing demands more lead nurturing and personal engagement to the user experience. The company's process when evaluating your product is much more complex because these decisions complete long-term goals for a company. 

As with most business decisions, remember to have patience when marketing to other businesses. Also, produce content that handles the various stages of their customer buying process.

B2B Purchase Contracts Last Months or Even Years.

B2B investments are often lasting associations with the merchant. The business will not just discard the product if they do not like it. 

A contract provides a much more consequential decision for a client, and B2B marketers need to be mindful. Evaluate the long-term schemes your audience will enjoy in future product uses. When will the product's various features begin? How will the user's necessities develop?

Related Reading; How can Affiliate Marketing help your SaaS Business?

B2C Marketing

The B2C Consumer Relationship.

The B2B group desires knowledge and assembles a close relationship with brands. B2C consumers can be reasonably loyal to your brand as a business customer. Of course, their investment in you is likely not as in-depth as your investment in them. 

Keep in mind how extensive your past content is delivered to your B2C customers. It is okay to supply content to those who may track you on Twitter but not subscribe to your blog. Those subscribed to your blog are more engaged and present an increased likeliness to make another purchase.

Marketers can't throw around industry jargon.

When it comes to brand voice, keep it simple. Brands must be relatable in the B2C community. Simpler is better. As a result, fewer buzzwords and (usually) a less formal attitude produce better results. 

The industry vernacular you use with your colleagues might demonstrate expertise to a business customer. However, it could be a significant turnoff to an individual. In fact, 83% of consumers mainly select a casual tone in video content.

The Emotional Drive of B2C Purchases.

All acquisitions are, to some degree, passionate judgments. Nowadays, individuals purchase with their hearts more frequently than their minds. But B2B customers must need to process in terms of business consequences. There is only so much emotion they can allow influencing their activities. 

B2C customers, on the other hand, are significantly more dependent on their intuition when determining to purchase something. Companies can be influential because these people don't answer someone else when making a purchase. 

A brand can tell a compelling account regarding similar customers benefits from the product can be all the influence they require.

It would help if you had a fun factor.

B2C customers are approvingly implanted in their pleasure when buying for themselves rather than for a business. Sure, everyone desires products that make their lives simpler. 

The average B2C audience is far more curious about pleasure than the moderate B2B audience. Use marketing to familiarize your business audience, but utilize it to entertain your consumer audience.

B2B vs. B2C Affiliate Marketing Strategy Using Social Media 

There are numerous social media platforms. Some platforms are best used for specific markets. For B2B customers, we suggest using the following platforms:

• Twitter: The use of Twitter can direct B2B customers by its emphasis on promoting links. Affiliate marketers can communicate information-rich content pieces like white papers, articles, and product reports to their audience.
• LinkedIn: Businesses heavily use LinkedIn as an excellent place to network with other companies. They can promote their products by supplying data on product history. You can also provide infographics, features, customer testimonials stories, and customer technical support.
• Blog: Building and preserving a blog on your product website allows you to advertise your products in a more approachable manner. Blogs allow you to share personal stories with your customers. As a result, this turns possible customers into dedicated readers who are bound to return.

B2B and B2B marketers have specific problems.

Often, the most consequential issue that B2B marketers bear is a shortage of content and time to produce it. Content shortages are typically not an issue with B2C marketers who maintain a larger advertising budget. 

B2C affiliate marketing also uses other methods to spread the word about their products. Inherently, this has an effective influence on tactical commissions.

Marketing professionals need to comprehend the measures prepared to take advantage of B2B and B2C marketing differences. You will find more success when reaching leads with this knowledge. However, no matter which flank of the B2B or B2C divide a marketer works, all marketing is person to person (P2P) despite the external differences.

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Meet the author

Joran Hofman

Back in 2020 I was an affiliate for 80+ SaaS tools and I was generating an average of 30k in organic visits each month with my site. Due to the issues I experienced with the current affiliate management software tools, it never resulted in the passive income I was hoping for. Many clunky affiliate management tools lost me probably more than $20,000+ in affiliate revenue. So I decided to build my own software with a high focus on the affiliates, as in the end, they generate more money for SaaS companies.