Welcome to our weekly rundown of the most in-demand industrial products and services in the U.S. right now. At MNI, as well as providing quality industrial sales leads among 400,000+ industrial business in the U.S., we also keep track of what equipment, parts, services millions of industrial buyers are searching for across 11,000 distinct product and service categories on our industrial marketplace IndustryNet.

The typical buying journey has changed over the past few years. B2B prospects and decision-makers increasingly belong to the millennial generation. They prefer doing research on their own before speaking with a salesperson. Self-directed research on the internet accounts for 27% of the B2B buying journey, while offline research represents 18%. So, it should come as no surprise that you'll often encounter B2B prospects who say they need to do more research.



Are prospects being genuine with this objection? Let's look at the real reasons behind this phrase and how you can respond without alienating your B2B prospects.

Arizona is a powerful manufacturing state, home to major names in the electronics and aerospace industries. The state�s educated workforce, abundance of capital, and favorable regulatory environment has helped foster a massive electronics manufacturing hub, with Intel recently announcing a massive $20 billion expansion of its Chandler plant in order to meet soaring demand for semiconductors.



Today, we�re exploring some of the key facts and trends in Arizona manufacturing and taking a look at the largest manufacturing companies in the state.

Trade shows and live events are tremendous opportunities for marketers to learn more about industry providers. Not only are key personnel from large enterprises presenting, but you can actually see the products and services different companies offer firsthand. For marketing and sales professionals, this level of immersion allows you to speak with authority when working with these companies.

For those looking to do business with New York manufacturers, it helps to have a thorough understanding of the state's manufacturing climate. Today we're focusing on some key statistics on New York's manufacturing sector and providing a look at the state's top companies.

New data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds the U.S. manufacturing sector bounced back from April�s job losses, adding 23,000 jobs in May. Meanwhile, a separate Labor report finds that job openings in the U.S. manufacturing sector has hit an all-time record of 700,000 jobs.

Following top-notch manufacturer blogs is among the best ways to get a feel for the industry you're doing business with and to make new connections. Countless manufacturers are telling their stories every day and engaging with their content can help you build relationships with prospects and become part of a vibrant manufacturing community. Here are some manufacturing blogs across various industries that stand out.

Kansas is a unique manufacturing state, with major strongholds in food processing as well as aviation and consumer electronics. The state ranks third in the U.S. for the quality of its infrastructure and also ranks among the most business-friendly states in the nation. Today, we�re exploring some of the key facts and trends in Kansas manufacturing and taking a look at the largest manufacturing companies in the state.

Demand for U.S. manufactured goods continues to rise, with manufacturing activity in its eleventh straight month of expansion and more industrial buyers looking for supplies closer to home.



In May, several major new manufacturing openings and expansions were announced, with new investments spread out across multiple industries, from biotech and advanced electronics to food processing and automotive supply. Today, we're rounding up the month's most exciting announcements.

Over the past decade, Georgia's industrial sector has grown steadily, attracting a variety of enterprises, from auto companies to aeronautics firms.



The Peach State is a solid market in which to do business and today we're providing an overview on the state's manufacturing sector, based on data collected by MNI and taking a look at its most powerful companies.

Do you still receive emails beginning with, "Dear so-and-so?" While this sales tactic used to be the height of customization for years, it completely misses the mark for a personalized sales pitch today.



Now, everyone craves an individualized approach across all platforms. Especially thanks to the recent pandemic year, everyone is looking for personalization in order to get the most effective and relevant solutions for their company in the most cost-effective way. They aren't looking to settle for solutions that kind of meet their needs or those that only address one of their problems.

With one of the best tax climates in the nation as well as a strong workforce and solid infrastructure, Texas remains a top destination for manufacturers across multiple industries, from the oil industry to the auto sector, biotech to food processing. Home to 1.2 million workers or roughly 13% of the nation's manufacturing workforce, Texas remains the second-largest manufacturing state in the U.S. (after California) and is the largest state exporter, exporting a record $315 billion worth of goods in 2018.



For those looking do business with Texas manufacturers, it helps to have an in-depth understanding of the state's manufacturing climate.

Meatpacking plants fall under the agricultural sector in the U.S. economy. The sector as a whole contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2019. The food manufacturing portion accounted for 2 million jobs, with meat and poultry manufacturing comprising about 1/3 of these positions.

Being successful in industrial B2B sales means being efficient. But you cannot be efficient if you're wasting effort on the wrong strategies. Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are how the most successful companies keep track of what works in their teams and what doesn't. Let's take a look at some of the most important B2B sales KPIs you should be tracking.

Washington State is not only home to the world's largest manufacturer in terms of volume, but also is among the most attractive states to do business. In 2017, CNBC ranked the state as #1 in the U.S. for its business conditions and the state ranked 2nd in the U.S. in 2018. Washington's diverse manufacturing landscape features major names in aerospace, food processing, electronics and medical device manufacturing.



Today, we are exploring Washington's innovative manufacturing sector and exploring the largest industrial companies operating in the state.

New data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that after adding jobs consistently since February of this year, U.S. manufacturers shed 18,000 jobs in April. This is the first time since January that the sector lost jobs. Meanwhile, employment in the U.S. economy overall increased by a relatively paltry 266,000 jobs, compared to the 916,000 jobs gained in March.



The loss in manufacturing jobs comes as a surprise, given that job openings in manufacturing have hovered above the 500,000 mark for several months in a row now. Additionally, manufacturing activity across the U.S. has been surging, with new orders and production continuing to expand rapidly as the sector recovers from the pandemic. Many manufacturers, in fact, have referred to the manufacturing labor shortage as among their top challenges.



So why job losses and not job gains in manufacturing?

The partnership between freight brokers and shippers is a constant dance. A dependable shipper may become less reliable if conditions within the manufacturing company prevent it from keeping a regular shipping schedule.



Even if you already have a portfolio of excellent shippers, you may want to increase your options by exploring new opportunities. Following are some questions that will help you determine whether a manufacturer is a good fit for your current portfolio.

By now, we are all familiar with the myriad of ways the pandemic has impacted our individual lives. Whether that impact means mask-wearing, vaccination, working remotely or helping our children with their online schooling, the pandemic has transformed our lives. Equally impactful is the way in which the pandemic has transformed B2B sales and how businesses can adapt. That impact can be summed up in one word: digital. Is your B2B company ready for this transformation?

When we think of the state of Colorado, "the great outdoors" is the first thing that comes to mind. But Colorado is also a powerful manufacturing state, with a diverse industrial landscape that includes two major breweries as well as big names in defense, medical device manufacturing, aerospace and food processing.



Today, we are exploring Colorado's innovative manufacturing sector and exploring the largest industrial companies operating in the state.

Demand for U.S. manufactured goods continues to accelerate, with manufacturing activity hitting a 38-year high, new orders surging, and more industrial buyers looking for supplies closer to home.



As a result, new manufacturing companies and expansions are announced every month and April was no exception. This month, a number of new industrial companies made headlines, reflecting significant investments in biotech, COVID response, advanced electronics, food manufacturing and more.



Spanning nine states and representing billions in investment, these are the new and expanded manufacturing plants announced in April.

Did you know that Thomas Edison didn't invent the light bulb - one of the first electric items? Scientists worked on the simple light bulb for many years before Edison was even born. He did not invent the light bulb. He just perfected it by creating an incandescent bulb. U.S. electrical equipment and supplies manufacturers have been thinking outside the box since Thomas Edison's time. Like the common light bulb, they have seen many changes to meet industrial, governmental and public demands over the years.

With its low business costs and abundant natural resources, the state of Mississippi is home to a number of powerful manufacturing companies, including some top names in the auto and food industries. Today, we're providing an inside look at the into the state's manufacturing sector based on data collected by MNI and exploring the top industrial companies in Mississippi.

Sales enablement is when marketing resources are used to directly support sales. As the name suggests, it's the process of using marketing strategy and content to further the goal of closing a sale. Let's see how this process works on the inside.

Pumps are critical to fluid motion and control. Commercial pumps are mainly focused on two sectors: oil and gas and water management systems. However, pump and pumping equipment manufacturers of all types are needed in virtually every industry and for an overwhelming majority of machines.

Finding clients with freight to haul can be a challenging and complicated process. Freight brokers, trucking companies and logistics service providers are all subject to the same issues.



Let's take a closer look at some of these challenges and solutions that can help your business overcome freight related challenges.

Social selling is the act of engaging directly with potential customers through any number of social media platforms, including (but not limited to) Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. There are many advantages to social selling, and anyone who does not use this method is losing business.



However, there are several things that you want to avoid. Discover some common dos and don'ts to ensure you use this method to its fullest extent.

With its low business costs and abundant natural resources, the state of Louisiana is home to a number of powerful manufacturing companies, especially those in the petrochemical and oil industries. Today, we're taking a deep dive into the state's manufacturing sector, providing key industrial facts, insights, and covering the largest industrial companies in Louisiana.

Illinois is a major manufacturing hub, home to 15,902 industrial companies, making it a top state to keep on your radar. Today, we're going to delve into the most recent trends on Illinois' rich and varied manufacturing sector and explore some of the state's top companies.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has radically changed the way America works, with 44% of U.S. employees working from home (compared to 17% before the Pandemic). So how do professionals view the prospect of returning to the office? This article will explore some key statistics gathered from around the web that illuminate the work-from-home experience and how professionals are feeling about a potential return to the office.

New data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that the U.S. manufacturers added twice the number of jobs last month than reported in February, as new orders and production soared. But which industries within the manufacturing world gained jobs? Let's take a look at the numbers.