How to Reach IT Decision Makers (ITDMs) With the Right Message

Reaching IT Decision Makers (ITDMs) is difficult. They are the most “marketed to” audience on the internet, and they have countless options when choosing the products and services for their business.

Why this matters:

In most organizations, they are the buyer. The decision-maker. They control what technology is needed and implemented in the enterprise and are highly influential.

ITDMs are not fans of sales and marketing. If you spam them, they’ll call you on it publicly. They install ad blockers, opt out of all data or cookie collection and navigate the interwebs using incognito browsers. They are focused and don’t want to be bothered. Trust me. I know several of ITDMs, and they tell me stories.

Despite these hurdles, you must determine the best way to reach ITDMs and influence their purchase behavior. It starts with data and insights.

>> Take me to the ITDM Research <<

What is an IT Decision Maker ITDM?

ITDM, which stands for “Information Technology Decision Maker,” is a term used to describe business professionals who make decisions about acquiring and implementing software technologies within an enterprise. These pros are sometimes referred to as tech decision-makers within certain organizations.

As key decision-makers, ITDMs are responsible for evaluating, purchasing, and overseeing the implementation of various software technologies to ensure that the organization’s IT infrastructure remains up-to-date and meets the business’s specific needs. Their roles often include researching new technologies, assessing their suitability for the company, and managing the implementation process.

How They Started Out

Most ITDMs begin their careers as entry-level engineers or developers, gradually gaining experience and knowledge in the field. Over time, they may assume leadership roles, guiding teams and making strategic decisions for the organization’s IT infrastructure.

The exact title and scope of an ITDM’s role may vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization. In larger enterprises, ITDMs can hold positions such as Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director, Vice President, or Senior Vice President. The ITDM might be an IT manager responsible for its tech stack in smaller businesses.

Regardless of their title, Information Technology Decision Makers play an essential role in ensuring that organizations make informed choices about the technologies they employ, ultimately helping to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth within the enterprise.

Example IT Decision Maker Job Titles

ITDM job titles vary according to the organization’s industry, vertical, and size. At the top of the hierarchy, the C-suite includes the most senior ITDM job titles, such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The CIO may also function as a Business Decision Maker (BDM) in smaller companies.

Roles like Chief Data Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) emerge in larger enterprise organizations. These professionals make business decisions and manage data and security-specific software and technology procurement.

Other prominent titles include Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Vice President of Information Technology. Individuals with these roles often refer to themselves as the “Head of IT” or “Head of” specific domains such as Engineering, Software, Data Science, etc.

Further, positions like Director or Senior Director of Information Technology can be found down the hierarchy. These professionals typically focus more on the daily operations of their department and less on purchasing and business decisions. Below this level, managers, engineers, developers, architects, data scientists, and analysts play their respective roles in the organization.

Specialty job titles also exist, covering specific areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, DevOps, MLOps, AIOps, SIEM, Threat Intelligence, RPA, Automation, Intelligent Automation, and many more. The ITDM landscape is vast, with hundreds of other job titles continually evolving to meet the changing demands of the industry.

Why Reach ITDMs Online?

The answer is simple.

They influence buyers, or they are buyers. They will deploy the software within their company and be held accountable for their decisions. ITDMs are under much pressure to make the best decision for their company. So it is important that your messaging is clear and concise. It should explain your unique selling proposition and/or what problems you solve.

Your messaging should persuade them to consider your product at every phase of their journey. By analyzing the B2B sales funnel, you can understand how they research information, what they search for in Google, which media outlets they use, and how they consume information.

These insights can inform your PR strategy or other digital marketing initiatives.

The ITDM Customer Journey

The ITDM customer journey is complex. ITDMs are inundated with information and have to sift through a lot of noise to find the signal. To reach IT decision-makers online, you must understand how they consume information and what content they want. The below journey illustrates how complex the customer journey is for ITDMs when they are in the market for new software or services.

This table provides an overview of each phase of the ITDM’s journey, the channels where they are most active, and example messages that brands can use to reach them.

PhaseDescriptionChannelsMessages
AwarenessITDMs recognize a need for new IT solutions.Social media, industry blogs, webinars, conferences“Discover how our solution can streamline your business processes and improve efficiency.”
ResearchITDMs review resources and consult their professional networks.Industry whitepapers, articles, case studies, professional networks“Check out our latest whitepaper on how our solution can transform your IT infrastructure.”
EvaluationITDMs evaluate the compatibility of solutions with their organization’s needs.Vendor websites, product demos, customer reviews“See how our solution aligns with your specific needs in our latest product demo.”
Vendor ComparisonITDMs compare multiple vendors side by side.Vendor comparison websites, customer testimonials“Find out why customers choose us over our competitors. Read our latest customer success stories.”
Purchase DecisionITDMs choose the best fit for their organization.Vendor websites, customer support“Take advantage of our limited-time offer and experience the benefits of our solution today.”
ImplementationFocus shifts to implementing the chosen solution.Vendor support channels, training resources“Get started with our step-by-step implementation guide and make the most of our solution.”
Evaluation & OptimizationITDMs assess and optimize the newly adopted solution.Vendor support channels, product updates“Maximize your performance with our latest product updates and improvements.”
AdvocacySatisfied ITDMs become loyal advocates for the brands they believe in.Social media, professional networks“Join our community of satisfied customers and share your success story with others.”

The typical sales cycle for enterprise software is between 6-18 months, which means that ITDMs spend a lot of time researching various products, asking peers and colleagues for feedback, and reading analyst reports and articles in the media. Essentially, they are looking for validation and reinforcement of the decisions they are about to make.

An image of the iTDM Buyer's Journey

The buyer journey of the IT decision-makers (ITDMs) is critical for marketing leaders to understand, regardless of the industry. By gaining insights into this journey, strategies can be tailored to better resonate with ITDMs throughout all touchpoints. Here’s a thorough analysis of the eight essential ITDMs’ buyer journey stages.

Awareness: At the beginning of their journey, ITDMs often experience challenges or opportunities that lead to recognizing a need. For example, they might seek new software, hardware, or services to address specific business objectives. Companies offering products or services in the IT space should prioritize crafting targeted messaging and timely content to position themselves as the go-to solution during this phase.

Research: ITDMs are thorough and cautious, diving deep into available resources. They meticulously review industry whitepapers, articles, and case studies on potential solutions and regularly consult their professional networks for opinions and trusted advice. Therefore, marketing leaders must provide ITDMs with readily available resources when they need them.

Evaluation: At this point, IT decision-makers have a solid understanding of the available options and are now evaluating the compatibility of these solutions with their organization’s needs. Next, marketers must ensure their products stand out by articulating unique selling points and highlighting the value they can bring to ITDMs.

Vendor Comparison: In this stage, ITDMs judge multiple vendors side by side, comparing their solutions’ features, functionalities, pricing, and overall effectiveness. Again, fostering trust is critical here; brands must demonstrate their expertise, reliability, and commitment to customer success.

Purchase Decision: After weighing the pros and cons of various vendors, ITDMs choose based on the best fit for their organization. Even though the decision seems final, marketers still have the opportunity to influence this stage by offering additional incentives and providing excellent customer support.

Implementation: The purchase decision is made, and now the focus shifts to implementing the chosen solution. This stage is transformational for the organization, prompting companies to provide ample support regarding product installation, configuration, and staff training to ensure a seamless transition.

Evaluation & Optimization: Post-implementation, ITDMs assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the newly adopted solution. Then, they will fine-tune and optimize the system for maximum performance. Regular updates and improvements to existing software or hardware can help ITDMs remain satisfied with their choice.

Advocacy: In the final stage of the buyer journey, satisfied IT decision-makers become loyal advocates for the brands they believe in. By capitalizing on ITDMs’ extensive professional networks, companies can tap into the power of word of mouth as a persuasive marketing tool. In addition, a strong focus on customer success and creating long-term partnerships can make this transformation from customer to brand advocate possible.

Marketing leaders must understand and efficiently address each stage of the IT decision-makers buyer journey. By knowing each phase’s unique needs, challenges, and objectives, marketers can successfully tailor their strategies to connect with ITDMs on a deeper level.

As technology evolves rapidly, staying abreast of the latest trends is crucial to understand IT Decision Makers (ITDMs). These trends shape the IT landscape and influence the decisions ITDMs make. In this section, we delve into some of the most significant trends currently impacting the IT industry and how they are shaping the roles and responsibilities of ITDMs.

  1. Digital Immune Systems: As technology continues to evolve, the concept of a digital immune system is becoming more prevalent. This involves using various software engineering strategies to prevent risks and optimize customer experiences. Digital immune systems are set to become a major trend in IT decision-making by improving system resilience and reducing operational and security risks.
  2. Virtual Reality (VR) Integration: VR is increasingly integrated into various aspects of life, including business, entertainment, healthcare, and real estate. The use of VR technology is expected to grow at a rate of 15.5% through 2029, reaching nearly $70.06 billion. This trend is something IT decision-makers should be aware of and consider how it could be incorporated into their strategies.
  3. Sustainable Consumption: Sustainability is becoming a key priority for companies, with many appointing chief sustainability officers to oversee these practices. As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainable consumption, companies realize the importance of incorporating sustainability into their business practices. This trend is likely to continue and should be considered by IT decision-makers.
  4. Cloud Usage for Healthcare Solutions: The healthcare industry has increasingly relied on technology following the pandemic, with many organizations adapting to telehealth. The cloud is a crucial enabler for creating connected and integrated IT infrastructures in healthcare. It’s highly secure, allowing healthcare providers to adapt to fluctuating demand without worrying about data security.
  5. Metaverse: The concept of the metaverse is garnering attention and is increasingly becoming integrated with the real world. This technology can help replicate or enhance activities in the real world by extending them to the virtual world or transforming the real world.

ITDM Audience Analysis

Below is a network analysis of a mid-level ITDM audience. For this post, we built an audience of 2K self-identified IT Decision Makers and analyzed their media affinities and conversations. The affinity data is based on the percentage of the audience that follows a specific media outlet on social media. The conversational data is based on what the audience publishes on their channels.

A few IT job titles in this analysis include:

  • IT Manager
  • IT Director
  • Sr. Manager, Engineering & IT
  • Director of IT Services

When looking at the larger ITDM audience, they are all very different. They have different affinities and interests and express themselves differently on social media. In this case, we’re looking at just one small IT audience segment.

What Media Outlets Do ITDMs Read?

The research below shows the top technology and business media publications that ITDMs follow on social media in order of affinity. Most of these media outlets are what you would expect–the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, WIRED, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. When ITDMs are interested in technology news, they read Engadget, The Verge, ArsTechnica, ZDNet, and Fast Company.

An image of the media outlets that IT Decision Makers are reading and sharing.

This type of data is invaluable for a variety of reasons. If you work in public relations, these are media outlets that you can prioritize as part of your PR strategy. If you oversee a digital team, you may want to do a brand sponsorship or buy display advertising. Knowing what ITDMs read and share can result in successful, high-performing digital and PR programs.

The ITDM audience is also interested in reading blogs from technology companies like Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Azure. In addition, they appreciate content from vendors/solutions providers in the enterprise software space, such as SAP, Oracle, and IBM.

Other popular blogs that ITDM read include Gigaom, ReadWrite, TechCrunch, Mashable, VentureBeat, and Business Insider. These are all great places to get your company’s name and story in front of potential customers.

When trying to reach ITDMs online, knowing what content they are interested in consuming is essential. By understanding this information, you can better tailor your stories and create content that will resonate with them.

ITDM Influencer Purchasing Factors

The ITDM data below shows it is critical to the customer journey. It shows the purchase influence factors based on affinity and conversation data:

  • ITDMs are brand loyal. 66% of them make purchase decisions based on brand name
  • ITDMs want innovation. 33% of them make purchase decisions based on the utility and features of a product
  • ITDMs trust others. 24.7% of them make purchase decisions based on recommendations from peers and colleagues
  • ITDMs don’t love advertising. Only 18% of them make purchase decisions based on advertising
  • ITDMs use social to converse, not buy. 14.2% of them make purchase decisions based on social media

Based on this data, it’s clear that the most important thing for marketing is to focus on building brand awareness. This means creating a solid brand identity easily recognizable by ITDMs. Additionally, it’s essential to create helpful content for ITDMs to help them decide. Recommendations from peers and colleagues are crucial to influencing the customer journey, so vendors should focus on creating a solid network of brand advocates and B2B creators. Finally, social media and advertising are less effective, but it doesn’t mean you don’t do it.

66% of ITDMs are brand loyalists and prefer purchasing products from brands they have used in the past.

What’s Top of Mind for IT Decision Makers?

When exploring the ITDM conversation, a few key topic areas are driving discussions.

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cloud Security
  • Automation
  • Big Data
  • Hybrid Work

ITDMs are discussing artificial intelligence and machine learning at very high levels. For context, artificial intelligence is a process of programming software to make intelligent decisions for themselves. This can be done through several approaches, including but not limited to neural networks, rule-based systems, decision trees, algorithms, and fuzzy logic systems.

Machine learning is part of AI that focuses on learning from data and improving their performance in real-time without being programmed by an engineer or developer. The result is initiatives that enhance customer experience, automate sales processes, and an organization’s ability to scale and innovate.

Some of the questions that ITDMs are asking about artificial intelligence include the following:

  1. What are the different types of AI technology?
  2. How can AI be used in business on a global scale?
  3. What are some ethical concerns around AI?
  4. How will AI impact the future of work?

ITDMs are excited about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. They see these technologies as transformative and believe they will significantly impact businesses in the future. However, they also express some concern about the ethical implications of AI and the potential for job loss due to automation.

ITDM Conversation Analysis

Cloud security is also top of mind for IT Decision Makers. With more and more businesses moving to the cloud, there are several security concerns that they are talking about, including data breaches, data loss, threat intelligence, and more. In addition, there are significant discussions about securing their data in the cloud, including but not limited to encryption, access control, and activity monitoring. Some of the questions that ITDMs are asking about cloud security include the following:

  • What are the most significant security concerns with moving to the cloud?
  • How can businesses secure their data in the cloud?
  • What are the consequences of a data breach?

Automation is another concern among IT Decision Makers. With artificial intelligence and machine learning, several automated processes can be performed by software like RPA. As a result, automation can help businesses improve efficiency and save money. Some of the questions that ITDMs are asking about automation include the following:

  • What tasks can be automated?
  • How will automation impact the workforce?
  • What are the benefits of software automation?
  • What are the risks of automation?
  • How will automation affect the future of work?

Automation is seen as a way to improve efficiency and save money. However, there are also some concerns about the potential impact of automation on jobs. As a result, IT Decision Makers are interested in understanding what tasks can be automated and the benefits and risks of automation within the global infrastructure of their organization.

Big data is not just another technology buzzword. It’s still a vast topic that is top of mind for ITDMs. With more businesses collecting data, there is a need to store, manage, protect, and analyze this data. From a marketing perspective, big data can improve business decisions and understand the customer experience, website analytics, market research, user data, and sales performance. Some of the questions that ITDMs are asking about big data include the following:

  • How can businesses use big data?
  • What are the benefits of big data?
  • What are the challenges of big data?
  • What is our big data process and strategy?

Big data is a hot topic for IT Decision Makers. They see the potential of big data to improve business decisions and processes. However, they also recognize the challenges of managing and analyzing large amounts of data.

As expected, hybrid work topics have been top of mind for the ITDM audience over the last two years. With more businesses allowing employees to work remotely, there is a need to manage both on-site and remote workers. As a result, hybrid work can help enterprises improve productivity and reduce costs. Some of the questions that ITDMs are asking about hybrid work include:

  • How can businesses manage hybrid workforces?
  • What are the benefits of hybrid work?
  • What are the challenges of hybrid work?

The conversation around hybrid work is primarily positive, with many ITDMs excited about the potential productivity gains and cost savings it could bring to their organization.

In conclusion, ITDMs are talking about a variety of topics online. They are interested in understanding the different types of AI, how AI can be used in business, and the ethical concerns around AI. They are also discussing cloud security, data loss, and automation. Additionally, ITDMs are talking about big data and hybrid work.

ITDMs are excited about the potential of new technologies and have some concerns that need to be addressed. Businesses should stay up-to-date on these conversations to understand the latest trends in the IT industry.

FAQ

What is an IT Decision Maker (ITDM)?

An ITDM, an “Information Technology Decision Maker,” is a business professional who decides to acquire and implement software technologies within an enterprise. They are responsible for evaluating, purchasing, and overseeing the implementation of various software technologies to ensure that the organization’s IT infrastructure remains up-to-date and meets the business’s specific needs.

How does the ITDM customer journey look like?

The ITDM customer journey is complex and includes several stages: Awareness, Research, Evaluation, Vendor Comparison, Purchase Decision, Implementation, Evaluation and Optimization, and Advocacy. ITDMs have different needs at each stage and interact with different content and channels.

What are the key trends for ITDMs in 2023 and beyond?

Some key trends impacting ITDMs include the rise of digital immune systems, the integration of Virtual Reality (VR), the focus on sustainable consumption, the increased use of cloud for healthcare solutions, and the emergence of the metaverse.

What media publications do ITDMs read?

ITDMs follow a variety of business and technology media publications on social media. The top ones include the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, WIRED, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. They also read blogs from technology companies like Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Azure.

What factors influence ITDMs’ purchasing decisions?

ITDMs’ purchasing decisions are influenced by several factors. They are brand loyal, with 66% making purchase decisions based on the brand name. They also value innovation and recommendations from peers and colleagues. Advertising and social media have less influence on their purchase decisions.

What topics are top of mind for ITDMs?

ITDMs are discussing various topics, including artificial intelligence, cloud security, automation, big data, and hybrid work. They are interested in understanding the implications of these technologies and trends for their organizations.

Are all IT Decision Makers the same?

No, there are different types of IT decision-makers. Some focus on technology (technology decision-makers), while others focus on business (business decision-makers). There are times when ITDMs are also business decision-makers.

Michael Brito

Michael Brito is a Digital OG. He’s been building brands online since Al Gore invented the Internet. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.