Do you run a business? If this is the case, then you probably know that it’s important to get new leads. A dead business is one which didn’t grow its customer base. What follows are some great techniques to help you create new leads.
Survey your current customers about where they typically congregate online. To generate quality leads, you need to understand where your audience hangs out. Once you know, get involved in that community any way you can. That may mean advertising or it may mean becoming a thought leader in the community.
Know going in that lead generation is a time consuming and ongoing process. It’s not a set it and forget it situation. You need to work at it. It takes building trust and thought leadership in the markets in which you sell. Be patient and work hard and you’ll really reap the rewards.
The best way to generate leads is to ask people you know for referrals. It doesn’t matter if you’re a wedding planner or a car salesman, let people know what you do and ask if they know anyone who may need you. They might not today, but they might in the future.
Avoid overkill in your information gathering. Many leads will be happy to supply basic information. However, with each data field that your potential lead needs to fill, their desire to continue wanes. Gather the basics that will be necessary to qualify the lead without pushing for every bit of information you can gather.
Check out events in your area and see if there’s a way you can use them to generate leads. For example, if there is a cycling race, buy a sponsorship package. Then you can get yourself on TV talking about it, or in the paper, or just talk to people who are there to watch.
Consider teaching a class on the skills you have. For example, if you are an excellent marketer, teach a basic marketing class. You can let students know about whatever it is you’re doing and you can look for those students you think would make the best leads and then target them directly.
Door knocking is always an option, so don’t rule it out. This can even be true if your business is B2B. Visit businesses and ask them about who they’re currently using for whatever it is you’re selling, then let them know why you’re the better option. Leave some materials behind and move on to the next location.
Be sure to maximize your use of social media. If you don’t have enough followers, you can hold a giveaway to boost your numbers. While those people may not be interested in what you’re selling, their friends who are may see your posts on their feed and follow you themselves.
If you have not been tapping into the power of social media enough, then it’s time to expand your efforts. There are cost efficient social media campaigns you can run on the most popular sites, and ways to really make content go viral. All of your customer base is there to help you share what you can do for your new customers.
Target the lead gathering you’re doing so people that are interested in your service or product can take advantage of it. A generic lead is okay if you don’t care about who your target is. Your results will be better if your lead gathering is tailored to gather key pieces of information that informs you your product is needed.
Absolutely every site you have up, whether a blog forum or regular content page or your main site, there should be contact information, social media plugins and opt in suggestions. These need to be strategically located and should be placed on every page so that people know how they can stay connected with you.
Speak with people while waiting in line with them. There is nothing wrong with being courteous and they may need what it is you have to offer. Don’t push your sales on them though, that can be very off-putting, especially if they aren’t that interested.
Take a class which would better your skills and talk to the other students. They might just be honing their skills because they aren’t very good at what you’re good at, and maybe they can use what you’re selling to make up for the fact they can’t do it on their own.
Start a newsletter and send it out to your current clients. You can also send them to those who have brought in referrals in the past, and even people who just happen to live near you. If you make it concise and clear people will read it, and you might get some new leads.
Don’t be driven by only bringing in targeted leads to your website. It’s not harmful if people come to your site who might not buy from you, although you shouldn’t be focusing on them entirely, of course. Be sure to use tools which determine which visitors to your site are leads and which are just looky-lous.
In order to grow your mailing list, hold a contest. You can do this on your website, on Facebook or Twitter, or even locally if your company is locally-focused. Just ask for an email address and name in return for an entry into your contest, and you can even give bonus entries to those who refer their friends.
You must pay attention to lead generation when running a business. A dying business is no benefit to anyone, so stop this process in its tracks. Use this advice and watch your profits soar.
