7 Lead Generation Tips for Small Business

It is no secret that the world of marketing has changed dramatically. Not long ago, the proliferation of media channels meant that it was relatively easy for small businesses to purchase targeted ads and reach prospective consumers. But now, with the digital age here to stay, the old marketing methods are no longer enough. If you want to make a name for your business in this day and age, you need an effective lead generation strategy.

There is a lot of competition nowadays in every industry - but savvy companies know how to take advantage of the changing times by adapting their strategies in order to stand out from their competitors. Here are seven lead generation tips to help you start seeing results faster without breaking the bank.

Encourage Referrals

There is no better source for leads than referrals from people that are already happy customers.

If you have some satisfied clients, don't be afraid to ask them to spread the word about you. More often than not, people are more than happy to refer their friends and family to a business they love, which is a win-win in the long run.

Referral leads can be of higher quality because your client has already vetted you and likes your work, so don't hesitate to make this type of request.

However, if you don't have a current customer base, you can still use this strategy in creative ways. For example, you might offer a discount on your products or services for anyone who refers a friend and has that friend purchase from your company.

Follow Up Follow-Ups

Once you have some leads, it is vital to follow up on them. If you do nothing more than send out an initial email, you might gain some interest from your new contacts, but they might never actually take the next step with your business.

That is why it is vital to keep following up with your leads until they do what you want them to do. Even though following up can seem like a nuisance, it is actually one of the most critical parts of lead generation for small business owners because it almost always pays off in the end.

However, it is also important not to be too pushy. Don't ask every single day if they are ready to purchase yet. Instead, think about what made them sign up in the first place and use that information to create personalised emails that connect back to this initial interest.

Get Active on Social Media

Today, social media has become a networking powerhouse. And if you are not active on social media, you are losing out on a great deal of potential traffic and leads. There are plenty of ways to use social media to your advantage, but it all begins with building a solid profile on social media sites.

Start with putting aside a few hours on weekends or find a few hours per week that you can spend updating your social media presence with consistent content, and you will see results. Experiment with different channels and times of day to find out which ones are most successful for your brand, but whatever you do, make sure your content is fresh and offers something valuable for your audience.

Social media is a platform for authentic communication with your audience and potential customers. However, you have to be active on social channels to take advantage of this opportunity.

Use Social Proof

Just like marketers used to use display ads to convince people that a product was a good choice, you can use social proof by sharing stories about other customers who have successfully purchased from you.

When someone views an example of how well a product or service works or reads about how other people have benefited from it, they are much more likely to buy into that process as their own. If you can show them that many other people have already purchased your products or services, they will feel safer investing in your company as well, whether it is for the first time or not.

Offer a Freebie

Once you have a client base, you can add a new twist to your lead generation efforts by offering a freebie when people sign up for your email list, or download or purchase from your website. In fact, freebies are one of the most effective ways to get people excited about your brand.

A freebie is simply an offer that people will receive in return for something else they have to do, like making an order, sharing content, or signing up for an email list.

You can use this strategy for everything from booking appointments with clients to getting subscriptions for your newsletter. Just be sure that the freebie has value in return, so it is not just something useless designed to get you their contact information.

Plus, it never hurts to offer something extra special for doing business with you, even if you have an established customer base.

Make it Easy for People to Purchase

The easiest way to turn away a potential lead is to make it difficult for them to buy from you. If you are running, say, an e-commerce site, make sure you have an adequate checkout flow and that all of the product information and essential purchasing information are clearly visible and easy to access on your website.

There should be no questions in the buyer's mind about how to purchase from you or engage your services, and they should never feel like they can't place an order because of confusing or poor design choices.

Get Creative with Your Marketing Materials

Sometimes it is nice to mix things up when you are trying to generate leads or get existing customers' attention. Sometimes all you need are some new ideas for how to promote your business.

For example, you might want to try out a new type of marketing strategy or use one of your past marketing tools in a new way. That can be pretty lucrative in the long run.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of what kind of business you run, there is a way to generate high-qualified leads that will lead to more sales and revenue for your company. It just takes a little bit of patience, some research, and some trial and error before you find what works the best for your company.

As long as you are aware of what your customers want and remain dedicated to providing it, you will be able to keep on growing your business on a steady upward trajectory.

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