Generating business leads is the constant pin in every sales professional’s head. To make matters worse, or best, one can never know how to EXACTLY generate leads. You might be getting leads from a source, sometimes more, sometimes less, but can never know why.
Figuring out what works for lead generation is a brain-and-nerve-wracking job. But if you need some immediate relief, maybe you could use the tried-and-tested 6 outstanding ways of lead generation.
1. Create a high-incentive referral program
The oldest and one of the most effective ways of getting new leads is asking your existing consumers for referrals. Prospects are more likely to listen to a consumer who has used your product than an obviously biased sales rep.
Satisfied customers are happy to give referrals. Don’t hesitate to ask them to share their purchase stories with their social circles, or ask for a video testimony for your site.
83% of consumers are willing to refer after a positive experience – yet only 29% actually do and only less than 3% of reps ask for it. You could also offer a special discount or gift for customers who bring in new ones through referrals.
2. Establish a digital presence
By digital presence, it is meant that you must have an omnichannel way to reach any and all potential consumers in any part of the world.
Have a website, post on blogs, and social media accounts, hashtag your posts and tweets, interact with industry experts, engage with prospects, optimize your content, run campaigns, and do everything that you can do online.
In this digital world, if you are not found online, you are not found anywhere. Project yourself as a knowledgeable professional out there to help people find solutions rather than selling your own product. Harness the power of the internet to get your brand to every prospective screen.
3. Capitalize on blog posts
People still read blogs when it is relevant to them. In fact, you can also generate business leads through blogs and in two ways.
The first is, to create your own blog page. You can write opinion pieces, profile your biggest clients, and bring in backstories.
Second, you can also write guest blogs for audiences outside your network. When you post a guest blog on a different blog, it can reach followers who are not following you. Plus, guest blogging also gives you valuable backlinks, alongside good networking and relationship-building opportunities.
4. Put yourself out on LinkedIn
LinkedIn can help you reach a wide untapped market for your business. Statistically, the audience on LinkedIn has more purchasing power and leads from LinkedIn are more qualified than the average web audience because it is here with an intent to find a solution.
Run a LinkedIn leads campaign. You can take it slow through content marketing on the platform, slowly lure the prospects in or fire out with paid content. Write insightful opinions on LinkedIn to establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.
5. Reach out to Retail PR
Retail PR is a branch of PR that helps in connecting suppliers with retailers. Many times, prospects prefer buying from retailers when their requirements are small and they are looking to get a discount. Connecting with retailers can give you access to their clients as well.
The easiest way to get in touch with retailers is through a retail PR firm. They have the best knowledge of the best suppliers and retailers in the industry. From your content to your messages, brand image to perception, retail PR agencies will take care of everything for you.
6. Make a free offering
Everyone loves free goodies, even sales reps and prospects. Offering a free goodie attracts potential consumers like bees to honey. But the part after that is tricky. Just because you are offering something for free doesn’t mean you must give out non-resourceful products.
Deliver value in your offering. Whether it is some (downloadable, please) content, a small tool, entry to an insightful webinar or even a free trial to a product, if they don’t find value in your offering, it is pointless.
You can either hype it up through your content or combine it with other products in a manner that seems worth a deal.
Over to you…
2022 is almost mid-way. Here is a renewed set of business lead generation strategies that you can use to boost your business and its revenue. Business leads come from different directions and different sources, and it is difficult to know what your strategy worked for which source.
So, don’t be afraid to experiment around with your strategy and if anything does not work out, don’t give up yet; eventually, it will.
