7 Ways to Get More Leads for Your Business
Today’s business climate is highly competitive. In order to thrive, your business must stand out from the crowd and attract new customers. Getting more leads for your business is crucial if you want to achieve long-term success. But it’s not as simple as creating an Instagram handle and making some posts introducing your product. To stand out from your competition and get more leads for your business, you need to think outside the box.
Each of these 9 ways to get more leads for your business can help you attract new customers regardless of what the competition is doing. Implementing even a few of these ideas can mean the difference between your business living or dying.
Create a Compelling Blog
Blogs are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to attract new leads. You don’t even have to be an expert to write one. The trick is finding a topic that your target audience is interested in and that will help them solve a problem. Topics like “how to hire a public speaker,” “how to write my book,” or “three ways to grow my business,” for example, are all topics that people search for every day.
If you can write helpful posts on these topics, you will likely get traffic from people looking for information. They might end up converting into leads or customers.
If you’re not sure what to write about, start by writing down all of your interests and passions. Anything that interests you might also interest your future customers. In addition to your passions, look for opportunities in your industry. What problems are your customers facing? What questions do they have? How can you use your expertise to help solve those problems and answer those questions?
With a blog at your disposal, you can use one of the best marketing tools available: you can repurpose your content in various ways.
Host Free Events
People always love free things, so why not host free events to attract new leads? If you’re in a service-based industry, consider hosting free workshops or seminars that teach people how to do something. If you’re in the sales or marketing industry, try hosting free training sessions on skills related to your business.
You can capture valuable lead information in exchange for what you’re offering. For example, “register here for our free webinar that shows you how to go from X to Y in Z amount of time” is something you’ve probably come across quite often. Were you tempted to register? If the copy is written well enough, you probably were.
What can you do with the contact information you collect? You can place emails in your newsletter list. You can reach out after the webinar for upsells. Or you can simply grow your online presence by asking these people to subscribe to your channels.
Produce Exclusive, Behind-the-Scenes Content
Another way to attract leads is to create and share exclusive content. Give prospective clients a glimpse into your business.
How do you operate? What do you stand for? And, most importantly, how did you (and your company) get to where you are today?
People love stories. And prospective clients love them even more. They want to know they are working with someone who has perseverance and will follow through on the promises made.
By sharing this information, whether in a book, blog, or series of videos, you invite prospects to walk through your doors before they sign. You give them the VIP badge and allow them to roam through your halls, speak with your people, and see how you operate. The level of trust that comes from this is immense, and it is why nearly 4 million new books are released each year — business leaders know the value of stories.
Post (and/or Advertise) on Social Media
Did you know 81 percent of shoppers conduct online research before buying?
Don’t overlook the value of social media. Sure it is a flooded space and each post you publish can seem like an ice cube being dropped into the middle of the ocean. But the point isn’t to make each post stand out. The idea behind social media posting is to give credibility to your business when a prospect does do some research.
Not sufficient for an article on how to get leads to your business? Ok, that’s acceptable. Here’s one way you can get leads to your business through social media:
Ads. Yes, those same sponsored ads you come across on a daily basis are what you can use to drive leads to your business. But it must be done correctly. You need high-quality images and/or video, exceptional copy, and an easy and clear way for prospects to give you their information.
Sponsored Ads
Sponsored ads are like social media ads, but they will appear on different websites where your target audience hangs out. Think about the websites your ideal customers spend time on. If you run a landscaping business, you would want to advertise on gardening websites or websites related to home maintenance.
When you create a sponsored ad, you will be able to choose what websites you want your ad to appear on. This can be a good way to reach new audiences.
You will pay per click, but the good thing is that you only pay when someone clicks on your ad and goes to your website. This is a great way to reach new people who may not have heard of your business yet.
Add a Lead Magnet on Your Website
A lead magnet is something you give away for free in exchange for an email address. It could be a recorded webinar, a special report, or a cheat sheet. It could also be an eBook (or PDF version of your book) that you create.
Why you should give something away for free when you could be charging for it? The key here is to give away something that will attract the right people, which will lead to more leads and sales in the long run. For example, if you run a landscaping business, you might create a guide that teaches people how to design a backyard that’s drought-resistant. Or if you run a financial planning firm, you might create a guide to help people earn extra income.
Give something away that is valuable and proves your expertise. Once a prospect can trust you, they will be less hesitant to buy.
Create a Podcast or Online Course
Authority and credibility are both key. If you can get your brand name out there in multiple places, it does one of two things:
1) It gives prospects with different interests a way to find you. If you only stick to blogging, for example, then you only give yourself the chance to be found by blog readers. However, if you have a blog, a podcast, and an online course, you give yourself more ways to be found.
2) It enhances your credibility. Having multiple offerings in various verticles shows that you (and your business) and not some fly-by-night blog or website looking to make a quick buck.
How do we know this works? Because we have our own online course and podcast.
Wrapping up
Leads are the lifeblood of any business. Without leads, it is impossible to make sales. And while getting more leads isn’t always easy, it is possible.
All it takes is a bit of creativity and some determination. Now that you know 7 ways to get more leads for your business, what are you waiting for? Grab a marker, start brainstorming and make sure you put these tips into action as soon as possible.
With more leads coming in, your business will be flourishing in no time. You can then use this story of growth to write a book that inspires others to follow in your footsteps. Let’s create a cascading effect of successful businesses and brands!