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Your Lead Generation Should Be Working For You

Mar 23
 
 
Perhaps you've been doing "okay" with your lead generation efforts, but you really want to know how to tap into those valuable resources. You could generate so much more leads within your business niche if you just knew how. Consider the following helpful advice as you think about how your plans should change.
 
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Build your presence on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the most business-friendly social media channel out there. People use linked in to network and even broker new deals. It's the perfect place to create lead generation opportunities for you and your company. Invest in a Premium membership as it will allow you to see everyone who has viewed your profile.
 
Try direct mail as a lead generation tactic. Many people think that direct mail has gone the way of the dinosaur, but it's not true. In fact, it may be very powerful for your market as a lot of competitors shy away from it as a strategy. You may find a lot of business opportunity here.
 
Understand the difference in lead values. However, there will be some leads that are inappropriate for a particular campaign. Qualify targeted leads so that you don't pursue bad leads and waste your time. You can achieve success if you pick the right leads.
 
Don't forget about having a follow-up plan. Once you have generated some leads, it is important to remember that you need to turn those leads into paying clients or customers. Have a plan in place so that you can begin that work as soon as you get some quality leads.
 
Consider local garage sales if your business is focused locally. For example, if you run a garage you could host a table at a neighborhood sale selling tools or first aid kits. You can let people know about how honest and reliable you are face to face, increasing your reputation and generating leads.
 
Develop content marketing that will help you generate leads. Offer potential customers special newsletters and tips emails to help them make the most of their time. The better the content you create, the more likely you'll get people opting in to receive it. That opt in is your first step to creating a very hot lead.
 
Don't be afraid to pick up the phone. A lot of people get scared of making a call to generate a lead. They think it's akin to annoying telemarketing. But if you've got a solution to a problem a company is having, you'll definitely get phone time with someone. Even if it's not a long call, pitch it and get a meeting to continue the conversation.
 
You have competitors, but you also have companies within your industry that are complement your business. Therefore, network with these companies so that you can exchange leads. This can be a great method to help gain new customers and strengthen your business niche in general for repeated business later on.
 
Find ways to qualify leads that you've brought into the company. Yes, it's important to get as much data as you can, but leads are of different levels of quality. Some leads are more likely to be bigger customers than others. One way is to develop a survey to learn more about their buying habits.
 
Seek out subscriptions for your blog. If readers subscribe, they'll be alerted when you add new content. This will always serve as a simple lead generator based around your customer base. Blogging is one of many lead generation tools you need to utilize.
 
Customer referrals are one thing, and a referral program can definitely work. But, take things a step further by asking your customer base to provide testimonials. This can really work out for you, as people read through these reviews often to determine if they want to do business with a company.
 
Direct, conventional mail is still alive and well. Many marketers are ignoring the tried and true direct mail methods. As fewer businesses use this avenue, you become more noticed in your niche by using it. Test the waters, and see if you get more leads from marketing this way.
 
Test out new avenues before you go in whole hog. You don't want to end up investing a lot of time and money and yet get nothing in return. Run a test of each new strategy you have and carefully monitor your results, then jump in when the testing reveals success.
 
Incentives are a killer way to bring in new leads. Whether it is a coupon, bonus gift or entry into a giveaway, offering something extra to those who buy from you can really drive your customer acquisition. Be sure to only use this technique for those who wouldn't become a lead otherwise or else you'll be losing money.
 
Well, what do you think you're going to do different now after reading this advice? Surely, you're going to make some changes, and it's now time to put those changes into effect. If you want your business to survive, it takes generating new leads, and you're about to surprise yourself by following what you read.
 
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