Every business needs to generate leads in order to survive. This is especially true today. But most of the time trying to generate leads just generates headaches. When you find a good lead gen agency it’s like striking digital gold. Here’s a guide to help.
Start With a Strong Offer
Lay some groundwork before you start your search. What are you selling and how can you improve the price point so the customer will buy – like right now? This is the heart of every good lead generation campaign – hell, it’s the heart of everything in sales.
Your offer needs a “hook,” a way to bait the customer and reel them in. Get creative. If you’re a health club, give them a one-day free pass. If you’re a bakery, give them a free flaky pastry like a Danish on Flaky Friday. If your competitor is leasing a new Honda Civic for $150 a month, you lease it for $5 a day.
Now, build your ad or email, add an image of your product or service (with a short load time), and start your search.
Quality Content
Facebook reports that the average attention span for content is about 2 seconds. On a desktop computer, it’s about 3.5 seconds, and on mobile, it is 1.7 seconds. That survey was taken in 2021. Attention span is even shorter today, so you have to hit your audience right in the face, and right away.
Content is still king, whether it’s 10- 20 words on social media or a 50-word email. First, you need a captivating subject line. 47% of people surveyed say they open emails based on the subject line alone. Then get right to the point, but don’t shout. Add urgency and a link to your website or a CTA (Call-to-Action) button.
Ok, you’ve already saved about $500 by creating your own ad. Now you’re off to the races. There are many ways to get your message out. We recommend three different strategies, depending on your demographics, product, and budget. Social media marketing and pay-per-click are the fastest ways to drive leads, but content marketing may be the best in the long run. And don’t forget cold calls, they are still powerful tools.
Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, and LinkedIn are all good platforms for lead generation. Truth Social is a new conservative social site with quality prospects and solid leads.
Facebook may be the easiest and fastest way to get up and running, so go ahead and make a Facebook ad. If you haven’t made your ad yet, they’ll make it for you. Link it to your website and add a CTA button. Facebook just raised its prices, but it’s still an affordable way to reach prospects. Read through Facebook’s guide, they will help you target your audience.
Pay-Per-Click
Another quick (but expensive) way to generate leads is with pay-per-click (PPC) marketing. PPC allows your business to appear above the organic search results. Businesses will pay $1-$2 per click to advertise on the Google search network. The average small and medium-sized businesses spend between $9,000 and $10,000 a month on PPC. You can collect leads who aren’t buying today and make sure they end up buying from you when they are ready. The problem with PPC is that when you run out of money, your ad disappears.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a broad category that includes articles, blogs, newsletters, videos, and more. It engages and retains an audience by sharing relevant information organically. Although email marketing is not technically content marketing, it still fits in this group.
Content marketing promotes brand awareness and keeps your product top of mind when the customer is ready to buy. If you have the time and patience, content marketing can generate boatloads of high-quality leads and conversions. However, if you want quick results, content marketing is not for you.
Cold Calls
Yes, cold calls are still alive and well, and while everybody else is zigging, you can zag.
Cold calling can be used to warm up a potential prospect and increase your chances of having a meaningful conversation with them in the future. While it has changed a lot in the digital age, prospecting and cold calling remain effective selling tools for those who do it right.
Use the internet and social media to research your prospect before calling. People are so inundated with emails and ads on their phones, that a friendly phone call will be a refreshing change.
Wrap Up
Test the ad or script with an A/B test. This is an important way to see if it works. Try different versions of similar content. It will help you find what your target audience responds to best.
Here’s a final tip. When you look for a lead generation agency, be careful of the big ones with all the bells and whistles. The bigger the agency the slower the turnaround. You could get little, or no customer service and it will cost you an arm or a leg – or both. Want fast results? Check out the services of this up-and-coming, quick-on-their-feet company.
(Sources: LinkedIn, Mailchimp, OctaneOnlineMarketing, Webfx, Salesvue)