It happens to most businesses. You're going along, getting clients, and then suddenly no business comes in the door. It's a scary situation for any business because without new clients coming in, you don't get paid. Now what?
Let's look at ten lead generation ideas to expand your accounting services or Support services, whatever your business is about.
You can use these ideas today to help generate more leads using all the different channels of digital marketing in the world.
10 Expert Lead Generation Ideas to Help Grow Your Business
Grassroots marketing is vital for helping to grow small businesses get the word out about their products and services, gain recognition, and develop a client base. This article discusses 10 of the most effective lead generation strategies for small businesses and provides tips on how to use them.
1. Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to reach your audience and get them interested in your business. With email, you can send out weekly or monthly newsletters, which can include information about new products and services.
It can also offer tips and advice on how to use your products. This can be especially effective if you have a product that requires some education before the customer buys it.
2. Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the best ways to reach customers, why? Because it helps you build trust with potential customers without being too salesy. If you’re selling a product like an eBook or a course, then it makes sense to create some valuable content. It must show people how to use your product better than anyone else does.
You can then share this content on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter so that it reaches more people than just those who follow your company’s page or website.
3. Blogging
Blogging is a great way to generate leads for your business. Not only can you use it to share news and information about your company, but you can also use it as a tool for lead generation.
One way to do this is by publishing blog posts that offer value to your ideal customers. For example, if you offer website accounting services, then you could write blog posts about how to choose an accountant r or why having a streamlined accounting is important for small businesses. The more helpful the information you provide is, the more likely people are going to sign up for your email list or contact you directly.
4. Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn are great tools for connecting with potential customers. You can use these platforms to engage with them and build relationships over time. It’s also a place where customers can post their thoughts, ideas and concerns.
You can use this information to improve your products or services by addressing their concerns directly through social media.
It’s also a great way to generate leads for your business by offering free content such as eBooks, white papers or webinars that help people solve problems they may be having with your product or service.
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is a powerful lead generation strategy that works well when used in conjunction with other marketing activities. For instance, social media marketing or PPC advertising.
It is essential if you want to appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) organically. So you don’t have to pay for each click on your ad. This can help you save money while still driving traffic to your website and generating leads at the same time.
6. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
PPC advertising is one of the most effective ways for small businesses to reach a highly targeted audience. It's especially useful for businesses that don't have a lot of cash to spend on marketing, but want to get the most value from their ad spend.
However, PPC isn't free — it costs money to place ads on Google and other search engines. You can expect to pay between $1 and $5 per click in most industries, although some niches will cost more.
7. Direct Mail Campaigns
Direct mail campaigns are another way to reach out to potential customers without having them come directly to your website. They're especially useful if you want to target people who are far away or aren't online very often.
You can also buy lists of prospects from third-party companies who know what they're doing when it comes to direct mail campaigns.
8. Sales Funnels/Lead Magnets/Free Reports
Sales funnels and lead magnets are two of the most common ways to generate leads for your business. In a sales funnel, you’re offering a free report or eBook in exchange for their contact information.
You can also use this strategy to offer a free consultation or webinar. Once they give their information, they’ll be added to an email list where they can receive more relevant content from you over time.
In a lead magnet, you’re offering something that has value but isn’t necessarily a product or service. For example, if you run an online store and want to attract more customers, you could create an eBook with tips. It can be on how to improve their shopping experience? Then offer it as a gift on social media or through an email campaign.
9. Video Marketing
Video marketing has become an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy. From YouTube to Facebook, videos are everywhere and they can help you get more leads. According to HubSpot, companies that use video grow their revenue by 30% on average.
Video is a great way to explain complicated topics, show off your company’s personality and even tell a story.
You can create short videos that showcase what your business does. You may use longer videos that give potential customers a tour of your office or the process behind some aspect of your business.
10. Referral Programs
A referral program is a win-win for everyone involved: Your customers love it because they get rewarded for their efforts. You love it because your business gets more customers.
In fact, 95 percent of consumers trust referrals from friends and family over any other form of marketing. And according to the Harvard Business Review, 85 percent of consumers say they’re likely to recommend a brand that offers a referral program.
This is because referral programs are an easy way for customers to share their opinions about your products and services. You know well that it can be especially beneficial if you have something that’s hard to explain in words or visuals alone.
Conclusion
There are numerous tricks and tips for small businesses to generate leads. It all starts with some creative ideas, proper presentation and personalization of a message, as well as some marketing budget. But that's obvious. What is not obvious is where to find these leads and how to convert them into customers.
The 10 ideas presented in this article will hopefully help you if you are a small business owner, but remember: you need an appropriate lead generation strategy, reliable data management system and sufficient marketing budget in place to maximize your revenue streams.
