If you run a small business or work in marketing, then you know just how important lead generation is to make a profit. Without leads, you can’t convert them into customers, which translates to revenue for you and your business.
As an independent business owner, you may not have the budget to spend on large lead generation campaigns. Fortunately, there are some effective tricks that are also affordable (almost free!) to grow your mailing list and make more sales.
Add a Pop-Up to Your Website
Your first instinct after reading this trick is probably to skip over it. Nobody likes pop-ups on websites anymore. They just make people click away and never visit your site again, right? Wrong!
Pop-ups, when executed correctly, can actually create a ton of leads. You just have to offer something valuable to your audience and design an aesthetically pleasing pop-up.
For example, if you need to generate home insurance leads, you can create a pop-up for a visitor to request a personalized quote. This can then lead them to the necessary forms to gather their information and receive their quote.
Now, be careful with your pop-ups. Don’t go crazy, or else you will make people leave your website. Use this tactic sparingly and carefully for it to be effective.
Offer a Lead Magnet
A lead magnet is a piece of content your audience will find valuable. In exchange for a copy of this content, your audience will exchange their email or contact information for it.
Examples of lead magnets include ebooks, reports, downloadable templates, scripts, and more. Whatever your industry, there is surely something your target market would appreciate.
The most effective lead magnets are actually sales letters in disguise. So, while you provide helpful information, you’re also selling your product or service to your (now) lead. This can then lead them down the buyer’s journey and convert them to a paying customer.
Host a Free Webinar
Another lead magnet is a webinar, but it takes a little more effort to put on and isn’t necessarily reusable. This free webinar is usually a live class educating your audience about something in your industry, helping them solve a problem.
Once again, this lead magnet is a sales letter in disguise. You’ll just give them the tip of the iceberg to the solution. For the full answer, they’ll have to use your product or service.
These webinars are also a great way to build rapport with your leads and answer their questions directly.
Engage in Forums
While this tactic may be a bit time-intensive, it is effective and builds you and your brand's authority. Scroll through forums like Quora and Reddit and engage with other people asking questions about your industry.
Offer answers and helpful advice to information-seekers to build authority and lead them to your website for an even more in-depth answer. Be careful not to advertise your business, though. This tactic is simply to make people recognize your name and see your level of expertise.
