Small business owners rely heavily on a loyal customer base but this does not stop many of them from seeking more customers and business growth. However, while this is the dream, business growth presents its own set of challenges and can take some time to happen. One of the most important elements to expanding your business is the ability to access a constant stream of sales leads. What’s that? A lead is a person, or business if you own a company that sells goods or services to other businesses that are interested in your goods or services that you sell. The following will discuss some tips to create a system that can help you find sales leads in your small business and, with enough effort, turn them into loyal customers.
#1: Who Is Your Target Audience?
To begin the process of lead generation, you must first identify your target audience. You will not be able to be successful at reaching and selling to your ideal consumer if you do not know who you are aiming for. Take the time to research who you are trying to gain as a customer– what is their lifestyle, where do they live, what is their income, their personality, etc. Once you have a clear picture of who they are, you can work on reaching them. And if you have not already created a comprehensive marketing plan, now is the time to establish one.
#2: What Are Your Promotional Plans?
If you want to effectively generate leads, you need to create a promotional plan that gets your products and services out there for your target audience to see. There are several ways that you can promote your business– this is yet another time when your marketing plan will come in handy. A few marketing ideas that have proven to be successful include social media (there are several platforms, but instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are the most popular), an informative website, speaking engagements, events related to your industry, referrals from existing customers, Pay Per Click advertising, as well as traditional ads.
#3: Have You Created A Sales Funnel?
After you have determined who your ideal customer is and determined the best way to connect with them, you need to create a plan to get their contact information. The first step of this requires funneling all your prospects to a standard format or landing page that prompts them to share their contact information. The best way to do so is to offer an incentive like a coupon, sample, or another valuable gift. This is the time where a customer relationship management database is essential as it helps you keep track of potential customers as you collect their information.
#4: Want To Build Relationships With Your Customers? Email Them A Monthly Newsletter
Once you have connected with your prospective customers, it is time to work on establishing a relationship so that you can walk them through the transition of just a lead to an actual paying customer. An easy, yet effective, way to do so is by opening a line of consistent communication and an email newsletter is a great way to do just that. As you create an email marketing plan, take the time to read up on and follow the regulations that are in the CAN-SPAM Act. You don’t want to spend the time creating and sending out a newsletter just for it to be flagged as SPAM.
#5: Use Social Media To Connect And Engage With Leads
In today’s world, social media is an excellent way for small businesses to converse with potential customers and generate new leads. Create a Facebook page, get on TikTok, make an Instagram account, connect with other professionals on your company LinkedIn page, share your products on Pinterest, or start a YouTube channel. All of these are ways to create and engage with an audience and then begin the process of sales funneling. After you have leads in the system, you will be able to connect with them and find out more about what they are looking to buy– what are their needs and wants? The more ways that your customers can positively interact with your business, the more likely they will be to trust you and your business, therefore making it more likely that you will be able to complete a sale.
In It For The Long Haul
Lead generation is not a short-term process, it takes time and continual effort. If you are able to create an efficient system using the sales lead tips discussed here, you will be able to streamline your lead generation process and allow you more opportunities that will promote growth for your business.
Contact us (859-904-8035) today to get started!
ABOUT MAIN STREET MARKETING
Since 2006, Main Street Marketing has been creating Internet Presence Solutions for small businesses. Main Street Marketing uses internet marketing, search engine optimization, social media, lead generation, and video to create a true Internet Presence for its clients. When integrated correctly, this core group of services provide results together that none of the services could provide on their own or in phases.
>> Learn More