The Internet has been a blessing for small businesses. It allows them to reach out to a large number of prospects. We have seen online businesses thrive at a time when all sorts of businesses were closing due to pandemic and lockdowns.
The same is true for lead generation. Lead generation through online marketing has made it easy for businesses and entrepreneurs in generating relevant leads quickly.
Here’s how to start:
Create a website:
First step in online lead generation is creating a website with attractive content. You can get a professional looking website for free using a platform like WordPress or Wix. It takes less than a day to set up a website. All you need is a domain name and hosting account that will cost you less than a hundred dollars a month. Once you have set up your website, fill it with interesting content about your products or services.
Make it easy for customers to contact you:
Generating leads through online marketing is not just about getting people to visit your website. It’s also about converting these visitors into customers.
Give potential customers more than one way to get in touch with you. Your website can have a contact form, a live chat plugin, and a click to call or click to WhatsApp button.
Publish content regularly:
The more you publish, the better the chances are that someone will find it while searching for something related to your services. This is how search engine optimization works and this is also what drives lead generation through any online marketing efforts. Regular publishing also ensures that your website remains active in Google’s search index.
Create a Google Business Listing:
Google Maps or Google Business is a great way to get in front of local customers. And it’s free. Create and verify your listing on Google Business. Make sure to fill and verify your business address on Google Maps.
Build local links:
Get links from local directories or business websites. This helps customers find you online. Also, it gives you an edge over your competitors in search results. Links are one of the strongest ranking factors.
Get active on social media:
Social media has become the place where customers seek information. It also helps get links that improve your search rankings and drive traffic to your website. As a business, you should have a Facebook page and Google My Business page for local searches. You can also consider using Twitter or Pinterest based on your target audience.
Paid Traffic Sources:
All of the abovementioned tactics will take some time. If you do not want to wait for a few months, you can opt for paid traffic sources like Google or Facebook Ads.
Create an AdWords account and create ads for search engine results pages (SERPs). Similarly, create a Facebook Business Page for your business. And then set up your Facebook Ad Campaigns using the Business Manager.
Paid traffic is expensive but that’s the quickest way to get Sales qualified leads.
Get creative:
In most cases, digital marketing campaigns do not start with a blank slate. You can get inspiration from other marketing efforts on the same channels that you plan to proceed with for lead generation.
For example, if you’re using Google Ads, you can use their Keyword Planner to find keywords that have high search volume and low competition.
Now if you have a competitive edge or expertise in your niche, you can write an eBook on it and offer it for free download from your website. This will also drive traffic to your site.
Conversion optimization:
Keep track of your website visitors using a tool like Google Analytics. Make sure you are making changes to your website to improve conversions.
Some of the most important metrics to track are goal conversion rate and average time on site. You can also use heatmaps, click maps and try user surveys to find out what’s stopping your visitors from converting into leads.
Reputation management:
The internet is filled with discussions among potential customers who could be future clients if you win them over.
Customer reviews, in particular, are very important. So make sure that you respond to all customer inquiries and resolve their problems.
Another way to manage your reputation online is by creating newsworthy content for your blog or website. This will also improve Google rankings for your website as it increases the number of backlinks from reputable websites.
