When it comes to business, there’s really only one thing that matters – having customers. The reason for this is pretty simple – without customers, you aren’t generating income. If you don’t have any income, you’re not going to be in business for very long. That makes lead generation for the typical freelancer and solopreneur a major focus of attention. While it isn’t always easy to find work, there are some untapped resources you may have overlooked. Here are a few you may want to consider:
YOUR MAIN OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO REACH OUT AND LOOK FOR NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES…
1. Groups
A few years ago, participating in subject-related forums could net you some good leads. While this may still be an effective tactic for some industries, forums as a strategy overall is not as effective as it once was. Replacing it in today’s marketing arsenal are groups – particularly social media groups. Groups are filled with a group of niche targeted prospects talking about their issues and concerns in one place. The best part is they are everywhere. Sites like Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn are great places to start.
However, before rushing off, you need to make sure you are taking the right precautions to make this tactic effective for you. It’s important to note that you can’t “sell” in a group. Your main objective should be to reach out and look for networking opportunities. Answer questions and establish your credibility. As you become a more trusted authority in your area, people will start contacting you on their own.
2. Q&A Sites
What’s a great way establish your credibility or proficiency at something? Being designated an expert in your industry is a great way to start. Q&A sites like Quora are an excellent platform for this marketing tactic. Taking a few minutes out of your day to respond to questions and offer advice can go a long way to branding you as an expert in your field. This can be a great way to boost your opportunities to generate more leads.
3. Your Own Website
Obviously if your own website is set up well, you should be converting a good percentage of people that visit. However, there is always room for improvement, and there are a few untapped areas that people tend to forget about. I’m talking about error and confirmation pages. These are pages that people get to when they have either taken an action on your site or are looking for something. You have their undivided attention and a great opportunity to lead them to where you want them to go. If people are signing up for your newsletter, don’t forget to put a message on your confirmation page to tell them where you want them to go afterwards. If they get an error message, make sure they know where they should be going instead.
4. Surveys & Polls
Polls may seem like a fun way to get users engaged with your site or brand, but they can be used as a sales tactic as well. One way to use them is to help gather more demographic information about your target audience so you can set up better marketing actions. Another way is to ask leading questions that will give them an opportunity to know more about your company. Questions such as, “What services would you most be interested in?” If you follow this up with a list of services you provide, you can inform potential customers about all of your offerings while also collecting important customer data.
5. Always Be Visible
For every customer or client you know about, there are a number of potential customers or clients lurking and watching your brand. They are waiting for that moment when they may need your service or when they feel like they can really trust you. That means you always need to be visible. The more often you interact with customer base in a visible way, the more potential customers will learn to trust you. The way you respond on social media sites or to bad reviews tells a customer more than your “approved” marketing messages. When it comes to getting that extra group of people, actions really do speak louder than words.
What marketing tactic has helped you to generate more leads for your company?
By: Jennifer Good
Jennifer Good writes on many topics related to content marketing, social media, leadership & productivity for leading publications. You can also find her at JenniferGood.com.
