Ever wonder what a lead is? Everyone would have come across this term if you are in the business world. On day to day basis, we use this term but without knowing the real meaning.
Either it’s a large business or small business, you need leads to run and make it profitable to your business. You need an audience/customers to buy your products and services.
No matter how great your product and services are if you don’t have a customer to buy there is no point in running a business.
Imagine “you are running a bakery shop with all the delicious cakes, cookies, chat items with eye-catching interior work” Do you think you are able to do business with no customers?
Definitely not. Of course, You literally need customers to visit and buy your products that where lead gets started.
If that particular customer is satisfied with your product and services they refer somebody to give a try.
That is called lead generation. but we cannot predict lead will come from only one place.
It may be through word of mouth, sharing information with acquaintance people, and a lot more.
Lead generation is not a new form for the business. It actually exists from the ancestors but they certainly don’t know the exact term called leads.
Do you think only this generation is running a successful business with all the advanced technology ??? CERTAINLY NO yes BIG NO.
In the olden days, People were also running a business successfully with the available resources.
They also used leads generation, leads capturing, leads nurturing, and lead engagement(sales)
But they don’t discover the name at all. But today because of much-advanced technology, trends and time necessities have found a better way to get new clients for the business along with the new terminology.
WHAT IS LEAD GENERATION
As a whole, lead generation in today’s world, it’s a way of attracting prospects and converting them into paying customers for our business in the long term.
That’s why generating leads is a more important part of any sales funnel.
If you take the sales funnel, AIDA plays a major role in acquiring and filtering the targeted customers. ( we are going to discuss this topic in a separate blog later)
In today’s world, the buying process has also changed. Marketers have to find different ways to reach potential buyers.
If we reach potential buyers also, it’s becoming hard to retain the customers because of high competitors’ profiles.
That’s why the lead generation funnel is designed to narrow down the prospects into the long term customers.
Marketers need to learn how to build continuous relationships with buyers.
Nowadays, one of the main keys to a successful business is the generation of new sales leads.
Agree?
WHAT IS ONLINE LEAD GENERATION
It’s all about the customer journey from being unknown to the brand to becoming an actual customer.
Unknown—-) Visitor—-) Lead—-)Customer
VISITORS: Checking out our website and our services.
LEAD: Visitors give their mail id or phone number in exchange we need to give something free
CUSTOMER: Then they become consumers for our products and they might get something from you.
JOURNEY: this has to be done through proper Sales funnel to retain the customers.
As we discussed earlier, We cannot predict lead will come only from one way it may be from online or offline.
Without proper lead generation, it is really impossible for your business to reach and engage with potential customers.
3 DIFFERENT TACTICS
YES, 3 different tactics that are really work in lead generation
Many businesses or marketers use this strategy to acquire clients along with following the lead generation funnels.
1.Direct mail marketing
2.Facebook leads
3.Strategic calling
DIRECT MAIL MARKETING
Every business is moving online now, Direct mail marketing is a valuable way to connect with prospects, leads, and clients in a meaningful way.
With the rise of digital media over the past two decades, Marketers have increased online presence to reach wider audiences. It makes sense right?
Consumers are more connected online now. As a result, they have experienced a surge in digital marketing.
WHY MARKETERS PREFER MAIL THAN ANY OTHER MEDIUM,
Because,
1.It gives human touch and memorable.
2.Direct mail has a better reading and response rate.
3.Announcement can be done at every offer with personalized messages.
4.It has a better response rate.
5.Target audience can be discovered.
FACEBOOK LEADS
This is another value bomb leads. Yes I would like to name this Facebook lead with this name. Yes through Facebook advertisements, leads can be generated in plenty of ways.
Facebook has 2.5 billion users and infinity data points to connect online shop owners with the right customer in any online and offline niche and also it gives the best ROI.
By doing this, you can
1.Grow your mailing list
2.Learn more about customers via inquiry form
3.Offering coupons and promotions.
With that database of your potential clients, Facebook has proven over the years to be the advertising engine number one for many online and offline owners.
STRATEGIC CALLING
The final way to close the deal/sales with the customers. In this call all we need to explain our product/service features, benefits after consuming our services, and promote your business to the clients.
You need to do business with what the customer wants and requirements.
Every customer and their business vary, you need to work with the nature of their business.
Lead can also be done according to your NICHE and their BEHAVIOUR.
In next post, We discuss about top 10 lead generation strategies for both small and large business.
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