How Do You Automate Lead Generation?
Show me a business that does not depend on customers to thrive? I guess none. With all the pressure and changes around, it is normal for a brand to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, the ability to automate lead generation is here with us. This marketing strategy gives you an edge over your competition by giving your business a grand ability to focus on other aspects of marketing that can not be automated.
We have highlighted some of the most effective ways to automate lead generation in your business, continue reading.
What is lead generation
Lead generation is simply the process of attracting and capturing interest in a service or a product with the aim of making sales. In most cases, lead generation marketing is an automated process. This type of marketing is always under constant change due to the increase in new techniques that are being used by various companies to capture leads.
Is lead generation important in marketing?
The world is evolving in several ways so is marketing. The purchasing process and behaviour have also changed significantly. For this reason, businesses have to find ways to set themselves apart from their competition so as to attract new prospects that they will nature into loyal customers. This is where lead marketing comes in. Without this type of marketing, the business would be closed and have no return on Investment.
Lead generation strategies
There are so many ways of generating leads. However, the methods listed below will help your business generate leads effortlessly.
1. Pop up forms
Having great content on your website is a plus. However, it will not make sense to your business if you do not take advantage of that fact to capture new leads. Pop up forms are mainly used to capture the contact information of a reader who has spent more than 10 seconds reading your content. Research shows that if a visitor spends more than 15 seconds on your page, they are likely to be interested in your products and services.
2. Email marketing
Email marketing is still one of the best lead generation strategies used by most B2B businesses. In fact, according to marketing statistics, it has almost 80% corresponds making it the most effective channel to be used anytime. By taking advantage of the email marketing tools in the market, most businesses are now smarter on how to target their subscribers to drive sales. To capture leads automatically with email marketing, simply put content out there, you are likely to attract so many people by the value you offer.
3. Social media
The lead generation process does not have to be complicated. There are simple ways you can use to capture leads effortlessly. Research shows that people spend an average of 6 hours on social media. As a business, this information is good news, it only means that you can take advantage of the statistics to increase brand awareness and capture as many leads as possible.
The most popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are used to communicate and connect with friends, family and also discuss various brands. Such platforms are a great opportunity for any business owner who would love to take lead generation to the next level. You can use social media contests to capture leads that you will nurture into loyal customers in due time.
A social media contest involves creating a fun way to engage with people so as to have them give their contact information. You can have users refer friends or answer various questions in order to enter into the contest.
4. Webinars and videos
Recording a live video is one simple way of capturing your leads automatically each time the video is up. To create interest from your subscribers, schedule them in advance. You may also ask your subscribers to help you come up with a topic of discussion. Live video helps you to identify the problems your audiences are facing so that you come up with a solution. This is a simple method that can help your brand come up with new products or improve the existing ones to meet the market demand.
5. Use direct emails
Most may argue that direct mail is now in the past; however, this method is still effective in generating leads for B2B businesses. Send a direct email to your audience who do not browse the website as often. People such as executives hardly have time to find your content online. By sending an email, you are likely to have their attention, you only have to be creative and compelling when it comes to drafting such emails. You can still make use of an email marketing service
Tips on capturing leads
Look at other effective ways of capturing leads:
1. Include a lead capture on your website
There are so many ways to get your readers information than just using the ordinary contact us page. Entice your visitors by offering incentives such as a free guide. You may also include a webinar in exchange for their contact information. Your automatic email system can be used to send follow up emails afterwards. Ensure that the follow-up emails offer value to the customers so as to keep them on your email list.
2. Take advantage of the events
There are several ways of capturing prospects’ contact information during events. One most effortless method is using an application such as OnSpot Social. Have a series of emails to send to your new subscribers for the next couple of weeks to keep them informed on your products and services. Do not forget that nurturing a lead takes time and patience. However, with the right content, it should not be a nightmare.
3. Initiate a campaign
Make an initiative of initiating a campaign to nurture you inactive leads. The process should be slow and steady. Send a series of emails that contain current information or any other information that you deem essential. You may also include a promotional email once in a while about your services and products. By doing this, you stand a chance of increasing engagement thus increased sales.
4. Initiate a cross-selling campaign
A cross-selling campaign involves classifying your clients depending on the type of services or products they are buying from you. The next step is sending them emails that explain how they can get the best out of your products. You may also mention other related products or service that you are offering.
5. Start a training program
As a brand, you have important information that your users will find useful. Take advantage of this fact and repackage this knowledge to a training program. You will then have to create emails that you shall be sent daily with the help of email service providers such as MailChimp. You will then send a follow –up email asking your leads if they would love to schedule a meeting with a sales representative. This is one of the best ways to turn your leads into loyal customers within a very short time.
Conclusion
There are so many ways a business can generate leads manually. But why go through the headache while you can simply automate the process? With the many lead generation software such as MailChimp, you can now get so much done constantly without breaking a sweat. We hope this article shed light on how you can automate lead generation so as to keep your business growing.
