8 Guaranteed Ways to Generate Leads with Social Media
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Generating leads can feel like a daunting yet necessary task for many small businesses and entrepreneurs. It's easy to see why: Roughly 72% of marketers with five-plus years of experience say social media helps with lead generation.
In this article, we share eight of the best strategies that will help you generate leads through social media.
What Is Lead Generation?
Lead generation is the process of attracting, converting, and closing potential customers. It is how you find new customers, build your brand, and grow as a company.
Lead generation is the process of attracting, converting, and closing potential customers
So if lead generation is so important, why do so many small-business owners struggle with it? Oftentimes, it comes down to not having a clear understanding of the best ways to generate leads. Read on for eight tried-and-true tactics.
1. Publish Lead Magnet Offers
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Lead magnets are your gift to your potential clients, who will receive them in exchange for their contact information.
They can be virtually any kind of resource that you can easily deliver via email, such as ebooks, gated content, or video tutorials. By offering something valuable, you'll build trust and increase the likelihood of capturing leads.
2. Create Engaging Content
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If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with cute puppy pictures.
However, to attract and keep your desired audience, you need to give them a reason to stick around. This is where engaging content is key.
This could include behind-the-scenes photos, how-to videos, new product announcements, and inspirational content.
The best approach is to post a variety of content. And once you've figured out what works, keep doing it! Use a social media scheduling tool like Hookle to plan your content in advance.
3. Use Paid Ads
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Paid ads are one of the most cost-effective methods to get in front of your target audience and convert more leads. It will also help you grow your overall online presence.
You don't need a big budget or expert knowledge to use paid ads. Simply establish parameters for the type of audience who would be interested in what you're selling, set a budget, and let the platform do its thing. From there, track your results and make any necessary tweaks.
4. Share Customer Testimonials
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Testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools for generating social proof. Here's how to use social media to make your testimonials more effective:
Post them regularly. Five-star reviews never get old for interested buyers. Use a social media scheduling tool, such as Hookle, for ease of planning.
Be sure they're recent. Approximately 85% of consumers perceive local reviews older than three months as irrelevant.
Include calls to action. If a testimonial mentions how much the customer loved your catering services, including a call to action to “Book your next event now.”
5. Use Automation
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One way to generate leads on social media is by making use of automation tools. For example, auto-responses to customers' questions can help streamline customer service and increase customer satisfaction levels.
Another method using automation is to create an opt-in offer. Set up a series of questions on Facebook Messenger, for instance. You can lead customers through a funnel, of sorts, and capture their contact information or convert them.
Some scheduler tools offer automation features, such as a recurring posts function, which is very convenient if you have repeated events or offers for example.
6. Add Call-to-Action Buttons
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To generate more leads, you need to get people to take action. And what better way than with social media call-to-action (CTA) buttons? Great CTA buttons can do a lot of the work of lead generation without any extra effort for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Great CTA buttons can do a lot of the work without any extra effort
CTA buttons are also a great way to turn passive followers into active customers because they prompt users to do something specific, such as visit your website or fill out a form.
7. Host a Live Virtual Event
Live events are a must-do if you want to generate leads. They get your audience engaged, as though they’re gathered together for a party that you’re throwing. They also give people a glimpse behind the scenes, building trust.
You can also give your live viewers an exclusive offer that expires either during the broadcast or shortly thereafter. The urgency factor can inspire action.
8. Work With Influencers
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An influencer is someone who has a significant social media following, typically over 10,000 people. They can help you reach your target audience and generate leads by promoting your brand on their social accounts.
An influencer is someone who has a significant social media following
Startup small businesses and entrepreneurs may be better off working with smaller influencers than those with tens of thousands of followers. Smaller accounts with a more focused, engaged following may be more likely to influence the people you want to reach.
💡 Bonus tip: Use Social Media Marketing App for Cross-Channel Posting
Lead generation is critical for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and social media can be an excellent way to generate leads.
Even if you don’t have a huge budget for paid advertising, there are still many avenues for reaching potential customers on social media.
If you need help getting organized and planning your lead-generation strategy, download the Hookle app. Our social media scheduling tools ensure you always have the right lead-generation tools right in your pocket.
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