8 Guaranteed Ways to Generate Leads with Social Media

In this blog, we’ll explore 8 guaranteed ways to generate leads with social media. Plus, learn how to publish effortlessly across all your platforms with Hookle.

Table of Contents

1. Publish Lead Magnet Offers

2. Create Engaging Content

3. Use Paid Ads

4. Share Customer Testimonials

5. Use Automation

6. Add Call-to-Action Buttons

7. Host a Live Virtual Event

8. Work With Influencers

Bonus tip: Use Social Media Marketing App for Cross-Channel Posting

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 or more years of experience say social media plays a key role in finding and converting new customers.

But with the right approach, social platforms can become one of your most powerful tools for growth - helping you attract the right audience, build trust, and turn followers into leads.

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.

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

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

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

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

Testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools for generating social proof.

How to use testimonials:

• 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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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. But it can feel daunting - especially when you’re managing multiple platforms at once. Don’t worry, that’s where social media management apps like Hookle come in.

Hookle is an AI-powered social media management app designed specifically for entrepreneurs and small businesses. With Hookle, you can plan, create, and publish content across all your social platforms - including Google Business Profile - all in one place. The app helps you stay consistent, save time, and turn engagement into real leads.

Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself. Download Hookle for free today and experience how effortless social media marketing can be.