Tips & Tools: Using Lead Generation for Your Business

TIPS & TOOLS
Using Lead Generation In Your Business

What is lead generation?That’s one of those scary marketing terms, but it refers to the creation or generation of prospective consumer interest or inquiry into a business’ products or services. Leads can be generated for a variety of purposes – list building, e-newsletter list acquisition, or for winning customers. Lead generation is usually generated through search engines, direct mail, email, or telephone.

What are some ways you can use lead generation? Just try a few things, not everything all at once. Don’t get overwhelmed. Take one thing at a time, trust the process, and take action now.

An autoresponder is a program which automatically generates a response when it receives information. Autoresponders are usually used in email management. You can use this powerful tool for everything from internet marketing to managing admissions to a university. Some autoresponders are Constant Contact, Aweber, and Mail Chimp. Also, experiment with Bomb-Bomb, which is a company that uses video email. Video is hot right now. Get your important messages out there.

A freebie is a promotional gift or something given free of charge. It can be something like a free report of an E-book. On the NACWE website, we offer a free report, “19 Inspired Ideas For Marketing” and 3 bookmarks sent by mail. What can you create as a freebie for your tribe – an E-book, a creative video, an e-course, a downloadable mp3 audio? Get inspired today to give away something your tribe will love and will make them hungry for more.

Events are a great way to connect with leads and build your tribe of followers and fans. You can can include both live and virtual events. You can use Eventbrite on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to announce your event. I hosted a Facebook party for Christian Women Entrepreneurs, with 61 women planning to attend. We ended up with 50 women there – with only a one-week notice!

Social media is non-negotiable today for lead generation. When I’m playing on Facebook, I’m also working! I use Facebook for event invitations, tagging people, to create notes, to post pics of NACWE members, products, or me, to create private groups, to post videos, to link to my blog, etc. I attended my first Twitter party as the kick-off for a virtual conference. Be willing to learn a lot in this area because it’s quickly changing.

Learn. Study. Implement. These are just some examples of lead generation that you can use for your business to win your customers’ loyalty and trust. What are you waiting on? Get started now and have fun!