Lead Generation | Inbound Marketing | Sales Funnel
7 Lead Generation Strategies for Your Startups That Drive Traffic
Attract qualified leads and build a consistent sales funnel
As a growing startup, would you say that your company is…
- Driving interest and engagement in its products and services?
- Attracting potential customers?
- Establishing brand awareness?
- Meeting revenue goals?
If not, there’s a problem, mainly with the sales pipeline. Startups must pay attention to lead generation because a solid strategy drives high-quality prospects and creates avenues for expansion.
So, what are some foolproof lead-gen strategies for startups? Listed below are seven top strategies to implement.
· 7 Lead Generation Strategies for Your Startups That Drive Traffic
∘ 1. Inbound Marketing
∘ 2. Outbound Marketing
∘ 3. Paid Advertising
∘ 4. Influencer Marketing
∘ 5. Networking and Collaboration
∘ 6. Referral Marketing
∘ 7. Trade Shows and Events
∘ Time to Make Changes across the Board?1. Inbound Marketing
As a startup, if you can ace inbound marketing, it will significantly save you time and costs. Why? Because inbound marketing is a smart way of allowing your customers to find you instead of you chasing them.
But undoubtedly, there is a price to pay (and it is worth it!). The trick is creating such engaging and valuable websites or web pages and content that potential customers look for more. Lead Page could be a simple great solution to create your landing pages.
Some top inbound marketing strategies & tools that work for startups include social media, interactive newsletters, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and YouTube videos.
This marketing strategy can attract quality leads, enhance brand visibility, and increase customer confidence by educating them. The key is implementing well-planned strategies, measuring them, and improving based on the findings.
2. Outbound Marketing
While it is good to have customers find you, it’s not wise to never reach out. Sometimes, interruption is a reminder or wake-up call that drives purchase decisions. Outbound marketing makes this possible — it enables you to reach out to your customers upfront (unlike inbound, which is subtle).
Some top benefits of this lead generation strategy are that customers can hardly miss it, even annoying ads can be personalized based on customer data for appeal, the strategies are easier to implement, and you can see instant results in most cases.
So, what are the top outbound marketing channels? These include email marketing, cold calling, PR campaigns, and direct marketing packages.
3. Paid Advertising
Also known as the pay-per-click model, paid advertising is a marketing strategy in which the advertiser (in this case, you) pays a publisher when an ad published on the latter’s website is clicked. This lead-gen strategy is usually related to first-tier search engines.
So, what would come under this strategy? Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, and even Google ads. This model offers plenty of benefits — granular targeting, valuable insights through analytics, broadcasting on multiple channels, retention, and the ability to build organic rankings.
Some crucial tips to master paid advertising include setting clear goals, defining the target audience, choosing the right platform(s), utilizing keywords properly, repurposing engaging content, and split-testing results. Then, creating a compelling offer becomes easy.
4. Influencer Marketing
Consider this — If a friend or individual you look up to were to suggest a specific product or service, you would at least want to try it, right? The same principle makes influencer marketing a hit for startups.
In these challenger-stage days, consider utilizing the following of a prominent influencer in your niche. Depending upon your budget and target goals, reach out to micro, nano, macro, or mega influencers (ideally, you should take an ascending route).
Start by determining your goals and the target audience. Then, pay attention to the three Rs — Relevance, Resonance, and Reach. Shortlist relevant influencers who can easily resonate with your audience and expand your reach considerably. Then, connect with each personally, collaborate, and create engaging content.
Above all, ensure you track results because only that makes it possible to enjoy benefits like refined content, cost-effectiveness, increased brand awareness, and higher ROI value.
5. Networking and Collaboration
In the business world, it’s not about what you know but who you know. Leveraging opportunities of gathering with like-minded people will give you exposure and guidance.
The fifth effective lead-gen strategy is communicating and networking with others from the business world. This includes other startup owners, sales coordinators, mega-company owners, etc. You can easily find a business community on social media, forums, and events.
Try to foster genuine connections and let business conversations naturally flow. Always show interest in the other party before even mentioning your brand. Discuss universal entrepreneurial situations, provide value to your connections, be yourself, and stay in touch.
When done right, networking can build lasting business friendships, drive opportunities for sales, create pre-qualified referrals, and increase brand visibility.
6. Referral Marketing
A more deliberate form of word-of-mouth marketing, referral marketing is a comprehensive strategy that brands use to encourage their existing client network for new customer inflow. This strategy works because it facilitates trust, enables laser targeting, and expands reach (primarily through social media platforms).
You can use your current network to expand your business, even if yours is a startup. How to go about it? Through a solid referral marketing program! Listed below are some crucial steps –
- Start by creating customer referral templates
- Set your goals and decide what you wish to achieve through the program — retention, revenue, etc.
- Learn where you already are through and observe how referrals come to your business in the first place.
- Describe your “ideal customer” at the onset of the program.
- List down all possible referral sources.
- Identify the critical channels on which you can host your referral marketing program.
- Create solid incentives to encourage your inner circle to reach out.
- Invest in a CRM system to track progress.
- Follow up on any referrals as soon as possible.
Finally, keep improvising based on your findings. This lead generation strategy works wonders when done right — think of increased marketing reach without exorbitant costs, valuable customer data, better brand reputation, and easy progress tracking.
7. Trade Shows and Events
If you haven’t taken the plunge yet into events and trade shows, you need to start now! As a startup, you need all the exposure you can find and what is better way than a meeting specifically designed for a business exhibition?
Interacting with trade show visitors will help you get the word out to highly targeted and worthwhile leads. Finding those who sign a deal right at the spot isn’t surprising. Then, you get the chance to learn/unlearn information. For instance — you can pose as a potential customer and ask your competitors for their prices, giveaways, etc.
Take mental notes and apply those to strengthen your business. Observe booths that are attracting the most visitors and analyze what strategies they’re using. If you decide to exhibit, ensure your booth is visible through attractive banners. And remember to leave crucial social media information for others to stay connected.
Some examples of top trade shows or events to attend include CES (Customer Electronics Show), Comic-Con International, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG.
Time to Make Changes across the Board?
Every startup strives to see growth, even rapid growth. This type of growth demands serious lead-gen strategies for which all departments must collaborate and work their best.
This will attract more qualified leads into the sales funnel and offer your internal teams a more meaningful marketing pursuit. Employ the above strategies per your business’s unique goals and target groups.
Then all that is left is to sit back and watch your sales pipeline turn into a lead magnet!
