Top 10 Lead Generation Tips for Small Local Businesses - Part 2 of 2

idealmike Level X³

October 30, 2017, 3:10 pm

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Top 10 Lead Generation Tips for Small Local Businesses - Part 2 of 2

Hello dear small local business owners. I presume you read the first part to this 2 part series on how small businesses can generate leads for their business? In that part, the first part, we spoke about some ways you can go about doing that. From doing your research homework first, to using paid advertising, to using social media and building an email list and doing SEO. All very viable things you can do, and should be doing, to generate leads with today!

However, in this next and final part of this 2 part series, I'm going to be further talking about taking up and optimizing local listings, to educating and helping your targeted audience to identify and solve problems they are having, which can be very beneficial and favorable to your business's credibility and authority amongst those people. To improving your site to better capture leads and to paying for and even following up on leads. In the right way, to turn them into full blown paying customers and clients. So let's continue already!

6. Optimizing Your Local Listings
Did you know that local listing sites like Google My Business, Yahoo Local and Bing Local etc were actually created just so local businesses can connect with local consumers? By having your business listed on these places, and by optimizing your listings, you will show up higher in the local search results when local consumers search for those businesses. Need local listings? You can find lists of local listings online, or even just have someone create them for you on here. Check out these Local Listings services who can do it all for you!

7. Educating, Informing and Solving Problems
Most niche industries have their own problems. If you can identify and know these problems, and provide a working solution to them, you will be a GOD in their eyes! Most people look online for answers to their problems and concerns. And most of them end up doing business with those businesses that have provided content that helps them out. By making use of a blog or even videos that regularly publish problem solving content that educates and informs people, that will prove to be one of the best lead pulling content types your business could do!

8. Enhancing Your Site for Conversions
Getting traffic to your website is one thing, it's a whole other ball game to actually get them to convert once on your site. To help with this, you should make sure that your website is fully equipped to keep people there for longer. As long as possible. But more than this, it should inspire and motivate them to take action and sign up or purchase from you. This can be done with video content and longer articles. That and using strong CTA's (Call To Actions) that all play a very crucial role in boosting conversions on your site.

9. Paying For Leads
As I said before in point 5 of this series on doing SEO, that can take a long time before you start to see results from it. And using PPC ads can end up costing a lot of money in the long run and just end up being ridiculously expensive. But working with a high quality lead source can help your business to connect with more of those quality leads. Paying for leads is one of the most powerful lead generation methods of them all. But you will have to find out whether the lead generation service you're using, can generate leads that are right for your business!

10. Following Up with Leads
However you generate leads for your business, you'll want to keep the lines of communication open with them if you want to have a better chance of converting them into actual paying customers! Unless you do that, you'll find that a lot of your lead generation methods will be going to waste and that will be a waste of time and money! Just try to keep in touch with your leads, ask them questions about what they're looking for, if there's any way you can help them. Stuff like that, anything to keep you in their mind. It will go a long way!

And that's a wrap! That completes this 2 part guide on lead generation tips for small businesses. Just knowing these things should be enough for you to look into doing them. And by doing them, well, that can lead to, you getting more leads! And turning those leads into paying customers and clients too for that matter!

Do you use any or all of these methods mentioned to generate leads with today?

What other ways can small business owners generate leads today?

Thanks and enjoy!

Mike.

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kgord

Thank you for this information and I think you have done a great job of breaking things down for those who are wondering what it is all about. I especially like the follow up section, because you will do a much better job of conversion if you follow up with those who have expressed an interest in what you have to offer.

7 years ago

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Barida

Doing a follow up of clients that express interest in what we offer can be a better way we can get through things as regards connecting with them.

7 years ago

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TommyCarey

Optimizing your local listings
It's actually amazing how many people don't do this for their own businesses. Out of all of my clients I've ever had, I think maybe 10 of them have actually gone ahead and done all of their listings online. Out of those 10, maybe only 3 actually kept up with their listings and updated them after something like an address or a phone number changed within the company lol.

These listings do much more than just giving a business a little more presence online. I don't think people realize how powerful these listing can be in terms of boosting your rankings, sending in traffic and closing a lead before the person ever gets to your website

Educating, Informing and Solving Problems
I usually preach this to newbies because it's best to start this as soon as possible. Sure, you can't always offer a ton of free information if you don't have ample sales supporting you while you're writing up content for users, but that doesn't mean you can't help at least one person a week

I like to help as many people as I can when I can, but sometimes I'm swamped with work and can't even write up a quick response to them on a forum or blog

Enhancing your site for conversions
A lot of people think "If I get them to my website, I will make money!" which isn't true at all lol. Conversion optimization is a big thing, I agree.

Paying for leads
This is hit or miss depending on your niche and industry. In my niche, the SEO and Marketing industry, it's hard to find a quality lead generation company because none really exist for someone on a budget. And even if you could invest $5,000 in these types of paid leads, there's no guarantee that they are exclusive and will convert at all.

I've purchased plenty of leads in the past, and they've all been pretty bad. I've searched for lead generation companies and services, I've paid pennies and hundreds per lead in the past, and they all result in the same thing. The person I call has never heard of me or the company that I said gave me their information

I'm sure there are some pretty good lead generation companies out there, but I haven't found any. The majority of the ones that I talk with say that their leads convert at about 5%, which means 5 new clients per 100 leads. If I'm paying $20 per lead, that's $2,000 up front. I will always offer the lead generation company $500 for any lead that turns into a client, but none of them take me up on my offer. I wonder why lmao

Following up with leads
I always follow up on the leads that I generate myself. I feel that if you're generating leads, or purchasing them, you should be contacting them a few times in different ways. They may not always see your email or phone call, so you should try to contact them until you get someone that either says they're not interested or they tell you to simply stop contacting them lol

- Other Ways -

Offer local discounts for foot traffic customers
Whenever I have a local client that rely on foot traffic, I always tell them to offer some sort of discount to people who live in the area or the town/city they're in. This will encourage people to come back because they know they're going to get a discount with every order or purchase.

Have a frequent buyers card
A lot of companies actually do this. They will have a sort of punch card for frequent buyers. They will actually hand them out to everyone who comes through the door and this encourages the buyer to come back multiple times in exchange for a free service, sandwich, beer, cocktail, etc. after they fill up all their punches on the card.

Give away coupons to customers
Giving your current customers coupons is an easy way to get them to come back in or share the coupon with friends or family. This will only increase your sales, even though the profits will be slightly reduced due to the discount coupon, but it's worth it

Thanks,

Razzy [size=100][u][b]Optimizing your local listings[/b][/u][/size] It's actually amazing how many people don't do this for their own businesses. Out of all of my clients I've ever had, I think maybe 10 of them have actually gone ahead and done all of their listings online. Out of those 10, maybe only 3 actually kept up with their listings and updated them after something like an address or a phone number changed within the company lol. These listings do much more than just giving a business a little more presence online. I don't think people realize how powerful these listing can be in terms of boosting your rankings, sending in traffic and closing a lead before the person ever gets to your website :D [size=100][u][b]Educating, Informing and Solving Problems[/b][/u][/size] I usually preach this to newbies because it's best to start this as soon as possible. Sure, you can't always offer a ton of free information if you don't have ample sales supporting you while you're writing up content for users, but that doesn't mean you can't help at least one person a week :D I like to help as many people as I can when I can, but sometimes I'm swamped with work and can't even write up a quick response to them on a forum or blog :( [size=100][u][b]Enhancing your site for conversions[/b][/u][/size] A lot of people think "If I get them to my website, I will make money!" which isn't true at all lol. Conversion optimization is a big thing, I agree. [size=100][u][b]Paying for leads[/b][/u][/size] This is hit or miss depending on your niche and industry. In my niche, the SEO and Marketing industry, it's hard to find a quality lead generation company because none really exist for someone on a budget. And even if you could invest $5,000 in these types of paid leads, there's no guarantee that they are exclusive and will convert at all. I've purchased plenty of leads in the past, and they've all been pretty bad. I've searched for lead generation companies and services, I've paid pennies and hundreds per lead in the past, and they all result in the same thing. The person I call has never heard of me or the company that I said gave me their information :( I'm sure there are some pretty good lead generation companies out there, but I haven't found any. The majority of the ones that I talk with say that their leads convert at about 5%, which means 5 new clients per 100 leads. If I'm paying $20 per lead, that's $2,000 up front. I will always offer the lead generation company $500 for any lead that turns into a client, but none of them take me up on my offer. I wonder why lmao :D [size=100][u][b]Following up with leads[/b][/u][/size] I always follow up on the leads that I generate myself. I feel that if you're generating leads, or purchasing them, you should be contacting them a few times in different ways. They may not always see your email or phone call, so you should try to contact them until you get someone that either says they're not interested or they tell you to simply stop contacting them lol :D [size=200][b]- Other Ways -[/b][/size] [size=100][u][b]Offer local discounts for foot traffic customers[/b][/u][/size] Whenever I have a local client that rely on foot traffic, I always tell them to offer some sort of discount to people who live in the area or the town/city they're in. This will encourage people to come back because they know they're going to get a discount with every order or purchase. [size=100][u][b]Have a frequent buyers card[/b][/u][/size] A lot of companies actually do this. They will have a sort of punch card for frequent buyers. They will actually hand them out to everyone who comes through the door and this encourages the buyer to come back multiple times in exchange for a free service, sandwich, beer, cocktail, etc. after they fill up all their punches on the card. [u][size=100][b]Give away coupons to customers[/b][/size][/u] Giving your current customers coupons is an easy way to get them to come back in or share the coupon with friends or family. This will only increase your sales, even though the profits will be slightly reduced due to the discount coupon, but it's worth it :D Thanks, Razzy

7 years ago

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kgord

One thing I have noticed about the local businesses here is that they frequently do not keep their listings updated. If they change location or go out of business, they do not change their numbers and this is an issue in ters of being able to contact them if there is a problem.

7 years ago

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Corzhens

Until now I am still groping with the leads in what it really means and how do you discern if what you did will result in leads. Anyway, I am a student of SEO and affiliate marketing in this site and I am trying to learn as much as I can. I am quite shocked that a website will spend $5,000 to a company that will provide lead generation because that is a lot of money for me.

6 years ago

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overcast

I think we have tried paying for leads with the linkedin type business. I can tell you that it is one of the worst ways to get the leads. You can see that when it comes to the leads, it is something people are going to be finding with. I personally have found out that small business need to find the leads word of mouth first and then do the advertising. initial few level of the leads need to come from the references too.So that;s something we have to learn as well. It takes time though. not something we can learn over a period of time.

Another thing is that PPC ads during initial level of the business is not going to be any good. And one has to learn to diversify. That's something I'd say instead of spending money from the day one.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

It depends on the business obviously but like you said, pay per click advertisements are not always effective enough especially when your business is still starting out. It's just a huge waste of money to be honest if you spend your money n pay per click advertisements during the startup period of your business. It's better to go down different routes that are a lot more effective.

7 years ago

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overcast

Linkedin is definitely waste of money. Because small mortar and brick type of business are not benefiting from it. Most likely the MNC level business are there. And it is mostly lobby of the HR people. And on that point you can see that for this reason alone I dont' find it usable for the big business. I prefer to invest more into adwords and the facebook ads in comparison to other ads for sure.

7 years ago

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potentialwriter

You must create an avenue for educating people on things they need to know, how to go about the product or service you are offering to them. People must be deeply informed on how to cope with new and existing changes. Sometimes, you may go for Pay-Per-Click advertising in order to speed up lead generation. It's just a matter of paying for valid clicks sent and received and the payment is made after delivery.

7 years ago

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Barida

One good reason we should teach people about the type of services we offer is that we can get to be cool when we reach that point in which they will want to buy these products from us.

7 years ago

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vinaya

I have a tire shop and I sell tires to the local customers. I sell all kinds of tires, however, my most successful product is dumper tires. There are a couple of cement factories in my town and they employ hundreds of dumper to carry their load. And the dumper needs to change tires frequently. I offer discounts and give 90 days of credit limit (the buyer do not have to pay instantly, they can clear the bill in the said time) for frequent buyers. Discounts and credit limit have helped me to run my business successfully.

7 years ago

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Barida

Once a customer is credit worthy, selling to them can be a great way to increase sales and boost profits unlike those that don't sell on credit.

7 years ago

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vinaya

That's true. However, there is also a risk involved in credit selling. The buyer may never return to you. I have experienced this many times. Therefore, these days when I sell on credit, I set the price higher than when I am selling on cash.

7 years ago

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Corzhens

When talking of local business, there is a big difference because a local business is not like a big business with a generic approach. In a local business, the clients are treated like relatives and friends. You can feel that with the local salon or boutique that when you enter, the attendant may not know you by first name but definitely knows your face and remembers what you buy. That familiarity breeds relationship that you have to maintain in order to keep holding on to your present clients.

7 years ago

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SEOClerks

Top 10 Lead Generation Tips for Small Local Businesses - Part 2 of 2

Top 10 Lead Generation Tips for Small Local Businesses - Part 2 of 2

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