Introduction:
In the world of marketing, lead generation is everything. After all, without leads, you don't have customers or conversions—and without conversions, you don't have a business. That's why generating leads should be a top priority for any marketer worth their salt.
Unfortunately, lead generation can be a bit of a challenge—especially if you're not using the right channels. With so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start (or where to focus your energies). That's why we've put together this helpful guide: to give you an overview of the top lead generation channels for 2020—and show you how best to use them. Read on to learn more!
Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the most versatile and effective lead generation channels out there. Not only is it affordable (you can get started with a free plan on most Email Service Providers), but it's also easy to use and perfectly suited for a wide range of marketing objectives.
For example, if you're looking to generate leads through content marketing, you can do so by sending your subscribers blog post alerts or setting up a basic newsletter that contains links to your latest content. Or, if you're looking to generate product leads, you could send promotional emails featuring your product or special offers. No matter what your goals are, email marketing can help you achieve them—which is why it's such a popular lead generation channel among businesses of all sizes.
Paid Advertising
Paid advertising is another great way to generate leads—albeit one that requires a bit more of an investment than email marketing. There are two main types of paid advertising: search engine marketing (SEM) and social media advertising. SEM includes techniques like pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and search engine optimization (SEO), both of which allow you to place ads on popular search engines like Google and Bing. Social media advertising, on the other hand, allows you to place ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The main benefit of paid advertising is that it gives you the opportunity to reach people who are already interested in what you're selling—meaning they're more likely to convert than someone who's just stumbled across your ad by chance. Of course, paid advertising can be expensive—so it's important to do your research and create a campaign that's targeted and cost-effective.
Referral Programs
Referral programs are another great way to generate leads—particularly if you run a B2B business. Essentially, referral programs offer an incentive for current customers or clients to recommend your business to someone they know who could also use your products or services—generating new leads in the process. For example, Dropbox offers current users 500mb of bonus storage for every person they refer who signs up for an account; in return, new users get 2gb of storage just for signing up with a referral link. Everyone wins!
Of course, referral programs only work if you have happy customers or clients in the first place—so make sure you're providing them with an exceptional experience before trying to incentivize them with referrals. If you do it right, though, referral programs can be an extremely effective way to generate new leads without spending any money at all!
Conclusion:
As any seasoned marketer knows, generating leads is essential to the success of any business. Without leads, there are no customers or conversions—and without conversions, there is no business. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to generate leads—you just need to know where to look (and which channels will work best for your business).
To help get you started, we've put together this helpful guide highlighting the top lead generation channels for 2020. From tried-and-true methods like email marketing and referral programs to newer techniques like paid advertising and social media marketing, we've got all the bases covered. So what are you waiting for? Start generating those leads today!