Business revolves around systems. Whether it’s your hiring process, your sales call scripts, or your event planning process, a strong system is the make-or-break point of success. Lead generation, THE most important aspect of any business, is no different.
But before you can create a powerful lead-generation system, you need to do a quick mental check. What is your mindset around lead generation? Do you feel too much pressure over it? Do you drag your feet or cringe at the thought of being “salesy”? It’s time to clear that up with the truth about lead generation.
The purpose of generating a lead is just to generate a lead.
#1 Set a Weekly Goal
#2 Describe the Perfect Client
#3 Identify POIs
Go to one of your top clients and ask what other services they use. Services such as designers, telephone companies, internet providers, marketing consultants, IT services, bookkeepers, accountants, etc. If your top client is using these providers, chances are they have other clients very similar to yours. Each provider with your target clients in their network is know as a Person of Influence (POI.)
Ask your client for referrals to those providers, then establish a relationship with them to exchange leads regularly.
Example: Your top client is Jane. Jane tells you she just LOVES her copywriter, Jeff. She gives you Jeff’s contact info (or better yet, introduces you to Jeff.) You talk to Jeff over email or phone a couple of times, and perhaps even use his services or refer another client to him. Then, you ask Jeff out to a lunch where the two of you can exchange names (leads.) Each of you walks away from the lunch with at least 10 new leads.
#4 Go to Networking Events That Make Sense
Whether virtual or in person, there are two types of networking events:
- Events with other people in YOUR business. These events are good for building associations, but not really for generating leads.
- Events with your prospects. THIS is where you will generate leads!
For example, a real estate agent might attend 2-4 marketing events every month but come home with maybe 2-3 leads each time. This is because the events he is attending are just full of other real estate agents. Instead, he will need to look for other events that his target prospects are attending (such as first-time homebuyer seminars, small-business networking events, etc.).
#5 Create Lead Magnets
No matter the type of business you have, you MUST have an online method for generating or attracting leads. These are called Lead Magnets, and can be anything from articles you’ve written to blog posts, ebooks, webinars, or videos. They need to be value-packed and free to entice prospects to want to learn more from you.
Sit and think about the top ten questions that you get asked all the time about your product/service. Write the question, then answer it in writing. That will be a blog post (yes, one post for EACH question.)
Go into detail, but remember that blog posts are typically 400 – 800 words long, so don’t worry about writing a whole book on the subject (yet)
Then shoot a quick video of yourself asking and answering the question. This DOES NOT have to be a professionally-produced event. You can get a lot of traction from a simple video shot at your desk in which you repeat the question and then answer in simple terms.
Always have a call to action at the end – such as “if you have more questions about this topic, I’d love to help you out. Contact me here for a quick ten-minute phone call.”
This process alone will generate 20 lead magnets for you, and every post and video will get better and better as you create them, building more and more traction.
With this lead generation system, I have been able to grow businesses from $0 to $ 1 million in revenue and build my own business from the ground up. Following it consistently will see you through any business hardship and even propel your growth.