The only constant is change, as the old saying goes. This is undoubtedly true during these uncertain times we find ourselves in. The way we live our personal lives has changed, and the way we conduct business is changing, too.
The good news is change opens up a new pathway for innovation and growth. As a business owner it is important your business is able to adapt to the evolving environment, especially now more than ever. One of the biggest changes is this brave new digital world we now live and do business in. While the internet and doing things online has been a big part of human society for a while now, it’s certainly become more important than ever this year.
So, if you’re a small business looking to continue to grow and generate leads in a digital world, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’m going to offer some basic tips to help you build an online presence and continue to capture those all important leads in this new and digital environment we live in.
1. Network virtually
Prior to this year, you probably did a lot of in-person networking. Yet if these past few months have taught us anything it’s that digital networking is very much possible and still a great way to generate leads. Do some research to find out the best online events to attend (you don’t want to waste your time virtually mingling in a space where your ideal consumers aren’t!)
2. Get social
If you don’t have a social media presence, now is the time to create one. Social media is perhaps one of the most important and influential tools when it comes to capturing leads and is vital for any marketing strategy. To decide which platforms your business should be on youneed to figure out where your ideal buyer spends time online, you can do that by creating buyer personas, this is a great place to start. Or, if you already have a social presence, consider giving it a little makeover or update to ensure it looks professional and all the content you have previously posted is relevant and helpful to your target buyers.
3. Show off what you know
With your social media profiles built and ready to go, now’s the time to show off what you know and position yourself as a thought leader. As people continue to spend more time online you are more likely to reach a bigger audience. Whether you set yourself up on YouTube or TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook, create content and share what you know with your online audience. By proving you know your stuff, people will come to see you as an expert in your field, whether you offer a product or service.
4. Ask current customers for referrals
When was the last time you spoke to previous clients or thanked them for their business? Have you ever considered asking them for help in generating more leads? Happy customers are an excellent lead generator, and it doesn’t have to be scary to ask for a referral or testimonial. All you need to do is ask customers to fill in a quick feedback survey or form and pop their positive feedback on your social channels. You can even offer an incentive to make them more likely to offer feedback, such as a small free gift or service discount for when they next buy from you.
With an expanded online presence in tow, you can now start using a few simple methods to capture more leads online. Head here to read how you can include lead generation in your marketing strategy.
About the author:
Stacie Chalmers is the managing director of The Inbound Marketing Company (TIMCo), a global Inbound Marketing and Sales Agency based in Australia, with clients in North America and Australia