Many direct sales companies recommend marketing to your friends and family, which is a good idea, but they never explain why. The primary reason is that those relationships already have the know, like, and trust factors built in. Generally speaking, people tend to deal with others they like and trust if all other factors are equal. You can therefore count on your friends and family to either hear about or buy from your business more often.
According to the SBA, approximately one-third of businesses with employees fail within their first two years. While this article won’t explore all of the potential reasons companies fail, we will examine a few common ones. A consistent lead generation process is a major part of business success.
Marketing is the process of gaining interest from potential customers for your company’s products and services. A customer typically initiates a conversation with your business or provides you with their contact information so you can follow up with them about your company’s products or services. It’s much more common for businesses to contact leads after they submit their personal information for an offer, trial, or subscription, rather than cold calling them randomly. Moreover, the information an auto dealer collects from your survey responses allows the business to personalize that opening communication to assist you in solving your existing problems – instead of wasting time calling leads who are unwilling or unable to purchase auto services.
7 Steps to Generate Leads for Your Direct Selling
Direct Engagement
Engaging with a potential customer directly is an excellent way to generate new business if you sell a high-value product or service that is billed monthly. Your revenue model may revolve around low-value sales. If this describes your business model, it’s best to avoid this option. You can reach out to prospects directly via social media, email, phone, or even in person once you’ve established that they’re a good fit for your company.
Using email finder tools
It is possible to find email addresses and deliver them directly into your inbox by using an email finder tool. These tools search the web for emails and deliver them to your inbox. Email is a great method of reaching those who already know your brand and product or service. It doesn’t require any work on your part – they are ready for distribution. However, if you are not using a specific email finder tool, this method can be expensive. Emails are cluttered, so use a call-to-action with compelling copy and an eye-catching design to grab your subscribers’ attention. It is much easier to encourage them to perform an action since they have already subscribed to your list.
Build your own website to start generating your own direct sales leads
Direct sales companies rely on websites to generate leads for their businesses. Having your own website has multiple advantages, including helping establish your personal brand and being able to attract targeted visitors. You can also consider simply setting up a sales funnel system like Click funnels if you don’t have a huge budget. Lead generation can be achieved with the right sales funnel template and lead magnet, generating high-quality leads that are likely to be interested in your products or services. Your business will inevitably grow enough to need a full website as well as a sales funnel system or landing page. The first step is to decide what your website’s tagline will be. It is important to remain true to who you are and how you help people. Too many direct sales business owners mistakenly brand their content with their particular company versus their own self-image.
Create a lead magnet to get direct sales leads on autopilot
In order to get more leads in your direct sales business, you need to capture leads. Usually, most direct sales representatives go straight to the sale before qualifying prospects. In sales, there are many numbers involved, which is true, but wouldn’t you rather have more yeses than noes? The way to increase your conversion rate and generate more direct sales leads is by creating a lead magnet. The best way to qualify your leads and to generate them is to give away something pertinent to your ideal customers.
A lead magnet is something that you offer for free in exchange for a name, email, or even a phone number. In the case of a direct sales business selling weight-loss products, you might give away a free weight loss guide. You could also offer a workout plan, eating plan, etc. There are several options. You should create a lead magnet that answers the questions your ideal customer is asking, helps them avoid their biggest problems, or assists them in reaching their goals faster. Not only will you generate more direct sales leads this way, but you will also be more likely to gain their attention than if you beg your friends and family for help.
Ads and Retargeting
Any advertisement should aim to get people to take action. Otherwise, what is the point of it? In order for customers to convert, you must match the offer you make in the ad with your landing page and make clear the action you want users to take. Using pay-per-click advertising on search engines, such as Google or Bing, can help your business reach customers who are searching for terms that are relevant to your business.
Consider yourself a BMW dealer who is trying to improve your marketing efforts in Houston. Ads can be created targeting phrases such as “best BMW dealer in Houston” or “new BMW dealer in Houston,” and geo-filters can be applied to target users in the Houston area. You may be surprised at how few visitors to your website convert when they visit it for the first time. Display retargeting can help you show your products’ visual advertisements on other popular sites across the web after they click on your PPC ads.
Referrals from Current Customers
Lead generation with customer referrals is one of the oldest lead generation strategies around. If your product or service has delighted your current customers, ask them to share their experience with their friends who might also benefit. In some cases, customers may do this for free, but there are other times when you will need to set up an incentive system. Referrals are a great way to get more business for your business since they are profitable and your existing clients are generating most of the leads. You can offer your customers a certain percentage off their next monthly retainer fee if they refer other clients to you. It increases your brand’s exposure, which in turn makes it more likely to generate leads. This is how referral marketing contributes to lead generation in a different way.
Social Media
There are a number of ways to encourage your followers to take action on social media. It includes using the swipe up options on Instagram stories, Facebook bio links, and Bitly URLs on Twitter. In addition, you can also promote your offerings on your social media accounts and include a call-to-action in your captions. Find out more about social media campaigns here.
Having a lead generation strategy in place will ensure you turn strangers into paying customers. Regardless of whether you plan to buy leads or build a lead generation marketing plan.
