Online Lead Generation (2022 Guide) – Forbes Advisor

Here are eight simple techniques you can use to generate online leads.

Search Engine Optimization

Whenever your prospects want to know something or solve a problem, they search online. You can optimize your online presence—website, blog, social media accounts, aggregator platforms, etc.—in a way that they find their way to you. As these are people searching for solutions to their problems, if your content helps them, they are likely to buy a related product or service from you. Many powerful SEO tools are available for a low monthly cost.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a great way to send qualified leads to your landing page. To accomplish this, you need to create useful and informative content and distribute it where the target audience is. Although the content is free to read, you can add calls to action anywhere on the page to ask for their contact information in exchange for more relevant information such as an e-book, reports or white papers.

If your content solves their exact pain point, they are highly likely to sign up to receive your offer. Content marketing is a long-term game and you should expect it to take at least six to nine months for the organic traffic (market qualified leads) to snowball into purchases (sales qualified leads).

Blogging

If you feel you are not yet ready to start content marketing on outside platforms, consider starting a blog. Create blog posts around keywords your prospects are searching for and you can attract organic traffic from multiple search engines. Don’t forget to add calls to action in the blog posts so that you can generate leads from the organic traffic.

Consistent blogging can push your content to the featured snippets and top of the search engine results page (SERP), generating high-quality organic traffic.

Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms are a great way to gather followers by sharing useful content and then guiding them to take appropriate action. You can promote your offerings and even include a call to action in your bio, caption or posts. Pick up some free social media management software to push content on multiple platforms at the same time.

Webinars

Informative webinars that solve the pain points of your target customers are a good way to make a more personal connection and generate leads. If the prospects find your webinar useful, they should be willing to share their contact details at the end of the webinar to receive information about your related product or service.

Industry Research Reports

Publishing industry research reports is a good way to establish your credibility and share contextual information. You can commission original research studies, partner with online research organizations or curate the latest studies from multiple credible sources. Then, get leads by offering a free download of the report in exchange for contact details.

White Papers or E-Books

White papers and e-books that solve problems or provide information to your target audience are good ways to generate leads online. People who share their contact information in exchange for these resources are already looking for solutions that your product or service solves. Hence, these are highly qualified leads.

Newsletters

Weekly or monthly newsletters are a good way to keep your leads engaged. Set expectations from the newsletter so that people on your list know what to expect from you and when. You can share new product releases, promotional offers, surveys and more through the newsletter.