How to Choose the Right Lead Generation Strategy for Your Business.
Tips for creating and implementing a successful direct marketing campaign.
In the world of direct marketing, there are two main ways to generate leads: create them or buy them. Each approach has its own pros and cons, and the best option for you will depend on your specific operation, goals and budget.
Creating leads involves generating interest in your product or service and then capturing contact information from potential customers. This can be done through a variety of channels, including:
Creating leads involves generating interest in your product or service and then capturing contact information from potential customers. This can be done through a variety of channels, including:
Direct Mail: Deploying a direct mail campaign is a proven effective outreach method, mainly for its ability to target an ideal audience, trackability, and ability to create a lasting brand impression.
Content marketing: Creating and distributing high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience can help you attract leads. This content can take the form of blog posts, articles, e-books, infographics, or webinars.
Email marketing: Building an email list and nurturing it with valuable content is a great way to generate leads. You can collect email addresses through lead magnets, such as free trials, white papers, or checklists.
Social media: Social media can be a great way to connect with potential customers and generate leads. You can use social media to share your content, run contests, and interact with your followers.
Digital Display: Banner advertising is a great way to reach a large audience quickly. You can target your ads to specific keywords or demographics, and you only pay when someone clicks on your ad or have campaigns based on your website visitors or contacts.
Buying leads is a more direct way to generate leads. You can purchase lists of leads from lead generation companies. These lists typically include contact information, such as names, addresses, and email addresses and may be triggered by related consumer behavior.
There are several pros to creating leads:
You have greater control over the quality of your leads. When you create leads, you can target your marketing efforts to attract the right kind of leads. This means that you're more likely to generate leads that are interested in your product or service.
You can build a relationship with your leads over time. When you create leads through content marketing or email marketing, you have the opportunity to build a relationship with them. This can help you convert them into customers in the future.
You’re more likely the only solution the consumer is considering. When you are engaging the consumer during the awareness cycle, the consumer may not look for any competitors and you may have their complete attention during their consideration stage.
However, there are also some cons to creating leads:
It can be time-consuming and expensive. Creating leads can take a lot of time and effort. This can be a significant investment of time and money.
It's not easy to generate leads. Generating the right leads and navigating factors out of your control adds to the complexity of lead gen.
Let's talk about buying leads:
It's quick and easy. You can purchase lists of leads from lead-gen companies in a matter of minutes. This can be a great way to get started with leads if you don't have a lot of time or resources.
It's relatively inexpensive. You can purchase lists of leads for a relatively low price. This can be a good option if you're on a budget.
However, there are also some cons to buying leads:
The quality of the leads may be poor. Lead generation companies often sell lists of leads that are not very accurate or up-to-date. This can lead to a lot of wasted time and money.
You’re not alone. When you buy leads, other companies have also bought the same leads, decreasing your conversion, compressing your opportunity for a price premium, and changing the consideration and decisioning environment.
So, which approach is right for you? It depends on your specific business goals and budget. If you have the time and resources to create leads, this is the best option. However, if you're on a tight budget or you need to generate leads quickly, buying leads may be a better option.
If you're interested in creating leads, I encourage you to check out Xcelerant Marketing Solutions. Xcelerant leverages an omnichannel solution that uses multiple marketing channels to effectively engage consumers and create an ideal lead generation engine. Visit here to learn more about omnichannel marketing.