If you’ve been posting consistently on social media, trying to give value to your followers, and not seeing an increase in clients, this blog post is for you. By now, you have enough evidence to show that posting and using hashtags aren’t working. Neither are those dance challenges. And it won’t work, not if that is your only strategy to generate leads for your business. To make money, you need two things. To be in front of an audience consistently and have consistent traffic to your website. Without these two things, you will never make money.
The best strategy for increasing sales is to show up on the platforms where your target audience is. Your business should be where people go when making a decision. And it’s not on social media. I will describe each channel buyers use and give examples of how to show up on them.
Mapping Platforms (Google Business Profile, NextDoor, HERE WeGo, Apple Maps, etc.)
Clients use Google Maps and other mapping platforms to find businesses and services. Your business needs to be on one of the mapping platforms. You can create a Google Business Profile for free. The Google Business Profile has many other great features you can use to promote your business. It’s available for home-based or online businesses, unlike Bing, which requires a brick-and-mortar.
Google Search (website or landing pages)
Typically, when we want to get information on a subject, we start with a Google or Bing search. Create a website or landing page for your business to ensure people can find you online.
Directory (industry-specific)
These websites make it easy for customers to find service providers; it’s an effortless process of filtering the categories based on your needs. Make a business profile on the directories where potential clients can search for services. Here are a few examples of industry-specific websites; I Love Creatives, HubSpot Partner Directory, MailChimp Partners, Shopify Expert Directory, Google Partners, and Pudding. There are many more, so do a thorough Google search.
Project-based websites
These websites are a lot like directories. The only difference is you can post a project/job on the website. Also, you can bid on projects, allowing yourself to connect with potential clients. Make sure to create a business profile on websites like Guru, Dribbble, Upwork, Freelancer, Thumbtack, Fiverr, etc.
Marketplaces
There are marketplaces where you can sell your services and products to your clients. Do you have digital products? If you make social media graphics and templates in Canva, you can sell those on Etsy, Creative Market (as a contributor), Gumroad, and many other websites.
Workshops and Webinars
For those who aren’t shy, teaching a workshop about graphic design, website design, social media, etc., will help you generate leads for your business. Reach out to the local nonprofits providing services for small business development to teach a workshop. Contact the Members Services department at your local Chamber of Commerce. They are always looking for workshop instructors.
Eventbrite, Airbnb Experiences, and Google Events are the perfect channels to promote your webinars. Hundreds of thousands of people use those platforms daily to discover upcoming events online or in person. You could discuss relevant topics of the marketplace or teach a how-to workshop.
Applying these strategies will help you generate more leads and increase your conversion rate. It will take time to reap the fruits of your labor but don’t get discouraged or give up.
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