How to Generate More Sales Leads for Your Business

Generating leads may be very hard for some, while others seem so natural with the process. When leads come easily, business owners have often researched and educated themselves on how to get leads. But for a newcomer, getting leads seems like a tall mountain to climb.

From a broad lens, a sales lead is defined as someone who would purchase your product or service. But when you drill down more, this person would be your ideal customer, fitting your demographic avatar so that you could solve their pain point – i.e., they have a problem, and you can solve it.

Here are a few suggestions that you can implement today to grow your sales leads:

When a customer comes into your business and purchases a product or service, work towards starting a dialogue with them by asking how you could have improved their experience with your business, what could you have done differently, and what you got right with their experience in your store. Once they have shared, good or bad, thank them – we all love to be appreciated and listened to.

Let’s not forget social media and email campaigns. Nowadays, pretty much everyone has a phone, so there is a 24/7 opportunity to find your ideal audience and meet their need with your product or service. But remember, a salesy, pushy vibe does not make the magic happen. It’s the know, like, trust process that does!

Another way to gain sales leads is by asking for referrals. This is the best lead for many industries. Word-of-mouth marketing at its finest. An alternative method would be to ask folks to reach out to their contacts and share the value of your product or service—both are very powerful methods.

It’s the little things your customers or B2B remember that often come in the way of gratitude with gifting or discounting something they want.

And finally, just because a person says no now doesn’t mean it won’t be a yes later. A lost opportunity is not where the “door” closes, but it can be a place where the door opens with welcomed arms that you can turn into a yes!

Peter J. Bednarek
Merill Lynch Wealth Management