100 Lead Generation methods for business

O P E N I N G  N O T E S 

Initiate 100 lead generation activities for your business.

Assign different people to activate various Lead generation techniques and monitor

Active -

Means the Leads you can generate by meeting people 121 direct

Paid -

Means whether you need to spend money for the Activity

Online -

Means the activity using internet

Passive -

Means the leads through online without meeting people

Free - Means you can do this activity with your existing resources

Offline -

Means the activity is offline

*The activity is highlighted Dark next to each lead to indicate that the activity is right for the LEAD.

*Find Software Tools and Resources in the Text links for the particular lead generation activitie

1. Networking-in local groups for leads

Identify local network groups and meet often

Active / Free /  Offline 

2. Networking - Form your own referral marketing group & exchange leads

Form a group of Business owners who are in the same target market but different

businesses. Refer to each other when there is a potential opportunity.

Active / Free /  Offline 

3. Meet with a network member at regular intervals outside the group to generate leads. 121

Understand each others businesses, so that you can refer each other. Request clients you want to get connected.

Active / Free /  Offline 

4. Keep in touch with existing clients regularly.

This can be done through meetings, greetings, email marketing, etc.

Active / Free /  Offline 

5. Ask referrals from existing clients

Serve your customers and make them evangelists to refer new customers and talk good about you to other customers.

Active / Free /  Offline 

6. Ask referrals from relatives / friends 

Let your relatives and friends know what you do, they might know your potential clients. Do not ignore them.

Active / Free /  Offline 

7. Identify all your Target Industries and their Associations

Be a part of your target industry associations. You will have the chance to meet all your potential clients at one place.

Active / Free /  Offline 

8. Your Industry Associations

Be a part of your associations. A potential place to meet your competitors and other clients. Think of ways you can collaborate and grow.

Active / Free /  Offline 

9. Ex-Colleagues who have worked with you

Keep in regular touch with them, sometimes they may end up in key positions in your target client's industry.

Active / Free /  Offline 

10. Attend general events - Motivational speakers in your home town

All potential Entrepreneurs/Business Owners who are interested in learning will gather here. Network with them to generate enquiries.

Active / Free /  Offline 

11. Make a Dream 100 - Lists of your customers

Identify top customers in each of your target industry areas and create a Dream 100 list of clients and find ways to approach them

Active / Free /  Offline 

12. Identify a local SME body and enroll with them

This brings you a chance to meet business owners from various industries

Active / Free /  Offline 

13. Identify Magazines in your target industry

Inquire about how they gather regularly and network with them to meet readers of the magazines in your target industry

Active / Free /  Offline 

14. Visit Exhibitions and Trade Shows of your Target Industry

This is an excellent place to meet your target industry at one place and understand trends.

Active / Free /  Offline 

15. Visit Exhibitions and Trade Shows of your own industry

This is an excellent place to meet your industry friends, Network and collaborate to grow together

Active / Free /  Offline 

16. Meet your potential clients and offer a free book you have written

Writing a book is considered to show that you are the authority in your field. And it is the best Business Card you can ever have.

Active / Free /  Offline 

17. Partner and sell through related products

Identify products or services you can partner up & complement to sell together.

Active / Free /  Offline 

18. Work with partners who are in the same business in neighboring countries

Identify partners who may require your products and services in neighboring countries, who can work on a project basis.

Active / Free /  Offline 

19. Make your staff and team involved in referring sales

Train your staff and team to look for potential projects suitable to your company. Approach with an open eye, you may find interesting leads. Have a reward system for the same.

Active / Free /  Offline 

20. Tie-up with your potential competitors

Potential Tie-ups with like-minded competitors are very beneficial

Active / Free /  Offline 

21. Partnering with individuals in the forward integration process

Identify Influencer's or referral partners who can connect with your potential clients. Ex. Leasing agents can bring leads to interior designers.

Active / Free /  Offline 

22. Networking-BNI

Join a local BNI - Business Network international. Give and Get Businesses.

Active / Paid  / Online

23. Attend International Exhibitions

This can be an important source of information to know more about global expansion plans.

Active / Paid  / Online

24. Conducting Events & Seminars

This is a marketing activity and will bring in amazing brand awareness and create opportunity to people network each other..

Active / Paid  / Online

25. Visit Source/Head Office of the local company

This can be an important source of information if you are working with International Brands. Some clients finalize their suppliers in their Global Head Office and implement buying activity.

Active / Paid  / Online

26. Participate in Trade Shows

 Participate and display your products in trade shows.

Active / Paid  / Online

27. Activate your Brand through POS display in Malls, Beaches, and other crowded areas

This is called Marketing Activation. This works well to create brand awareness especially for consumer products.

Active / Paid  / Online

28. Arrange conference with dinner invite customers to drive the market

You can invite your potential clients in one place by arranging a speaker who can deliver a valuable speech, useful for your clients and can also promote your products. You can choose a topic trending. Good opportunity to network

Active / Paid  / Online

29. Cold Calling

Identify top customers in each of the target industry areas and do cold calling to identify requirements.

Passive/ Free  / Online

30. Re-engage with past clients who are not in touch

Make ''How are you" calls (not to talk about business), talk about personal matters.

Passive/ Free  / Online

31. Read newspaper articles about business news 

Look for articles from your target industry to see their expansion plans announced by them, this can be a potential opportunity for you to approach and do business.

Passive/ Free  / Online

32. Free listing in business Directories in Print

Identify local business directories and add your company name and get it listed.

Passive/ Free  / Online

33. Email signature | Easy to call Phone number or Clickable email

Make all your email signatures with phone numbers callable with click and emails clickable. Avoid using the image for email signatures. Many customers use mobile phones to search by company name and call you through email signatures.

Passive/ Free  / Online

34. Visit on-going live project sites & take pictures of the site information board

This is a project-centric approach, where you find a particular project developing in your locality and you can approach them directy

Passive/ Free  / Online

35. Top influencer's in each of your target industry

There are veterans and influencer's in each field, identify them and befriend them to connect to potential clients.

Passive/ Free  / Online

36. Top consultants in your target industry

There are top consultants in each field, identify them and befriend them to connect to potential client

Passive/ Free  / Online

37. List your name in local yellow pages & White page directory

List your company in local Yellow pages and White page directories.

Passive/ Free  / Online

38. Start PR activities that increase visibility

Get noticed in your city by speaking/writing or being interviewed in any of the channels/Media that can bring and increase your PR activities.

Passive/ Free  / Online

39. Find out ways to make company your visible by writing an article in a magazine/newspaper for free

Identify opportunities to promote a company in Newspapers or magazines.

Passive/ Free  / Online

40. Write a book in your industry

This will help you position your self as an authority in your field. Publicize in various social Media for ultimate results

Passive/ Free  / Online

41. Online Websites - business news websites 

Look for articles of your target industry in Online Business Intelligence websites to see their expansion plans. This can be a potential opportunity for you to approach and do business.

Passive/ Free  / Online

42. Ask referrals through WhatsApp groups

Be active in various Industry related WhatsApp groups, you can request for referrals and contacts of clients you are potentially looking forward to reaching.

Passive/ Free  / Online

43. Ask referrals through relevant Facebook groups of your industry

Be active in various Industry related Facebook groups, You can request for referrals of a client you are potentially looking forward to connect.

Passive/ Free  / Online

44. Ask referrals through relevant LinkedIn groups

Be active in various Industry related LinkedIn groups, You can request for referrals and contacts of a client you are potentially looking forward to reaching

Passive/ Free  / Online

45. Look for expansion strategies on your customer's websites. Check their latest news for leads.

This is also an excellent information, as all customers are proud to announce their expansion plans on their websites. This can be a vital information for you.

Passive/ Free  / Online

46. Connecting through Facebook Fans 

Posts regularly and connect with all your potential customers and invite them to your business page. Have a Call-To- Action Button in Facebook linked to your web site

Passive/ Free  / Online

47. Connecting through LinkedIn members

Connect with friends of friends who are in the same target market industry. This is an easy hack as your friend would be already connected with the target clients you are looking for. Keep adding the people you meet.

Passive/ Free  / Online

48. Connecting through Twitter and grow Audience

Posts regularly and connect with all your potential customers

Passive/ Free  / Online

49. Connecting through Instagram

Posts regularly and connect with all your potential customers. Follow them and be followed

Passive/ Free  / Online

50. Connecting through Pinterest

Posts regularly and connect with all your potential customers and invite them to your business page

Passive/ Free  / Online

51. Tendering Websites

Be a part of tendering web sites and get notifications when there is a potential inquiry in your industry category.

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

52.Free listing in business online directories

Google search all online directories and send entries to register. Search your top 10 competitors in google and list your name in all the directories they are part of

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

53.Cross promotion with SOLO Ads on websites

Identify 10 different businesses that have the same target markets and promote them/talk good about them on social media. This can help bring leads to them from your customers and vice versa

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

54.Cross promotion with SOLO Ads on websites

Identify 10 different businesses that have the same target markets and promote them/talk good about them on social media. This can help bring leads to them from your customers and vice versa

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

55.Cross Promotion through Email Marketing

Partner up with other business owner who shares the same target market. You can send an email to your clients talking about his products. And he will send vice versa

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

56.Register with large companies in Vendor list through online portal

Identify all Govt and Major clients in your target industry and register in the web portal or Buyer portal for receiving enquiries.

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

57.Do Keyword Analysis - who is looking for your products in Google Search

You may find some information which can help you, how your customers looking for your products online. Do competitor analysis and find what key words are performing best.

Passive/ Free  / Online

58.Look for online directories of your target industry and start advertising there

There are special directories for Real estate, Medical, Hotel, etc. Try and place an ad in the same to attract leads

 / Passive/ Paid Offline /

59.WhatsApp Widget in web site

High ROI chat help you to chat with your customers live and answer all objections

/ Passive/ Paid Offline 

60.Enroll in Google My Business and Get noticed and found

It is a Google Free Services to identify your business & get it verified by Google, so that, when someone searches you appear on google

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

61.Place your company on Google Maps and get identified easily

Pin your company on Google maps. People can find directions to reach your business location

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

62.Create Whats App Broadcasting Groups (256 members per group)

Start sending your promotional posts periodically on WhatsApp broadcasting groups

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

63.Upload your contacts in Nudge.ai

Add your contacts list in Nudge.ai. Nudge will send reminders when your contacts are active on Social media. By commenting on their posts you can grab their attention and be in front of their eyes

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

64.You must have a impressive business card & other catalogs

Please get all your marketing collateral sorted with correct phone numbers & email ID's

/ Passive/ Free  / Online

65.Advertising in Trade Magazines

Place advertisements in trade magazines and their website potentially to reach your target industry

/ Passive/ Paid Offline

66.Advertising in newspapers

Newspaper ads & Classified Ads are a conventional way of generating leads. But still works for some products

/ Passive/ Paid Offline

67.Outdoor Bill Board Advertisement

Advertising on prominent Bill Boards brings in potential clients and brand awareness. This is one of the expensive method.

/ Passive/ Paid Offline

68. Business Intelligence services for projects like BNC Network

This can be an important source of information, you can subscribe to get the latest update on New, Concept, Design, Build projects in various countries

Passive/ Paid / Offline

69. Vehicle Branding/Graphics

This is an advertisement on the wheels promoting your brand all along with the travel. Have your Phone number and website displayed on your vehicle

Passive/ Paid / Offline

70. Identify Potential "CALL SERVICES" that generates leads

If you are registered when customers call, they will pass on the inquiry to you. e.g. JUSTDIAL

Passive/ Paid / Offline

71, SMS marketing

Subscribe to SMS Marketing tools. This can be an effective tool for approaching consumers directly

Passive/ Paid / Offline

72.Online Services Portal

Identify your local online services portal which is active and your potential clients registered are looking forward to buying products & service through that. Like Alibaba

Passive  / Paid / Online

73.Create Apps & Promote Apps

Depending on the business you are in. Creating and promoting apps encourage your customers to order through the Apps

Passive  / Paid / Online

74.Email Marketing Activity

Email marketing is also an excellent method to be in touch with existing and new clients. Get your emails verified before sending a marketing email if you have purchased a database.

Passive  / Paid / Online

75.Live Chat Widget on your website

High ROI chat help you to chat with your customers live and answer all objections

Passive  / Paid / Online

76.Create Chat bot for selling your products

Little Chabot placed on your website and connected to Facebook messenger do the magic of nurturing and qualifying your prospective leads

Passive  / Paid / Online

77.Approach Clients through Linked Premium

You can inbox message and contact all your potential clients through LinkedIn premium.

Passive  / Paid / Online

78. Messenger Marketing & Chat BOTS

Utilize the latest technology to generate leads with click through rate of 70% in Messenger Marketing through Facebook

Passive  / Paid / Online

79.Google - SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your web site

Do regular SEO to bring your website on the first page of Google when searched for your industry. This has to be done for long term results

Passive  / Paid / Online

80.Google Ads (SEM - Search Engine Marketing)

Do Google AdWords if required for instant Results

Passive/ Paid / Offline

81.Advertising on Facebook

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic and generate Leads instantly. Have Sales funnel set up.

Passive  / Paid / Online

82. Advertising through LinkedIn Ads

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic and generate leads.

Passive  / Paid / Online

83.Advertising through YouTube Ads

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic.

Passive  / Paid / Online

84.Advertising through Twitter Ads

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic

Passive/ Paid / Offline

85.Advertising through Pinterest Ads

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic

Passive  / Paid / Online

86.Gmail Advertisement

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic

Passive  / Paid / Online

87.Yahoo Advertisements

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic

Passive  / Paid / Online

88.Google Display Advertisements

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic through Google Display Ads through Programmatic Ads platform

Passive  / Paid / Online

89.Subscribe to leads providing websites like Sulekha

If you are registered when a customers call, they will pass on the inquiry to you

Passive  / Paid / Online

90.Instagram Advertisements

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic.

Passive  / Paid / Online

91.Quora Advertisements ( Users 678 Million)

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic.

Passive/ Paid / Offline

92.Build an attractive Website to attract Leads

Web sites are the number one tool for people to find out about you and your products

Passive  / Paid / Online

93.Build attractive Sales Funnels & Landing Pages for specific products to attract leads

It acts like a sales person and when shared to your audience, you will have a 10 X impact than your web site, as it talks only about particular product

Passive  / Paid / Online

94.Acts as a sales BOT. It answers and qualifies your customers

Passive  / Paid / Online

95.BOTIM Advertisements

Run ads to your target audience to attract traffic. These are ads run for specific app users

Passive  / Paid / Online

96.Video Marketing

Create Videos about your products & services. Videos are considered to be one of the best lead magnets

Passive  / Paid / Online

97.Encourage Facebook check in's for your Clients & Friends when they visit your place

All contacts of clients and friends have access to your Facebook postings. This will be very powerful for B to C and will give a big boost to your FB account

Passive  / Paid / Online

98 .Radio Ads do good too, depending on the nature of your business

Radio Ads also work well in some cases.

Passive  / Paid / Online

99. Keep Subscription on top of the blog, so the subscribers should be auto-updated when there is new content.

It is a new form of attracting customers when they visit your website. It enrolls them in the subscription list and sends frequent posts

Passive  / Paid / Online

100.Have POP ups installed in your web site with options to collect emails in return for Free PDF of clients interest

It is a new form attracting customers whoever visiting your web sites and enroll them in the subscription list and send frequent posts.

Passive  / Paid / Online