You can’t deny the power of word-of-mouth. After all, it was a friend who talked to you about the latest Netflix series or told you where they found the best burger in town.
And while there’s no way to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing, there are ways to help spread your message and reach new potential customers, without relying on others.
The key is to use these 15 helpful tips and tools to boost sales, grow your brand awareness, and generate leads for your business.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Utilize storytelling in your campaigns. |
| 2. Leverage user-generated content. |
| 3. Implement interactive quizzes and polls. |
| 4. Optimize your website for conversions. |
| 5. Offer exclusive discounts or promotions. |
| 6. Create compelling video content. |
| 7. Collaborate with influencers. |
| 8. Use social media contests creatively. |
| 9. Personalize your email marketing. |
| 10. Develop educational resources. |
1. Create A Content Marketing Game Plan
A content marketing game plan is a document that outlines your company’s content strategy. It details what types of content you will create, who will create it, how often it will be created, and how each piece fits into the big picture.
It’s important to have a game plan because this document is your roadmap for creating great content. Without it, you might end up wasting time on topics that don’t interest customers or creating irrelevant posts that fail to generate leads.
To create an effective game plan:
Identify your goals and objectives the why behind the what and write them down as specific statements about what success looks like for you (e.g., increase revenue by 15% over the next 12 months).
Use these statements as guidelines when developing strategies for creating engaging content that will help achieve those goals (more on this below!).
Building an effective marketing campaign involves careful planning and execution. Check out our article on launching B2C marketing campaigns with impressive ROI to learn valuable strategies that can help you achieve impressive results.
2. Host A Giveaway Or Contest
Give something away. If you want to give your audience an incentive to buy, then give them something in return.
It could be a prize like a free product, coupon code or gift card; it could be free shipping on purchases over $50; or it might just be the feeling of being part of something special and exclusive.
Whatever you choose to give away, make sure that it’s relevant to your brand and fits with the message you want to portray about yourself (i.e., don’t give customers who have signed up for your email list access to exclusive discounts unless this is what those emails are about).
3. Start A Referral Program
A referral program is a great way to get more sales and generate leads. And it doesn’t have to be complicated;
You can use an existing platform like ShareASale or refer a friend tool on your website, which allows customers and prospects to recommend your business by sharing their personal link with friends and family.
When it comes down to it, referrals are often the most effective form of lead generation — they often convert better than other marketing channels such as search engines or social media platforms like Facebook & Instagram ads.
A study conducted by Bazaarvoice found that 68% of consumers would rather engage with brands over social media than talk directly with a salesperson via phone call (although this could vary depending on what type of product/service you offer).
Additionally, the average conversion rate for referrals is 6 times higher than other types of leads (Source: Hubspot).
You might be wondering why this happens? Well one reason could be because people are more likely tell others about their positive experiences compared with negative ones;
Plus most people do not want others seeing them as being negative so they will avoid sharing anything bad unless absolutely necessary!
This means if someone has had something good happen then they’re probably going share it online too (like posting an image on Instagram), whereas something bad would only happen rarely enough that there’s no point mentioning every single time.”
Enhancing your online B2C marketing strategies can lead to greater customer engagement and conversions. Discover 15 actionable ways to improve your online B2C marketing efforts and take your digital presence to the next level.
4. Invest In Email Marketing
An email newsletter is a great way to get your message out and build relationships with customers. Email marketing is an essential part of any business strategy, but it’s not as simple as just sending out a blast that says something like “Buy now!”
There are several reasons why email marketing is so effective:
It was inexpensive. You can create an audience of thousands online for less than the cost of one commercial on television.
It’s customizable. You can reach people based on their interests and preferences, which will help you tailor your message and make them feel more connected to your brand.
You can ask questions. It’s easy to gauge customer interest by asking questions in an email newsletter (or through social media). This helps you focus on what matters most: driving sales while keeping customers happy at every stage of the buying cycle.
5. Guest Post On Other Blogs To Boost Your Brand
Guest blogging is a great way to build your brand and attract new leads. It can also help you create valuable relationships with bloggers, who might be interested in writing a review or feature about your products.
How do you find guest posting opportunities? You could use Google search, but there are other ways to find good sites where you’d like to publish your content. You can:
- Join forums relevant to your niche, such as Reddit or Facebook groups (make sure they allow self-promotion).
- Ask other bloggers if they have any suggestions on good blogs that accept guest posts.
- Browse through directories like http://www.blogdigger.com/guest-post-websites/.
6. Use Peer-To-Peer Messaging To Promote Your Products And Services
- Use peer-to-peer messaging to promote your products and services.
- Share high quality content on social media channels, where your audience is most likely to be.
- In addition, grow your social media communities and share high quality content that is relevant to them.
- Build relationships with customers by responding quickly and sincerely when they reach out to you via text message or WhatsApp.
- Encourage customers who already bought from you by asking for feedback about their experience with your business (and don’t forget about those who haven’t purchased yet!)
Effective content marketing can drive customer engagement and loyalty. Explore 19 examples of content marketing done right to gain insights into successful campaigns that can inspire your own creative endeavors.
7. Optimize Your Business For Local Search Engine Results
Optimize your business for local search engine results. If you’re not doing this, then you are missing out on a huge opportunity. You should optimize your business listings on Google and Bing to appear at the top of results when people search for businesses like yours in your area.
A good way to do this is by using a local business directory that allows users to post their information online, or even just inputting it yourself manually if there isn’t one available for your industry/location.
Make sure that your contact details are accurate and up-to-date so that people can actually find out how they can get in touch with you!
8. Grow Your Social Media Communities And Share High-Quality Content
Use social media to grow your communities, share high-quality content and engage with your audience.
Social media is a great way to promote your brand and reach new customers. You can use social media as an extension of what you do on other platforms, such as email marketing or search engine optimization (SEO).
Social media also lets you connect with likeminded individuals who are interested in what it is that you’re selling or offering.
When using hashtags on social media, keep in mind that not all hashtags are created equal: some will have many users, while others may only have a few dozen followers at best.
If this is the case for the hashtag that you want to use, consider changing it up so there’s a better chance of reaching new audiences and getting them engaged with what’s going on within your community!
Social network sites like Facebook allow users to post text updates that appear on their friends’ newsfeeds;
These updates may include photos or videos too! Platforms such as Twitter allow users only 140 characters per post so it’s important not only what type of content gets shared but also how much space there is left over after doing so–don’t waste time wordy tweets when short ones could accomplish everything just fine.”
9. Share Customer Testimonials And Reviews
Customer testimonials are the holy grail of marketing. They’re more effective than any other form of marketing, like infographics and press releases, because they’re more credible, trustworthy and persuasive.
One study found that 92% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendations from friends and family!
So why not create a page dedicated to these gold nuggets of praise? It doesn’t take much time or effort to get started: all you need is access to your customer database (which you should already have) and some basic design skills (which can be learned).
10. Use An Influencer Marketing Campaign To Promote Your Products
Influencer marketing is a type of marketing where you partner with an influencer to promote your product or service. Here are some tips on how to use this strategy:
- Identify your target audience and find relevant influencers
- Work with the influencers to create content that will resonate with their followers, then get the content out there through social media, email newsletters, etc.
- Measure the success of your campaign by tracking metrics like reach, engagement rate, and conversion rate
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11. Offer Free Shipping On Orders Over A Certain Amount
Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount: This is a great tactic for increasing your average order value (AOV) and encouraging customers to spend more than they originally planned.
Offer free shipping on a particular product: For example, if you sell necklaces and earrings, offer free shipping on jewelry orders that exceed $50. Or, if you run an electronics store, offer free shipping on any laptop purchases over $500.
Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount to a particular location: This can be useful when selling products that aren’t necessarily heavy but may be bulky or large for example, if you’re selling home décor items online like rugs and throw pillows,
This would encourage people who are buying multiple items at once to buy everything they need from one place instead of having to go through another site just for one more rug or pillow before checking out.
Offer free shipping within the state/country where the customer lives:
This is similar but different from offering it based solely on their total order value because it doesn’t require them specifically to spend more money than their goal it simply encourages them by saying “Buy as much as you’d like!”
12. Get Involved With Community Events And Donate
You can also get involved with local events and causes. There are a number of ways to do this, ranging from donating money or items to charitable organizations like your local animal shelter or food bank, to supporting local businesses and schools.
Donating money is an easy way to give back while earning yourself some good karma in the community. You could donate money directly to a cause or organization you support (like the Red Cross), but if you want more direct contact with your customer base.
Consider sending out a coupon for an upcoming event that’s being hosted by one of these groups or offering up discounts on products sold by them and letting people know how much was donated as part of their purchase!
This way, not only do people get something out of it (a deal/coupon) but so does everyone else involved: the group getting funded gets a little extra cash; those who attend can have fun knowing they’re helping others;
And even those who don’t make it out because they’re too busy working elsewhere will still benefit because their company is doing well enough financially thanks in part due its donations program!
13. Talk About Current Trends On Social Media A
As a business, you should always keep up with the latest trends and news. This will help you to stay relevant in your industry, as well as give you an opportunity to share what you have learned with others.
If you share interesting or thought-provoking information on social media, it can be a great way of building trust with your followers who will trust that you know what’s going on in their niche or industry.
Also, if there is ever an issue where people need help or advice (like natural disasters), those are good times for businesses that offer products or services related to fixing problems caused by the disaster because they will probably see a spike in traffic due to people looking for answers online during such times.
14. Create Video Content That You Can Share On Social Media
Video content is becoming more and more popular on social media.
According to research, video content is more engaging than any other type of post. It’s also more likely to be shared and watching a well-made video can feel like a commercial, so people watch it almost like they’re waiting in line at the movie theater.
And with video being all over the internet, it makes it easier for you or your brand to explain what you do quickly and efficiently without having to write out long descriptions or paragraphs.
You don’t even need expensive equipment!
Most smartphones are capable of producing high quality videos (and even if yours isn’t, there are plenty of apps that will help turn your phone into a cinema camera).
You can always use free editing programs such as iMovie for iOS devices or Movie Maker for Windows phones if you want something fancy…
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15. Increase Traffic To Your Website By Running Pay-Per-Click
Pay-per-click (PPC) is one of the best ways to increase traffic to your website. This strategy allows you to gain new leads through a variety of channels, including Google AdWords, Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, Twitter ads, Instagram ads and YouTube Ads.
In fact, with each channel, you can create different messages that speak directly to your target audience.
For example: if you’re promoting a new product on social media such as Facebook or Instagram that targets millennials then use images that showcase what makes this product unique and appealing for them.
If however; you’re targeting an older audience then provide relevant information about how the product is going to improve their lives in some way – perhaps by improving productivity at work or reducing stress levels during busy periods like Christmas shopping season!
Conclusion
Marketing your business can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! With these 35 creative marketing tips, you’ll be sure to get new customers and boost sales. If you don’t have time to implement these yourself, consider hiring an agency or freelancer who can help.
Further Reading
Explore these additional resources to expand your knowledge on boosting sales, generating leads, and enhancing your marketing strategies:
Fresh Marketing Ideas to Elevate Your Campaigns Discover innovative marketing ideas that can give your campaigns a fresh perspective and help you stand out in a competitive landscape.
Effective Lead Generation Ideas for Your Business Dive into proven lead generation strategies that can help you capture more prospects and convert them into valuable customers.
Creative Lead Generation Strategies to Fuel Your Growth Learn from HubSpot’s insights on creative lead generation strategies that can drive growth and improve your marketing outcomes.
FAQs
What are some unique marketing ideas to boost sales and leads?
Exploring creative marketing ideas, such as leveraging user-generated content and running interactive contests, can create a buzz around your brand and attract potential customers.
How can I improve my lead generation efforts?
Focusing on content marketing, optimizing landing pages, and utilizing social media advertising are effective ways to enhance lead generation and attract quality leads.
What role does content play in lead generation?
Content plays a crucial role in educating and engaging potential customers. Crafting informative blog posts, ebooks, and webinars can position your brand as an industry authority and attract leads.
What are some unconventional lead generation methods?
Exploring partnerships, attending industry events, and hosting webinars are unconventional yet effective methods to generate leads by connecting with a targeted audience.
How can I measure the success of my lead generation campaigns?
Tracking key metrics such as conversion rates, click-through rates, and customer engagement can provide insights into the effectiveness of your lead generation campaigns.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.