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5 Steps to Social Media Lead Generation for Better Results

In today’s environment, when the internet is at the forefront and almost everyone is online, it’s reasonable to believe that almost everyone uses social media. There are over 3.5 billion social media users on Earth today.

That is a lot.

The days of presenting products, ideas, and plans in person are long gone. Everything may be achieved digitally these days.

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 70% of US adults are on at least one social media site.

Almost 70% of US adults are on at least one social media site.

Social media has become vital for any business looking for ways to get more clients and customers.

It’s the new basis of how credible businesses are, apart from being the easiest way to get in touch with them.

Lead generation has always been easier this way.

When you’re in the process of acquiring prospects, your role becomes much more difficult if you don’t leverage the information your prospects already provide online.

Investing in social media lead generation (the use of social media platforms to find new leads) is extremely effective when done right.

Best Practices for Social Media (SM) Lead Generation in 2022

SM lead gen is now the most popular way of accessing the internet, with over half of all users using it. They utilize the system on a daily basis and offer substantial data to the site.

These figures are vital for generating leads. This data is utilized by marketing firms to choose target audiences. Many businesses now rely on social networking as a source of information when making marketing decisions.

It’s because it targets a certain demographic with low-cost and high-yield marketing. Digital advertising and promotion still rely heavily on SM campaigns.

Social media lead generation statistics

The following statistics illustrate the significance of generating leads on SM. These networks can also be used as a marketing tool for your company’s branding and sales efforts, according to the data.

  • According to 67% of marketers, SM marketing is effective at generating leads.
  • To improve the quality of lead generation, 59% of marketers think SM marketing is one of the most effective tactics
  • When it comes to online purchases, brands have found that 89% of consumers follow them on social media.
  • 57% of consumers bought a product when they found out about it on SM.
  • 74% of Millennials buy products from social media platforms.
  • 4 years of social marketing experience is enough for 74% of marketers to improve their lead generation skills.
  • 85% of marketers are self-taught, which means that social marketing skills come with experience.
  • Social media is the leading lead generation channel, accounting for 18.45% of revenue contribution.
  • Word of mouth recommendations on these platforms account for 5%, driving 67% of consumer purchasing decisions.
  • 73% of marketers believe their social media marketing strategies have been “fairly effective” or “very effective” at lead generation

Expert suggestions on Social Media Lead Generation

Social media lead generation can be a great way to find new customers, but it’s important to test your campaigns first to make sure they’re effective. Before you start, set an overall goal for your campaign and make sure you’re paying attention to how well it’s doing.

5 steps to generating social media leads for better result

Would you like to find out more about how to get started? We’re going to walk you through what to watch out for as you navigate social media platforms.

First, what is social media lead generation?

It’s safe to assume that most people are online these days since social media and other digital platforms are everywhere. Over 3.5 billion people use social media.

Now that’s a lot.

  • According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 70% of US adults are on at least one social media site.
  • Almost 70% of US adults are on at least one social media site Click To Tweet

Social media has become vital for any business looking for ways to get more clients and customers.

It’s the new basis of how credible businesses are, apart from being the easiest way to get in touch with them.

Lead generation has always been easier this way.

You make your job a lot harder if you don’t use the information your prospects already provide online when you’re in the process of acquiring prospects.

When done right, social media lead generation (finding leads on social media platforms) is very effective.

1. Research your prospects

Before you even get started engaging with your prospects, do some research online to create a list of the customers that you are looking for.

A good lead generation strategy doesn’t mean picking a random account and sending them a message with your pitch. When you get into the realm of spam messages, you’ve already missed the mark.

Find prospects with the characteristics you are looking for.

Trust remains the most important factor in customer acquisition and retention even in the digital age. While it is one thing to generate digital leads, it is quite another to nurture them and build a relationship based on trust and respect.

There is no telling what may happen when you search on social media, and since this method develops a tailored pitch for your prospect in the first place, each attempt is excellent practice for the future.

Take a look at your list of prospects and see if you can find out what kind of social media accounts they have on the different platforms. You should definitely check out the big three – Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – as well as their LinkedIn profile if you want to dig deeper.

This can be done by typing their name into the search boxes on these websites or you can go directly to the prospect’s website where they may already be linked.

Taking it one step further, figure out who exactly you want to talk to and reach out to them.

In the “Our Team” or “About Me” sections of a prospect’s website, you find biographies and information about the company’s key players.

Find out what their interests are, what they care about, what they are passionate about, and all that good stuff.

2. Don’t introduce and pitch right away

Just a reminder that social media is fantastic for lead generation and first contact. However, it should (almost) always be used in conjunction with other methods.

Using 3-4 different outreach methods will ensure you saturate your lead pool just enough to maximize response. Lead generation on social media is a good place to start, but we recommend putting that data into a tool and filling in the blanks (i.e. physical address, email, etc.).

For example,

You can definitely do some great pre-research on potential leads via social media, send them a cold email, and then try to connect on LinkedIn.

Before you reach out to your leads, remember that lead generation on social media isn’t the digital equivalent of cold calling on the phone.

This strategy means more work on a tailored pitch to increase your chances of closing a deal.

At this stage, you want to get a feel for your prospect’s social media behavior.

Observe how and when they engage online through their profiles.

Are they more active first thing in the morning or do they tend to post more actively after the workday?

Other behaviors to look at are the types of posts and information they put online.

Are most of their posts recycled from other social media accounts or do they take a more active personal approach and share their opinions and ideas with their followers?

Important point:

You should keep in mind that some people have a disclaimer on their personal accounts that “retweets are not endorsements”.

In the case of a company’s social media profile, it is quite likely that any posts or pictures they post will be aligned with their own values, something they represent as a company, or something they support.

Companies make use of social media to present their brands and their values, as well as to connect with their own customers.

If the prospect is regularly interacting with customers via their own social media profiles, then it is easy to assume that their social media presence is a good match for your prospecting strategy.

Once you know when your prospect is on social media, you’ll know when to engage with him/her.

It’s hard to estimate how many messages someone or a business receives each day, or how often they check their inbox, however if they’re already actively interacting online at the moment when your message is sent, they are more likely to see it.

3. Create a personalized pitch

You are almost at the point of introducing yourself to your prospect.

Consider every word in the first message you send them and figure out how you will craft your pitch to match the way your prospect uses social media platforms.

Maybe they are following you back after you followed them, and if they are, then that is great. It means they are already receptive to listening to you.

Perhaps they have recently published a blog post about the types of tools and services they use on a regular basis to run their business, and you happen to know how they can improve it. It can be about a wide variety of subjects.

In order to be successful in building your pitch, you will need notes such as these, which you have made during your research process.

Consider how you might personally use social media to find a company that can fulfill a service you are looking for, or even how you might use online business listings and review sites.

Take a moment to put yourself in your prospect’s shoes.

What do you think your potential client needs and what services can you offer to help them do their job better?

While this is the foundation of your pitch strategy, don’t forget to personalize it.

In the world of social media, people appreciate the human factor behind digital profiles and nobody wants to feel like they’re being endorsed by a robot.

Create meaningful and relatable campaigns that engage and engage many customers because it will make a splash.

4. Conversions come from conversations that count

If social media is indeed about being social, you can’t target a prospect with a generic sales pitch that you could use for anyone.

No one will respond to messages that are generic or look generic.

This is another point where posted content comes into play.

What are the chances that your prospects are already social media influencers? A good lead generation strategy is obtaining leads from social media influencers as this is one of the most effective ways of generating leads. But it is important to select the appropriate influencer for your campaign. In order to verify the authenticity of their followers, you may use an influencer auditing tool to identify fake followers and filter out the true influencers.

Do they blog on their company’s website or participate in common hashtag topics such as #MotivationMonday?

I think these are great opportunities for you to get in there and start a conversation.

It’s very likely that your potential client would appreciate feedback on their blog or would want to further discuss the topics covered in it.

Being honest is something that you need to keep in mind at all times.

These days, most people can see through a sales pitch, and they will be unlikely to respond if they feel that’s the only reason you are contacting them.

It is very important that you keep in mind that you need to present something of value to your prospect, and the best way to accomplish that is through conversations that allow you to better understand them.

If you have a genuine interest in the content or posts they are creating, then talk with them about it, express your opinions and interests. 

Your authenticity and the value you represent as a contact will continue to drive the conversation and hopefully conversion.

5. Use social media to highlight your own values

Let’s switch roles for a second. Let’s not forget that prospects can also come to you naturally.

How regularly do you interact with your customers via social media and how openly do you do so? Do you write your own blog posts that are relevant to your industry?

The potential customer is expected to do research on you as part of making a decision when there is a possibility of conversion.

The more activity you show on social media, the more authentic your brand becomes as you reach out to potential customers through the same platforms you use on a daily basis.

In order to show the value of your services, you also need to show the existing relationships you already have with your current customers.

It is very important that you congratulate or recognize your customers when they announce great news or an awesome accomplishment.

Maintaining relationships with potential customers doesn’t mean they’re using your services or buying your products right now, but they may be in the near future.

It shows you care about your relationships and the success of those you work with.

Engaging and engaging with prospects on social media requires you to present the services and values you offer on the social networks you use.

Consider supporting your prospect on your own social media channels since they’ve done something valuable for your network.

You’ll need permission, of course.

You can also connect with your potential customers by giving back.

Referral programs, live streaming, and exclusive content also generate word of mouth, which gets you more qualified leads.

It’s okay to distribute content across different social media platforms depending on the audience and what they want to see.

Surely there is no better way to introduce yourself to a company than by complimenting it?

Awesome tactic – Create engaging social media quizzes

It’s important to create engaging content that gets the attention of potential customers so you can generate leads through social media. This can be done by creating quiz games, which have been shown to increase conversion rates by up to 70%. 

Adding quizzes to your marketing plan can also boost engagement and value.

The social media quiz isn’t considered a viable strategy by many marketers. Lead generation efforts and engagement can also be enhanced by incorporating them into marketing plans.

Social Platforms: 4 social media platforms for generating and nurturing leads

1 Facebook lead generation

With over 3 billion users worldwide, Facebook is without a doubt the leading social media platform.

With over 3 billion users worldwide, Facebook is without a doubt the leading Click To Tweet social media platform

  • According to Oberlo, Facebook is the most widely used platform.
  • Over 180 million businesses have used this platform to their advantage.
  • Over 180 million businesses have used this platform to their advantage 

Facebook also has its own business tools, making it the market leader.

New tools make it so much easier for companies to advertise based on user data.

It takes less time to collect leads on this platform because it’s more personal and it has its own messaging system.

Facebook Messenger is now integrated for digital lead generation, so entrepreneurs can chat with prospects and customers.

Facebook is great because it’s not just for a certain type of content, you can use it for anything.

Your photos, videos, thoughts, contests, polls, and other content from other sites are welcome here.

Facebook lead generation statistics

  • More than 80 million brands around the world have Facebook Pages.
  • Small businesses benefit from 2.5 million monthly active users.
  • 86% of marketers use this platform for their brand marketing efforts and 86% of them use it for advertising.
  • 66% of consumers “like” or “follow” a brand on Facebook.
  • 92% of social marketers use Facebook for advertising.
  • Of those who clicked Facebook ads, 26% purchased the product.
  • Business decision makers spend 74% more time on Facebook than other users.
  • 98% of active Facebook users worldwide access their accounts from mobile devices.
  • In the last 3 years, 75% of companies considered Facebook critical to their business.
  • For B2C companies, 77% more customers were acquired through Facebook.
  • 39% of marketers managed to generate more B2B leads through Facebook.
  • 43% of B2B marketers have acquired more customers through Facebook.

2 Instagram – Instagram Lead Generation

Another big platform with almost 1 billion users. Lots of millennials use Instagram.

Most of these monthly users are almost 35.

So it’s the perfect social media lead generation platform for brands targeting this age group.

Brands and businesses need to step it up on Instagram, where the content has gotten more creative.

However, Instagram only targets photos and short videos, and its algorithm isn’t the easiest to use.

To generate leads on this platform, you have to be more creative.

Though complex, many businesses are thriving on Instagram. Don’t forget about Instagram lead ads.

Instagram can be complicated, but a lot of businesses are doing well there. And don’t forget about Instagram lead ads. You can make it easy for people to sign up for your email list or download your app with lead ads. They’re a great way to get more leads from social media.

Instagram lead generation statistics

  • 90% of IG users follow at least one business on the platform.
  • 71% of US businesses use Instagram as their engagement rates seem to be higher on this platform.
  • At least 60% of Instagram users say they have discovered new products on the platform.
  • More than 200 million Instagrammers visit at least one business profile every day.
  • To research products and services, 81% of people use Instagram.
  • 58% of Instagram users showed more interest in a business after seeing its stories.
  • After viewing a company’s Instagram story, 50% of users went to their website to make a purchase.
  • Story ads that focus on the call-to-action perform 89% better than all other ad types

3 Twitter – Twitter Lead Generation

You’ve heard it before and we’ll say it again, Twitter is like the new morning paper and at the same time like a digital diary where people share their thoughts and feelings.

It lets us access all kinds of information.

The interesting thing about Twitter is the number of characters.

While 280 characters has definitely made it easier to convey information, sometimes it doesn’t require as much creativity to create concise but rich content.

It’s a great way to communicate with potential customers, but it’s not easy to generate a lot of leads.

You’re showing them you’re connected and informative by engaging with them like this.

Twitter lead generation statistics

  • The largest percentage of Twitter’s user base is in the US at 20%.
  • Brands with high engagement rates have a positive reputation for 77% of Twitter users.
  • 33% of Twitter users share their opinion about a product or service and tag the company. 19% of them seek customer support through the platform.
  • 81% of Twitter users access Twitter at least once a day.
  • Using images in tweets resulted in a 55% increase in leads.
  • 67% of Twitter users are more likely to buy from a business they already follow.
  • When it comes to recommending a brand on Twitter, 79% of Twitter users admitted to doing so after making a purchase.
  • Twitter is one of the more immediate social media channels.

4 LinkedIn – LinkedIn lead generation

It is similar to Facebook but focused more on the business and work side of things.

By using LinkedIn, you can access your leads’ professional information, which includes information about their jobs, companies they’ve worked with, professional interests, and areas of focus.

The best way to do social media lead generation

There is no doubt that social media can be a tricky thing.

This means that a company must be flexible in order to succeed in an industry that is constantly evolving.

Those who spend the majority of their time on it may not have the best understanding of how to navigate the digital lead generation process.

There are different types of content available on different platforms, and it can be quite overwhelming if you aren’t careful.

Social platforms are also constantly changing algorithms, so it can be difficult to keep up with all of the changes.

The good news is that many agencies and companies have taken this matter into their own hands.

LinkedIn lead generation statistics

  • 63 million LinkedIn profiles are in decision-making positions and 90 million are top-level influencers.
  • LinkedIn has proven its efficiency in lead generation and customer acquisition 277% more than Facebook.
  • 45% of marketers reported acquiring new customers through LinkedIn.
  • When it comes to organic content marketing, 95% of B2B companies rely on LinkedIn to get more customers, as opposed to 65% of B2B companies that use paid ads.
  • LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms have a 13% conversion rate.
  • More than 80% of B2B leads come from LinkedIn.
  • 94% of companies use this platform for marketing purposes.

Brightest Minds for lead generation on social media

Brightest Minds has proven to be successful with lead generation of any kind, including social media marketing.

Our social media lead generation and marketing services are one of the best ways to start your social media marketing journey as we do the lead generation and marketing for you.

In order to get these leads, we work with your company to tailor them specifically to your brand.

Knowing your leads will help you decide which social media platforms are best for you.

With our help, you’ll be able to start a lead nurturing campaign that will drive interested leads to your social media pages and into your sales funnel.

We’re great at market research at Brightest Minds. It is our objective to help you identify your target audience and their problems/ challenges, and turn them into relevant leads by outreaching and engaging with them. generating social media leads.

You can filter your prospects based on the type of market they are in.

Brightest Minds not only gives you ideal leads, but also their data including full contact information and run campaigns designed to build relationships with your ideal prospects.

As part of our process, we go through several filters to find the leads you are looking for. While that’s really specific, we’ll find anyone who matches any of the following example criteria:

  • A company in the financial services or banking industry
  • Which have more than 10 employees
  • Spend the money on AdWords
  • Who uses Hubspot
  • Who currently has vacancies for marketing help
  • With the role of HR manager
  • This has only been in this role for less than 1 year

Just to give you an idea.

Automate your social media lead generation with chatbots

The chatbot is a popular technology that is becoming increasingly useful to marketers today. Chatbots help businesses communicate better than human contacts. In an omnichannel environment, you can’t succeed without attracting customers to your website. Instead, it’s your duty to meet their place. About 12% of the world’s population uses Facebook messenger every day. It’s therefore vital that the user can buy without leaving the application.

Conclusion

It is still true that the rules of traditional prospecting methods still apply to lead generation through social media. The ways we reach new customers have simply evolved.

It is important that your pitch does not drag on for too long, since you want to have a conversation that is mutually beneficial to both parties, and that is not time-wasting.

Though it may seem like a lot of work, this will actually reduce the time you spend on your sales process because your initial research and early discussions will help secure sales.

Use social media to build your reputation and let people easily see what you have to offer.

Your own social media profiles can provide the validation your prospects need.

Keep in mind that you’re recruiting real people, so be social and genuine.

If you’re an unidentifiable opaque business, you won’t get conversions.

You can do it by embodying your values and services in a transparent and authentic manner.

Anthony Infiesto

Anthony Infiesto

I am a Business Development, Customer Service, and Sales professional with over 20 years of experience driving sales and revenue for SMEs to large global enterprises with C-suite experience. I have an MBA from the Univesity of Phoenix, and a BS from the University of Tennessee. I am also a proud military veteran

Included, schedule a call any week to make sure the process is setup in the most effective way with me.