2018 has arrived, and just as we like to take a step back and reconsider our health and fitness goals for the year ahead, now is also the perfect time to re-evaluate what lead generation strategies are worth keeping and which outdated habits should be left back in 2017.
We all know strategies such as content marketing and SEO are here to stay for the long-haul. What about those strategies, however, that began to creep up in popularity at the end of the year, and will become even more prominent as we move into 2018?
The secret to effective lead generation strategies for 2018 lies in your ability to adapt your approach and accept new trends that are becoming increasingly relevant, and when to augment and improve the marketing strategies in place that may need a brush-up. Let’s check out the top lead generation strategies that you should adopt or ramp up for 2018.
Increase Rate of Published Content
‘Content is king.’ We were all taught this at the beginning of our careers in marketing, and that does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, in 2018, plan on increasing the frequency at which you publish content.
Content offers you increased authority and credibility. Not only will increase the rate at which you publish content to offer you better visibility, but it will improve your reliability. You can have the greatest wealth of knowledge on the internet, but if you are not publishing your valuable content at a regular and frequent rate, you will never be considered a thought leader in your niche.
Bottom Line: This year, make yourself a trustworthy resource for other people or businesses, and focus on setting your publishing calendar up for success.
Get to the First Page of Google
Organic traffic brings in the most valuable customers. Unfortunately, if you are on the 4th page of Google, all of that incredible content that your team of writers spent hours creating is never going to be read.
We understand that this feat is one that is much easier said than done. As the world moves online, there will only be more content to compete within 2018. So, what is the secret to reaching that golden first-page placement?
For starters, make sure that you have an unbeatable keyword strategy. Check out the keywords you are currently ranking well for, and which need a bit more work on. Make sure you have keywords promoting each of your campaigns. You can then write blog posts around a particular keyword and watch your pages climb higher in Google’s search results.
Of course, you will also want to pay close attention when it comes to meta-descriptions, URLs, and link-building.
Bottom Line: Take the time to assess how your keywords are ranking and put a plan in place to move up to the first page of Google.
Focus on the Right Social Media
Take the time to look back on your social media efforts in 2017. Where is your target audience? What are their interest, their age and where do they spend more time? If you have a clear answer, you already know the social media platforms to focus your efforts on, and those that need not waste any more of your precious time.
I don’t have to tell you that social media marketing will no longer be an option for your business to succeed in 2018. However, you do need to choose the platforms you will gain the most leads from. If you don’t know what those are, do the research and hone in on the platforms that will actually take your business places.
Bottom Line: Focus your social media efforts on what works for your audience.
Mobile, Local, Social
Mobile marketing has taken the world by storm, and it does not plan on slowing down anytime soon. More people shop and buy from a mobile device than a desktop computer today.
What does this mean for you? It is going to be essential to offer a seamless experience across multiple devices and channels to reach your targets. Target your marketing campaigns and messages with a mobile, local, and social focus to connect with the right clients or customers.
Bottom Line: Target your marketing campaigns and messages with a mobile, local, and social focus. Mobile marketing will reign king in 2018.
Video Marketing
It could be argued that video marketing is the hottest lead generation trend for 2018. In fact, click through rates increase by 65% and opens boost by 19% when using the word “video” in an email subject line. In order to benefit from the power of video, you need to produce high-quality videos that reach your target audience at each stage of the buying process.
If you haven’t done so already, begin crafting fast and mobile-friendly video content. Just be sure to A/B text everything. Don’t guess what your audience wants, test it. From subject lines to video ads to content length, to the color of a button: test and tweak.
Bottom Line: Pump up the amount of relevant video content that is used in your lead generation strategies for 2018.
Use Paid Search for Remarketing
One of the best strategies for generating leads and moving customers or clients through the buying funnel is with paid search. Almost 65% of people who are looking to buy online click on an ad on Google, according to Wordstream.
Did you know that it normally takes a person 7 or 8 visits to a web page before they are even ready to request further information on your business? This is why remarketing to customers is so vital. You need to put your brand on their screen as often as possible. If a prospect reads one of your blog posts and a few hours later sees an ad on Facebook that reminds them of your business, they’re much more likely to convert.
Our final tip? 2018 has already arrived, so don’t wait any longer to put these lead generation strategies into action. Get started now, and soon you will begin seeing results. Good luck!
