Startup entrepreneurs encounter several common challenges during the early stages of business. From cash constraints to operational bottlenecks and recruitment issues, everything seems to go against them. But the sheer dream of launching a startup keeps them going. Lead generation is another concern you may face when new in the business landscape. After all, convincing buyers to choose you over established brands can take a lot of work. But it is one thing startups cannot survive and grow without. Fortunately, you can embrace an actionable plan to build a robust sales pipeline for your business. Let us share a few easy hacks to overcome startup lead generation pitfalls.
Gather audience data
Relying on guesswork is the worst way to generate leads for your startup because it may never pay. Moreover, not getting them in the initial stages can topple your growth plans and hit your motivation levels. Gathering audience data is the key to your customer’s heart as it enables you to target the right audience at the right time. Besides following the correct data, you must keep up with the timelines. Failing to reconnect with leads within a reasonable amount of time is a surefire way to drive them away for good.
Think beyond referrals
When you just land in the market, you tend to rely on referrals. It seems the most sensible thing as people hardly know your brand, and you have a minimal marketing budget. Undoubtedly, the word-of-mouth marketing tactic plays a significant role for startups, but it is not enough. You cannot rely on it to get authentic leads, and it may cost more than you imagine, as people expect incentives to spread the word. A small but strategic lead generation campaign puts your business in a better place. The best part is that you can scale it over time.
Outsource expertise
Since launching a campaign is essential, you can consider outsourcing expertise instead of hiring an in-house team for the job. The good thing is that you can find custom lead generation services at a fraction of the cost of recruiting and managing an in-house team. Since these are seasoned experts, they can get your pipeline flowing sooner than later. You are in a better place to give your business a great start with specialists handling your lead generation process from the outset.
Prioritize quality over quantity
Startups should focus on prospects that are more likely to convert instead of chasing a broader audience. Spreading your net too wide can deplete time and resources, so it is always better to take a targeted approach. Fortunately, lead generation experts can help you prioritize quality over quantity. Your sales team can take on from there and achieve more with less with a list of prospects with high conversion potential. At this stage, it is easy to personalize campaigns according to the pain points and expectations of the target audience.
Nurture new leads
Generating new leads for your startup is only half the work. You also have to nurture them to make the most of the list from your outsourcing partner. Everything boils down to engaging consistently with your customers. It convinces them that you have the best option to resolve their pain points, so they definitely reach out for solutions to their future concerns. Besides boosting sales, nurturing your customers also strengthens your startup brand enough to compete with the top players. Creating valuable and interactive content is the key to lead nurturing, so ensure having it ready.
Track ROI for your campaigns
Tracking the ROI of campaigns is crucial for all businesses, even more for startups running on tight budgets. You must absolutely do it to learn about the gaps in your campaign and ideate ways to correct them for a better conversion rate in the long run. You can measure the campaign ROI by defining key metrics and using tracking tools from the start. Analyzing these metrics enables you to find pitfalls along the conversion funnel and address them with relevant strategies. A little effort is often enough to fine-tune the campaign for better outcomes.
Startups often struggle to get new leads and convert them into customers because they fail to take a strategic approach from the outset. But it is easy to define a strategy and get the best results if you follow these simple steps. Most importantly, let experts do the heavy lifting so that your sales team can focus on driving real results by chasing only the deals that are most likely to close.
