Improving Lead Generating and Conversation Rates: Think Like a Farmer
John's a freelance photographer in Ohio who called to tell me of his frustration with the advertising and promotional campaigns he has tried in the last couple of years. Each time he does a promotional mailing to his list of 10,000, he is lucky if he gets one or two inquiries. I had a similar call from a corporation that was spending its time and money driving traffic to its web site. With six thousand visitors a day, they were only getting a couple of inquiries per week. Both businesses were spending a lot of money to get attention but weren't converting this attention to leads. Are you having the same problem? Marketing is a lot like farming. You can't just head out to your fields and bring in a bountiful harvest. First, you buy seed from the money you've budgeted. You buy enough to be sure that a good crop will germinate and thrive until harvest, and you're likely to plant several different crops to hedge the weather and the market. You may not be interested in becoming a farmer, but if you want to see your business grow there are three ways thinking like a farmer can help you. 1. Learn How to Collect More Leads
A farmer needs seed and lots of it to bring in a bountiful harvest. You need a lot of quality leads to increase your clientele. If your ads or mailings aren't resulting in a steady stream of inquiries, find out what's not working and change it. By changing a couple of sentences of your marketing copy or your offer, for example, you can increase response rates by a factor of ten or more. Could you collect more leads with the right marketing strategy and marketing copy? 2. Learn How to Increase Your Lead Conversion Rate
A farmer who had spent his savings on seed wouldn't plant his field, then go on vacation and come back months later expecting to find a healthy crop. While you may be the exception, this is the way most people market their businesses. According to The Yankee Group, between 40% to 80% of new business leads aren't converted simply due to lack of follow-up. Many businesses spend money on getting attention and then don't follow up on a prospect's interest by giving them the information or contact opportunity they want. What you tell a prospect and how promptly you respond when they show an interest determines whether they continue to stay in touch. Of the people who see your ads, what percentage respond? Of the people who visit your web site, what percentage contact you? Of the people who contact you, what percentage become clients and customers? Could you increase your lead conversion rates by improving your Internet, phone and mail follow-up? 3. Learn to Use Systems that Generate Leads, Nurture Them and Increase Conversion Rates
Today's farmers are as technologically and information savvy as any of us. Farmers use GPS in their tractors to plant their crops, the web to connect to weather forecasting and crop price information web sites to track their markets. Using high tech information and machines to get the work done, today's farmer has a system for buying seed and supplies, planting, maintaining and harvesting his or her crops. They make good use of systems and machines to increase their chances of bringing in a bountiful harvest. In the case of the corporation mentioned above, a simple change to their web site increased their lead conversion from 1 or 2 a week to 80 a week. Could your lead conversion rates increase with a better system for capturing and following up on leads? If you're like me, you get hungry often. Whether you're taking photographs or growing lettuce, you want to generate more leads and grow your business. To fill your larder and bring in a steadily increasing number of clients, think like a farmer. Use your marketing strategy and lead generation system to bring in many more prospects and increase your conversion rates. When you do you'll find yourself with a bountiful crop of new clients.
- 2005 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.
-
The author, Charlie Cook, helps service professionals, small business owners and marketing professionals attract more clients and be more successful. Sign up to receive the F.ree Marketing Strategy eBook, '7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business' at http://www.marketingforsuccess.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Value of a Good Sales Letter!
Regardless of how many forms of promotional material you create, the simple yet very important sales letter never goes out of style. As a matter of fact a good sales letter should definitely be included as part of your marketing strategy for it can be the most effective tool over any other promotional material. A good sales letter gives you an opportunity to make a smashing impression right out of the gate. The following are some strategies to consider when preparing your letter.
Network Your Way to Success- 12 Tips to Jumpstart Your Business
Lots of people network but few reap the rewards of zeroing in on their potential when it comes to networking. Here are some tips to help fill the gap between where you are now and where you can be.
What to be Successful? Marketing Makes the Difference
When you hear the word "marketing" what comes to mind? More business or wasted money? If your experience with marketing or advertising has been less than positive your cynicism may be well founded. Yet, have you ever noticed a competitor with a mediocre product and a healthy business? The difference is often marketing.
Using Direct Mail
The advantages of using direct mail to promote your home-based or small business are:
Resume Writing Service Marketing
Marketing A Resume Business
Getting New Clients - When Only a Few is More Than Enough
Many of the business owners I speak with are looking for a relatively small number of new clients. It isn't that they're not ambitious, it's just the size of their businesses doesn't warrant a larger objective. Typically they own service-based businesses with an annual turnover counted in the millions of dollars, not hundreds of millions.
How to Measure the Benefit Your Product or Service Offers
Measuring the benefit of your product or service means putting a specific value on the advantage it offers. For example, it's ineffective to say your light bulbs are brighter and last longer than the competition's. You've got to let people know that they're 50% brighter and last two times as long! Your dry cleaning methods aren't just better, they're three times more likely to remove stubborn stains than traditional methods. Your chiropractic techniques aren't just effective, they're clinically proven to reduce back pain for 95% of patients. And so on.
Why Instant Gratification Marketing Condemns Businesses To Losing 90% Of Their Potential Customers
Most businesses target only people "ready-to-buy". These hot prospects are "Now Buyers" because they've been inching closer to a decision for some period of time. They're just about ready to spend cash. Advertisers target "Now Buyers" because the pressure is on to make sales immediately. And, they know these prospects are most qualified, from a timing standpoint.
Give It Away Now - The More You Share, the More You Sell!
Give away your knowledge, and you'll make money. How does this work? Isn't this counter-intuitive? Let's think about this.
Take the Logo Litmus Test
Here is your C.I.T.T. (pronounced "kit")[Color ? Illustrate? Type ? Test]COLOR. Color plays a major role in influencing particular moods and feelings about your company. Don't believe me? Look at Dove? soap. You'll find the shampoo bottles are white. White conveys purity, simplicity and a sense of cleanliness. It's strategic and makes sense doesn't it?! Have you noticed that you can associate an industry by its color? Blue is a popular color for technology companies and bottled water companies, for instance. How about identifying a certain mood by color? Quick, what mood do you think the color red evokes? Could be romance or anger or urgency...
Costly Web Copy Pitfalls
One secret to a site that sells: Look at your site from your customer's perspective. Another secret: Watch out for these common web copy pitfalls.
Reverse The Risk And Boost Your Profits
As a business owner or marketer, if you don't reverse the
risk in your product and/or service offerings, you're really
missing out in what can be one of the most powerful weapons
in your marketing arsenal.
Meaning and Marketing - The Eye of the Storm
It's 1954. Yes, Mrs. Patricia Smith has been a good teacher today. She has remained on task and kept her Third Grade Pupils in line. But she doesn't have to work too hard at it. She weighs 200 Lbs and if she ever grabs you and shakes you, and you can see the buttons on her blouse coming at you at almost the speed of light, so much so that you end up hypnotized and your brain feels like a pea soup - this is something you're not going to forget any time soon.
Motivating Shoppers with Online Coupons (Part 2 of 2)
Last time we discussed how online coupons and promotion codes can motivate buyers. We discussed examples of coupons and some of the aspects of these offers that can boost sales and generate urgency to a purchase. Today we'll focus on how to create great landing pages and the use of affiliate programs to further enhance your marketing efforts.
7 Great Ways to Market Yourself and Your Business to Help Increase Sales
Do you own a business and need ideas on how to market your products or services to your customers? Well, the one thing that every business owner needs to know is that in order to survive, you need customers willing to spend their hard earned money for your products or services. The only way to drive customers to your business is to market yourself and your business in a way that customers believe in you and willing to spend money. There are defiantly many ideas about marketing, but I have listed 7 great ways to help you get started. These are all intended to help drive up sales and therefore help make your business successful.
The Beginners Mail Order Business Guide
No claim is made that the steps outlined would be successful for someone else. Each individual should obtain whatever professional advice may benecessary for his particular operation.
Your Marketing Message - Could You Wring More CASH Out Of It With This Ancient Japanese Discipline?
When it comes to your marketing message, the little things count. Trouble is, you'll never come to respect how much, until you make a commitment to science.
10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have
Don't want your direct mail to end up in the trash with the rest of the unread mail? Studies show an effective direct mail campaign should draw a .5 to 1 percent response. These 10 tips will help you get the results you want:
Getting the Maximum Marketing Mileage Out of Your Nametag
As a small business owner, you must always explore creative ways to promote your products or services. One of the most effective yet underappreciated tools you can use to keep your company "on stage" is your nametag. Especially when you attend meetings, events or if you're out in the field representing your company, your nametag is your best friend. Not only will it remind people of your name (who will forget your name 10 seconds after they shake your hand anyway), but it will advertise your business.
How to Save Time and Achieve More by Creating High-Leverage Marketing Assets
The single biggest, non-renewable asset you have is your time. There are only three things you can do with it: waste it, sell it, or invest it. As an entrepreneur or a service professional, what you do with your time acutely impacts how much money you can make.
|
