Four ideas that will help generate leads

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How to generate leads for a company is one of the main questions that business people ask every day. We all want to generate more leads for our businesses. But how do we intend to do it? For many companies, this is literally a million-dollar question. No matter what your business model is, content is still king. One research study a few years ago revealed that plenty of B2B marketers have documented plans to improve their lead generation budgets by up to 50% the following year. That investment is still on the rise overall.

Let’s start with defining a lead:
What is referred to as a Lead?

A lead is a person who has indicated interest in your company's product or service.

In other words, instead of getting a random call from someone who purchased your contact details, you'd hear from a company or business you've already opened communication with.

Check out how these FOUR types of unique content ideas can help you meet your lead generations:

1. SURVEY
We all like to share our ideas. As marketers, let’s absorb that human instinct and use it to drive leads. Rather than just stating the gains of your service, why not ask your prospects to rank their top three problems, or share their own idea for a new program?

Sixty questions in ten point font is not going to drive the leads home, but a quick two to three questions, with an awesome layout, might be just the opportunity your prospects have been looking for to share ideas and preferences. And, as a marketer, you can use the survey responses to suit your own marketing and continue the discussion.

MarketingProfs ran a popular “Day in the Life of a Marketer” survey that acquired a 42% click through rate (CTR). Another awesome example comes from Xyleme, who created a survey on measuring learning that has been helpful in driving leads (82% lead submission rate for those that began the survey).

2. CONTESTS
Like quizzes, contests are no more just for consumer brands. Contests come in all formats, but our favourites are based on user content: upload a selfie, video or art work: You provide the concept — your prospects provide the content. A contest/competition can come with an awesome prize or it might just be “bragging rights.” The key, from a lead generation outlook, is to make sure the contest is bringing in the right prospects for you. The questions and prize should suit the kind of people you are looking to have a sales conversation with.

Do you think your product is too expensive or your market will not be interested for a contest? Atmel, manufacturer of microcontrollers, ran a video contest targeted towards marketers, engineers, entertainers and hobbyists. With almost 500 entries, 218,000 votes, and 165,337 participants referred through social media channels, I’d call it a success!

3. INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHICS AND WHITE PAPERS.
The engaging infographic and white paper take two of B2B marketing’s most important types of content and make them faster by putting in same type of “info exchange” that is made available in quizzes, calculators, and surveys. As opposed to simply texts and images on a page, there are awesome opportunities, questions and results, and a chance to tailor the experience by how the reader relates to these questions. The result is a truly personalized, useful piece of material that takes advantage of the power of digital literacy and provides both the marketers and consumers with targeted info. Endicia, which gives postage and shipping solutions, put together infographic based on package returns. Most importantly your job as a content marketer is to get your listener's attention, and then to harness and keep it. With average click through rates of 60% and lead conversion rates of 50%, interactive content might be just what you need to boost your lead generation in 2016.

4. QUIZZES
No more simply the area of ladies' magazines and Buzzfeed puff pieces, tests are presently genuine business for the B2B advertiser. Especially at the highest point of the pipe, advertisers are utilizing tests as an approach to attract prospects and begin a dialog.

Tests offer various advantages as lead generators.

• Because they are normally captivating and fast, requiring to a lesser extent a promise from the prospect than perusing a white paper, for instance, they are for the most part more powerful at the highest point of the channel than a white paper download.
• Quizzes have high begin and fulfillment rates. For instance, a basic trivia test has a normal snap rate of 41% and normal finishing rate of 43%. That last detail is essential: regardless of the possibility that your prospects download your white paper, how would you know whether they have perused it? 
• In expansion, tests offer two-way data stream: you as an advertiser can share data and by soliciting an arrangement from inquiries, you can pick up data about your prospect that can be caught for future effort and sustaining.
• Quizzes are likewise, as we as a whole know from our Facebook nourishes, very shareable. Overall, there is a 15% offer rate for intelligent substance such as tests — how can that contrast and your present offer rates?
• Finally, a well done test assembles trust: with some insightful inquiries and "results," you can show that your organization comprehends the issue, test, or individual they are focusing on, making it more probable that future correspondence from your organization will be considered. For instance, worldwide ability administration counseling firm DDI constructed a Typical Authority Styles test and has found that prospects who draw in with this intelligent substance are 5x more inclined to open subsequent messages from DDI.

Enjoy.

Alejandro Catalan
Current student in the Master of Marketing program at the University of Sydney Business School

Brand Management: ChickDriven

The new website aiming to put female car buyers in the driver’s seat.

There is no doubt that the majority of content-based car websites are aimed at males, because everyone knows cars are a man’s game, right? Wrong, not any longer! Move over boys, ChickDriven has just rolled up and has beat you to the finish line.

For the first time, women have overtaken men on the road. With 80% of car buying decisions left up to us women, it is becoming increasingly important to get in the driver's seat when is comes to making those choices. To steer us in the right direction, the newest go to is company ChickDriven. As American #1 website for women, the company is leading the way to honest informative car reviews, advice about auto financing and insurance, along with other insightful tools we need for choosing the right car.

Ruby Davis, CEO and Founder of ChickDriven started the business venture in a response to her own experiences and frustration as a first-time car buyer.

“I purchased a car with all the glitz and glamour, thinking I had received an amazing package, but instead, was delivered with the basic package paying premium price. I think that car salesmen—MEN—see a woman and they assume it’ll be easy to take advantage of her, ChickDriven empowers women like me to make informed decisions about what car to buy and how much they should pay for it.” – Ruby Davis

Through exciting content based articles, cheeky videos and engaging social media campaigns, Ms Davis has successfully expanded ChickDriven from her base in Los Angeles to engage with consumers from all corners of the globe. The content available on ChickDriven.com is not only for women, but also written by women. Lets face is, whom better to market towards females than a female?

When is comes to purchasing decisions, particularly buying a car, it is important to understand that women have different priorities, objectives and challenges. With that being said, Davis states the importance of maintaining an authentically female touch point that further understands and acknowledges these differences. Offering content partnership opportunities, the site is also an effective way for automotive manufacturers to capture the attention of the all-important female market. ChickDriven’s adverting solutions include customized content creation to ensure that marketers’ messages are relevant and resonate with its audience.

Website: www.ChickDriven.com
Email: hello@chickdriven.com
Instagram: @chick_driven
Facebook: /ChickDriven

Lauren Musat
Current student in the Master of Marketing program at the University of Sydney Business School

Tips to setup strategic marketing goals

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All companies begin with the main goal of profit maximisation and aim their operations in that direction. Businesses that operate on large or even small scale tend to have marketing goals that not only allow our products to deepen their roots in our target market but also help us to capture a greater market share. We must have the hustle to work for the betterment of society and our stakeholders in general. Speaking in general, the aim of our business should always be to strategically motivate people into buying our products through various marketing strategies and advertisements. Through our marketing strategies we will directly achieve the following established goals which will help us achieve our actual goal indirectly.


Sales volume is important because it affects the factors which are beyond our control. Some of the factors which are beyond our control are rise and fall in economy, the weather in business market, and the threat of competition. If we have good sales volume we believe we will be able to nullify the adverse effects of these uncontrollable factors.


Market share determines our future in a specific industry and region that we operate in. We must aim at acquiring a good market share because only then we would be able to stay global or international in any desired market or region.


Sales revenue is important to us because it makes us capable of investing in other projects and products. The higher the revenue, the more chance that we will expand our roots in the current market scenario. Sales revenue also allows companies to penetrate into the market. This also determines the future pricing strategies, branding posture and product/service.


Profit is and should always be the main concern of businesses so as to overcome the costs they have tolerated in establishing their business.


Return on Investment (ROI) indicates that several other windows of opportunities will open up for the companies that are still in the growth stage.


Apart from all these strategic marketing goals, the following will also be achieved in return, which serve as the backbone of many businesses. 

•  Every company aims at building a relationship with their customers, so that they buy their products for the next purchase as well. The repeated purchase intention is kept in mind. Customer base and customer loyalty will bring about greater sales and will help to generate larger revenue.
• Communicating the value that businesses offer their customers, which will help them to increase market share based on the value proposition and quality provided to them.
• Overcome the market myths and expand market share with the help of clearing out any misconceptions and controversies.
• Investment opportunities will flow into our business for the future's sake and will make our business the long lasting one.
• Greater revenue means greater profitability or profit margin, which will establish a long term market survival rate.
• Final goal should be to attract new partners in the market, which will help us to grow faster and quicker. New partnerships mean greater volume of sales and larger market share and good standing in the market.

Alejandro Catalan
Current student in the Master of Marketing program at the University of Sydney Business School

How good decisions enhance your business and bad decisions undercut your business

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Business decisions have a deep impact on business success and growth. A right decision at the right time can bring you ultimate success where as one wrong decision can make you regret for a life time.

Let’s see how good decisions can enhance and help a business;

 ✓ A well researched decision will not let you down
If you perform sufficient research before making a decision, then the chances of loss are minimised. When you are updated about the recent financial market changes and your decision is based on the current business trends, then it will surely bring you success and growth.

✓ Decisions made on expert advice always bring success
It might happen that the decision you are going to make has already been implemented in the past, but you might not be aware of its outcomes so, in this scenario, an expert’s advice can help you. They can predict the outcomes of any decision and due to extensive experience they can advise intelligent decision steps that can increase your business growth.

✓ Quick decisions in times of need can prevent business loss

Some business situations require a quick and intelligent decision at a perfect time. When you know business conditions are according to your decision, then a smart decision can save you from business loss.

✓ Decisions made on consideration of employee opinion often prove fruitful

Your employees are your well wisher because their success is dependent on your success, so taking their opinion and incorporating them with yours would bring you your desired goals.

Every entrepreneur or businessman once in a life makes a bad decision, but with proper planning you can make up for it. Now, let’s see how bad decisions can undercut a business.

 ✘ Hiring the wrong employees will lead to loss

Your success depends on your employees’ efficient performance and hard work. If you hire unprofessional people, then due to lack of desired skills and talent they can tatter your business.

✘ Ignoring cash flow can decrease your growth

Whether your business is on a small or large scale, a close eye should be kept on its cash flow. Cash is your asset and you must be aware about where it goes and from where it comes. Ignoring the cash flow can result in business destruction as you cannot operate without it.

✘ The decision to expand rather than to make a profit can lower your progress
Many entrepreneurs want rapid growth and to achieve that they take decisions of rapid business expansion involving new hiring and resources, but often these decisions do not meet the objectives and they suffer in profitability. Choosing expansion over business profitability is not a wise decision and often results in lower progress.

✘ Skipping marketing strategies
If you don’t create effective marketing strategies, then there will be no increase in your sales. A wise decision is to allocate a team to work for your product marketing.

If you can avoid the above mentioned bad decisions, then you can keep up with the business market and by practicing smart decisions, you can bring growth and future success to your business.

Alejandro Catalan
Current student in the Master of Marketing program at the University of Sydney Business School