It's a fact that Email marketing greatly improves customer retention, as well as helps convert interested leads into customers. However, for the acquisition of a new prospect, email marketing may not be the best method as it leads to bulk emails with unwanted promos and offers. So how do you get these "interested-in-your-product" prospects to give you the permission to send marketing emails in the first place? Here are some online marketing mediums that will generate leads for your email marketing list.
Search Engine Listings
Search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN and Indian business directories such as sulekha, indian yellow pages, redfrog, ask laila, Olx are still one of the first sources that people go to when looking for product online. Once they have clicked through to your web site, your goal is to get them to volunteer their email address to allow you to continue the dialog with them. You can only achieve this by giving them a valid reason for doing so. For well-known brand names, simply asking for the information may be enough. For newer or niche-focused companies, techniques such as providing information of value like a report, solutions they are looking or actual giveaways are needed to convince most visitors to participate.
Pay Per Click Search Listings
Pay Per Click (PPC) listing services such as Google AdWords have all of the same benefits as non-paid search engine listings. There may be somewhat less credibility, as searchers are more skeptical of paid listings. PPC listings are far superior to traditional search engines from the perspective of an advertiser because of both the immediacy with which you can obtain a listing, as well as the ability to achieve a specific desired ranking. Promotion becomes simpler because you get the positioning you are willing to pay for. And once you have paid for a visitor to click-through to your site, your next objective is getting them to tell you their email address, so you can maximize your Return On Investment (ROI).
Content-Based Marketing
Creating original content is one of the best ways to demonstrate expertise and establish credibility for a company as an authority in a particular field.
Allowing other web sites and online newsletters to republish this content along with a link back to your site is an excellent way to acquire new prospects.
Many people would like to receive further information from an expert that they respect, and are quite willing to not just receive, but also anticipate
receiving email from said expert.
Site Sponsorship
Site sponsorship ads do tend to get noticed in a better light than banner advertising. Combining sponsorship with content can get more attention than advertising alone. Again, proper targeting and a compelling call to action are critical for achieving a response.
You can generate new leads by using these forms of online marketing, and then stay in touch with these prospects to convert them as customers by using email marketing, and you will have adopted a powerful online marketing strategy.
