You’ve printed flyers, you’ve sent out mailers, you have blasted your social-media followers, but you’re still not getting the lead flow you
need to grow your company into the next billion-dollar brand. Well, there are hundreds of ways to generate leads, so don’t hang your
head.


Here are ten of my favorite (reduced to the 4 that fit the Nigerian Climate)

1. Blog
Having a blog is one of the best lead generatng tools you can use, as it not only allows a company (or person) complete control of what
is said but also an opportunity to have the undivided attention of the reader. Make sure that your blog is optimized to generate leads by
having a sign-up section for your newsletter and by using the margins to promote your products and services. And I feel like a broken record, but don’t make the blog all about you! Give real value.

2.Twitter /Social Media
Twitter is a dream for generating leads. Use it to reach out to influencers in your industry and get into conversations with them.
Their followers, who are probably some of your potential customers, will see your interactions and follow you or visit your site. You can
also follow trending subjects that pertain to your business and interject your thoughts into the general discussion by using the #
symbol. For instance, if you are in the mobile world, you may use #iphone to find and eventually get leads.

3. Networking events
While a lot of action happens in the digital world, the real world still provides a lot of advantages -- especially networking events. Even events that didn’t directly pertain to my business have provided me with some of the most valuable contacts and leads. You’ll meet more
people, expand your network and gain referrals. Plus, it’s a great way to build your brand. Make sure to bring business cards and don’t be afraid to ask the people you meet for their patronage.


4. Strong branding
Customers love authentic companies. They like it when a company has a strong and clear message and that message is consistent
across all of their marketing platforms. So, don’t try and be everything to everyone. Customers want the experts and the company that is the best in their industry. Focus on communicating that through your branding and your conversion rates will go up, resulting in more leads.


CONCLUSION

The peak of your PR/Social Media management is to know how to respond to users’ complaints on social media and actively shape the perception of your company in the marketplace. A real life example happened in 2013 between Arik Air and one of their passengers – Japheth Omojuwa.

It all started when Japheth lost his iPad during one of his inter-city flights onboard the Airline and then things got messy. Instead of turning this to an opportunity, Arik Air later banned him from flying their airline. The story was
everywhere back then ; it was a poor decision that resulted to a major PR mess for them on social media.
Unlike Arik Air, Sheraton Hotels showed there is a better approach that works when you are faced with customer complaints.
When you are proactive with your PR, you have a chance to create a positive perception and during unpleasant feedback, you can also turn an unhappy customer into a happy one (who might also become one of your biggest
supporters).

Still having problems with generating leads? Try http://build.com.ng - helping you grow your deal flow.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250265 and http://techcabal.com/2015/09/22/6-golden-lessons-on-pr-for-startups/

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