Technology is revolutionising how businesses engage with their customers and promote products. This advancement has had an enormous impact on how entrepreneurs generate leads today.
To compete effectively in today’s increasingly complex business environment, digital transformation offers many benefits. You can leverage this by employing appropriate technologies and digital tools as an independent contractor.
An experienced consultant understands how technology can be used to strengthen their business, so that they can demonstrate consulting expertise where it matters most. In this article, we’ll be exploring how you can maximise tech to generate more leads as an independent consultant.
Leverage strategic partnerships
Building relationships is key to any sustainable business growth. When technology evolves quickly and innovation cycles accelerate rapidly, the chances for relationship formation also increase – especially within tech-enabled businesses that rely on constantly emerging innovations.
Make the most of your professional relationships to forge strong strategic alliances, connect with fellow consultants, and network. Utilising cutting-edge technology and building stronger ties with IT firms will allow you to sell more work in technology consulting – ultimately aiding the expansion of the industry over time.
Technology lead generation strategies
Consultants can use marketing automation to increase lead generation. 8 out of 10 marketers reported an increase in lead generation as a result. So what are the most effective strategies for generating technology leads?
Lead capture forms
If you want to turn prospects into qualified leads, content marketing strategy needs to be improved. Lead capture forms can help target leads more precisely.
Send your customers webinars, infographics, reports or any other material they might find engaging using a lead capture form to let them know exactly what you offer. Integrating lead capture forms on your website and landing pages can bring many advantages, including:
Minimised distractions
Once a lead capture form appears, this provides an effective means of drawing online users’ interest and engaging them more thoroughly in online conversations.
Pitching attractive offers
Who doesn’t enjoy getting something for free? Show users what they can get by simply providing their details, through an attractive lead capture form. This way they will feel that giving you their information will bring value to them and they’ll willingly share it.
Simplified opt-in
When used effectively, targeted lead captures offer an easy and seamless opt-in process for all interested prospects. Take this opportunity to deliver the best experience for them.
Expanding your email list
Leveraging user details gathered through lead capture can help expand your contact base and boost email marketing campaigns.
Automate email marketing campaigns
Another crucial step of lead generation is adding customers to your mailing list. Communicating regularly with interested or previous clients will keep them engaged with your services and brand.
Software solutions will automate your email marketing workflow, allowing you to set drip emails in advance. You can also segment your subscribers into separate target markets for personalised content delivery.
Create user intent-focused content
Google has transitioned from being keyword-focused to being intent-focused, which should be kept in mind when creating blog content on your website or portfolio. Answer any queries users might have in order to rank on page one of search results.
Consider what long-form queries will likely be searched by browsers of your site. Utilising advanced digital tools such as ahrefs and SEMrush can provide insights into popular search trends and LSI keywords, or keyword entities that allow your intent-focused content to be rooted even more firmly in the context surrounding user search queries and user pain points.
Engage remarketing
Not all visitors to your website and social media handles will convert directly into paying clients. Some may require additional research, while others need to know you have the top consultant skills they’re after. Be prepared to engage your customers at multiple points prior to closing a deal.
Remarketing can be an excellent way to generate leads. Remarketing campaigns range from paid ads, social media to email. Reminding potential buyers about your services or brand can increase conversion rates from the leads you already have.
Take your strategy a step further by offering discounts or bonuses to encourage potential buyers to act. These exclusive deals and the promotional materials that support them can also be managed using sales funnel software. This dynamic and multidisciplinary approach can create an even more effective sales funnel for your business.
How else can technology help independent consultants?
Businesses can outshine competitors by employing the appropriate tools. Professional consultants can automate processes while improving work impact with effective productivity tools. Not only will you spend less time performing repetitive tasks, but there will be greater potential to streamline processes as a result of digital transformation.
Then, you can shift your time and resources towards activities that will help expand your business strategically to remain competitive. Advertising and marketing should take precedence while carving out time to network with professionals in your industry.
Establish your target audience
Do a thorough investigation on who would most benefit from your services, how they spend their time, and the most effective means of communicating with them.
Build a professional website
Your business website’s foundation lies with its professional design, regular updates and well-written content. In other words, its design and content should reflect the quality of your consulting services.
Social media marketing can be an excellent way to market and network. Social media offers enormous potential in positioning you as a professional while expanding your network and connecting with current and potential clients.
Maximising Tech As A Consultant
Utilising new marketing channels and technologies available to you can help generate more leads as a consultant. For example, automated software allows you to plan and send emails at an optimal time to reach subscribers.
As for independent consultants who provide repeat services for the same clients, familiarising yourself with communications technologies, project management software, and other technological tools that are integrated into these client organisations can help you organically maintain your outstaffed role in their enterprises.
More outstaffing opportunities means more secured income for your business. This, coupled with robust lead generation strategies can provide your consulting firm with the momentum it needs to spearhead future business growth.
Tech & Lead Generation Takeaways For Consultants
For independent contractors, lead generation truly is the lifeblood of your enterprise, especially for consultants who provide tailored, niche services for their client base.
Leveraging technology to better showcase your services to your target markets and respond efficiently to leads is vital for streamlining your client onboarding and servicing. Consultants should find the technological solutions that work best for their customer journeys, and reassess the performance of these solutions regularly to ensure that their lead generation and conversion processes stay as effective as possible over the long term.
