Unlocking Success: The Best Ways to Generate Web Design Leads
For far too many business owners, having a website for their company is nothing more than a box to check.
The truth is that your website needs to work for you. Think of it as an employee that’s always on 24/7 with no breaks and no vacation allowed.
But, what’s your website’s job?
Simple. It should help turn visitors into customers…or at least prospects.
These days, generating quality leads is essential for sustaining growth and staying in business much less staying ahead of your competition.
Nearly All Sites Are Lead Generation Sites
Are there any businesses out there that don’t want more customers?
Unless you’re completely swamped with customers, the answer is “Uh, no!” We all want more business or at the very least, the possibility of more customers. This means that the job description for nearly all websites is to generate more leads for the company.
With the evolving landscape of website design and online marketing, it can be challenging to find the best strategies to attract potential clients. The truth is that what works in one industry may fail miserably in another.
Below, we will explore some of the most effective ideas to generate leads from both your website and other means to help unlock success in your business.
Develop a Strong Online Presence
This sounds so general that it doesn’t mean anything, but the truth is that there are plenty of business owners who set up DIY websites (and they look it) or allow the design of their site to age like a denim leisure suit.
Having a bad or outdated website is essentially the same thing as putting up ads for your competition.
Why? Simple. What do you do when you land on a bad website? Do you stick around? Not likely. Most of us move right on to the next website where the experience is more pleasant.
So, there you have it. A bad website shuffles YOUR prospects on to the other guys.
Establishing a robust online presence is crucial to attracting web design leads. Start by creating a professional website that showcases your skills, expertise, and portfolio. Optimize your website for search engines (SEO) to ensure it ranks higher in search results, increasing its visibility to potential clients.
Some “Must Haves” for your website include:
- If you want phone calls, put your phone number toward the top of the site in a clickable format. Since more than 60% of all searches are on the smartphone, you want to make it easy to get calls
- Put multiple CTAs (Calls to Action) on your home page and throughout your site. Don’t make people search to contact you.
- Your images need to match what you do and your content. There’s a flow in web design that, if broken, will lose prospects. We’ve seen plenty of sites with beautiful pictures that have absolutely nothing to do with the business (i.e. pictures of forests and lakes on clinical websites, etc.)
- Watch your fonts! We see plenty of sites where the target market is 40 or above but they use fonts that are so tiny that you have to squint to see it. For those of us that wear bifocals, if you make me squint, you lose me. Make my life easier, not harder. Give me a font I can actually see!
- At this point, it goes without saying that your site should look great on smartphones, but we still see A LOT of companies where someone designed something they thought was brilliant on a desktop/laptop but looks awful on the phone.
- If your site’s menu is on the left side, it probably belongs in a museum. Update your design.
- A blog isn’t necessarily a “must have”, but it is a great way to generate content to put out on social media, but here’s the “must” part. If you’re going to have a blog, then you actually have to create new content. If someone goes to your site and sees your last post was October of 2019, it doesn’t engender trust
- Speaking of trust, you need to include elements on your site to help visitors trust you. This could be professional associations, awards, testimonials, etc.
This list could go on and on, but you’re starting to see where we’re going here. Your site has to help visitors establish confidence in whatever you do, and by the way, you have about 6 seconds to make that connection.
Additionally, leverage social media platforms and industry-specific online communities to share valuable content, engage with your target audience, and build your brand reputation.
Offer Valuable Content and Resources
One of the most effective ways to generate leads is by offering valuable content and resources that cater to your target audience’s needs. Create blog posts, e-books, or video tutorials that address common challenges or provide insights into the latest trends in your industry.
Implement lead capture forms or gated content strategies that require visitors to provide their contact information before accessing your valuable resources. This approach not only establishes you as an industry expert but also allows you to capture leads and nurture them through targeted email marketing campaigns.
Implement Testimonials and Case Studies
Testimonials and case studies provide social proof of your skills and can significantly influence potential clients’ decisions.
Reach out to your satisfied clients and ask for testimonials or case studies highlighting the positive (or negative “what you learned”) results you achieved through your services. Display these testimonials prominently on your website, portfolio, and social media profiles to build credibility and instill confidence in your prospective clients.
Leverage Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Once you have a strong website, it’s time to look for ways to bring more traffic to your site.
SEO plays a vital role in generating organic leads. Optimize your website with relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptions to improve its visibility in search engine results. Focus on creating high-quality, informative content that appeals to both search engines and your target audience. By ranking higher in search results, you increase the chances of potential clients discovering your services.
Consider Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
Pay-Per-Click advertising is a potentially effective method to generate leads quickly. Platforms like Google Ads and social media advertising provide you with the ability to target specific demographics and keywords. Craft compelling ad copy and create visually appealing banners to grab the attention of potential clients. Remember to build specific landing pages for each ad group and tailor them to align with your ad campaigns to increase conversions.
Keep in mind, while SEO typically takes a few months to get to page one of Google, Google Adwords campaigns can get you there a lot quicker. That’s the good news. The bad news is that people don’t tend to click on ads nearly as much as the organic links, so you’ll want to make sure you’re using your PPC campaign to advertise higher ticket services or goods.
Conversion Rate Optimization
When you have a website, there are two ways to get more.
You can bring more traffic to your site with SEO, Adwords, or social media marketing. This brings more eyes to your site.
You can also work on conversion rate optimization (CRO) which is the process of taking your website to the lab and finding ways to convert more visitors into actual customers. This is done by using various tools to direct part of your traffic to one version of your site and the rest to a slightly different version where you can test which version converts more visitors.
Get Reviews!
People grossly underestimate the power of a well-optimized Google Business Profile. Not only can this free real estate from Google give your business more visibility, but it’s THE place I’d encourage you to get reviews.
People read reviews about your business!
Plus, getting more reviews helps with conversion. If a prospect sees three businesses and one has 147 reviews, another has 12 reviews and the last has 5 reviews, which one gets the click? I rest my case, your honor.
Also, you need to respond to every review you get because it actually helps improve your visibility. Read more about Google Business Profile.
Implement a Lead Magnet
A lead magnet is a valuable piece of content or an incentive that you offer in exchange for your visitor’s contact information.
Create a lead magnet that is highly relevant to your target audience and showcases your expertise. It could be a free whatever, a research paper or study, or a mini course on best practices. By providing value upfront, you not only capture leads but also establish yourself as a trusted authority in the field.
Optimize Your Portfolio
Your portfolio can be a powerful tool for attracting leads. Make sure it showcases your best work and highlights the diversity of your skills.
Include case studies that demonstrate the challenges you tackled, the solutions you provided, and the positive outcomes achieved. Ensure that your portfolio is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. By presenting a compelling portfolio, you can captivate potential clients and instill confidence in your abilities.
Leverage Email Marketing
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and convert them into clients.
Create an email newsletter or a drip campaign that delivers valuable content directly to your subscribers’ inboxes. Share tips, industry trends, and success stories to engage your audience and keep your services top-of-mind. Personalize your emails based on your subscribers’ interests and segment your list to deliver targeted messages that resonate with specific client needs.
Look For Strategic Partners
Collaborating with other business owners close to your niche can significantly expand your reach and generate leads. Identify businesses that have an audience aligned with your target market. Offer them an incentive, such as a commission or a special discount for their audience, in exchange for promoting your services. Their endorsement can bring a stream of qualified leads to your business.
Final Thoughts
In today’s competitive world, generating leads is crucial for the success and growth of your business. By implementing a variety of strategies to attract potential clients, you can find what works to build a lead generation engine.
If you’re looking for a reliable partner to help you generate web design leads, Make It Loud Web Design is here to assist you. With nearly 20 years of experience and expertise in the industry, we understand the dynamics of lead generation and the importance of creating a compelling online presence. Contact us today at 678.325.4007 to unlock the potential of your website’s lead generation potential.
Cliff Tillery, MBA is the Chief Operating Officer and SEO Director at Make It Loud which is a digital marketing firm located outside of Atlanta Georgia. More than 14 years ago, he started search engine optimization at this award-winning agency and has taught digital marketing skills to business owners at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center, and other groups.
