Top 4 Ways to Generate Leads for Local Business (Practical Advice for a Small Biz)

To generate leads for a local business:

1. Create and use lead magnets 
2. Build email marketing campaigns
3. Take advantage of targeted social media outreach
4. Optimize local SEO and online presence

Generate leads for your local business by creating lead magnets and sending them to qualified prospects. Successful business owners report that quality content creates interest and trust before asking for anything in return. One business owner succeeded by providing targeted discounts and educational materials. They followed up with personalized communications that convert viewers into paying customers. Lead magnets are a practical method with minimal investment.

You can also connect with local customers through email marketing campaigns. These campaigns have a high ROI that delivers targeted messages to interested prospects. By meeting people where they are, you create natural opportunities for genuine engagement. 

Active searchers are on social media and Google looking for your local business. Gaining traffic on your platforms leads to an enormous opportunity for business operations. Hook Agency says that with 46% of Google searches having local content, your business needs to be discoverable.

This guide presents 4 practical methods to generate leads for local businesses. Build pathways that let people discover your products and connect with your services. 

 

1. Create and Use Local Lead Magnets

Start generating leads through guides, ebooks, checklists, or worksheets. These resources attract customers and collect their contact information successfully. Lead magnets provide upfront solutions, which build trust before asking anything in return. When people receive something useful, they view your business well and consider your paid services later. 50% of marketers in the US have higher conversion rates when using lead magnets. For local businesses with limited marketing budgets, produce lead magnets practically by:

• Solving a real pain point. Research the common challenges your local customers face and create free consultations or webinars that address these issues. Or, provide a seasonal yard care guide for a local landscaping company. Your local bakery might need a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for new customers. Deliver useful content that attracts prospects who need your services. 
• Making lead magnets quick to access. Set up landing pages or website pop-ups to promote your lead magnets. Keep sign-up forms simple by requesting only the name and emails. Additional fields reduce conversion rates by 8 to 50%. Once someone submits their information, deliver the content quickly for a positive impression.
• Promoting lead magnets everywhere. Don’t limit your resources to a single webpage. Share them with your social media profiles, local online forums, and in-person interactions. Provide QR codes on coasters linking to a VIP tasting guide for a local café. Or, a retail store could use an instant discount through a scannable code. 
• Following up to nurture the lead. A lead magnet maximizes conversions through a follow-up strategy. After a guide is downloaded or a coupon is redeemed, send a message a few days later asking if they found it useful. Do this through email or other communication channels and provide extra resources. An ongoing conversation moves them from being leads to paying customers.

Alex Cattoni teaches that lead magnets must address audience needs while providing content. She emphasizes that good lead magnets create “useful but incomplete information” that leaves prospects wanting more. The goal of a lead magnet is to grow your email list, build trust, and establish authority.

 

2. Build Email Marketing Campaigns for Your Local Business

Email marketing campaigns establish direct communication with prospects. You build relationships with interested customers through email marketing. 64% of small businesses in the US use email to reach customers. And, successful campaigns have an average $42 return for every dollar spent. Email is one of the most cost-effective ways to generate leads without cold calling, and here’s how to do it:

• Create a welcome sequence. Don’t let new leads go cold after they connect with your local business. Send an automated message thanking them for connecting and introducing your unique business. Follow this with 2 to 3 additional emails over the next few weeks with tips or information.
• Group contacts by interests. As your email list grows, divide your contacts based on their behaviors or interests. Separate “New Signups” from “Repeat Customers,” or group contacts by product interest. Segmented emails have 30% higher open rates and 50% conversion rates because they make leads feel understood.
• Share quality content regularly. Do not turn every email into a sales pitch, but follow an 80/20 rule. 80% of your emails need to educate, inform, or entertain. The remaining 20% promote products or services. If you’re a coffee shop owner, send monthly newsletters with brewing tips and add a subscriber coupon. Through useful content, you keep subscribers engaged until they are ready to buy.
• Include detailed ‘next steps’. Every email should state its purpose and a call-to-action (CTA). Make this CTA button with bold text like “Book a Free Consultation Now” or “Read Our Latest Blog Post.” For B2B lead generation, invite recipients to download a case study or schedule a demo. Without clear direction, leads may enjoy your content but not know what step to take next. It misses the opportunity to convert leads into sales.
• Set up automation. Explore email marketing software to automate and schedule your messages. Many platforms have free plans for small businesses looking to get sales leads for free. Decide on a consistent sending schedule—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Also, use automation for birthday or anniversary reminders to maintain engagement each time. This strategy continues generating leads even while you’re focused on other tasks.

Alex Hormozi recommends a “quarterly cleanup” strategy for email marketing. You run high-converting campaigns once every quarter to re-engage your list. Start testing with 10% of your audience before doing the campaigns to the entire list. Hormozi emphasizes that giving value and goodwill before making offers does well for his business. The secret to his email method is understanding that you can sell the same product in different ways.

 

3. Take Advantage of Targeted Social Media Outreach

Social media connects you where your target already spends their time. 96% of small business owners use social platforms for marketing, and it is at twice the rate compared to traditional methods. For businesses wondering how to generate leads in sales B2B, here’s how to take advantage:

• Choose the right platform for your audience. Focus your efforts on platforms where your clients are most active. LinkedIn might be your top choice, used by 44% of B2B marketers in the US as their primary social lead source. For restaurants or retail shops, Facebook and Instagram typically work best. Facebook reaches wide age groups with excellent local advertising tools. While, Instagram displays appealing products and services.
• Engage with your local community. Actively take part and post content in local Facebook groups in your area. Be a local business owner who provides information instead of promoting products. Search for local hashtags on Twitter or Instagram and join those conversations. Comment on posts from other local businesses, community events, and respond to comments. These interactions lead to people checking out your profile after seeing online contributions.
• Use targeted ads and lead-generation features. While organic posting is important, small ad investments broaden your reach. Facebook targets by zip code, interests, and demographics. The platform lets users submit their information without leaving, converting 20% more clients. If you own a dance studio, run ads shown only to users within a 10-mile radius who list “dancing” as an interest. Even with a $5 to $10 budget, it reaches thousands of local prospects with low-cost advertising.
• Benefit from video and live interactions. Create short videos showcasing your expertise and host a live Q&A. Live videos notify your followers and create real-time interaction. They are perfect for virtual events, product demonstrations, or question sessions. These real-time engagements make people trust and purchase from your business. They can see actual results on how your products solve the challenges they face.

Cindy Dodd believes LinkedIn outreach is a practical way to grow your local agency without a large following. But, she also advocates for other social media platforms. She suggests direct calls convert better than sending them to landing pages. Dodd adds that her technique works for some and not for others.

 

4. Optimize Local SEO and Online Presence

With local SEO, clients find your business when they search online for services in your area. To generate more leads, you need to appear when people search ‘best [your service] near me’ in Google. With 32% of US consumers wanting to buy what you sell, your business needs online visibility. Local SEO helps customers choose your business, and below are strategies for revenue:

• Update your Google Business Profile. This powers Google Maps results and the information card that appears on searches. Complete every section: name, address, phone number, hours, website link, and business category. Add descriptions with local keywords like “family-owned bakery in [Town Name].” And, upload quality photos of your storefront, products, and team. Google reports that complete business profiles are 50% more likely to generate sales. Encourage customers to leave reviews to boost local search results.
• Be consistent in all directories. Your information needs to appear correctly on Yelp, Bing Places, and other directories. Inconsistent information hurts your visibility and drives clients to your competitors.
• Improve your website’s local SEO. Add location keywords to your site’s title tags, meta descriptions, and page headings. Instead of “Quality Plumbing Services,” use “Plumbing Services in Phoenix, AZ. For multiple service areas, create a page for each location. Establish your local business as an expert and speak directly to local customers.
• Encourage online reviews and testimonials. Most clients trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Respond professionally to both positive and negative feedback. A rating of 4 stars or more convinces clients to choose your business over competitors. 90% of brands in America say that online reviews affect their search rankings. 
• Use local ads and partnerships. While SEO focuses on organic efforts, adding local search ads places you at the top of Google. Try Google Ads to target specific locations and terms for your local business. Also, partner with complementary businesses for cross-promotion. Exchange guest blog posts or get listed on each other’s websites as recommended partners. Enhance your SEO with tools like Snapps.ai that improve authority and drive traffic. 

Chris Palmer believes businesses should analyze their competitors to determine where to invest. Calculate where the traffic is coming from to determine the cost and time investment. Palmer suggests focusing their marketing budget on channels that deliver the best ROI. 

 

Tools that Turn Acquired Leads to Local Business Sales Quickly

• CRM software. Monitors prospects by organizing contact information, tracking interactions, and sending automated follow-ups.
• Appointment scheduling tools. Let prospects schedule meetings instantly and integrate these meetings with your calendar. These tools send automatic reminders to increase conversion rates for your small business.
• Live chat software. Engages website visitors at their moment of highest interest. This software answers common questions 24/7 through chatbots. Then, it connects qualified leads to your team.
• Text message marketing. Reaches people on their devices and personalizes SMS campaigns that get attention faster.
• Call tracking software. Determines which marketing channels generate your best phone leads. There are services that check ads, keywords, or pages so you know where to spend your budget more.
• Proposal and quote generation tools. Speeds up the sales process by creating professional documents quickly. There are applications that build, send, and create client proposals.
• Payment processing solutions. Make it smooth to take credit cards, digital wallets, and installment payments.
• Video conferencing platforms. Encourage face-to-face sales conversations, regardless of location. Build stronger connections with leads through virtual meetings.

 

Should I Use a Website Builder to Generate Leads for Local Business?

Website builders for local businesses are recommended for businesses establishing an online presence. They have user-friendly templates, complete with contact forms, map integrations, and mobile optimization. Website builders include tools and elements that convert visitors into leads. The advantage is that they don’t require technical skills or a large budget to rank in local searches. For instance, Snapps.ai presents features that attract locals through ranking websites in your service area. With just your hours, location, services, and a contact form, website builders increase your local business leads.