Top 4 Ways to Get Clients for Lead Generation (What Works Best for Businesses)

Here are ways to get clients for lead generation:

1. Use customer referrals and word-of-mouth marketing
2. Implement content marketing
3. Engage on social media and professional networks
4. Use targeted outbound outreach

To get more clients for lead generation, start with customer referrals and word-of-mouth marketing. These methods attract high-quality customers with minimal investment. Connect directly with potential clients through trusted relationships. Referrals boost sales, but keeping customers happy takes time and effort.

A content marketing strategy also attracts B2B lead generation clients. Creating excellent resources establishes your expertise, where people come to you. Publishing content three times a week generates around 40% of marketing leads. 

Use social media and professional networks to build relationships and create opportunities. Targeted outreach with personalized emails connects you with clients. This is better than waiting for them to find you.

61% of businesses have a hard time getting leads. But if you try these 4 ways to attract lead generation clients, you can be among the 91% of lead gen agencies who successfully acquire new business.

1. Use Customer Referrals and Word-of-Mouth to Generate Leads

In generating sales leads, referrals are one of the best strategies at a low cost. Most consumers, 92%, trust referrals from friends and family more than other ads. In B2B lead generation, 82% make a purchase if someone they know refers products and services. Referrals come with minimal costs, especially when taking advantage of word-of-mouth marketing. The following strategies increase your conversion rates by 3 to 5 times:

• Be active in asking for referrals. Don’t assume satisfied clients will refer your business automatically. After a successful project, ask for referrals and see if they know anyone who could use your services. A straightforward request unlocks new opportunities instantly. Provide a short email template that clients can forward to their contacts. When reaching out to potential clients via mutual connections, you gain trust.
• Provide incentives whenever appropriate. Include discounts, bonuses, or small gifts to encourage word-of-mouth. Dropbox gives users free storage space for each friend they refer as a strategy. This incentive led to a 3,900% increase in users within 15 months. Also, give out $100 gift cards for every referral.
• Deliver excellent customer experience. Make your clients happy by consistently delivering results. Communicate well by solving your clients’ problems and making sure they feel valued. Clients refer to businesses that exceed their expectations. Leads are 4 times more likely to buy products when referred by a friend.

Dan Lok says to get more referrals, you need to be “referable.” This means you should build trust, deliver value, and act professionally. He recommends asking for referrals at these moments:

• When a client expresses satisfaction.
• After multiple transactions.
• A few days after delivering services.
• Immediately after receiving a compliment from a client.
• Right after someone has already referred to you.

 

2. Implement Content Marketing as Your Inbound Lead Generation Machine

Provide valuable blogs, videos, and whitepapers for businesses searching for lead generation solutions. The core principle of inbound marketing for your lead gen agency is to create a system where potential clients come to you. Content marketing generates 3 times as many leads as outbound marketing. Educational content builds audience familiarity and establishes your expert status in their eyes. Your content narrows down the audience to the leads who trust your expertise. Here are tips that work:

• Create content that answers your audience’s questions. Identify your prospects’ common problems and questions. Think about what they might type into Google, then create posts that address those topics. If businesses are looking to generate online leads, write an article on ‘The Best Lead Generation Strategies for Small Businesses in 2025’. Use how-to guides, infographics, short videos, or webinars. This content attracts many readers and reaches out for your services to attract leads.
• Optimize for search engines (SEO). Use keywords that match your audience’s search queries. Use terms like “lead generation process” or “lead generation ideas” within your content. Regularly publish 2 to 3 blog posts so your website attracts 67% organic leads. And deciding on a good platform to share your content is important in attracting leads for your services. Tools like Snapps.ai build SEO-friendly websites and make sure each piece of content is structured.
• Use lead magnets and capture leads. Aside from getting business owners to read your content, the next step is to turn these visitors into qualified prospects for your lead generation business. Opt-in forms and lead magnets capture contact information and email subscriptions. Keep these forms with an average of 5 fields, like how 89% of marketers do. Give them a free checklist, guide, or consultation in exchange. Also, add a landing page for each lead magnet because it gets 7 times more leads.
• Share proof and case studies. Including testimonials and success stories persuades 50% of leads in three months. A video testimonial from a client sharing how your lead generation services doubled their inbound leads is a good tactic. When someone real recommends your services, it builds trust and boosts conversions.  

Philip VanDusen emphasizes creating content with high value and driven by purpose. He recommends producing richer content. This content should be split into micro-pieces for different platforms. He highlights three principles:

• Guide prospects through the complete customer journey rather than pushing for quick sales.
• Engage and personalize content to build community and trust.
• Repurpose content across multiple channels to maximize its reach.

3. Engage on Social Media and Professional Lead Gen Networks

Businesses needing lead generation services spend most of their time on social media, making these channels ideal for promoting your lead gen agency. LinkedIn generates 82% of B2B leads, making it good for content distribution and outreach. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can work well, depending on your industry. Social media lead generation works because it builds relationships and visibility. Attract and nurture potential clients through:

• Update your profiles and pages. Your professional profiles and business pages need polishing. They should also communicate how you bring value to your clients. Highlight your lead generation services, use professional photos, and keep contact information updated. Think of your profile as a mini-website for lead generation. People will check it out before contacting you. 
• Engage with your target audience’s community. Comment on lead generation posts and answer questions in groups to build relationships. Join LinkedIn groups relevant to your clients and provide input without directly selling. Position yourself as an expert and think of this as digital networking. People prefer to do business with someone they “know” online, so it’s nice to interact with inquiries.

• Use LinkedIn for direct outreach and connection. Use its features to research clients by title, industry, and location. Send a personalized connection request and mention something about their work. Once connected, engage with what they post and provide insights. It is better to build a connection before making an offer. Use hashtags and mentions to extend your reach. These posts get shared and exposed to those looking to generate sales organically.
• Take advantage of other social media platforms. Facebook is great for local business networking. Instagram is for visual industries like design, real estate, and lifestyle. Go for Twitter if your target is tech professionals, marketers, and journalists. Though building your lead generation agency’s presence takes time, this method attracts small owners to your services.

Pierre Herubel’s “Authority First” strategy on social platforms structures content as follows:

• 70% Expertise-Driven Content: Share industry insights to establish authority.’
• 15% Personal Content: Humanize your brand with personal stories.
• 15% Conversion Content: Directly address client questions and provide the answers.

 

4. Use Targeted Outbound Outreach (Cold Emails & Direct Contact)

Proactively reach potential clients through email or direct contact. 97% ignore cold calls, which makes email and direct messaging better alternatives. Cold email outreach sends personalized messages and allows customers to think it over. This is unlike a phone call that interrupts them. Outbound outreach for your lead generation agency has 5 to 10% response rates, but signing just 1 to 2 new clients makes the effort worthwhile. Here’s how to directly get lead generation clients:

• Build a list of targets. Outbound outreach for your agency starts with identifying which businesses to contact. Do you want to add marketing managers from B2B SaaS firms? What about local restaurants in your city needing lead generation help? Gather contact details using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo, Uplead, and Lusha. Remember that quality leads matter over 500 random names. 
• Create a personalized outreach message. Customizable templates create authentic messages that avoid automated or spammy appearances. Include a subject like your thoughts and ideas that increases open rates by 50%. Also, state what your lead generation agency brings to the table and mention the past companies you’ve helped through your services. Share industry reports or insights about lead generation performance that apply to their business needs. End your message with a call-to-action and let them know that you’re looking forward to talking with them. 
• Consider multi-channel outreach. This lowers your client acquisition cost by 31% compared to focusing on just 1 platform for your agency’s outreach. Send a connection request on LinkedIn. Then, after 3 to 4 days, follow up with a brief message. If you get no response after sending a few messages, do not spam and revisit the target later. Do not assume they are not interested, but follow up with a polite reminder. 80% of new leads require over 5 follow-ups before converting.

Alex Berman recommends grabbing attention with strong subject lines, personalization, and maintaining an online presence. His clients check his credibility with 3 email formulas. These formulas get response rates as high as 45.8%.

• Deep Prospect Research: Identify specific pain points businesses face before contacting on services.
• Hyper-Personalization: Mention details AI can’t replicate to stand against the competition.
• Provide Value First: Bring insights or quick wins upfront to create interest.

 

Tips on Building Long-Term Relationships Through Lead Generation

• Prioritize value over sales. Provide insights and solutions rather than pushing a sale immediately. This builds trust and positions you as an industry expert.
• Personalize your communication. Call clients by their names, mention previous chats, and create an outreach to their needs. Personalization fosters stronger connections.
• Follow up consistently. Follow up with your target even if they do not convert immediately, so you stay on top of their mind. 
• Engage after selling. Stay connected with clients after they purchase. Share updates, offer support, or provide more insights.
• Be transparent and honest. Set real expectations and always deliver on your promises.
• Encourage feedback. Get opinions and reviews to improve services, strengthen relationships, and increase client retention.
• Provide excellent support to your lead generation clients. Being responsive, solving their lead generation problems quickly, and providing a smooth experience leads to repeat business for your agency.
• Host networking and educational events. Show your lead generation expertise to potential clients through webinars, workshops, and live Q&As about effective lead generation strategies.
• Monitor and adapt your client relationship strategy. Use CRM tools to track interactions with businesses that hire your lead generation services and schedule timely follow-ups.

 

Should I Use a Website Builder for My Lead Generation Agency?

A lead generation website builder works for businesses looking to attract more clients to their services. Instead of traditional methods, a well-designed lead generation website attracts, captures, and converts. Platforms like Snapps.ai have customizable landing pages, built-in analytics, and CRM automation tools. With the right builder, your lead gen business can enhance anyone’s online presence. You can improve conversion rates and create a lead funnel with minimal effort.