🌟 Networking and Business Growth Lunch 🌟
Join us on Wednesday, 26 February, at 1:30 PM for an exciting business growth session and lunch at The Soak. Designed for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small business owners, this event offers:
Group consultation: Discover how to grow your business in 2025.
Lunch & Socializing: Table reserved for 8, order your food/beverages separately.
🎯 Learn about an affiliate program to empower your income streams. Hosted by Lena Benjamin, Business Growth Consultant with 25+ years’ experience across four industries and 30+ global cities.
🎟️ Small fee applies for admin and time. Spaces are limited, so book now!
For many businesses, lead generation spans multiple touchpoints. For your business to survive, you have to be able to generate sales leads. Here are some of the top tips for generating more leads for your business.
According to recent statistics, outbound marketing is more effective than inbound marketing, but that doesn’t mean that you should ditch your inbound marketing strategy. If you can deploy both approaches in a balanced way, it will help to generate more leads. To make the most out of your inbound marketing efforts, personalize your email communication and get more active in online communities.
If you create highly unique and on-demand content, it is a good idea to restrict it so that only registered users of your website have access to it. Many companies that publish their own research reports and surveys use this approach because their content is in high demand in their industry and it is a tactic that has proven to generate high-quality leads.
Providing free trials to qualified customers is a common practice for businesses that sell online. There are two objectives for the tactic. The first is to allow prospects the opportunity to test your product to see if it will fit their needs. Secondly, and more importantly, offering a free trial is a great way to capture the contact details of users who may not have otherwise provided it.
One of the most underused strategies for generating more leads is optimizing and reducing the clutter on your landing page. Every line and link that appears on your landing page is a distraction that could keep your prospects from signing up. To generate more leads, reduce the clutter and keep the focus on your sign up form.
A recent study conducted by the Digital Marketing Association found that more than 60 percent of visitors sign up for company newsletters to get the offers. Along with providing a free product, whether it be a white paper, eBook, or other digital product, you can also change the marketing message to generate more leads. Instead of saying “sign up for our newsletter,” you can change it to “get exclusive discounts here.” Making this simple change can have a significant impact on the leads that you generate.
Implementing these lead generation strategies can go a long in increasing the number of visitors that convert to quality leads.
Now that you have decided on the type of traffic you need for your digital products, it’s time to go out and get them. How will you market your products for maximum effect and profit?
There are many things to consider even before you consider the creation of a digital product:
Target niche – Who is right for this product and where can they be found? Types of information products ñ Do you have a preference for a certain type of product: ebook, videos, audios, podcasts, workbooks, content creation? Do you have any knowledge already to help with product creation or do you need to learn a few things?
Market – Is there a market for this product? There might be an audience but is this particular idea already overplayed?
Time and money – What is the cost in time for creation and investment to get the product launched? What price tag will you have to offer to compensate and still make a profit?
Once you take these thoughts into consideration, it’s time to gather your tools and your ideas to fashion them into a digital product to get things going.
6 Ways to Market Digital Products
Did you know that the best way to gain fervour for your product is to start before the product is even created? Drum up support with the well-planned idea and your outline for its completion. Let the public follow you on this journey. Here’s how.
Social media – By building relationships with your customers and readership. Post your progress on the new product. Ask customers to be part of a focus group for different portions of the project. Ask followers what they would like to see in the product to make it a sale for them.
QR codes – You’ve probably seen them all over. In stores, product advertisements might contain one. Scanning it with a Smartphone will reveal an ad of some sort that talks about the impending launch of the product. Create a video or an ad that links to that code.
Guest blogging – You are helping out fellow niche bloggers but also making useful connections. Offer them an advance copy of your new product in thanks for speaking on an issue of their choosing on the blog.
Contests – Offer free copies of your product as prizes for contests that relate to the product in question. Readers can find out more about what you do through these contests as they vie for quality items.
Offer free stuff – As you prepare for a launch, count down to the big moment with a free item each week to your subscribers. It could be an audio, a newsletter, free tools for use on their website and others.
Connect with businesses – Business partners are helpful too. Frequent the forums in your niche as well as LinkedIn to form new business relationships. Offer useful information and links to your fellow online business owners to get feedback from them.
Begin the process of gaining interest in your product before you create it.
With unemployment on the rise this year and hours being cut, we are all looking for alternative ways to bring in additional income. If you are thinking of starting your own business, but you are unsure what route to take, you have come to the right place. We have listed start-up ideas that will hopefully inspire you to start your own and earn that extra income you need. Take a look at our list below.
Online
Internet Business
More and more people are looking to create a first, second or third income stream from building a business on the internet. There are online platforms that can help you to establish your own internet-based business to generate a six or seven-figure income from $100,000+. You can even look at consultancy services that offer do-it-for-you programs.
YouTube
In recent years YouTubing or Vlogging has become increasingly popular, with many ‘Youtube stars’ earning on average roughly £1750 per one million views. If you have a hobby or an interesting topic and don’t mind being in front of a camera, then this might be the right route for you. As YouTubing is so popular, it can be hard to build up your page so don’t expect instant results. You will need to be consistently posting videos and engaging with comments. Once you gain enough traction, you may get approached by companies asking you to promote their product. Although this could be a good money maker, ensure that you believe in the company and product you are advertising and that it is relevant to your branding.
Blogging
If you are camera shy but still want to talk about your hobby or lifestyle etc. then blogging is the way forward for you. Blogging was the first business model to grace the internet and it is still going strong today. Create your website on a platform such as Wix or WordPress and make sure you have a good understanding of analytics, keywords, search engine ranking and online marketing etc.
Virtual Assistant
If you have the skills of being an assistant, why not offer your services online as a freelance virtual assistant. With more companies making their employees work from home this year, now could be a good time to research companies that might need help with their admin. Once you build up a rapport and your workload becomes too much, you could expand your business by either employing someone or outsourcing your extra work. Or you can Run A Successful Virtual Assistants Business while helping other business owners you can establish other income streams and not just rely on just one!
Writer
If you think of yourself as quite the writer, then think about becoming a freelance copywriter. Earn money, writing blogs and website content. It would help if you had a good level of English be able to come up with content ideas. You could even become a ghostwriter for authors and corporations that will pay anything from $25,000 to utilise your talents.
Social Media Manager
Every business should be on social media, but when businesses are busy they can lack their social media presence. This is where you could come in and offer your services managing their social media. This means posting, following marketing campaigns and knowing who the current influencers are etc. You need to have good knowledge of all social media platforms.
Business Ideas
Make and Sell
There’s always a new idea to be had when it comes to the world of shopping. As the world evolves- so does the need for specific products. Having the skill and creativity to make new things, you can turn your hobby into a business. Venture Capital represents brands and investors. You never know how much your idea for consumer products VC could earn you in the future. Start off by selling your products online on websites such as Esty, Not On The Highstreet, local flea markets, or advertise your e-commerce on social media. Make sure to take some time to do some research into the rules that apply to the products you’re trying to sell.
If you find yourself as a crafter, then why not sell your creations. With the right marketing and selling platforms, you could turn your hobby into a business. There are many online sites you could sell from such as Etsy or Not on the high street or you coils sign up for local markets and sell your goodies there. Make sure you do research on what rules apply to your product when selling.
Franchise
Franchising is good as someone has already done the business model for you. Franchising is when you buy and pay fees to use an existing companies business model, trademarks and systems. Popular franchises include McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza hut, etc.
Open A Coffee Shop
If you love coffee and have experience as a barista, then opening a coffee shop might be right up your street. For a lower risk option, purchase a coffee shop that already exists or a franchise one. If you are up for the challenge, then consider opening your own coffee shop. This will take a lot of research and educating yourself about running a barista business. When opening a coffee shop, you need to think about more than just coffee, how you take money is very important. With everything no becoming cashless, you need to make sure you are prepared with a wireless tap to pay and apple pay card machines, this company shows a good variety of what your business can choose from.
Dog Walker
Although many people will be working from home, they might not find the time to walk their dog. If you are good with animals and enjoy the outdoors, then this could be good for you. Make sure you have the necessary insurance in place.
Real Estate Investing
There are all kinds of avenues available to those that are considering real estate as a likely method of investing in the future. And why on earth shouldn’t you? This is one way that millionaires around the world will agree to build a massive fortune quickly. Many entrepreneurs and executives are focused on real estate investing around the world for its apparent opportunities which include global citizenship, tax planning, superior education and healthcare.
Starting an internet business can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, if you jump right in without doing a little research first, you could find yourself becoming overwhelmed very quickly. Some people make it look easy. The truth of the matter is that the people who make it look easy are people who did a lot of research beforehand. They understood what they were assuming to such a significant degree, they were able to avoid some of the common pitfalls of starting an Internet business.
The great thing about the concept of an internet business is the fact that you are referring to a very, very wide spectrum of possibility. The business can be as large or as small as you want/need it to be.
Here are a few things that any internet business entrepreneur should keep in mind, before they do something like run out and buy a domain:
• Have a plan: While you don’t need to have a detailed, formal business plan, you still need to come up with some mode of attack. This can include researching potential competitors, developing a sense of what you want to market to which group of people.
• Establish a budget, and keep something else in mind: Your business is going to need a budget, regardless of its size. When budgeting an internet business, there are two things to keep in mind. First, remember that your budget needs to be realistic. Secondly, you want to appreciate the fact that in all likelihood, you’re going to lose money before you make money.
• Customers will want to meet you: Standing out from the pack with an internet business can be really challenging. Sometimes, it gets awfully close to impossible. With that in mind, remember that one good way of establishing a unique brand is to filter your own personality into everything that defines your internet business. People are going to want to know who they are buying goods and services from. Don’t reveal more than you are comfortable with, but understand that you will have to create a public identity for customer service purposes and more.
https://youtu.be/DjHhV99_-UI
• Do something you’re actually going to enjoy: Large or small, an internet business can be a lot of work. Make sure you are doing something you will be able to enjoy, which comes in handy when things take a turn for the challenging.
I’m Lena Benjamin—global growth strategist and author of NIFTY, expanding into sustainable fashionand film. With 25+ years of experience in over 30 cities, I advise on UK buy-refurb-sell property ventures and have worked with startups, corporates, and SMEs. From Amazon interest to FT recognition—let’s unlock your next move.
Starting an internet business can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, if you jump right in without doing a little research first, you could find yourself becoming overwhelmed very quickly. Some people make it look easy. The truth of the matter is that the people who make it look easy are people who did a lot of research beforehand. They understood what they were assuming to such a significant degree, they were able to avoid some of the common pitfalls of starting an Internet business.