Cloud VoIP systems are increasingly becoming the go-to choice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for communication needs. These cloud-based systems offer a range of features and benefits that traditional phone systems cannot match. In this article, we will explore the top five cloud VoIP systems for SMEs and highlight their features and benefits.

Key Takeaways

• Cloud VoIP systems offer a range of benefits to SMEs, including cost-effectiveness, flexibility, scalability, and easy setup and management.
• It enables businesses to access multiple features like video conferencing, call recording, and call forwarding, which can help improve business efficiency and productivity.
• Businesses must carefully evaluate their needs and requirements to choose the right provider.

Understanding Cloud VoIP Systems

Cloud VoIP systems are virtual phone systems that use the internet to make and receive calls. They are hosted on servers in data centers and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This technology has revolutionized the way businesses communicate by providing a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional phone systems.

Benefits for SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit greatly from cloud VoIP systems. These systems eliminate the need for expensive hardware and maintenance costs associated with traditional phone systems. Additionally, they offer affordable pricing plans suitable for SMEs with limited budgets.

Cloud VoIP systems also provide mobility and flexibility impossible with regular landlines and on-premise phone systems. Employees can make and receive calls from anywhere using their laptop or mobile device, which makes it easier for SMEs to operate remotely or have a distributed workforce.

Key Features to Consider

When selecting a cloud VoIP system, SMEs should consider several key features that will help them improve their communication efficiency and productivity. Some of the essential features include:

• Call management: Cloud VoIP systems offer advanced call management features such as call forwarding, call routing, and call recording. These features enable SMEs to handle calls more efficiently and improve customer service.
• Collaboration tools: Many cloud VoIP systems offer collaboration tools such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and screen sharing. These tools allow SMEs to communicate and collaborate effectively with their team members and clients.
• Integration with other business applications: Cloud VoIP systems can integrate with business applications such as CRM software and project management tools. This integration enables SMEs to streamline their workflows and improve their overall efficiency.

Top Cloud VoIP Systems for SMEs

When it comes to choosing a Cloud VoIP provider for SMEs, there are several options available in the market. Here are the top 5 Cloud VoIP providers for SMEs:

Nextiva

Nextiva stands out as a reliable Cloud VoIP system for SMEs, catering to over 100,000 satisfied customers. Their user-friendly approach is a major perk, with a simple setup process that gets you up and running in minutes. Plus, Nextiva takes care of software maintenance, leaving you free to focus on your business.

Nextiva boasts a range of features that empower your team’s communication. Enjoy unlimited calling, video conference recordings for easy reference, and mobile and desktop apps for on-the-go accessibility. They even offer workflow optimization tools and omnichannel communications to streamline your processes.

But Nextiva’s strength truly lies in its integrations. From Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams to Hubspot and Rippling, you can seamlessly connect Nextiva to your existing suite of business applications. Nextiva goes beyond by integrating with industry-specific solutions like Zendesk, and ConnectWise, and even offers virtual faxing – a secure option ideal for healthcare providers.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Pros: Feature-rich with conference calling, voicemail transcription, multi-level attendant, and more. Integrates with popular CRMs and business tools. Offers secure virtual faxing. Includes 24/7 customer support for peace of mind.
• Cons: Lacks integrations with Slack and Zapier. Pricing might be higher for some small businesses, with plans starting at $18.95 per user per month.

Nextiva also sweetens the deal with a free 7-day trial, allowing you to experience firsthand benefits before committing.

Mitel MiCloud

For small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) seeking a robust and user-friendly Cloud VoIP system, Mitel MiCloud offers a compelling solution. MiCloud goes beyond basic calling features, equipping your sales and customer support teams with a comprehensive communication platform.

Here’s what makes Mitel MiCloud stand out:

• Untethered Communication: Never miss a call with seamless call forwarding to mobile numbers.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Foster teamwork and client engagement through high-quality video conferencing capabilities.
• Simplified Management: The drag-and-drop call flow designer empowers users to customize call routing with ease.

Mitel goes beyond core features by offering seamless integrations with the tools you already use. From Microsoft Outlook and Salesforce to Google Contacts, Skype for Business, and Microsoft Teams, MiCloud integrates with your CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and other business software to streamline workflows.

Benefits for Your Business

Beyond the feature set, MiCloud boasts several advantages for SMEs:

• Increased User Efficiency: Mitel’s intuitive interface (though with a learning curve for some) and feature-rich platform enhance user productivity, regardless of their location – perfect for remote or office-based teams.
• Scalability Made Easy: The flexible phone system design adapts to your growing needs. You can easily add or remove users without incurring high costs, making it a cost-effective solution.
• Prioritizing Customer Experience: Mitel understands the importance of exceptional customer support. You’ll have access to readily available assistance should any issues arise.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

It’s important to consider all aspects before making a decision. Some G2 reviewers have mentioned occasional connectivity issues, so a reliable internet connection is key. Additionally, while the interface is intuitive overall, there can be a learning curve for new users.

A Trial Run Before You Commit

While Mitel doesn’t display pricing directly on their website, they offer a free 7-day trial. It allows you to experience the platform firsthand and see if it aligns with your business needs.

Vonage

A veteran in the VoIP space, Vonage boasts over two decades of experience and a strong reputation for reliability. This stability is crucial for SMEs, ensuring consistent, clear calls.

But what features does Vonage offer beyond rock-solid connections? Let’s dive in:

Key Features for Streamlined Communication:

• Automated Attendant: Never miss a lead! An auto-attendant greets callers and directs them to the appropriate department, ensuring a professional first impression.
• CRM Integrations: Streamline workflows and boost efficiency by integrating Vonage with your existing CRM software.
• Unified Communication Hub: Foster collaboration with built-in voice and video conferencing capabilities.
• Advanced Call Management: Rely on call forwarding services to ensure you never miss an important call, even when you are on the go.

Pros to Consider:

• Smart Call Routing: Vonage empowers callers to route themselves using their name or an extension for a more user-friendly experience.
• Seamless Integration: Maintain call quality even with bandwidth-intensive applications running in the background.
• Virtual Receptionist Feature: This handy feature automatically directs calls to the right department, saving you valuable time.

Cons to Weigh:

• Cost Comparison: While Vonage offers a comprehensive solution, it might be pricier than some competitors. Be mindful of potential hidden fees that can inflate the overall cost.
• Scalability Considerations: Depending on your growth trajectory, Vonage’s plans may not offer the ultimate flexibility for rapidly scaling businesses.

Pricing:

Plans start at $13.99 per line per month, with additional charges of $0.03 per minute for outbound calls. A 14-day free trial is available to test the service before committing.

JustCall

Justcall seamlessly integrates with over 100 popular business applications like HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Zapier. This streamlines your workflow by allowing you to manage calls directly within your existing CRM or helpdesk platform.

Pros to Consider:

• Enhanced Customer Experience: Integrations with popular CRMs and a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android devices provide flexibility and convenience for both your team and clients.
• Global Presence: Local phone numbers in over 95 countries open doors to international markets.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights with real-time analytics that track call performance and identify areas for improvement.

Cons to Be Aware Of:

• Limited CRM Features: Compared to some competitors, Justcall’s CRM integrations may offer a slightly smaller feature set.
• Chat-Based Support: While helpful, phone support might be preferred by some users.

Pricing and Trial:

Justcall offers a user-friendly pricing structure starting from $19 per user per month. Additionally, they provide a generous 14-day free trial, allowing you to experience the platform firsthand before committing.

Dialpad

Dialpad isn’t just another name in the Cloud VoIP game – it’s a reliable and feature-rich solution built for SMEs. It boasts a user-friendly interface with built-in AI that helps streamline workflows. Their advanced analytics provide valuable insights into call performance, and customer support teams will appreciate the integrated live chat, phone hotline, and knowledge base.

Here’s what makes Dialpad a strong contender for your SME communication needs:

Pros:

• Rock-solid reliability: Voice intelligence keeps calls crisp and clear, while uptime hovers between an impressive 99% and 100%.
• Cost-effective calling: Make free calls to the US and Canada from anywhere in the world.
• User-friendly design: A modern, well-organized interface and extensive training resources make Dialpad easy to learn and use, with a well-built mobile app for on-the-go connectivity.

Cons:

• Dialing limitations: While Dialpad offers a power dialer, it lacks a smart dialer for automated dialing based on predefined lists.
• Limited visual call flow design: There’s no visual flow editor for the call flow designer so some technical knowledge may be required for advanced configuration.
• SMS limitations: Currently, SMS functionality is restricted to the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
• Integration limitations: While Dialpad integrates with popular tools like Salesforce and Google Workspace, the overall integration options might be less extensive compared to some competitors.

Pricing:

Dialpad offers a range of plans starting at an affordable $15 per month, making it a budget-friendly option for SMEs. To test-drive the features before you commit, take advantage of their generous 14-day free trial.

Choosing the Right Provider

When choosing a cloud VoIP system for your small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), it’s important to consider factors to ensure you select the right provider. Here are some key areas to assess when making your decision:

Assessing Your Business Needs

The first step in choosing a cloud VoIP system is to assess your business needs. Consider the number of employees who will be using the system, the features you require, and any specific integrations you may need. For example, if you have a remote team, you may require a system that offers video conferencing capabilities. Alternatively, if you deal with international clients, you may need a system that supports multiple languages.

Comparing Pricing and Plans

Another important factor to consider when choosing a cloud VoIP system is pricing and plans. Compare the pricing and features offered by each provider to determine which one offers the best value for your business. Also, keep in mind that some providers may offer a lower monthly fee but charge extra for certain features, so make sure to read the fine print before making your decision.

Evaluating Customer Support

Finally, it’s important to evaluate the customer support offered by each provider. Look for a provider that offers 24/7 customer support and multiple channels for contacting them, such as phone, email, and live chat. Always read reviews and testimonials from other customers to get an idea of the level of support they received.

Cloud VoIP Systems: The Bottom-Line

In conclusion, cloud VoIP systems offer SMEs a cost-effective, scalable, and feature-rich solution to their communication needs. With various providers and plans available, there’s a perfect fit for every business. Leap to a modern and reliable phone system – explore the options we mentioned and discover how cloud VoIP can empower your SME success.

The post Top 5 Cloud VoIP Systems for SMEs appeared first on Leadrebel Blog.

In today’s digital age, the success of a website often hinges on its ability to attract and retain visitors. Whether you run a personal blog, an e-commerce site, or a corporate webpage, one common goal is to increase web traffic. After all, the more people who visit your site, the greater the chances of achieving your online objectives, be it brand recognition, lead generation, or revenue generation. In this article, we will explore five proven strategies to help you boost your web traffic, driving more users to your online presence.

Was to Increase Web Traffic: Introduction

Before diving into the specifics, let’s take a moment to understand the importance of increasing web traffic. Web traffic is essentially the lifeblood of any online venture. It represents the number of people who visit your website, interact with your content, and potentially take desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. Without a steady flow of web traffic, even the most well-designed websites and compelling content will go unnoticed.

To put it simply, web traffic is a key performance indicator for online success. The more traffic you can attract, the better your chances of achieving your online goals. With that in mind, let’s explore five effective ways to increase web traffic.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

When it comes to increasing web traffic, search engine optimization (SEO) is often the first strategy that comes to mind. SEO involves optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), particularly on popular search engines like Google. When your website ranks higher, it becomes more visible to users who are actively searching for relevant content or products. Monitor traffic, position, keywords, and other metrics by using search engine monitoring to ensure your SEO efforts are on track and delivering results.

How to Implement SEO for Increased Web Traffic:

• Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is likely to search for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find popular and relevant keywords.
• On-Page Optimization: Optimize your website’s individual pages for specific keywords. This includes optimizing meta titles, descriptions, headings, web design and content for search engines.
• Quality Content: Create high-quality, valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Well-written and informative content not only attracts users but also helps improve your search rankings.
• Link Building: Build a network of high-quality backlinks to your website. These backlinks should come from reputable and authoritative websites in your industry. You can look for an agency that can help you with link building for ecommerce.
• Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as Google considers mobile-friendliness when ranking websites. A responsive design is essential for attracting and retaining mobile users.

By implementing these SEO strategies, you can improve your website’s visibility in search results, attracting organic traffic from users actively seeking information or products related to your niche.

Newbies guide on moz.com: https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing is another powerful strategy for increasing web traffic. It involves creating and promoting valuable, relevant, and engaging content to attract and retain your target audience. High-quality content not only helps you rank higher in search engines but also encourages repeat visits and sharing, which can further boost your web traffic.

How to Implement Content Marketing for Increased Web Traffic:

• Content Strategy: Develop a content strategy that aligns with your target audience’s interests and needs. Consider creating blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, and other content formats.
• Consistency: Maintain a consistent publishing schedule to keep your audience engaged. Regularly updated content can help you build a loyal readership.
• Promotion: Promote your content through various channels, including social media, email marketing, and guest posting. Sharing your content on relevant platforms can help you reach a wider audience.
• Keyword Integration: Incorporate relevant keywords into your content naturally. This not only helps with SEO but also ensures that your content is discoverable by users interested in your topic.
• Interactive Content: Consider creating interactive content such as quizzes, surveys, and calculators. Interactive content tends to be more engaging and shareable, increasing your chances of attracting web traffic.

Content marketing is a long-term strategy that can yield substantial results over time. By consistently delivering valuable content to your audience, you can establish your website as a trusted resource in your industry and attract a steady stream of web traffic.

Great guide on HubSpot: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/content-marketing

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives, making them a valuable channel for increasing web traffic. Leveraging social media marketing can help you reach a broader audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic back to your website.

How to Implement Social Media Marketing for Increased Web Traffic:

• Platform Selection: Identify the social media platforms that are most relevant to your target audience. Each platform caters to different demographics and interests, so choose wisely.
• Engagement: Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Building a strong online community can lead to more social sharing and increased web traffic.
• Content Sharing: Share your blog posts, articles, and other content on your social media profiles. Use visually appealing graphics and headlines to capture your audience’s attention.
• Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising on social media platforms to reach a larger audience. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer highly targeted advertising options.
• User-Generated Content: Encourage your followers to create and share content related to your brand. User-generated content can expand your reach and credibility.

Social media marketing can be a powerful driver of web traffic when executed effectively. It allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level and direct them to your website for further engagement.

Read more here: https://www.hootsuite.com/resources/social-media-strategy-guide

4. Email Marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture and engage your audience, driving consistent web traffic. By building a strong email subscriber list and delivering valuable content directly to your subscribers’ inboxes, you can keep your audience informed and encourage them to visit your website regularly.

How to Implement Email Marketing for Increased Web Traffic:

• List Building: Create opportunities for website visitors to subscribe to your email list. Offer incentives such as e-books, discounts, or exclusive content to entice sign-ups.
• Segmentation: Segment your email list based on subscriber preferences and behavior. Tailor your email content to specific segments to increase relevance.
• Personalization: Use personalization techniques to make your emails more engaging and relevant to individual subscribers. Personalized recommendations can lead to higher click-through rates.
• Consistent Communication: Maintain a regular email communication schedule. This can include newsletters, product updates, blog digests, and more.
• CTA Integration: Include clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs) in your emails. Encourage subscribers to visit your website for more information or to take specific actions.

Email marketing not only drives web traffic but also nurtures your leads and can result in higher conversion rates. It’s an excellent tool for building long-term relationships with your audience.

Interesting article on email marketing: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/email-marketing/

5. Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a relatively new but highly effective strategy for increasing web traffic. It involves partnering with individuals or entities with a significant online following and having them promote your products or content to their audience.

How to Implement Influencer Marketing for Increased Web Traffic:

• Identify Influencers: Research and identify influencers in your niche who have a substantial and engaged following. Look for influencers whose audience aligns with your target demographic.
• Partnership: Reach out to potential influencers and propose collaborations. This could involve sponsored content, product reviews, or guest posts on their platforms.
• Authenticity: Ensure that influencer partnerships feel authentic and natural. Authentic endorsements are more likely to resonate with the influencer’s audience.
• Track Performance: Use tracking tools and analytics to measure the impact of influencer marketing campaigns. Monitor web traffic, engagement, and conversions resulting from these campaigns.

Influencer marketing can provide a quick and effective boost to your web traffic, especially if you partner with influencers who have a strong online presence in your niche.

Read more here: https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing/

Five Ways to Increase Web Traffic: Summary

Increasing web traffic is a critical goal for any online venture, and it requires a multifaceted approach. By implementing the strategies mentioned in this article—Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, and Influencer Marketing—you can drive more users to your website, expand your online presence, and achieve your digital objectives.

Remember that web traffic growth often takes time and consistent effort. Be patient, track your progress, and continually adapt your strategies to meet the evolving needs of your audience and the ever-changing digital landscape. With dedication and the right tactics, you can significantly increase web traffic and propel your online venture toward success.

Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91261194@N06/49746728881

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What is sales funnel?

During a purchase all customers go through a certain journey, from the determination of their needs to the purchase decision, this journey consists of several stages, all of which are referred to as the sales funnel.

Let’s take a simple example:

During internet research an entrepreneur reads about the effectiveness of search engine optimization and the impact on the long-term increase in sales. Then he inquiries about suitable providers in his area, sends several inquiries, receives several answers, and after few discussions he decides on a specific company. This entire customer journey can be described as a sales funnel.

Why is sales funnel so important?

You can only improve and optimize something if you understand it. Sales funnel consists of several stages and optimizing each stage has an impact on the overall result. You can also quantify your sales process much more easily and define KPIs for the individual steps. In this article we try to explain all parts of the sales funnel in as much detail as possible, provide KPIs for the individual steps and explain the importance of LeadRebel for your sales funnel.

Structure: The stages within the sales funnel

The sales funnel is a process that consists of four stages: perception, interest, decision, action. Here you are reminded of the legendary film where Alec Baldwin explains the idea of the sales funnel in quite detail.

So, think of AIDA: Awareness, Interest, Decision and Action. Each of these steps requires a certain level of expertise from you. Depending on the size of the company, different people are responsible for the individual stages, different external service providers and, of course, different software and success metrics. Let’s go through each step in more detail:

• perception
• interest
• decision
• action

Perception

There are different starting points. In one, customers know exactly what they need and may already be actively looking for the appropriate solution. In other cases, customers don’t even know they have a specific need. For example, nobody had a need for iPads before they came along. As Steve Jobs said: “Some people say give the customers what they want, but that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, ‘If I’d ask customers what they wanted, they would have told me a faster horse’. Regardless of where you pick up the customers, they first must become aware of you.

So, the goal here is to increase awareness of your product or brand, be it through PR, search engine optimization, social media, etc. This also applies to products/services that are new and that customers are not yet explicitly looking for. For example, many marketers don’t even know that there is a way to identify their website visitors. Accordingly, you are not specifically looking for such software. But we must meet these customers where they are.

Once the target audience has spotted you, you need to stay on their radar. In most cases, there is no purchase the first time. So, customers need to keep seeing you, hearing from you, so that when it comes to deciding, you’re the first port of call.

The aim here is (if we are talking about the website) to generate as much traffic as possible. So, we define the first KPI: Traffic. Of course, traffic is not just traffic, it can be highly relevant or completely irrelevant. The fine tuning will be done later.

Interest

Interested visitors come to your website more often, stay longer, look at more pages, often start the ordering process and change their mind during the process. In this step it is important to convince the website visitors with the relevant content and interesting offers. The relevant KPIs are length of stay, number of repeated sessions, number of pages viewed per visit, etc. Most analytics tools as well as LeadRebel offer options for optimal tracking of these KPIs.

Decision

At some point customers must decide for or against your products and services. At this point, customers can still be influenced, be it with particularly good customer service, pricing, special offers or a targeted build-up of pressure.

The number of qualified inquiries, registrations, trials, and other comparable customer actions can be used as a KPI.

Action

At the end of the process, the purchase decision is made. If a customer decides against your product, he is not yet lost. A customer can be reactivated via so-called lead nurturing, for example with the help of regular newsletters or information about special offers, etc.

The KPI here is the number of purchases, orders, subscriptions, etc.

An example of a sales funnel

Let’s take a fictional software company. This company generates web traffic primarily using Google ads and search engine optimization. Typical traffic is 2,000 visitors per month. 2% of these visitors contact the company and make an inquiry. Of these 2% (i.e., 40 inquiries), 5% are converted into customer projects. So that means 2 new customers per month:

2000 * 2% * 5% = 2, which means that 0.1% of all website visitors become customers.

In this fictitious example, we can now tweak various points and try to increase the number of customers won each month.

Increase in traffic

Suppose that on average a visit costs 1 euro (as a mix of free SEO traffic and paid Google Ads traffic, where a click costs 2-4 euros). If you want to double the monthly traffic, the company must dig deep into their pockets. Since SEO traffic would be difficult to influence in the short term, you now spend more per click on average, e.g., B. 1.5 euros/click. If the number of acquired customers is to be doubled, 4,000 visitors must come to the website, on average a click would increase by 50%, so a company now spends 6,000 euros per month on traffic. If one paying customer previously cost 1,000 euros, it now costs 1,500 euros. You can do it; But you don’t have to.

Optimize conversion rate of traffic

In our example, only 2% of the visitors showed active interest. What if you increase this number through various measures? There are numerous ways to optimize conversions: A/B testing, better content, call-to-action optimization, chatbots, etc. But suppose the company increased the website conversion rate from 2% to 3%. Then the company gets 60 monthly inquiries instead of 40! 1% increase in conversion rate increased the number of inquiries by 50%. While increasing conversions sounds easier than it is, the leverage is more obvious than just driving traffic.

And the last step

Turning inquiries into customers. In the original example we spoke of 5%. What if you increase that rate to 10%? Here at LeadRebel the rate is 30%! This means that every third trial registration turns into a subscription. But let’s take 10% for the sake of simplicity (which is already an excellent result in many industries). In this case, out of 2000 visitors and a 2% conversion rate, 4 visits are converted into customers. That corresponds to an increase of 100%!

What if you optimize the KPIs across the sales funnel at all three points, we calculate with 4,000 visitors, 3% conversion rate and 10% conversion of inquiries into customers:

4000 * 3% * 10% = 12, a sixfold increase!

It is a theoretical example and in reality, the numbers do not increase linearly (more traffic does not always have the same quality, processing 60 leads is more difficult than 40 and supporting and onboarding 12 customers is significantly more complex than 2. But the core message remains – if you optimize the KPIs across the sales funnel, you have multiple leverage.

LeadRebel in your sales funnel

But where does LeadRebel come into play here? The answer is clear: in the second stage, where you convert visitors into conversions. In reality, the 3% conversion rate is pretty good, not every website can guarantee such a high rate. But even in this case you lose 97% of the visitors and they remain at the level of perception or interest at best (at worst these visitors forget about your existence).

LeadRebel is THE answer to this problem. By knowing which companies have visited your website, you can proactively contact them. A calculation example:

Traditional funnel: 2000 * 2% * 5% = 2 customers/month

Now we make the following assumptions:

• Traffic stays at 2000 visitors/month
• For example, LeadRebel recognizes 20% of visitors, so at the end of each month you have 400 recognized companies.
• Around 50% of this will likely be irrelevant, e.g., B. educational or government institutions, your competition, your suppliers, or existing customers. So, there are still 200 contactable companies
• You contact them and get a worst-case 1% activation rate, so you can convert visitors into customers. That equates to two customers.
• In addition to that, you still have your 2 customers per month, resulted from inbound marketing.

With LeadRebel alone, you doubled the number of monthly customers, and that for only 89 euros/month. If you remember, it has the same effect as triple the Google Ads budget.

Sounds interesting? Then read on.

Build sales funnels

For each stage of the sales funnel, there are dozens of methods to help you grow the funnel. However, it makes no sense to tackle all possibilities at once. Instead, you evaluate the options one at a time, what works stays, what doesn’t gets dropped from the list (or you can try a second time, with a different approach). Here are some ways you can achieve your own goals in each phase:

Sales funnel: achieve visibility

• SEO
• Ads (Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)
• Social media
• Content marketing
• Public relations
• Referrals / affiliate programs
• Banner ads
• Street advertising
• Word of mouth
• Virality
• Advertising in print media
• etc.

Sales funnel: Build interest

• Retargeting (one-time visitors are targeted with advertising via different channels)
• Offer interesting content
• Helpful tools and solutions
• Cultivate interest with newsletters, pushes, mail marketing, etc.
• Webinars, free training sessions
• Product trials, demo sessions
• etc.

Sales funnel: Influencing decisions

• Conversion optimization
• Social proof (references, press, big names as customers)
• Fast response to inquiries
• Generate FOMO
• Regular and persistent follow-ups
• Short-term offers and promotions
• Face-to-face meetings (bring your own charisma into play)
• etc.

Sales Funnel: Force action

Same methods as above. If you’ve been diligent, you’ve already done most of the work up to here. Sometimes you’re just having a bad day, or someone else is having a better one. But, at the end of the day, the sales funnel is all about the math. When you are in the right market with the right product, your total efforts will yield a predictable result.

Sales funnel KPIs – how to measure success?

The results of your sales efforts must be measurable. If you work based on gut feelings, “it’s working” or “everything sucks,” you don’t notice important changes in the business or in the market until it’s too late. It may be that sales are increasing, but important KPIs are already sending warning signs. If you’re not careful and don’t react in time, sales growth will also go south at some point. On the one hand, KPIs serve as early warning indicators, on the other hand they confirm or reject a hypothesis about the effectiveness of certain channels.

Here is a list of the KPIs that we believe are important for online sales and lead generation:

1. Traffic

Self-explanatory, although the relevance of the traffic is important here. You can see the relevance based on user activity on the website, such as length of stay, number of pages per visit. By the way, on LeadRebel you can also see a video recordings of all website visits.

• Traffic to inquiries or traffic to trial conversion

If you get 1000 visitors a day and 50 of them sign up for a trial, then your conversion rate is 5%.

• Customer conversion rate inquiries/trials

If out of those 50 trials, 5 become paid customers, then your rate is 10%.

• CaC (Customer acquisition cost): Cost of your marketing and sales efforts divided by the number of customers acquired

From the example above: Before the optimization, for 2000 Euros you acquired 2 customers (if we neglect all other costs), then CaC in this example is 1000 Euros. After integrating LeadRebel and paying an additional 89 euros per month (we omit the additional costs for distribution for the sake of simplicity), the CaC is 519 euros.

• Customer Lifetime Value

It describes the contribution margin that a customer realizes throughout his “customer life”. Of course, CLV should be higher than CaC.

You can find these and more KPIs in this article: 10 important KPIs in modern sales.

Sales funnel summary

If you’ve read this article up to here, let us know and you’ll be credited with an extra week of our free trial (three weeks total). Now that you know what role the sales funnel and optimization play in modern sales, you can optimize your funnel step by step, hopefully with the help of our software.

The post Sales Funnel – How to Build a successful Sales Funnel appeared first on Leadrebel Blog.

We have already written a lot about B2B lead generation in our blog. The industry is constantly evolving and there are always interesting new techniques for more B2B leads. But there are also some old, time-tested techniques that should not be lost sight of. Our recommendations are largely based on the findings of our own work.

B2B lead generation with SEO & content marketing

Everyone knows about search engine optimization and content marketing. One can consider these techniques separately from each other. From our point of view, however, the two are strongly connected, so that they should be viewed together.

In short, it is about creating high-quality content that is placed well and skillfully and generates traffic to the website or to the offer. It’s not just about blog content or an optimized landing page (although these factors are important); it’s generally about increasing your own visibility, be it content on YouTube, in podcasts, Google/Bing search, guest articles, recommendations from partners, etc.

The mechanics are relatively simple: you create content (e.g., blog articles), optimize placement (e.g., search engine optimization to rank better in Google and other search engines), and generate traffic. The traffic is then converted into B2B leads.

The advantages of content marketing and search engine optimization

• Cheaper than performance marketing (e.g., Google Ads)
• Long-term investment: Instead of paying for direct results, invest in the future. Your content will bring in new customers for months and years to come.
• Expert status: Paying for a click doesn’t make you an expert. However, if you guide your prospects and offer quality information, you will be seen more as an industry expert (whether personal or as a company).

The relevance of this technique for B2B lead generation increases over time in parallel with rising click prices on all major paid advertising platforms.

Our recommendations

• Don’t get bogged down in different channels. Define a main channel and focus on that. Consider other channels as a secondary front. If the main channel is doing well, then it makes sense to focus on another traffic source.

• Content must be of high quality. Yes, it makes sense to “write for the search engine” occasionally, since search engines love fresh content, but you’re writing for your own readers and potential customers. This must not be forgotten.

• Concentrate on “epic content”, i.e., guides, articles, videos, explainers, etc. that are dedicated to a topic, analyze this topic in detail and extensively, have been in the top places in the search results of the corresponding channel for years and from be called upon again and again by the readers. The concept of “epic content” isn’t new, but it’s underrated. Instead, many blogs focus on light content to “keep their channel fresh”.

• The classic “onpage” and “offpage” optimization continues to play a major role. Link building has often been written off as irrelevant. Not correct! Somehow the search engines must understand that the article or website is important and interesting. Despite the growing complexity of search engine algorithms, there is no getting around link building. We do it ourselves – sometimes more actively, sometimes less – but as soon as we neglect this topic, our entire sales funnel suffers.

• But as mentioned above, you shouldn’t neglect on-page optimization either. This factor is playing an increasingly important role! Loading times, mobile suitability, good readability, optimized tags – there are numerous old and new parameters that must be considered.

• Automate and simplify content creation. Content marketing is time consuming or expensive if outsourced. So, you either do it in-house or outsource it – in other words, your own time vs. money. Therefore, one should try to simplify this process as much as possible. It makes sense to create bundled content. So, you take the time to “lock yourself in” in the studio and shoot multiple videos at once and then post them online over a period. Let’s say you make a weekly video or blog post a week. Instead of tackling this task once a week, schedule 2-3 days a month to just focus on that task and create content for weeks at a time. The content can then be automatically published on different platforms once a week. The tools for this: Brandwatch, Loomly, Sendible.

B2B Lead Generation with Paid Advertising & Performance Marketing

Search engine optimization and content marketing are ideal as a medium and long-term strategy. But if you want “overnight” results, you must spend money and invest in paid advertising.

The advantages and disadvantages are obvious:

+ You get direct results

+ If the business model works overall, this approach can be easily scaled up

+ There are many channels and analysis tools to achieve optimal results

– Costs. Click prices have been rising on all major platforms for years. You can leave a lot of money on the table without getting concrete results

– Sustainability for your business. If you turn off the ads, your traffic and number of leads will drop

The most important platforms for paid click advertising include:

• Google Ads
• Facebook (including or without Instagram)
• LinkedIn

We ourselves focus on Google Ads and ultimately do the same as our competitors. However, this channel has worked well for us and has been delivering reliable and measurable results for years.

Our recommendations

• If possible, you should have this channel managed in-house. Probably hard to cover for smaller companies and sole proprietors, but if you have the opportunity and know-how, it’s best not to outsource. First, there is an oversupply of companies that offer this service (e.g., servicing Google Ads) and it is difficult to choose the right company. Second, the process of maintenance and optimization becomes a black box for you. At some point, the monthly reports are simply ignored, and you get used to the ongoing results according to the motto “could get better, but it fits as it is”. A small increase in conversion rate or reduction in click costs is enough to significantly improve the results. However, many agencies show no initiative and collect the monthly fee without taking care of your account.

• Monitor results and KPIs. In the usual analysis tools, you can set your own goals, track the results, etc. Don’t neglect this point, otherwise your campaigns will really become a black box.

• Try several channels, run them with enough budget, and decide afterwards what works best for you. For most B2B businesses, B2B lead generation works better on Google Ads than Facebook, but there are exceptions. LinkedIn click prices are higher than other platforms, but the targeting is much better, and you may get better results here.

• Pay attention to your website or landing page. If the paid advertising converts poorly, it can be due to the campaign (audience, keywords, etc.), but also to the landing page on which the visitors land.

Website Visitor Detection

Of course, we promote this technique for B2B lead generation out of self-interest. But not only. After all, if you’ve built good traffic through the last two measures, you’ll lose 97% of the traffic for nothing.

Statistically, only a small minority of website visitors (typically 3%) are prone to take a specific action, such as purchasing the product, calling, emailing, etc. The rest are lost in the short or long term. Visitors may or may not return to your site. You can influence this via retargeting. Which in turn costs a lot of money. So, what do you do?

Correct, the website visitor recognition. You use software that shows you which companies have visited your website. We’ve written about this technique for B2B lead generation many times. It’s best to read our guide to website visitor recognition.

Advantages

• A cheap addition to your sales and marketing activities with a high leverage effect
• When used correctly, this dramatically increases conversion rates right down the pipeline
• A reliable source if the traffic is right
• Significantly lowers the average cost of B2B lead generation
• Saves a lot of time for research and data enrichment of B2B leads

B2B lead generation: interim conclusion

Now we have discussed two ways how to generate traffic and how to maximize traffic decoding and increase conversion rate. In all three sections we scratch the surface. But first, it is about creating the structure for successful B2B lead generation. You can find more information in our blog posts:

Use online chat software effectively for lead generation

How we use our software ourselves to get optimal results

Now we want to build on this basic structure and generate even more B2B leads!

B2B lead generation via LinkedIn

What would a guide to B2B lead generation be without mentioning LinkedIn. Over 810 million members in 200 countries, in prime working age and many of them active every day (the current statistics can be found here). LinkedIn is a (potential) gold mine for B2B lead generation.

Many salespeople and marketers have recognized this and there is currently an oversupply of pitches, cold speech, etc. This clearly shows the effectiveness of the old good direct speech on LinkedIn. The messages are often not read at all or are lost in the flood of spam messages. You may miss something interesting, or your potential customers may overlook your offer.

Instead of relying on direct contact, we recommend the following strategies:

• Use LinkedIn in combination with LeadRebel. With the help of LeadRebel, you can easily find the right contact person within a company and address them directly after visiting your website via LinkedIn. Customers are still looking for a specific solution or product, so you catch them while they are still making their decision.

• Use LinkedIn Matched Audiences for individual targeting. This feature helps you reach the people or organizations you already know. And how do you know these? Right, from LeadRebel. You can easily export the list of your visitors to LinkedIn, and you’ve already created a matched audience. You can then place your advertising very specifically for this audience.

• Building the audience. Audience building via LinkedIn works like content marketing. You can do this for your private profile on LinkedIn or for your company page. Depending on your efforts, your skills, and your time commitment, you can generate many high-quality leads in this way in the medium term. The point is that your word or the information about your offer reaches as many people as possible. This increases the likelihood that someone will be looking for your exact solution now.

B2B lead generation using partnerships

More than 25% of our sales come from partnerships. This means that we generate this share of sales through the customers who came to us through partners. Typically, the partners are marketing agencies. If we hadn’t invested in partner acquisition in good time, we would have had 25% less sales.

There is rarely a cheaper and more convenient source of B2B lead generation than partnerships. There are many success stories of how some companies have become big and successful in this way.

Based on our experience we can recommend the following:

• Your offer to an affiliate should be lucrative enough for them to bother to promote your product or service to their own customers.

• In the beginning, mutual enthusiasm is high, but over time, motivation can fall from one side or the other. So, you should always “push” the partners. The expectation that you will win a partner who will then be active for years is wrong.

• Don’t jump at every opportunity right away. Many potential partnerships bring nothing. We have had painful experiences ourselves and after a lot of technical effort (e.g., integration with another platform) we ended up not receiving a single lead.

• Maintain an extra pipeline for your partners. Partner acquisition is a normal sales process and should be organized accordingly.

• Just like content marketing and search engine optimization, it is a medium to long-term approach. The results can be meager at first, but as time goes by, more movement comes in and eventually the partner pipeline can become your most reliable source for B2B lead generation.

The Proven Techniques for B2B Lead Generation: Conclusion

Our industry is very dynamic, and digitization is progressing rapidly. There are dozens of techniques for successful B2B lead generation, as well as hundreds of software tools you can use to generate leads. But there are a few proven methods that don’t require a great deal of know-how or upfront investment. With a healthy mix of these methods, you can build a successful sales funnel.

The post B2B Lead Generation: The Five “Forever” Techniques for More B2B Leads appeared first on Leadrebel Blog.

People often ask for Google Analytics alternatives. This has many reasons. Users’ behavior on websites is tracked by web analytics services, allowing website owners to optimize their sites for a better user experience. Google analytics and other such tools are extremely crucial in today’s digitally evolved virtual world. The benefits they offer cannot be denied however, there are data privacy considerations, especially in Europe. In January 2022 Austrian court decided that Google Analytics doesn’t comply with GDPR. More countries might follow.

Besides that, it’s not uncommon for Google to update GA, so menus, metrics, and features may be difficult to locate even if you use it regularly. There have even been cases where data has been deleted without warning. A large amount of GA data is generated by internal users and bots, which can cause your results to be skewed. 

Why do you need Google Analytics alternatives?

Millions of websites track their web traffic with Google Analytics, the most popular web analytics tool. Nonetheless, it’s not the only tool you can use. There are a variety of Google Analytics alternatives available that might even be less intrusive or fit your users’ specific requirements based on their browsing preferences. 

E-commerce and marketing areas are some of the leading industries that have specific Google Analytics alternatives. In some cases, small businesses are catered to or different pricing models are available. Some offer multiple features with specific needs or customized infrastructure. Heat maps and session recordings are available in some models. Following are the leading reasons why you must consider GA alternatives:

Privacy sacrifices

Customers could lose trust if they discover your company uses Google Analytics for advertising purposes, ultimately damaging your reputation. Furthermore, an EU watchdog has ruled that a German company was guilty of an Analytics breach. They have been sending private customer data to the US. This breaks the “Privacy Shield data protection arrangements” that the EU struck with the US in 2020.

This has been a major contributor to the development of similar new tools. European companies have been switching to other platforms due to security concerns. If your business is based in Europe and/or your primary audience is people who live in the EU, you might be looking for an effective analytics tool other than Google Analytics. 

Little to no data ownership

Data collected by Google will be retained and used as long as you use their service. Your information may be retained and used by Google and its subsidiaries according to their Terms of Service. Here’s the list of top-performing tools in Europe that can be the ideal alternative to Google Analytics. They are equally, if not more effective to keep track of user behavior on your website. Offering stats, reports, and so much more, these tools can be the real game-changer for your business enhancement. 

Adobe Analytics

In Adobe’s Experience Cloud suite for enterprises, Adobe Analytics is one of the most popular analytics tools. The platform allows you to mix and match data from any point in the customer journey and analyze it. A variety of reporting options, predictive analytics, and other valuable features are also included. Using this data, the suite creates customized experiences like product recommendations or customized landing pages for sites and campaigns. You can track user behavior and campaign performance data from your website, mobile app, and every other leading device using Adobe Analytics. 

Pricing 

Adobe is known to be a reasonably priced suite – customizable for small, medium, and large businesses. They offer three plans including Adobe Analytics select, prime, and ultimate. You can request a demo from their website and learn more about the rates. 

HubStop

HubSpot is the industry leader when it comes to analytics, marketing, and operations. Hence, HubSpot is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a one-stop solution for their marketing needs. Analytics for site traffic and SEO helps marketers manage their campaigns from creation to sales follow-up. Track your campaign performance and conversions using HubSpot without any security concerns.

Pricing

Their basic plan starts at $45 per month that offers access to some of the best analytics features. Depending on the number of users, HubSpot can cost up to $120 per month for each user. For a team of up to 10 people, you can opt for a one-year plan by paying a minimum of $500. Start by signing up for their 30-day free trial. 

Matomo

Matomo claims to be a Google Analytics alternative that protects your data and addresses your customers’ privacy. It is downloadable and completely free of cost which makes it a reasonable tool for comparatively new and small businesses. Experience exclusive features such as full tracking information including language, web pages visited, downloads, keywords used to find your site, and referral search engine. 

Don’t sweat if you are planning to switch, this tool makes it seamless and convenient to use Google Analytics importer. It allows you to import historical data from GA with just a few clicks. 

Pricing

Matomo Cloud costs depend on monthly traffic. The basic on-premise features are free but as your traffic hits increase, the cost for the cloud increases as well. If you are still trying to find the tool that best suits your business needs, opt for the free version to explore all features before making a purchase. A free 21-day trial for Matomo Cloud is available.

Fathom

Consider switching to Fathom if you are not completely satisfied with Google Analytics. It is an open-source tool that offers a simple, comprehensive, easy-to-use, privacy-first website analytics alternative. In addition, the platform is GDPR-compliant, ePrivacy, PECR, CCPA, and COPPA compliant. Some of the most notable features of this tool are Its ability to manage and collect accurate real-time data from all visitors. Using its Adblocker bypassing feature, you can make the whole process smooth and effective. A simple method of blocking IP addresses, countries, and whitelisting domains can help you make tracking, and keeping up with the user behavior, and popular trends much more efficient. 

Pricing 

Their monthly plans start at $14 for 100,000 views per month, however, the rates increase along with the monthly users and website hits. You can pick a plan according to your business needs. Check their official website for more details about pricing plans. Meanwhile, you can sign for their 7-day free trial to explore the tool and determine whether it would be the right pick for you or not. You can cancel your trial at any time you like. 

KISSmetrics

You can consider KISSmetrics as a replacement for Google Analytics if your focus is more on product and marketing analytics. SaaS and E-commerce are the primary industries benefiting  from this tool so if you are looking to enhance your sales or trying to figure out why a certain product in your catalog is doing better than the others, this tool will be able to help. Some of the leading reasons for this tool to be popular among the two above-mentioned industries are its user-friendly dashboard that shows you the drop-offs and the entire customer journey. 

Pricing 

Their starting price is $229 per month and is billed annually, however, it may vary based on which variant you opt for – SaaS or eCommerce. You can request a free demo in case you have certain confusion regarding the functionality of the tool. There is no free trial but you can reach out to their customer support to check if there is any promotion going on. 

Smartlook

User behavior can be tracked on mobile apps, web browsers, and games using Smartlook. They claim to be the only tool that combines qualitative and quantitative insights. It makes the tool easy to adapt to ever-evolving digital trends and teams. Not only do both quantitative and qualitative analytics combine in Smartlook’s toolkit, but it has the capability to work effectively if there is a sudden spike in website visitors. The tool offers many adaptable filters that can be used to focus on specific events, campaigns, web pages, or demographics. Moreover, the software now offers multiple workspaces and a REST API, making it suitable for large enterprises.

Pricing

The most basic plan that offers limited features can be purchased for $39 a month. The price increases as your website traffic increases. They offer a 10-day free trial so you can get familiar with the features and figure out whether or not all your business needs are met through this tool. You may not get access to all the features, however, the basic idea will be delivered. 

Conclusion: Google Analytics Alternatives

Analyzing traffic and planning marketing strategies can be accomplished with Google Analytics. However, it can be substituted for several other tools depending on your needs. The Google Analytics alternatives in Europe listed above are sure to meet your requirements if you’re looking for a user-friendly, cheap, and easy-to-use analytics tool.

The post Google Analytics Alternatives for Europe appeared first on Leadrebel Blog.

Usually, entrepreneurial growth is regarded as “slow but steady.” We do not fully agree with this statement. After all, a good kick-start never hurt anyone. Which leads us straight to B2B growth hacking. B2B growth Hacking strategy is about helping your business grow through imaginative, unusual, or bold marketing strategies.

See how it works from the following companies. In this article, you will get an overview of growth hacking for B2B companies and learn about: 

• proven growth hacks 
• exclusive inspiration and how these ideas can be implemented today
• case studies and take-aways: Slack
• two examples of growth hacking for B2B start-ups
• summary 

B2B Growth Hacking: what has proved itself worthwhile

Globally, three companies have shaped the term growth hacking substantially: Dropbox, Hotmail, and Airbnb. Thanks to the hacks used, all three companies have massively expanded their follower base within a very short time.

1. Dropbox
2. Hotmail
3. Airbnb
4. Pipetop
5. Slack

Dropbox: The recommendation hack

Growth Hacking Cornerstone – Number 1: Dropbox’s double-edged recommendation scheme

1. Users who recommend Dropbox to a friend will receive free additional storage space. 
2.  The person who registers via a link also receives a promotional gift.

This win-win opportunity paved the way for the company’s rapid growth, which today has 500 million customers.

Source: Google. Referrals by Dropbox. Perfectly SEO-optimized, of course. 

“How-to: How’s it going today? Payoneer is currently applying the same strategy and is likewise growing successfully with it.

Hotmail: Backlinks

Growth Hacking Cornerstone – Number 2: Building on proven concepts

Well, Hotmail’s big days are over, actually. But: The company had managed to register 6 million usersin just six months.

This worked because the company used its original 20,000 subscribers as “carrier pigeons.” Every email sent contained an automatic message linking back to Hotmail. And it reads: PS: I Love you.Get your free Hotmail email address.

PS: “I love you” worked so well because it was cordial and sympathetic. The concept was new, and people liked it. So, the results didn’t take long to show and almost everyone who clicked turned into a Hotmail user. 

“How-to”: How’s it going today? Add “Powered By” or trust badges to the footer of your websites and in your email signature. 

The integration of “Powered by” or trust badges into the signature or footer is easy to implement and produces excellent results. The principle behind it relies on references: If you use brand widgets of a reputable brand or if people see your product on other websites, this can lead to a growth boost.

Example of a “Powered by” integration. Source Screenshot: Optinmonster

The world-famous Hotmail signature. Source Screenshot: Optinmonster

Airbnb: Backlinks

Growth Hacking Cornerstone – Number 3: From zero to millions

Airbnb is famous for effortlessly finding affordable, stylish and exclusive accommodation – wherever you go. 

It wasn’t always like that. Airbnb also had to build up its customer base in laborious detail work. In the early stage, its founders discovered that Americans who did not want to stay in expensive hotels searched Craigslist for alternative accommodations. Without further ado, they had the opportunity to have their listings copied there. 

The idea is brilliant. And theresult? Immediate access to a potentially huge market.

Source Screenshot: Airbnb Facebook Account. Without Craigslist no overnight stay in the “Wienermobile.”

Before we reveal to you how this can be done today, please reflect on the most important growth hacking rule: pirate metrics. 

If you simply want to remember the basics of growth hacking, just remember “AARRR!“

Acquisition -How do your customers find you? 

Activation – How enjoyable is the initial point of contact for the customer/visitor?

Retention – How many of your customers do you retain or lose?

Referral – How can you transform your customers into ambassadors? 

Revenue – How can you increase revenue?

Preliminary conclusion: before you growth-hack, you need to know your customers inside outand know where they are. 

“How-to: How can the Airbnb strategy be implemented today? Use advertising portals, contact exchanges, and LinkedIn marketing. 

LinkedIn probably is the most important social network for B2B companies.

In addition to the common content sharing features, LinkedIn offers a handy tool: you can see the users who have viewed your profile. Yup! Thanks to this hack, you can find out which LinkedIn users have been visiting your site.

You must have a Premium LinkedIn account and insert the following HTML code on your website:

<img src = ”https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?authToken=XXauthType=name&id=XX” />

Here, XX stands for your LinkedIn ID page.

Pipetop: The pufferfish among the growth hackers

Growth Hacking Cornerstone – Number 4: Fake it until you make it 

The pufferfish uses a visually awe-inspiring adaptation technique when it is in danger.

The fish sucks in water or air and suddenly becomes three times as big as usual. This warning prevents other sea animals from messing with the prickly fellow. 

Pipetop, a Danish company, followed a similar approach in its sales strategy. The start-up wanted to give the impression that it operates in several countries, although it had only one office in Denmark.

Instead of opening different offices, they bought several Skype numbers in different countries. Although the company is no longer on the market today, this hack created the necessary confidence for sales, especially in the highly competitive B2B sales market.  

“How-to: How’s it going today? Here the motto is: “steal” the strategy. Buy (Skype) numbers and place them on the website. This gives the impression that your company is bigger than it seems.  

“If many others find something good, it will also work for me” – that is the concept of social proof. A lot depends on this today – who wants to use a service that nobody else is interested in? 

That’s what Uber’s rival “Lyft” also figured out. The company solved its problem (too little demand, too few operators) by paying taxi drivers to pretend being booked and waiting for passengers. This mass of suppliers ensured that potential passengers were convinced of the service quality even before their journey.

Case Study – Slack: Growth the easy way

Growth Hacking cornerstone – number 5: Convince with simplicity and a great product

Founded in 2013 by Stewart Butterfield, Slack is a cloud-based hub where multiple companies can collaborate in real-time.

Here are some company facts: 

• 1.25 million paying users
• 4 million active users per day
• The fastest-growing SaaS company of all time
• Turnover from 0 to 4 billion USD in only 4 years
• 77% of Fortune 100 companies use this software

The Slack growth hacking strategy in detail 

Slack did not use cold calling, lead generation, or support campaigns for its growth hacking strategy.

It is worth mentioning here that the founding team – besides Butterfield – was made up of Eric Costello, Cal Henderson, and Serguei Mourachov. They all were involved in building the photo-sharing site Flickr.

By the way: Slack is worth more than 100 times as much as Flickr today. 

The most crucial growth strategy at Slack:

• Optimization for PQLs (product-qualified leads) instead of 
• optimization for MQLs (marketing-qualified leads) 
• or SQLs (sales-qualified leads).

This means that Slack focused on generating active logins rather than building a massive database of inactive users.

This was achieved with a free product version.

Charges only apply once the user wants to unlock additional functions such as memory or app integrations. This is a tactic used by many SaaS companies.

Slack is different, though, because they are always focused on one goal: They want to make the day for your users as easy as possible by doing the organizational work for them. 

Instead of pushing people to try out the demo version by using intrusive sales techniques, Slack relied on paid advertising (retargeting) and the following concept: simplicity. 

• Instead of technical jargon, the user sees simple slogans, ads, and landing pages.
• The company uses easy-to-use registration forms, friendly ads, and uniform branding.

“How-to: How’s it going today? 

The Slack Growth Hacking Take-Aways for B2B lead generation agencies. 

Word of mouth: Improve your product continuously and simplify people’s work. Make it easy for people to share your innovation with colleagues and friends.

Use paid advertising: Do not rely on scattering losses, but on paid advertising. This is particularly recommended as part of social media marketing. 

Give a lot but make yourself well paid for giving “more.” 
This can be done through extensions. It’s quite logical, actually: Thanks to the integration of a multitude of apps and functions, not only Slack is continuously growing, becoming more powerful and indispensable, but your company, too.

Growth Hacking for B2B Start-ups: Feel free to think out-of-the-box 

There are a host of unorthodox ways you can use to accelerate entrepreneurial growth. Even on a shoe-string budget, start-ups can implement their ideas. The only prerequisite is to be innovative.

Especially extensions, as mentioned above, holds particular potential for companies in the growth phase. 

Base CRM: Use Chrome Extension

Convert your product or service so that a user can use it as a Chrome extension. Whenever users open Chrome, they can automatically access your product. 

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers. Over 60 % of Internet users use it as their standard browser.

Build into Chrome is the Chrome Web Store, the app marketplace where you can publish apps and extensions (so-called Chrome extensions). When a user adds your web application to Chrome, a link to your service is continuously displayed in the browser’s bookmarks bar, increasing the likelihood of a return visit.

Example: Base CRM. The Chrome extension of Base CRM has almost 30,000 users.

When Base CRM (a widely used and popular CRM solution) introduced its Chrome extension, the company immediately recorded nearly 30,000 downloads.

For a few hours of development time and just $5 investment for the Chrome installation, they got a world-class growth hack for B2B companies. 

Growth hacking for start-ups & founders: Udemy & Co.

Source Screenshot: Udemy website. One-time course generation, lifelong customer acquisition 

Create an online course and establish yourself as an expert in your field. 

Course platforms like Udemy create an additional source of revenue, increase your credibility, and generate leads.

That is for life, with a one-time investment. 

With these tools, you can easily create courses:

• Camtasia (screenshot)
• Audacity (audio recording)
• Teachable.com (Create and manage courses)

As a teacher and expert, you are automatically perceived as a professional and authority. They take you and your opinion seriously. This can have an incredible effect on your brand, your person, and your company.

You think it’s too complicated? If you’ve already created and regularly shared content in the form of blogs, e-books, presentations, videos, and interviews, you have more than enough material to create a course.

Re-use the entire content of a topic, create courses, and then refer to your new offering in your normal online activities.

Growth hacking for B2B companies & start-ups: Conclusion and outlook

Growth hacking is about using resources that are already available to you. A good growth hacking strategy not only has the goal to expand the company but also to focus on customer benefits.

This shows the first category of growth hacks. The second category (which is also suitable for start-ups) shows you that it can be worth going new ways and trying things that are not mainstream. 

Growth hacking for B2B companies, therefore, focuses on two aspects:

• Creativity and the desire to continually improve one’s own product and to expand the application possibilities.

Of course, you can’t copy any of the strategies and expect miracles. But you can better understand the dynamics and psychology behind the examples and take advantage of the critical points. The listed examples show that you can achieve good growth success even with the smallest budget or even real-time commitment.

More interesting articles:

If you’ve wondered how much a lead costs on average in your industry, read the article about the value of acquiring new customers.

Privacy is paramount when it comes to email marketing. Read this article about GDPR and its impact on marketing and sales.

If you want to learn how to generate more leads, read this article about 13 ways to generate leads.

How to increase your Website Traffic

Picture source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/arrows-growth-hacking-profit-1574173/

The post B2B Growth Hacking – Tips and Tricks for More Growth appeared first on Leadrebel Blog.