Leads are the lifeblood of a business, especially with one that’s still trying to gain footing. When you don’t have the size or brand recognition for creating a consistent customer base, you need to take lead generation seriously. In the highly-competitive world of modern business, though, that can be challenging.

Generating leads today requires a little nuance and a lot of variation. To help you get started, here are eight ways you can create new leads.

1. Create Engaging Social Media Pages

There are roughly 3.5 billion users on social media today, making up almost half of the global population. That’s a demographic that you can’t afford to miss out on, no matter how big or small your business. Revisit your social platforms and make sure they’re engaging, enticing and represent your company well.

2. Content Marketing

Consumers may react better to advertising that doesn’t come across as an ad. By creating content that answers questions consumers already have, you communicate your reliability and value without explicit advertising. After publishing this content, you can browse through comments and interactions to find new leads.

3. Personalize Your Efforts

People will respond better to your marketing efforts if they feel like you value them as a person. It takes more work, but reaching out to consumers on an individual level can be an excellent way to generate leads. If you take the time to address customers individually instead of using cookie-cutter responses, you’ll see much better results.

4. Encourage Customer Referrals

Word-of-mouth shouldn’t be your only marketing approach, but it can be an effective one. Consider that 74% of consumers say that word-of-mouth is a critical influencer in their decisions about purchases. You can help your customers generate leads for you by establishing a referral program.

5. Turn to a Lead Generation Company

If you have the budget and haven’t had much success with your efforts, you can hire a lead generation company. These businesses typically specialize in a specific field or type of service, helping you achieve your unique goals. With their help, you can generate and nurture new, quality leads in no time.

7. Offer Live Chat

If a potential customer ends up on your website, they’ll want quick, helpful answers to their questions. Live chat features, either through employees or chatbots, can help you reach out to these users quickly and personally. Live chat gives users the attention and assistance that they like to see from a business.

8. Reach Out to Social Media Influencers

It’s challenging to overstate the importance of social media, and influencers can help you take full advantage of these platforms. Roughly 40% of Twitter users say they’ve purchased a product because of an influencer’s tweet. By finding someone with a dedicated social media following to partner with you, you can substantially expand your reach.

You Can Find New Leads Everywhere

Generating new leads can seem like a daunting task, but you have near-countless options when it comes to lead generation. If you follow these eight steps, you can give your brand a much-needed push in popularity and trust. Lead generation is rarely simple, but it’s not impossible, either.