4 Steps to Capturing Leads... Snagging Them Hook, Line and Sinker If your biggest issue right now within your agency is capturing leads, especially from big clients, then you are probably going about it the wrong way. There’s a big difference between generating leads and capturing leads… and it’s a lot like fishing. Think about the term “fishing” for a moment. Do you actually want to “go fishing” or do you really want to “go catching”? To be successful, it’s the latter. You can go fishing by dropping a pole in a random location with random bait and you might get lucky, but usually you just spend tons of time and come up empty. BUT, if you have some strategy in place: the right location, the right bait and the right tools you will have greater chances for success. [ctt title="4 steps to CAPTURING more leads and why it's like catching fish" tweet="4 steps to CAPTURING more leads and why it's like catching fish: http://ctt.ec/p8U4Y+ via @jswenk #leads" coverup="p8U4Y"] 1. Know WHO you’re fishing for: Be very specific on who your ideal client is. You know who you can help, so don’t be afraid of reaching out to that very particular target. For example, when you start out fishing you already know what type of fish you’re going out for, like red snapper or blue marlin. Be THAT specific in your business. 2. Know WHERE the fish are: Red snapper are near the reef at the bottom of the sea while blue marlin are at the weed line and found while trolling. Learn where your fish are congregating and capture them there. Is it Facebook, Linkedin? Do they use specific technology. “Fish where the fish are biting!” 3. Know WHAT bait attract your fish: When you’re fishing, it might be lures or live bait, which could be worms, crickets or even other fish. In business, your bait is your lead magnet. What is something of value that you can provide for free that solves a problem or fills a need your prospects have? Prove you are valuable right away by giving them something they love in exchange for their contact information and they’ll be hooked! 4. Know WHEN to pull the line in: You can be in the right place and bait the right fish but you can still lose the catch if you try reeling in the line too soon. Avoid having your prospects jump the line by using a nurture campaign that educates while building a relationship of trust and establishing your authority. In fishing and in business, if you don’t know the who, where, what and when of the catch you’re going after you’ll end up unprepared and empty-handed. How to Improve So I have shared the best ways of capturing leads for your agency but don't just stop there. To improve your agency, you should take a step back and really look struggles you need to focus on to improve your business. I have all you need to get through these obstacles. I have advice on topics from gaining agency exposure in the news, how to build authority for your agency, or even ways to use facebook marketing strategies to expand your brand awareness. If growth is your focus, I've discussed the four phases of growth within your agency and how website issues could be holding your business back from reaching your potential. You can learn more about my life and my experience as well as lots of tips, tricks, and insights by reading my blogs that cover a wide variety of topics. If videos are more your thing, don’t worry, i’ve got you covered! You can check out more from my Ask Swenk series and more of my videos on my YouTube channel. There you will find advice from me and other agency experts.