How to Get More Leads Online for Your Business
- Julia Marie
- Aug 4
- 6 min read
From a Digital Marketing Strategist with Over 25 Years of Results-Driven Industry Experience
In a world where your customer’s journey often starts with a click or a search, your online presence isn’t just a supplement to your business—it’s the engine that powers your growth. But if you’re not seeing consistent, qualified leads come through your website, inbox, or ads, something’s off.
I’ve spent over two decades building digital strategies for businesses of all sizes—from scrappy startups to 8-figure brands. What I’ve learned is this:
Lead generation isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things in the right order, with the right tools.
This guide is your step-by-step framework for attracting, capturing, and converting leads online—whether you’re a DIY business owner or building a small marketing team.
Let’s dive in.
1. Build a High-Converting Website: Your 24/7 Sales Rep
A flashy website means nothing if it doesn’t generate leads. Your website should be more than an online business card—it should function like your best-performing salesperson, available 24/7, delivering clarity, trust, and conversions.
Too many business owners focus on aesthetics without thinking through the customer journey. Your site needs to immediately answer: Who you help, what you do, why you’re different, and what action to take next.
✅ Action Steps:
Create clear call-to-actions (CTAs) on every key page—don't make users guess what to do next.
Place your lead magnet or offer above the fold, where it’s immediately visible.
Ensure your site is mobile-optimized, fast, and SEO-friendly to prevent drop-offs.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Wix or Squarespace – Easy, all-in-one website builders with built-in CTAs and mobile optimization.
WordPress + Elementor – Flexible and scalable, perfect for custom landing pages and blogs.
PageSpeed Insights – Google’s free tool to help you identify and fix performance issues.
2. Create Irresistible Lead Magnets
Most visitors aren’t ready to buy on the first visit—but that doesn’t mean they’re lost. A lead magnet gives them a reason to share their email or phone number, so you can start a relationship that leads to a sale.
The best lead magnets solve a specific problem quickly, offer instant value, and position your business as the go-to expert.
🎯 Examples:
“Free 7-Step Homeowner’s Guide to Avoiding Plumbing Emergencies”
“10-Point Website Checklist That Converts Visitors to Leads”
“30-Min Marketing Audit + Action Plan”
✅ Action Steps:
Identify your audience’s #1 pain point and offer a simple, useful solution.
Build a dedicated landing page focused on one action—signing up.
Use a form that connects to an email platform so leads are captured and nurtured automatically.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Canva – Design checklists, guides, and PDFs with professional polish.
MailerLite – Create email capture forms and set up automated lead delivery.
ConvertKit or Systeme.io – Simple drag-and-drop landing pages and email sequences in one.
3. Leverage SEO: The Long Game with Big ROI
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is about making sure your business shows up when people search for the solutions you provide. It’s one of the highest-converting lead sources because users are actively looking for what you offer.
The secret? Focus on intent-based keywords (what people are really trying to do), create content that answers those questions, and make sure Google can understand your site.
✅ Action Steps:
Do keyword research focused on buying intent (“near me,” “best,” “hire”).
Write optimized blog posts, FAQs, and service pages targeting these terms.
Claim and enhance your Google Business Profile to dominate local results.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Ubersuggest – Affordable keyword research, content ideas, and audit tools.
Yoast SEO – Free WordPress plugin that helps optimize content for search engines.
Google Business Profile Manager – Your portal for managing maps, reviews, hours, and more.
4. Run Smart Paid Ads (Not Just Any Ads)
If you want fast results, paid ads are your shortcut—but only if they’re strategically executed. Many business owners waste ad dollars by sending traffic to poorly targeted pages or using vague messaging.
Great ads start with a compelling offer, precise audience targeting, and a clear path to convert. Pair your ads with optimized landing pages—not your homepage—and always track performance.
✅ Action Steps:
Run ads that speak directly to one offer, product, or solution.
Build landing pages with strong CTAs and no distractions.
Install pixels and tracking tools so you can retarget and measure results.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Meta Ads Manager – Facebook and Instagram ads with granular audience control.
Google Ads Smart Campaigns – Simple setup with localized targeting and automation.
Unbounce – Build, A/B test, and optimize landing pages without a developer.
5. Leverage Social Proof: Let Others Sell for You
Today’s buyers trust other buyers more than they trust brands. That’s why social proof is your secret weapon—testimonials, reviews, and case studies provide the credibility that builds trust and shortens the sales cycle.
The more real-world results you showcase, the more likely new prospects are to convert.
✅ Action Steps:
Collect client testimonials regularly (especially right after a win).
Use third-party reviews from Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
Showcase success stories as social content and on your landing pages.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
VideoAsk by Typeform – Record and display video testimonials easily.
NiceJob – Automate review collection and integrate reviews into your website.
Canva – Create branded quote graphics and testimonial carousels.
6. Automate Lead Nurturing
Generating a lead is only half the battle. Most people don’t buy immediately, so your job is to stay top of mind and build trust over time.
Automated email follow-ups and CRM systems can nurture leads until they’re ready to take action—without you having to manually chase them.
✅ Action Steps:
Send an automated welcome sequence after someone opts in.
Deliver educational, helpful content over time to build rapport.
Use a CRM to track where each lead is in your pipeline.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
MailerLite or Mailchimp – User-friendly platforms for automated email campaigns.
HubSpot CRM (Free) – Organize contacts, log activity, and automate follow-ups.
ActiveCampaign – Ideal for more advanced automation and segmentation.
7. Add Instant Engagement Tools: Chat + Scheduling
The faster you engage with a potential customer, the more likely you are to convert them. Live chat, chatbots, and one-click scheduling tools give hot leads a friction-free path to action.
Today’s users expect instant responses—don’t make them wait.
✅ Action Steps:
Add a chatbot or live chat widget to your site to answer common questions.
Use a scheduling tool that allows leads to instantly book a call, consult, or demo.
Embed short forms or quizzes to qualify leads in real time.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Tidio – Combines live chat with AI-powered bots for lead capture.
Calendly – Share your calendar link and let leads book time instantly.
Jotform or Typeform – Create interactive forms to gather lead info seamlessly.
8. Measure, Analyze, and Optimize—Relentlessly
What gets measured gets managed. Data should guide every decision you make—which ads to scale, which offers to scrap, which pages to improve.
Set up systems to track leads, measure conversion rates, and monitor your return on investment. Then iterate until your lead engine runs on autopilot.
✅ Action Steps:
Track key metrics: traffic, conversions, cost-per-lead (CPL), bounce rates.
Watch user behavior to see where leads drop off.
Regularly review campaign performance and adjust accordingly.
🛠️ Top DIY Tools:
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) – The foundation of digital data tracking.
Hotjar – Visualize how users engage with your site using heatmaps and recordings.
Looker Studio – Create dashboards that consolidate your data into visual insights.
Final Thoughts: Build the Machine, Don’t Chase the Algorithm
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to lead generation, but the steps above will help you build a customized, scalable system that works for your business, your budget, and your goals.
You don’t need a big agency.You don’t need to go viral.You just need clarity, consistency, and the right tools.
🔧 Need help getting started?Let’s build your lead engine together—one that brings in qualified leads while you focus on serving them. Book a no-pressure consult today.
About the Author
Julia Maldonado is the Lead Designer & Founder for InTandem Digital Consulting and the publisher of three books, Housing Humans, by Eugene E. Jones, Jr., On Rails, by Tim Estenson and the children's book, Hold You, by Craig Lucie. She has over 20 years of experience in Marketing, Advertising and Customer Experience spanning across different industries. 10+ years in website design, content writing and social media influencing.
InTandem Digital Consulting provides various digital solutions to small and mid-size businesses. Our portfolio includes: Website Design, Social Media Management, Branding Identity and Customer Experience Strategy. Our CX workshops are offered both in-person and virtually.
To learn more about how InTandem Digital Consulting can help you and your business, click HERE.
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To learn more about InTandem Digital Consulting’s website design services, how we can help grow your business through social media or even strategize with you on some ideas to drive awareness to your brand. Visit us at www.intandemdigital.com
