This article will discuss the best ways to build a solid B2C Lead Generation Strategy.
Definition of B2C
Direct selling between a business or individual is known as “Business to Consumer”, otherwise known as “B2C”.
This applies to all types of direct-to-consumer selling. This could be products, services, or subscriptions, as well as contracts. Any commerce between a business entity and a consumer is generally considered to be such.
It can be used for any type of direct selling but it is most commonly associated with online selling also known as ecommerce.
Traditional high-street businesses are facing challenges due to the rise of online sales. They must also offer a service online to remain competitive.
A business selling directly to customers needs an online presence.
This is a win-win situation for the consumer. This is a good thing for the consumer as it increases the choice of what to purchase and makes it easier to shop online.
If you have a business selling products or services, then you must be aware of and up-to-date with consumer marketing.
What is the Difference Between B2C & B2B?
B2C is direct selling between a business and a customer. B2B is a sales business to customers.
B2B sales generally involve a decision-making process that often requires multiple people to sign off.
It is much more complicated. Because the entire experience of a user group is dependent on decisions, it’s not possible to make quick decisions. End users are not buyers.
A digital agency and a website will compare and contrast different software types before deciding on the one with the most features and the lowest price.
The next steps will be decided. An online retailer that sells office furniture is another example. The primary market for this online retailer is other businesses that need office furniture. Order a wholesaler that supplies food to restaurants and cafes.
These companies sell to other businesses and not directly to consumers.
B2C selling, on the other hand, doesn’t require a consensus. It is important to sell directly to the person who needs it.
This definition will help you decide what approach to take to your B2C sales.
Not surprisingly, some companies can be both B2B and B2C. A company that manages events is one example.
They might offer services for wedding organization, and conference management to other businesses. They might sell tickets to concerts, while also dealing directly with audio-visual businesses.
This article focuses on B2C lead generation, marketing, and sales.
What is B2C Marketing?
Now you know what B2C means, but how can you make it work for your business?
B2C marketing is a broad term that covers all methods you can use to market your products or services to consumers. Your goal is to sell your product/service. You will also capitalize on your brand’s value along the way.
B2C is a good example of this. Customers are more likely to buy in a hurry. They make their decisions on their own and can be influenced by other factors.
You could get free shipping or a smaller product with your purchase. You can even get two for one.
But not all buyers will respond to the same marketing strategies. One customer may want the convenience of shipping free and purchase the product right away.
You might also have a friend who is still looking for the perfect product and is willing to pay shipping costs to get it. They continue to shop around.
Segmentation and targeted messaging are two of the most effective techniques in B2C marketing.
You need to determine which marketing channel is most effective for reaching different customers.
Next, you need to target your audience and tailor your marketing efforts to them. Your customers on Facebook might need different advertising and tailoring than your returning customers.
Analyzing data is a great way to get started. Take a look at the results of social media and website analysis.
Next, group the data and determine how to tailor your marketing for that audience. Each customer online should feel that they are receiving your personal and focused attention.
You will know where to invest the majority of your marketing dollars if you find that Facebook works better for you than Twitter or YouTube delivers more leads than your website.
It is important not to overlook other channels but to concentrate on the best ways to propel your business forward.
What is B2C? What is B2C? Why is Lead Generation important?
B2C is business to consumers. This refers to companies selling products and services to individuals, not businesses.
This could include people buying food at a restaurant or clothes being purchased by consumers. No matter what your business does in B2C, you need to think about how to build your brand and increase awareness.
You will be able to connect this to lead generation once you have established your brand and awareness.
Lead generation is the process of finding ways to get people to your company who are likely to spend with you. You can then interact with them and convert them into paying customers.
There are many ways to generate leads, but marketing is the most effective.
Marketing efforts should be directed toward generating leads and traffic, to build revenue.
This is done in many ways when it comes to B2C. We will now examine how to create a B2C Lead Generation Strategy.
Five Examples of Business-to-Consumer Models
There are many B2C business models that you can choose from, but these are five ideas to help you think about which one will work best for you.
1. Direct sellers
Online retailers that sell direct sellers’ products can be found on these sites. Amazon is one example of a large business. Small businesses can also sell and create products online. There are also online versions of departmental stores like John Lewis that sell a variety of brands.
2. ‘Go Between’
Go-Betweens connect buyers and sellers without the seller owning the product. Etsy is an example of such a website. It hosts many different artists and crafts sellers as well as products. Etsy allows consumers to pick the sellers and products they wish to purchase from.
3. Advertising
Advertising B2C uses high-quality, free online content to draw visitors to websites. They then see online ads. This means that many potential customers see the ads, and some may go on to purchase the product or service. Huffington Post and the Daily Mail are two examples.
4. The Community Model
Are you interested in photography? Are you interested in photography? Or writing? Or writing? People who share a common interest will come together and view the information in this online space. Advertise in the area if your fishing tackle shop is listed. If you sell antique cameras, you might target a particular group of photographers. Facebook is the best-known example. Facebook allows marketers to target specific people.
5. Subscriber Fee
If you wish to see their content, some magazines or newspapers charge a subscription fee. The Telegraph online newspaper will only publish the first paragraph, but the rest of the article is hidden. Netflix and Apple TV are other examples.
B2C Lead Generation Strategies
Many companies can be classified as either B2C- or B2B in the business world. Some may even do both.
It’s important to consider the various strategies that you can use to generate leads for your company when it comes to B2C.
B2C is slightly different from B2B. Therefore, the way you approach customers will be different.
A successful lead generation strategy must be targeted to your audience. It should also be tailored to convert your audience into sales.
It’s not all about the numbers today. It’s about the potential people that you can bring into your business.
Don’t lose sight of conversions and sales. Make sure that your actions are measurable. These are some great ways to increase leads in a B2C setting:
In a video, you can solve a problem
Video marketing is a big trend right now. It allows you to communicate a lot of information in a shorter format.
You can engage your audience by creating videos for your social media channels, website, or youtube. As with any business, adding value is key to success.
Your videos should address the issues of your audience or offer advice.
Your value is what you do for them. They will return for more if they feel they have added value. When you can capture them, you can bring them on as customers.
Cross Promote Email Marketing and Social Media
Cross-promotion is an excellent way to increase your customer base and grow your business.
You are likely to have some of your followers on social media but not receive your email marketing. Vice versa.
Both have huge growth potential and should be your focus. This can be done via social share buttons and subscribe links.
Businesses often focus on the following. More followers mean more business. Not always correct, unfortunately.
Opportunities are not always presented by followers so you should think about your lead generation. Cross-promotion is a great way to do this.
Instead of focusing on how many followers you have, consider how effective cross-promotion is. Because they are interested in your business, these customers offer the best opportunity to engage.
Use Twitter and Facebook to correspond
Social media can be a great way for you to engage with your audience. Remember that B2C is all in the customer.
It doesn’t matter which social media platform you use, answering your audience is essential! This will be a great way to make a positive impression on your audience and create a positive image of your brand.
Beyond answering questions on social media, one of the most effective lead-generation activities is to go beyond simply answering people. Engage in conversations on Twitter.
Your reputation can be built on Facebook and LinkedIn if it is relevant to your industry. Again, adding value is important whether it’s in the form of advice, an opinion, or a link to a resource.
Optimize Your Website and Landing Pages
Your website and the landing pages it contains are a major part of any digital lead generation strategy.
It is important to understand why people land on a page and what their actions are.
It is important to know where they click, how long they stay on the page, and where they go before they click away.
This analysis makes it much easier to decide where ads, subscribers, or links to other pages should be placed.
Your conversion rate will improve if you place them where they belong. It is a great way of engaging your audience and should not be overlooked when refining your landing pages.
B2C Lead Generation: Advantages
B2C selling offers many advantages, as you’ll see below.
- It reduces the number of components in your business. This includes the number of employees, costs, and lack of physical stores.
- It also reduces the competition gap. A small business can use the same online marketing and advertising tools as large companies. Although they may not have the same budget, they can still use the same marketing and advertising opportunities online. They can bridge the gap using marketing strategies and clever campaigns.
- Third, products can be purchased from any part of the world. Advertising is easy in any market.
- B2C online also reduces costs. You can manage your customer service and support teams with smaller numbers. Maybe you’re already doing it.
- B2C also allows you to sell directly to your customers without any intermediaries. This eliminates the need for intermediaries.
- You will also be able to build better relationships with your suppliers and manufacturers in terms of supply/demand, as your business depends upon it.
- The sales process is generally handed to customers. Customers can decide what and when they want to purchase. If your customer service is excellent, this will help you build a loyal customer base.
- It also provides huge customer reach because everyone can use the same platform for buying.
There are however some drawbacks. The main reason is that competition can be fierce due to the global nature of the market.
There are many online services and brands that people can choose from. You need to know how to make your business stand apart from the rest.
To be trusted and recognized as a reliable business in your field. Understanding how customers behave online is key to understanding how to target them.
You will be able to succeed with your online B2C sales.
B2C: How to Do It Well
This is how you can do B2C well. The best tip is to test everything.
It is not a good idea to jump into a marketing strategy before you understand how it works. Bad strategy can have negative consequences for your business and reputation.
Additionally, different strategies may work for different businesses.
These are just a few of the options you can use to get started. Find the one that works for you.
1. Content Marketing and Building Relationships
Your goal is to establish relationships with customers. You should treat them as you would in a shop.
Consider the content that you use for your marketing. Write more than just anything. Is it of value to the customer?
Your newsletter or blog will be able to benefit? You don’t need to make it a play, but it is important to treat your customers as human beings. Is your blog interesting?
Content should reflect your brand, voice, and personality. This will allow you to show your business as a solution for a problem your customer is facing.
You might have a bakery that sells vegan bakes and cakes. Your target audience is likely to be vegan or may be considering changing their diet.
They don’t know what to make or how to adapt. This is where you can provide great content such as recipe cards, high-quality images, how-to videos, and favorite bake blogs.
You are creating high-quality content and growing your customer base through sharing your knowledge.
2. Enter a competition or offer a free product
Many people find the idea of winning something free tempting. You can take advantage of all the B2C platforms that are available.
If you want to keep the vegan bakery business going, what about a bake sale among your loyal customers?
They can post photos of their baked goods and ideas. This will encourage people to share your brand and increase awareness. You could also offer to review your brand with a complimentary cupcake or box of baked goods.
You could host a webinar if you feel adventurous about baking.
No matter what you do, be sure to offer something relevant to your business.
3. Optimize Your Content For SEO
This strategy requires that you consider searcher intent when optimizing your content for SEO. This is the reason for a Google search.
So for example, if you want vegan food, you might search for ‘Vegan dining near me’. You might also search for vegan take-out food. Perhaps the customer is looking for a company near him that sells vegan birthday cakes.
It is indicated by the type of search entered into the search engine.
The first customer might just be looking at different restaurants to compare them to decide where to eat next.
The second customer might want take-out food for this evening. The third customer is looking for someone who can make a cake. In each phase, you will be creating content.
If you don’t offer fine dining, the term Vegan and Food could indicate that your business is available in the search results.
You can find delicious and decadent vegan desserts here.
Perhaps you could offer quick and easy recipes for vegan cupcake delivery using the take-out search. There are also reviews about the delicious birthday cakes that you make.
You can now see how optimizing your content for SEO could help customers find your business via a Google search.
4. Use social media
Social media doesn’t need to be costly for your business and brand. You can organically grow your audience and brand with B2C marketing strategies.
Social media platforms can also be used to cross-promote. You can, for example, highlight your website on social media and vice versa.
You can begin with a simple strategy for Instagram, as an example. Follow a few people each day who are interested and knowledgeable about your industry or niche.
Next, create a hashtag that you will use for all of your posts. You could use #veganbakes and #tastyvegancakes. Instagram is a visual platform so be sure to post beautiful cakes and bakes in the best light. Keep the words to a minimum and let the images speak for themselves.
Five Examples of Successful B2C Marketing Campaigns
McDonald’s
Although the e-commerce team at McDonald’s is very clever, they have to be flexible. Consumers have had many different perceptions of the brand.
It wasn’t always about the food. The company has been focusing more on customer experience in recent years.
The ‘Hands Full” advertisement strategy, which was launched in 2018, is an example of a successful B2C marketing campaign. Three ads are focused on in-store innovation.
There is also the McDonald’s mobile app, in-store ordering screens, and table service.
McDonald’s has a new strategy to target families. This strategy aims to change perceptions about eating at a restaurant, as well as to highlight the company’s innovation and customer experience.
As you can see, it’s more than just about the burger.
Starbucks
Starbucks, which essentially sells coffee, has a very successful marketing campaign because of its multi-channel approach to selling and marketing.
It is also very user-friendly. Starbucks’ Facebook page offers a range of unique features such as contests, store locators, international links, job postings, and a store locator.
Starbucks also offers an app that simplifies the purchasing process, so consumers don’t have to wait in line and can easily pay using their mobile phones.
The customer finds it easy to use its brand in every channel.
TOMS
TOMS is a shoe company with a mission to give back. Its B2C marketing strategy relies on visual storytelling. This means that high-quality images are used with stories to accompany them.
To support grassroots organizations and their efforts, a third of TOMS’s profits go to them. To this end, TOMS customers who purchase from them already support the company’s mission.
They are aware that when they purchase a pair of shoes, a portion of the profits goes to charity.
Their social media pages feature high-quality photography and visuals as images are an integral part of their business.
They go even further. They also film virtual reality videos that take the audience along on a giving journey.
Consumers can see exactly where their money is going with an immersive video.
Although you may not have a group of photographers to work with, this example shows you that you can still consider what you are good at and make it an asset.
Consider how you can make that asset more exciting for your brand.
Argos
Argos is a well-known brand that has remained focused on quality and price over the years. It may be a catalog or a place where you can pick up toys at Christmas.
Argos customers interact with us through price, availability, and range.
Argos recently launched a B2C campaign to strengthen customer relationships. To promote their partnership with Sainsbury’s.
The campaign’s goal is to build brand loyalty and emotional connections with customers.
This strategy is based on a video that targets busy parents and focuses on modern family life.
Argos helps the family to make their holiday fun by providing products that solve their problems.
The overall goal is to solve the customer’s problem by offering a solution.
Argos aims to change the way people view its brand with this campaign.
Tesco
Although Tesco is still a major supermarket retailer, it faces a lot of competition from discount stores such as Aldi and Lil.
Tesco’s recent B2C campaign focuses on customer nostalgia.
Campaign ‘Prices that Take You Back’ highlights nostalgic products such as Freddo chocolates, which are now available at 10p.
Also, there was a competition to determine which retro snack was better: Frazzles or Skips.
They selected products that elicited an emotional response from customers. The strategy was well received across social media channels, as people loved responding to it.
It highlighted the differences between Tesco products versus those at other retailers by choosing specific products.
Instant results were achieved by the campaign. In just one week, Tesco sold almost half a million Freddos bars. Additionally, consumers were more positive about Tesco’s value for money across all platforms.
The Key Elements of a Successful B2C Lead Generation campaign
Collecting data and using the Insights
It is essential to identify the customers you wish to attract and collect data to create a B2C campaign that works.
This data can be used to analyze it and determine who is accessing your marketing channels from which location. This data will allow you to target specific audiences.
You can search by area, age, or platform. If your customers are most likely to reach you through Facebook, you need to think about how you can use Facebook in your next campaign.
Take a look at the examples and think of creative ways to promote your campaigns.
Be there for your customers
You also want to be there for your customers. It’s not worth spending your money and resources on Twitter if your customers don’t use it.
Except, of course, if you wish to use it as an additional channel and increase your reach on the platform.
Be aware of where your assets are. If you’re a visual storytellers, platforms like Pinterest and Instagram can be a great complement to your website.
LinkedIn could be a good place to start if you offer content or recruitment opportunities within your industry.
Do your research on competitors. What platforms are they using? Who is the most successful?
Optimize your website
Don’t forget to include your website in any marketing campaigns. Sometimes, it’s easy to get too caught up in new marketing campaigns or social media that your website is forgotten.
Your website should be the best representation of your business.
You could lose customers if they find you on social media and then go to your website. It is important to keep it current and provide valuable content to customers.
This will ensure that you make the most of your B2C campaign.
How to choose a B2C marketing plan
You already know the differences between B2C sales and B2B sales so you can easily see the differences in marketing plans.
B2C is focused on the customer, while B2B is about the business.
The goal of B2C marketing plans is to connect with the customer. Communicate with them in a way that will allow them to connect with your company.
Engaging your audience at their level is essential. Your B2C marketing strategy should evolve as new platforms and technologies emerge.
These are three top tips for engaging with customers
- Get positive reviews about your business. These reviews are essential for your business. Ask happy customers to leave a review. Place it on the internet so potential customers can read it. You are building trust and a reputation.
- Customers will appreciate your useful and entertaining content. Use Instagram Stories or Facebook Stories to show behind-the-scenes photos of your business. Is there a new piece of furniture that you have sold? Perhaps the customer will be able to take a photo of the item in its place and ask permission. Then, you can post the picture on your business’s social media sites with the caption “another happy customer”. Trust and engagement can be built when more people see your business used by others.
- Your social media marketing should be maximized. A B2C customer wants to feel connected with the brand that they’re buying from. Your goals and aims should be compatible with theirs. They will likely buy from you more often. Targeting the right audience is a great way to increase sales.
Choose a BC2 E-Commerce Model
You now know a lot about business-to-consumer sales. Have you seen many great examples? Which ecommerce model is best for your business? Spend some time researching the market you are targeting and then think about what you can offer that market.
First, who are your customers?
Who are your target customers? What are their expectations regarding the product you sell? Your business might offer a subscription service for children’s magazines.
The parents will pay for it. How can you get families (both parents and children) to sign up for your subscription service?
Understanding your customers’ habits and behaviors will make you more successful. If you can solve any problem, it is a plus.
Take a look at how other businesses in your sector are selling. What platforms do they use?
Next, think about how you could do it differently. You will be different from the rest.
What are your strengths?
Consider what aspects of your industry or business you know better than anyone. What is it that makes you excited about your business?
It is important to be realistic about the elements you can do and the things you may need assistance with.
You might be a great salesperson on the phone and can quickly sell any product to anyone. You might not know how to market your product to make people want to talk to you.
It’s important to have experts such as Lead Generation who can help you transform your business into consumer sales.
Which B2C Strategy is Best for Your Business?
This depends on the product you’re selling.
If you are a manufacturer of your products, then you might want to look into wholesaling and subscriptions to help cover production costs.
Conversely, if your products are sold by others, you will likely want to invest more money in direct marketing and strategies that grow your customer base.
What makes your product better?
Why should customers choose you over your competitors? You can compare your products to help you decide which product is best.
You may already believe it is the best option, but how can you convince customers? Are you competing on price? Variety? Delivery? Convenience?
Conclusion: B2C Lead Generation
In summary, success in B2C may mean different things for different businesses. Your success could translate into more sales or business growth. It could also mean providing the best customer experience possible and outstanding reviews.
It is important to clearly define your goals for your business-to-customer strategy. Next, create a plan for getting there.
You are unlikely to be a marketing or business genius unless you have mastered the basics of everything.
It is possible to be a master at sourcing the right products and offering great prices for your customers. However, setting up an online store is not something you are good at.
Marketing efforts should be directed toward generating leads and traffic, to build revenue. Expert help is needed here.
Kobe Digital uses the most up-to-date technologies and strategies in web development and Miami digital marketing to help brands achieve extraordinary results.
Kobe Digital invests continuously in technology and its employees so that each client receives a product that lasts a lifetime.
We begin by understanding your needs. We can help you find the 98% of leads that are missing in an online environment where only 2% of visitors leave contact information without prompting.
We offer branding, design, and corporate identity as well as Lead Generation Strategies.
We offer branding, design, corporate identity, CRM platforms, customer relations, lead generation services, marketing consultancy, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and web development services.
Kobe Digitalis is here to help you with your B2C strategy. You can chat with a member of our team via email, phone, or live chat. You can also find us on LinkedIn, Tweet, and Instagram.