Contributing content from Elizabeth Shea, EVP, Public Relations at REQ

Generating the right leads in today’s challenging economic climate requires a mix of marketing strategies. It’s not always enough to rely on traditional lead-generation tools, such as Google Adwords. You can use public relations, along with a dash of digital communications, to fill your sales funnel and cultivate the right leads.

Today, PR is much more than just media relations.

Here are three ways PR can help you build and sustain your customer base.

1. Get Your Story In The Right Places

When many individuals think of PR, they immediately begin thinking about press releases and stories in The New York Times. But if lead generation is a top priority for you, consider forgoing mainstream press and focus on getting your company’s story out in targeted vertical publications that cover your customers’ markets. Those publications would be something like Professional Builder or even closer to home, Colorado Builder in the construction industry.

Once you’ve identified those publications, think of some tactics that will grab their readers’ attention. You could issue a press release about a recent contract or partnership with a business in a particular industry, or submit an idea for a joint byline article that you and a customer write together. You could also offer to write an article about a particular topic of interest to those readers. Whatever method you choose, use it to present your organization as a trusted authority in a specific industry.

2. Develop Focused Long-Form Content

Long-form content, such as white papers and ebooks, can be great tools for demonstrating your expertise and knowledge and establishing your organization’s credibility in a specific market.

Customers want to know that you have domain expertise in their particular area. White papers, ebooks, and case studies centered around your top industries can show you understand organizations’ pain points and allow you to provide recommendations on how to address those points. White papers and ebooks can also give you the chance to guide market opportunities and where their industry might beheaded. Case studies can show how you have helped similar companies overcome issues and achieve measurable results.

If your content is well-written, engaging and on point, those customers will probably follow up to find out more information about what your company can do for them.

3. Merge Digital And Traditional Communications

Have your digital and PR teams work together to leverage and promote the assets you’ve created, and make sure everyone is driving toward the same lead generation goals. For example, ask your digital teams to promote the articles you’ve placed in vertical publications across your social media channels, or use paid and organic search programs to push potential leads to your long-form content. Or create a podcast and have PR inform the content, while the digital teams provide the promotional and technological expertise.

Consider ways to enliven already existing lead generation tools. Use email marketing campaigns to push out links to your most recent articles or webinars. Customize your messages and content accordingly, particularly if you’re trying to grow your business through account-based marketing and are focusing on a set of high-value customers. Refresh the copy on outdated landing pages that may still have equity so you can keep ranking for Google searches and stay top of mind.

At the end of the day, I’ve found that the best way to generate leads is to position yourself as an expert in the field where those prospects reside. This is where PR excels. You can use it as a voice that resonates with the people who are most important to your business. Don’t overlook it for your lead generation efforts.