4 Lead Generation Strategies for Boat Dealers

Gone are the days of cold-calling or leaving flyers on the doorsteps of random homes. The Internet has opened up a new world of lead generation possibilities, making attracting qualified leads easier than ever. But before we get into the nitty gritty of lead generation, it’s best to start with the basics.

If you’re looking for some help generating leads for your boat business, give WebFX a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online. In the last five years, we’ve generated more than 24 million qualified leads for companies in various industries. We can’t wait to help you achieve your goals!

Let’s dive in! 

What is a lead?

A lead is anyone who shows interest in your services or products. In your case, it’s likely someone who is looking to purchase a boat. Users will display this curiosity in several ways, including by filling out a contact form, following a social media account, or submitting a request for a quote.

Leads are segmented into four categories:

• Marketing-qualified lead: Users who aren’t ready to hear from the sales team but take advantage of your marketing efforts, like filling out a form for a free offer.
• Sales-qualified lead: Contacts that have gone out of their way to express their interest by filling out a consultation form or submitting product questions.
• Product-qualified lead: Individuals who have signed up for a product trial or use the free product version and have asked for more information about purchasing the real thing.
• Service-qualified lead: Consumers already actively using and enjoying your products who might be interested in upgrades.

What is lead generation?

Lead generation is the process of identifying, attracting, and converting individuals who have displayed an interest in your company or services — in this case, boats!

Old-fashioned lead generation methods — like flyers and cold-calls — have gone out of style. While you still can use these methods, they probably won’t help you create any meaningful leads. Today, effective lead generation involves using digital marketing channels to find interested users and invite them to explore your website, read a blog and eventually fill out a form.

Why is lead generation important for boat dealers?

As a boat dealership, you’re targeting a specific audience — boaters and boating enthusiasts interested in purchasing a boat. But how do you find those individuals? You guessed it — lead generation. 

Your business can use natural lead generation strategies to find and nurture leads, ultimately growing your customer base and helping them move deeper into the buying funnel. A successful strategy creates a seamless customer journey, allowing users to move at their own pace while providing them with all the necessary information. 

Following the AIDA model, your lead generation mission will move a user from just being aware of your business to ready to take action and buy the boat they’ve been dreaming about. You can do this by running ads, launching an email newsletter, or creating videos.

Lead generation strategies for boat dealers

If you’re ready to start generating qualified leads, consider the following methods.

1. Search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of enhancing your website so that it ranks higher in search engines. The higher it ranks, the more chances you have at attracting paying customers.

Following strategic practices and properly optimizing your site for search engines like Bing, Google, and Yahoo will help your business show up each time someone searches for a boat dealership. With enough effort, you’ll rank higher in the search engines and outrank your competitors.

For dealerships, it’s also wise to target a specific area. Local SEO acts like traditional SEO methods but helps businesses rank for towns, cities, and states where they offer products and services — assisting you in outranking competitors and getting in front of those who need your help in the area.

2. Social media advertising

Social media offers endless opportunities to reach potential customers. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are used by millions of people every day, who are just waiting to hear more about what you have to offer. 

There are several different ways you can use social media for advertising your business. First, you can create posts and ad campaigns designed to gain followers, likes, and shares — getting people interested in what kinds of boats you have, special deals or discounts, and more. 

You can also use your accounts to share content you publish on your website. You’ll get more eyes on your brand and direct users to visit your website, increasing your traffic and interest in the value you’re providing. Social media is also a place to connect and engage with users, commenting on posts, answering questions, and showing off your brand’s personality.

Social media isn’t a method that will skyrocket your sales immediately. Instead, it introduces users to your business to help them become loyal customers down the road. 

3. Email marketing

Email marketing is a popular method to generate and nurture leads through the customer journey. It allows you to directly and personally communicate with users who have already expressed an interest in your company by providing their email. 

Email marketing tends to have one of the highest returns on investments (ROI) of any lead generation method. This effectiveness is thanks to the fact that you can customize these emails to fit potential customers’ interests and answer their questions. These individuals have already voluntarily given you their email, showing you they like what you’re doing — now you can take your connection a step further. 

Rather than bombarding your subscribers and encouraging them to just make a purchase, focus on providing them with value and forming a meaningful relationship that will last. Consider the following types of emails: 

• Product updates
• Special offers
• Product and service education
• Valuable content

4. Content marketing

Content marketing is a powerful tool that will help you attract and hold onto leads and establish yourself as an industry authority. Using this strategy, you’ll create an abundance of industry-specific information your audience wants and needs to see. 

This content can come in many different forms, including: 

• Blog posts
• Free guides
• Infographics
• Videos

Whatever type of content you produce, you should focus on addressing the needs and concerns of your audience at every level of the sales funnel. For example, you may consider creating resources dedicated to the best types of boats for fishing, boat safety, perfect boating destinations, and even guides associated with the vessels you stock. 

The more high-quality content you produce, the better your chances of cultivating meaningful leads.

37% of marketers say that generating high-quality leads was one of their biggest challenges.

We want to decrease that percentage.

WebFX can help you generate high-quality leads with a customized marketing strategy.

Learn More About Lead Generation Services

WebFX can help you drive traffic to your website in no time

Ready to start earning leads for your boat dealership? WebFX is an industry frontrunner, offering top-of-the-line lead generation services. With decades of experience and a digital marketing team of more than 500 experts, we can help your dealership maintain more leads and increase sales. 

We’re ready to take your business to new heights. Are you? Contact our specialists today to get started with your lead generation campaign! 

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