How to Do Lead Generation in WordPress Like a Pro

Lead generation is the process of attracting new potential customers to your business and capturing their contact information so you can continue nurturing them into paying customers. According to OptinMonster, lead generation is crucial for business growth, with over 75% of website visitors leaving without converting.

In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn how to master lead generation in WordPress using proven techniques trusted by over 5 million websites.

Here‘s what we‘ll cover:

• What is Lead Generation and Why It‘s Important
• Getting Started with Lead Generation in WordPress
• Using WordPress Forms for Lead Generation
• Lead Generation with Popups and Optins
• Building Custom Landing Pages for Leads
• Creating Lead Generation Sales Funnels
• Generating Leads with Online Calculators
• Running Viral Contests and Giveaways
• Optimizing WordPress Comments for Leads
• Tips for Improving Your Lead Gen Campaigns

What is Lead Generation and Why It‘s Important

Lead generation refers to the process of generating interest in your business‘ products or services and capturing contact information from those potential customers. This allows you to continue nurturing leads by sending relevant content and special offers with the goal of converting them into paying customers.

According to statistics from HubSpot, companies that prioritize lead generation see 81% faster growth compared to those that don‘t. Clearly, investing in lead gen is crucial for business success in today‘s digital landscape.

Lead generation gives you permission to continue engaging with website visitors through multiple channels like email, social media, ads, and more. Without capturing leads, you lose out on future opportunities as visitors leave your site forever.

Getting Started with Lead Generation in WordPress

Before you can start generating leads, you need to have the right WordPress platform set up. We recommend using WordPress.org, the self-hosted open source version, for lead gen because it gives you full control over plugins and customization.

Here‘s what you need to get started:

• WordPress Hosting: We recommend using Bluehost, the #1 hosting provider recommended by WordPress themselves. WPBeginner readers can get an exclusive discount on Bluehost here.

• Domain Name: Pick a domain name for your website and purchase it when signing up for web hosting.

• Lead Generation Plugins: Useful WordPress plugins like OptinMonster, WPForms, and more covered later in this guide.

Once you have hosting and a domain name, you can easily install WordPress with just a few clicks. Refer to our guide on how to make a WordPress website for detailed step-by-step instructions.

Now let‘s look at some of the best techniques for generating leads in WordPress.

Using WordPress Forms for Lead Generation

One of the easiest ways to capture leads on your WordPress site is by adding forms. This could be a simple contact form, newsletter sign up form, survey, or any other type of form.

According to OptinMonster, forms have an average conversion rate of 4.45%, much higher than other types of lead generation optins.

We recommend using WPForms, the most beginner friendly WordPress form builder trusted by over 5 million websites. Here are some ways you can use WPForms for lead generation:

Simple Contact Forms

A simple contact form allows visitors to get in touch with questions or requests. You can add these to any post or page using the WPForms drag and drop builder:

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Even the free version of WPForms lets you integrate with email marketing platforms like Constant Contact to collect leads.

WPForms includes form management features that let you view and manage submissions right from your WordPress dashboard.

Newsletter Signup Forms

Use WPForms to create dedicated email newsletter forms to embed in your website‘s sidebar or content.

According to studies from HubSpot, email newsletter leads have a conversion rate of around 3.5%, much higher than social media leads.

Refer to our guide on starting an email newsletter the right way to grow your list faster.

Form Confirmations and Redirects

You can boost conversions by redirecting users to a custom page or offer after they submit your form.

WPForms makes it easy to create "smart form confirmations" upon submission. Send users to a landing page, show a custom message, or even redirect them to an external URL.

Embed Forms Anywhere

A benefit of WPForms is that you can easily embed forms anywhere on your site without code. Add them to posts, pages, widgets, popups, and more.

Explore our guide on how to add forms in a single line to maximize conversions.

Lead Generation with Popups and Optins

While WordPress forms work very well, you need to use different types of lead generation to maximize results. This is where popups and optins come in.

We recommend using OptinMonster, the most powerful lead generation and email list building tool trusted by over 1 million sites.

Here are some ways to use OptinMonster for capturing leads:

Exit-Intent Popups

These popups display when a visitor‘s mouse is leaving the page, giving you a last chance to convert them into a lead. Exit intent popups have high conversion rates.

Welcome Mats

Welcome mats overlay your page content until the user closes it or enters their email. This technique is extremely effective at grabbing attention.

Content Upgrades

Offer an incentive like a coupon or free download in exchange for their email address via a popup. The Zeigarnik effect means unfinished tasks are more likely to be completed.

Spin to Win and Wheel Optins

Make lead generation fun and interactive with spin the wheel optins. Visitors spin to get a discount or content upgrade.

Popup Types

Test different popup types like slide-ins, full screens, and more to see what converts best. Target different popups to specific pages, categories, users, and more.

Building Custom Landing Pages for Leads

In addition to your main website pages, creating dedicated landing pages is crucial for lead generation. This gives you a focused page for one specific conversion goal.

According to Unbounce, landing pages have an average conversion rate of over 17% compared to only 2.35% for standard website pages.

We recommend using SeedProd to easily create custom, high-converting landing pages in WordPress without coding:

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Here are some examples of landing pages you can build for lead generation:

• Lead magnet download pages
• Webinar / event registration pages
• Free consultation booking pages
• Quiz or survey pages
• Contest entry pages

With SeedProd‘s drag and drop landing page editor, you can quickly build and customize mobile-friendly pages that convert visitors into leads.

Creating Lead Generation Sales Funnels

While landing pages focus on one conversion goal, sales funnels take users through a sequence of pages and offers. This maximizes your chances of converting visitors.

According to studies from ClickFunnels, sales funnels increase conversion rates by up to 400% compared to individual landing pages.

We recommend using FunnelKit, the most powerful WordPress funnel builder used by over 300,000+ sites.

Here‘s an example of a lead generation sales funnel you can create:

1. Optin Page: Visitor enters email for free downloadable content upgrade

2. Download Page: Visitor downloads content after opting in

3. Upsell Page: Offer discounted access to premium program

4. Order Page: Visitor purchases premium offer

Create unlimited steps and integrate with email marketing, membership, WooCommerce, and more.

Generating Leads with Online Calculators

Online calculators are an effective way to capture leads in exchange for delivering value. Visitors enter their details to get calculator results.

According to studies, calculators can convert visitors at rates of over 15% in some niches when marketed correctly.

We recommend Formidable Forms, the most powerful WordPress calculator plugin. It lets you create calculators like:

• Mortgage calculators
• BMI and calorie calculators
• Loan and interest cost calculators
• Retirement savings calculators
• Invoice and paycheck calculators

And much more! Formidable Forms integrates with all major email and CRM platforms to send calculator leads anywhere.

Running Viral Contests and Giveaways

Giveaways are a tried and tested way to grow your reach, email list, social following, and brand awareness through viral lead generation.

According to statistics from RafflePress, the top WordPress giveaway plugin, contests increase traffic by over 800% on average.

With RafflePress, you can easily run viral contests on your WordPress site. Here are some examples:

• Newsletter subscriber giveaways
• Social media follower contests
• User-generated content contests
• Retweet and share giveaways
• Photo contests
• Quiz-based giveaways

RafflePress lets you set entry requirements like newsletter signup, which forces visitors to convert into leads to enter and share your contest.

Optimizing WordPress Comments for Leads

Your blog posts‘ comments section presents another opportunity for lead generation. Engaged commenters are great potential leads.

With the free Yoast Comment Hacks plugin, you can set up automatic redirects. This sends first-time commenters to a custom landing page with a special offer.

The Subscribe to Comments Reloaded plugin lets visitors subscribe to comment notifications. This brings engaged visitors back to your site.

Tips for Improving Your Lead Gen Campaigns

Here are some tips to maximize your WordPress lead generation results:

• Track conversion rates to identify and eliminate underperforming optins

• Use split testing tools like Google Optimize to continuously improve lead gen

• Experiment with different types and combinations of optins

• Create multiple lead magnets – freebies, discounts, content – for different optins

• Focus on user experience and avoid over-using optins

• Capture leads immediately, don‘t wait until you have more traffic

• Follow up with leads using email, push notifications, chatbots, and more

• Use CRMs and analytics to understand your sales funnel and leads lifecycle

• Build long-term organic growth through SEO to keep fueling your funnel

Implementing the lead generation strategies covered in this guide will help you grow your subscriber base, traffic, and sales in WordPress.

Focus on continually testing and optimizing your optins, lead magnets, and sales funnels. Consistently generating leads is crucial to sustaining business growth and reaching your revenue goals.