Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way businesses generate leads. In today's fast-paced digital world, using AI for lead generation can give you a significant edge over the competition. Whether you're a new business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur, AI tools and automation can help you streamline your processes, save time, and reach more potential clients. In this article, I will walk you through a simple, free, and effective method to generate thousands of high-quality leads using AI and automation.
Step 1: Finding High-Quality Leads on Google
The first step in generating leads is finding them. Using Google, we can perform a specific search that allows us to target relevant leads based on their niche, such as life coaches, plumbers, electricians, doctors, or lawyers. We will also focus on profiles that list their email addresses. Here's how to do it:
- Search Query Structure: You need three components for your search query:
- Specify the website you want to search (e.g., Instagram or LinkedIn).
- Define the niche you are targeting (e.g., life coaches, lawyers, doctors, etc.).
- Specify email domains to filter results to only include profiles with email addresses.
- Example: For life coaches on Instagram, the search query would be: site:instagram.com "life coaches" @gmail.com OR @yahoo.com OR @outlook.com
- This search will return profiles of life coaches on Instagram that also have email addresses listed in their bio.
Step 2: Scraping Lead Data Using AI
Once you have your leads, the next step is to extract useful information such as names, email addresses, and company details. Instead of manually copying and pasting, you can use an AI tool like ChatGPT to automate this task:
- Copy the list of profiles you find in Google Search.
- Paste the data into ChatGPT or another AI-powered tool.
- Use a simple prompt to format the scraped data into a structured table with the following columns: full name, company name, website URL, email address, and phone number.
Here's an example of the prompt you would use in ChatGPT:
Format the data below into a table with columns: full name, company name, website URL, email address, and phone number.
Once the data is formatted into a table, you now have a structured lead list ready for outreach.
Step 3: Setting Up an Automation System
After you've organized your leads, it's time to set up an automation system to reach out to them on autopilot. Automation can help you send personalized emails without lifting a finger, even while you're asleep. Here's how you can set it up:
- Use a tool like Make.com to create an automation scenario. This tool can connect to your Google Sheet where you store your lead data.
- Set the trigger for your automation to be when a new row is added to your Google Sheet.
- For best results, space out the emails. You don’t want to send all emails at once, as this could flag your email as spam. Set the system to send one email every hour.
Step-by-Step Guide for Setting Up Automation:
- Sign up for Make.com and log in to your account.
- Create a new scenario and choose "Google Sheets" as your trigger.
- Link your Google Sheets account to Make.com and select the sheet with your lead data.
- Set the automation to send emails from your Gmail account.
- Customize the email with the necessary subject line and content. Keep the email brief and to the point. For example:
Subject: Question About [Company Name]
Hi [Name],
I just wanted to check if you're still accepting new clients. I run an AI automation agency that could help increase your conversions by 60% in the next 90 days. Would you be interested in receiving a report?
Best, Helena
- Once you’ve set up the email content, save the automation and activate it.
- Now, every time a new lead is added to your Google Sheet, the system will automatically send them a personalized email.
Why This Method Works
This AI-driven lead generation and outreach method is highly effective for several reasons:
- Efficiency: Automation allows you to contact leads continuously without manual intervention, saving you time.
- Scalability: You can scale this process to reach thousands of leads without significant effort.
- Cost-Effective: Unlike paid lead generation tools, this method is free and leverages readily available platforms like Google, ChatGPT, and Make.com.
- Personalization: Despite being automated, each email can be personalized with the lead's name and company, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Success
To ensure that this method is working effectively, you should track the following KPIs:
- Response Rate: Track the percentage of leads that respond to your outreach emails. A good response rate for cold emails is typically between 1% to 5%.
- Conversion Rate: Measure how many leads become paying clients after receiving your email. Aim for a conversion rate of 2% to 10% depending on your niche.
- Cost per Lead (CPL): Since this method is free, your CPL is essentially zero, which makes it highly cost-effective.
Conclusion
Using AI to generate leads and automate outreach is an incredibly powerful tool for businesses looking to scale quickly. By following these simple steps, you can find highly targeted leads, automate the outreach process, and start seeing results in no time. Remember to keep your outreach personalized, concise, and spaced out to avoid email provider flags.
Credits
This Article is based on a very useful Youtube video by Helena Liu (https://www.youtube.com/@HELENA-LIU)