11 Social Media Lead Generation Tactics to Implement in 2025

Lead generation is the lifeline of every business. Sales are never guaranteed unless you actively nurture them through different tactics. Social media lead generation is an example of these tactics.

Social media is a lead generation resource that no business can afford to ignore. As of November 2024, there were over 5.22 billion social media users worldwide.

However, while social media offers access to billions of potential customers, you need to use the right social media lead-generation tactics to reap significant results.

This lead generation guide will explore what social media lead generation is and how it can help you maximize your marketing efforts. Let’s get started.

What is Social Media Lead Generation?

Social media lead generation involves using social media platforms like YouTube or Facebook to generate leads for your business. It is one of the most reliable ecommerce marketing strategies you can use to grow your brand.

Social media leads are potential customers who show interest in your business by sharing useful information through social channels.

This information helps you identify and engage with them. It includes anything from a simple email address or name to employment details or other demographic data.

Why Should You Generate Leads From Social Media?

Generating leads using social media platforms offers several benefits. Here are some key reasons why you should leverage social media lead generation.

Social Media Has a Wide Reach

Social media platforms have billions of active users that you can turn into leads. By tapping into these platforms for social media lead generation, you can introduce your business to a vast audience.

For instance, Facebook had over 3 billion active worldwide users as of April 2024. YouTube followed closely with 2.5 billion users while Instagram had 2 billion users.

Image via Statista

Moreover, various social media platforms offer diverse demographics. This allows you to target specific audiences based on their interests and behaviors.

Pro Tip: Facebook provides rich demographic data about users that you can leverage for social media lead generation.

It Allows You to Run Targeted Ads

In 2024, businesses spent over $230 billion on social media advertising. This figure could exceed $345 billion by 2029.

Targeted social media advertising allows you to reach specific audiences that are likely to be interested in your brand.

Social media platforms provide advanced targeting options that help you define your target audience based on characteristics like:

• Age
• Location
• Gender
• Behavior
• Interests
• Income

By using the above demographics for social media lead generation, you can create targeted ads that focus on your audience’s pain points and needs.

Social Media Has High Engagement and Interaction

One of the best things about social media platforms is that you can directly interact and engage with your target audience. You can engage potential leads through messages, comments, and posts for your social media lead generation strategy.

Interaction helps you build trust, making it more likely for social media users to become relevant leads and, eventually loyal customers.

It Provides Analytics and Data Insights

Most social platforms offer analytics tools that provide valuable user behavior and engagement insights. These insights, in turn, help you refine your marketing strategies and streamline your social media lead generation process.

That’s not all.

You can also use social media management tools to track the performance of your social media marketing campaigns.

Some social media performance metrics that you can use to attract more qualified leads include:

• Engagement: This includes likes, comments, and shares—metrics that can be used to assess audience engagement. High engagement shows that your content resonates with your audience.

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): This shows the number of people clicking on your links to reach your website. A high CTR across all your social media lead generation efforts shows that more people are interested in your brand.

• Conversion Rate: This metric allows you to track how many social media users convert into leads and finally into customers. A high conversion rate shows your social media lead-generation tactics are effective.

You can use Instagram analytics tools to track engagement and performance metrics.

Content Distribution

One of the easiest ways to generate high-quality leads is by distributing your content online. And social media is perfect for that.

Distributing valuable content is a tried and tested social media lead generation tactic that can help you boost your efforts in the following ways.

• It helps you build trust and establish your brand as an authority in your niche.

• Valuable content helps you engage new and prospective customers who are actively seeking solutions on social media.

• High-quality content increases brand awareness. As users interact with your content regularly, they become more accustomed to your brand. This makes it easy for them to consider buying your products or services in the future.

Consider using content marketing tools to create and distribute high-quality content on your socials.

Pro Tip: Use YouTube and TikTok for video content, Instagram for short reels and photos, and LinkedIn for authoritative blog posts.

11 Ways to Generate Leads from Social Media

Now that you know why social media lead generation is essential, let us explore how you can generate them.

Here are 11 practical social media lead-generation tactics that you should try.

1. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles

First impressions matter when it comes to social media lead generation. Your social profiles are the face of your brand. You don't want your potential customers to lose interest within seconds of viewing your profile.

Instead, ensure your profiles are appealing and packed with relevant information about your business. How?

Here are some social media lead generation tips:

• Add a professional profile picture, and cover photo where applicable. Ensure your profile picture is appealing and consistent across all platforms.

• Write an engaging bio that conveys essential information about your business. Clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and what you offer.

• Add a link to your website in your profile. A link provides a way for potential leads to explore your products or services.

• Use high-quality visuals like photos and infographics that align with your brand’s identity.

• Craft clear and compelling CTAs to guide users to the next step. Too many CTAs can confuse your potential clients.

GoPro, for example, has a simple but effective Instagram profile.

Image via Instagram

2. Create Relevant Content

Another social media lead generation strategy you can use is creating click-worthy content. Sharing high-quality content that resonates with your target audience helps you generate qualified leads.

According to a 2022 survey by Statista, 80% of marketers said their content marketing strategy was successful.

Here are some tips and tricks you can use to create relevant content for social media lead generation.

• Understand Your Audience: Tap into your prospects’ interests, behaviors, and struggles to determine what type of lead generation content to create.

• Use Different Content Formats: Does your target audience prefer watching videos, reading blog posts, or something else? Diversify your content by using various formats, such as infographics, photos, videos, and image posts.

• Use Engaging Visuals: Visual content is 40x more likely to get more shares on social media. So, use it to engage your audience and boost your social media lead-generation efforts.

After distributing your content, keep track of its performance using the best social media management tools.

Check out this example where Attrock combines engaging content with striking visuals to add value to its content.

Image via Facebook

3. Run Contests and Giveaways

Social media marketers often hold contests in exchange for shares, tags, or leads. You can replicate this lead-generation tactic as well.

Here are some tips to get the best results as far as social media lead generation strategies are concerned:

• Keep a Simple Entry Process: Make it easy for people to participate in your contests. Some simple entry methods include liking, commenting, tagging, and sharing.

• Offer Incentives for Shares: Go the extra mile by offering rewards to participants who share the contest on their networks. Shares can expand your reach and attract new leads.

• Offer Lucrative Prizes: Offer attractive prizes that align with your brand. This helps attract participants who are genuinely interested in your products or services.

Here’s an example of a giveaway that requires participants to perform various actions to get more points.

Image via David Riewe

4. Use Chatbots as Social Media Lead Generation Tools

Reliable customer service is crucial for social media lead generation. Chatbots on social media can help you improve customer service and generate leads.

How?

These dependable social media tools allow you to interact with your potential customers even when you are offline.

About 74% of social media users say they feel more connected to a brand when they can message them directly. 66% prefer communicating with a business through messaging.

Image via Facebook

Let’s take a look at how you can use chatbots for social media lead generation:

• Automate Responses: Use chatbots to quickly and efficiently engage potential customers. Immediate responses can capture leads before they lose interest.

• Integrate Lead Capture Forms: You can customize your chatbot to gather leads directly from the chat using a lead generation form.

• Personalize Interactions: You can personalize chatbot conversations using your audience’s interests and preferences.

Consider using the best AI chatbots to help you connect with your audience.

Here is an example of how Domino’s Pizza uses a chatbot to engage potential clients.

Image via Facebook

5. Design Compelling and User-Friendly Landing Pages

Creating a compelling landing page is another powerful social media lead generation strategy. All your social media promotions should include a link to this page to capture the leads you generate.

Here are some social media lead generation tips to create a compelling landing page.

• Use a Captivating Headline: Craft an engaging headline that grabs attention and conveys the value of your offer.

• Keep the Design Clean and Uncluttered: Make it easy for users to navigate through your landing page. Avoid unnecessary distractions that draw users away from the primary conversion goal.

• Use Eye-Catching Visuals: Utilize high-quality visuals that capture the attention of your potential leads. The visuals should resonate with your audience while demonstrating your offer.

Take a look at this simple yet appealing landing page by Netflix.

Image via Netflix

6. Create Targeted Social Media Ads

If you’re looking for a quick social media lead generation strategy then you must try social media advertising.

Social platforms provide advanced targeting options. You can tailor your lead ads to specific audiences, boosting your lead generation efforts.

Targeted ads boost your digital marketing efforts, improve conversion rates, and streamline the social media lead generation process.

Here are some tips on how to use ads for social media lead generation.

• Segment Your Audience: Divide your audience into segments using demographics like age, location, interests, and behavior. You can then create targeted ads for every segment.

• Create Engaging Ad Copy: Craft ad content that resonates with each audience segment. Use clear and concise language that your audience can understand.

• Use Pre-Populated Lead Forms: Use the information you have on your audience to pre-populate lead forms. This makes it easier for potential leads to sign up and submit the form.

You can use Instagram lead ads or Facebook ads to generate qualified leads for your business. LinkedIn lead generation forms are also promising, with a 10% average conversion rate.

Here is a targeted social media ad by Starbucks for audiences in different locations.

Image via Facebook

7. Leverage Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads help you reconnect with prospects who did not complete an action, such as making a purchase.

According to a survey by SharpSpring Ads, consumers who view retargeting ads are 70% more likely to convert.

Let’s take a look at some retargeting strategies you can use.

• Create Custom Audiences: You can use features of social platforms like Facebook to upload the information of your lost leads. Once you compile your leads, you can send custom ads to re-engage them.

• Engagement Retargeting: Some users might engage with your social media content but fail to convert. You can tailor specific ads to these users reminding them of your offer.

• Use Special Offers or Promotions: Offers and promotions can nudge lost leads to complete actions. You can use lead magnets like discounts or free shipping to retarget potential leads.

Facebook is the best social media platform for retargeting lost leads because of its dynamic ads. You can also leverage Instagram for compelling visuals and LinkedIn for B2B lead generation.

8. Showcase Customer Feedback as Social Proof

Potential customers are likely to interact with a brand they trust. You can use customer feedback as social proof to establish your brand as trustworthy and reliable.

About 25% of consumers read customer reviews before they purchase new products.

Here are several ways you can use social proof as a social media lead generation strategy effectively.

• Share Customer Testimonials: Share testimonials from satisfied customers. You can use written testimonials, videos, or even screenshots of positive reviews.

• Post User-Generated Content: Encourage your existing customers to create and share content related to your brand, products, or services. This encourages potential customers to interact with your business.

• Share Case Studies: Show how your product or service solved problems for your past clients. Include details about the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the final results.

Have a look at how Coca-Cola shares user-generated content.

Image via Instagram

9. Run Referral Campaigns

Running referral campaigns is another great social media lead generation strategy. Ask your loyal customers and followers to spread the word through social channels.

Here are some tips to generate leads through referral campaigns.

• Create Attractive Offers: Offer lucrative incentives, such as discounts, gift cards, or free services, to encourage referrals.

• Use Referral Links: Make it easy for your customers to refer others. You can provide simple and unique referral links that users can easily share on social media.

Use good referral marketing software to streamline your campaign.

Take a look at PayPal’s referral program below, which offers a clear and lucrative incentive.

Image via PayPal

10. Leverage Social Listening

You can use social listening for social media lead generation. Social listening involves keeping up with social media conversations and trends related to your brand. According to a 2023 survey by The Silab, 51% of people use social data for marketing, while 36% use the data to discover trends.

Tracking conversations allows you to dig deeper into the interests of your potential leads. Here is how you can leverage social listening for social media lead generation.

• Monitor Brand Mentions: Track social media conversations related to your brand to learn what people say about your products or brand.

• Track Relevant Keywords and Hashtags: Find out which keywords, phrases, and hashtags are relevant to your industry and brand. Use them to track conversations and identify potential leads.

• Track Competitor Mentions: Keep close tabs on your competitors. Users expressing disappointment in your competitors’ products could be the perfect opportunity to present your products or services as an alternative.

• Engage in Conversations: Actively participate in relevant conversations, offering valuable insights and information. This is a great way to attract the attention of the right people and generate leads for your business.

See how KFC engages with its customers on social media.

Image via X

11. Use Influencer Partnerships

Another great social media lead generation tactic is using influencer partnerships. They involve working with popular social media personalities to promote your brand. These influencers have a loyal following, and their endorsement can help you reach more people and build trust.

However, like every other social media lead generation strategy we’ve covered so far, you need a solid plan to execute influencer marketing. Here are the tips you can follow.

• Pick the Right Influencers: There are different types of influencers. Choose influencers whose followers match your target audience. This way, you know your social media lead generation efforts will reach the right target audience.

• Create Engaging Content: The key is creating engaging and authentic content. Let influencers share your product or service in a way that feels natural to their audience. You want their followers to feel like they are getting an insider's look at your products.

• Use Promo Codes or Discount Links: Implementing a strategic partnership with influencers to provide exclusive offers or discounts significantly enhances the likelihood of follower engagement and action. This enables you to monitor which influencer generated the highest number of conversions.

• Offer Clear Call-to-Actions: Ensure the influencer includes a strong call-to-action (CTA) in their posts. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a product, the CTA is a social media lead generation strategy that guides followers on the next actions to take.

• Incorporate User-Generated Content: Encourage influencers to create content that followers can interact with. This helps boost social media lead generation metrics like engagement and social proof.

Be Authentic: Followers can tell when a promotion doesn’t feel genuine. Work with influencers who truly like your product or service.

FAQ

Q1. What is social media lead generation?

A. Lead generation for social media is when you use social channels to gather relevant leads for your brand. A lead is any detail that you collect from a potential customer that allows you to identify and reach out to them.

Q2. What are the best social media lead gen sites? 

A. The best social media lead generation sites include:

• Facebook – For older target audiences
• YouTube – Ideal for video content
• LinkedIn – Suitable for B2B marketing
• Instagram – Best for images
• Twitter – The best place for conversations

Q3. What is the job description of a social media lead generation expert?

A. A social media lead generation expert is responsible for using social platforms to attract potential customers. Their job is to create and execute strategies that drive leads.

Q4. How to use social media for B2B lead generation?

A. Here is how to generate B2B leads using social media:

• Optimize your social media profiles
• Run contests and giveaways
• Create relevant content
• Utilize chatbots with social media lead generation tools
• Design good landing pages
• Leverage targeted social media ads
• Make use of retargeting ads
• Showcase customer feedback as social proof
• Run referral campaigns
• Leverage social listening
• Use influencers

Q5. What skills do you need for lead generation? 

A. Here are the essential skills you need to generate leads effectively:

• Digital marketing
• Market research
• Sales knowledge
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Networking
• Data analysis

Ready to Generate Leads for Your Business?

Now, you are fully equipped with various social media lead generation tactics that you can leverage for business success.

Continually adapt and refine your strategies and use social media management tools to get the best results. Don't forget that lead generation is more than collecting information. It is also about building lasting relationships.

Do you still need more assistance implementing the above strategies? Feel free to request our lead generation services to capture more relevant leads.