When it comes to advertising online, most marketers rely on a handful of tried and tested ad channels such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram.

These channels are popular among marketers because they work, but that popularity also makes for a highly competitive ad space. You must be willing to pay top dollar and constantly optimize your campaigns to get the desired results.

However, there are other channels out there that are often overlooked but have great potential for driving quality phone leads.

These channels may be less popular, but they can provide a valuable and cost-effective alternative for reaching potential customers.

And what is even more interesting is the fact that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get results. You only need to be creative.

Today, we’ll explore the top 5 most overlooked (underrated) marketing channels that can help businesses generate high-quality phone leads. Read on to learn more.

1. Email Newsletters

In the world of digital marketing, email newsletters often lurk in the shadows, underrated and underutilized by many businesses.

Yet, these unassuming messages have the potential to be a hidden gem for generating quality phone leads.

Email newsletters allow you to deliver highly personalized and targeted content directly to the inboxes of your target audience.

The personalization creates a sense of relevance and engagement that other marketing channels may struggle to achieve.

The one-on-one communication is a great way to build an ongoing relationship with your audience. Over time, subscribers become more familiar with your brand, trust your content, and are more likely to respond to your calls to action.

Compared to many other marketing channels, email newsletters are cost-effective. They require minimal resources to produce and distribute, making them an attractive option for businesses with budget constraints.

In fact, email is a direct channel to your audience. When someone subscribes to your newsletter, they express a clear interest in your offerings. Utilizing this direct line of communication effectively can yield substantial results.

How Do I Generate Phone Leads with Email Newsletters?

The first thing you need to do is ensure your email newsletter subject line is compelling because it is the first point of contact.

It will determine whether the user opens your email, reads it, and ultimately takes action to contact your business.

Next, you need to create valuable content tailored to your target audience. This can include tips, resources, promotions, or any information that they will find relevant and valuable. Make sure it resonates with your audience’s needs and interests.

You must also divide your email list into segments based on various criteria, such as demographics, behavior, or preferences.

Segmenting your audience enables you to send highly targeted content and phone lead generation offers to the right people.

Each newsletter should feature a clear and concise call to action (CTA). If you aim to generate phone leads, ensure your CTA encourages subscribers to call a specific number for a limited-time offer or a free consultation.

Maintain a consistent email schedule. Whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, consistency builds anticipation among subscribers and keeps your brand top of mind.

And implement automated follow-up emails for subscribers who have shown interest in your phone lead generation offers but haven’t taken action. These follow-ups can gently nudge them towards making that call.

2. Podcast Advertising

The overall popularity of podcasts has skyrocketed in recent years. Small businesses are beginning to take notice of this rising trend and using it as an advertising platform to reach new audiences.

One of the biggest benefits of podcast advertising is that it allows you to tap into a niche audience that may be difficult to reach through traditional marketing channels.

With over five million active podcasts and counting, there’s likely a show out there that caters specifically to your target audience. The highly targeted approach can produce better results and a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to more broad marketing efforts.

Podcast listeners are also highly engaged, with an average listening time of 6 hours and 39 minutes per week. This allows businesses to captivate potential customers for a longer period and establish brand awareness in their minds.

How Do I Generate Phone Leads through Podcast Advertising?

First, you need to identify podcasts that cater to your target audience and have a significant following.

You can do this by researching popular shows in your industry or using a podcast advertising platform that connects businesses with potential podcast hosts.

Create a compelling ad script that resonates with the audience and aligns with the tone and style of the show.

Keep it short, engaging, and include a strong call to action for listeners to call your business for more information or to take advantage of a special offer.

Measure the success of your podcast ad by tracking the number of calls received from each show and analyzing the quality of those leads.

This will help you determine which podcasts are most effective for driving phone leads and allow you to adjust your strategy accordingly.

3. Twitch

The key to finding a platform that fits your brand is niching down on your audience demographic. Twitch is an online streaming platform focusing on gaming, esports, and creative content.

While it may not seem like the obvious choice for phone lead generation, there are many opportunities for businesses to reach specific demographics through sponsored streams and ads.

With over 140 million monthly active users, Twitch offers a highly engaged audience, with the majority being in the 18-34 age range. This makes it an ideal platform for businesses targeting a younger demographic.

How Do I Generate Phone Leads through Twitch?

Start by researching popular streamers in your industry or niche and contact them about sponsored streams or running ads during their broadcasts. Be sure to choose streamers whose content aligns with your brand and target audience.

For instance, if you’re a gaming accessory company, sponsoring a popular gamer’s stream can expose your brand to their fans and potential customers.

Similarly, running ads during an esports tournament can also be effective in reaching a targeted audience.

You can also utilize influencer marketing on Twitch by partnering with popular streamers to promote your product or service and encourage their viewers to call a specific phone number for more information or to purchase.

Another option is to create your own Twitch channel and engage with the community by hosting live streams related to your products or services.

This allows direct interaction with viewers and the opportunity to promote phone lead generation offers during the stream.

4. Google Ads Call Extensions

Google Ads is a powerful platform for businesses seeking to generate leads, and one often-underestimated feature that can significantly boost lead generation is Call Extensions.

Call Extensions provide a direct and immediate way for potential customers to reach your business.

When your ad appears, users can call your company with a simple tap on their mobile devices, reducing the friction between initial interest and engagement.

For brick-and-mortar businesses or those with local service areas, Call Extensions add a layer of local relevance.

They allow you to display your phone number along with your ad, reinforcing your proximity and availability to potential customers in the area.

Google Ads provides robust tracking and reporting tools for Call Extensions. You can monitor the performance of your call campaigns, tracking metrics like call duration, call source, and conversion rates. These insights will help you refine your strategy for better lead generation.

Generating Phone Leads with Google Ad Call Extensions

Choose keywords that indicate user intent to connect with businesses via phone. Incorporate terms like “call now,” “phone consultation,” or “contact” to attract users seeking immediate phone interaction.

Craft compelling ad copy that highlights the benefits of calling your business. Use persuasive language to encourage users to take action, such as “Speak to an Expert Today” or “Call for a Free Quote.”

Ensure that the landing pages your ads direct users to are mobile-friendly and contain clear information related to the call-to-action in your ad. Seamless transitions from the ad to the landing page are critical.

You should also strive to maintain high-quality scores for your keywords and ads. A strong Quality Score can reduce the cost per click and increase the visibility of your ads, ultimately boosting lead generation.

And don’t forget to set up conversion tracking to measure the number of successful calls that result in leads or sales. This data enables you to refine your campaigns for better outcomes.

5. Your Email Signature

You send countless emails each day, from personal correspondence to professional communications. And every email sent is an opportunity to generate phone leads if you pay attention to your email signature.

Email signature works wonders as a lead generation tactic, considering the amount of effort you put in.

In fact, the ROI for leads generated via email signature is 100% because you don’t have to promote it. The signature gets sent to everyone you send an email to.

How Can I Leverage My Email Signature for Lead Generation?

Ensure your email signature includes comprehensive contact information. This should encompass your name, title, company name, phone number, and professional email address.

Hyperlink your email address and phone number in your signature. This allows recipients to simply click or tap to initiate an email or phone call, eliminating extra steps and barriers.

Integrate icons or links to your professional social media profiles. This enables recipients to further connect with you and your brand, providing additional touchpoints for lead generation.

You can also place a link to a page that shows your full product/service range in your email signature or a CTA that encourages recipients to visit your website for more information. This can drive traffic and potentially lead to phone calls from interested individuals.

You can also enhance the effectiveness of your email signature by including a link to your website or landing page.

Time to Break Away from the Competition

It is time to break away from the highly competitive ad channels and leverage unconventional strategies for generating phone leads.

These methods may require creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, but the potential for success is high, especially if executed effectively.

Alternatively, you can focus on what matters and let PALO take care of your phone lead generation campaign. We possess the expertise and resources to optimize pay-per-call campaigns and deliver quality results.

Our primary objective is to help businesses like yours reach their target audience and generate qualified phone leads for maximum ROI. Contact us today to get started.