How to get more leads for your business: 15 ways that work in India
The fastest ways for a small business in India to get more leads are a complete Google Business Profile, click-to-WhatsApp ads on Facebook and Instagram, asking every happy customer for a referral, listing on the portals buyers in your trade use, and a website page that answers the questions buyers search for. But before buying more leads, fix what happens after: replying within five minutes and following up four or five times often doubles sales from the leads you already have.
Most small businesses that say “we need more leads” actually need two things: a few reliable sources of new enquiries, and a system so the enquiries they already get don’t leak away. This guide covers both.
First, plug the leaks
Before spending more on leads, check what happens to the ones you have:
- How fast do you reply? Leads contacted within five minutes convert far better than leads contacted an hour later. See speed to lead.
- How many times do you follow up? Most salespeople stop after one or two attempts; many sales come after the fourth or fifth. See how often to follow up.
- Do you know where each lead came from? Without that, you can’t tell which source to spend more on.
Fixing these often brings more sales than doubling your ad budget. More: how to convert leads into customers.
Free and low-cost ways to get leads
1. Google Business Profile
For any local business, this is the biggest free lead source. Fill in every field, choose the right categories, add real photos, post weekly, and ask happy customers for reviews. Add your WhatsApp number so people can message you directly.
2. Referrals, asked for on purpose
Ask every happy customer at the moment they are happiest: after the result, the handover, the first class. Make it easy: “Could you forward our WhatsApp number to one friend who might need this?”
3. A “chat on WhatsApp” link everywhere
On your website, Instagram bio, Google profile, visiting cards, invoices and shop standee. Create one in seconds with our WhatsApp link generator.
4. Answer buyer questions on your website
Write one page for each common question: prices, comparisons, “how long does it take”, “what documents do I need”. People search for these, and Google and AI assistants quote clear answers.
5. Short videos on Instagram and YouTube
Answer one question per video: “How much does a 3BHK interior cost?”, “What happens in your demo class?”. Put the WhatsApp button in every caption.
6. WhatsApp status and broadcasts to past customers
Offers, new stock and results, sent to people who opted in. See WhatsApp broadcast limits.
7. Partnerships
Clinics with gyms, interior designers with builders, coaching centres with schools, travel agents with wedding planners. Agree to refer to each other.
8. Local events and workshops
Free demo classes, health camps, home-buying seminars, open houses. Collect WhatsApp numbers with consent.
Paid ways to get leads
9. Click-to-WhatsApp ads
Ads on Facebook and Instagram that open a WhatsApp chat. Fewer leads than forms, but warmer, and your replies are free for 7 days. See click-to-WhatsApp ads.
10. Lead form ads
Cheaper leads, lower intent. Reach them on WhatsApp within minutes. See Facebook lead ads to WhatsApp.
11. Google Search ads
Show up when people search “dentist near me” or “solar panel price for home”. Expensive per click, but high intent.
12. Portals and directories
IndiaMART for B2B, Justdial and Sulekha for local services, 99acres and MagicBricks for property, Practo for doctors. Respond in minutes; portal leads go to several sellers. See managing IndiaMART and Justdial leads.
13. Retargeting
Show ads to people who visited your website or engaged with your Instagram. Cheap and warm.
Ways most businesses forget
14. Revive old leads
Your list of “not now” leads from the last year is a goldmine. A polite, specific message (“you asked about our weekend batch last March; a new one starts in January”) brings back a surprising number. See lead nurturing.
15. Upsell and win back past customers
Past customers are the easiest sale: a service reminder, a new product, an anniversary offer.
Lead ideas by industry
- Real estate: portals, click-to-WhatsApp ads by locality, channel partners, site-visit weekends.
- Clinics: Google profile and reviews, Practo, health camps, follow-up reminders for treatments.
- Coaching: results posts, free demo classes, school partnerships, alumni referrals.
- Solar, interiors and home services: Google profile, before-and-after videos, builder and society partnerships.
- B2B: IndiaMART, LinkedIn, trade fairs, referrals from distributors.
Detailed playbooks for 21 trades: industries.
Measure what works
Tag every lead with its source and check monthly: leads, sales and cost per sale by source. Then put more money and effort into the two or three that bring buyers.
How OakDeal helps you get more from every lead
OakDeal brings WhatsApp chats, website enquiries and direct leads into one inbox, and every lead keeps its source. The AI replies in seconds, day or night, marks each lead Hot, Warm or Cold, and runs follow-ups until the lead buys or says no. Team numbers show leads and wins by source, so you know where to spend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get leads?
Referrals from happy customers and a well-kept Google Business Profile cost almost nothing. Next come useful content and social posts. Paid ads and portals are faster but cost money for every lead.
How do I get more leads on Instagram?
Post short videos that answer buyer questions, keep a clear WhatsApp or message button in your profile, reply to every comment and DM fast, and run click-to-WhatsApp or click-to-message ads to people near you.
How do I get more leads on Facebook?
Run lead form ads or click-to-WhatsApp ads targeted by location and interest, and reply within minutes. Compare the two on cost per sale, not cost per lead.
Why do I get leads but no sales?
Usually slow first replies, no follow-up after the first attempt, or leads that do not fit what you sell. Fix response time and follow-up before you buy more leads.