Business Loan Leads: 7 Best Lead Generation Strategies

Lead generation is important to the success of any loan broker or small business loan consultant.

After helping hundreds of business owners generate B2B leads with a variety of lead generation strategies, in this article I’ll show you the best lead generation strategies for generating quality business loan leads.

Be sure to watch this video if you’re looking to buy business loan leads and work with a digital marketing company that can help you get exclusive business lending leads and appointments each month.

Quick Summary

Short on time? Here are the best lead generation strategies for getting business loan leads:

TikTok Ads
YouTube
Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Ads
LinkedIn Outreach
SEO

Watch this free training if you’d like to learn how to use these lead generation strategies in more detail.

What are the Best Business Loan Leads Generation Strategies?

Here are the best leads generation strategies you should consider as a loan broker:

1. TikTok Ads

Best platform to buy business loan leads

In the right hands, TikTok is a powerful lead generation tool. It’s tested and trusted across various industries. Here is why it works well for getting exclusive business loan leads:

You can target business owners
The algorithm shows your ads to people looking for business loans
It’s possible to pre-qualify leads based on business income and credit score
The results are predictable and scalable

But the big question is, how do you use it to generate business loan leads? The answer is TikTok lead generation ads. Here is how it works:

Know who your ideal clients are. For example, are you targeting small business owners, startups, or established companies? It’s important to call-out your ideal clients in the first few seconds of your TikTok ad.
Create engaging videos. TikTok is all about short, attention-grabbing videos, preferably 60 seconds or less. So get to the point in your video quickly and explain how you can help people.
Offer something valuable in exchange for contact information. This could be a free e-book, a checklist, or a video sales letter (my favorite option).
Use a sales funnel. When viewers tap the ‘learn more’ button, don’t just send them to your website. To maximize your conversions, send them to a sales appointment funnel.
Finally, split-test and optimize. Not all TikTok Ads will perform equally. Experiment with different ad variations while monitoring the performance. We’ve been able to cut the lead generation costs in half for some clients as a result of split-testing different ads.

Click here to learn more about TikTok Ads and how you can use them to generate business loan leads.

2. YouTube SEO

Best free lead generation channel for business loan leads

YouTube is another great social media platform for business loan leads. You’ll be surprised at how many leads you can generate by posting videos about business loan-related topics on YouTube.

For this to work, such videos must be:

Targeted at the right audience. Are you catering to small business owners, startups, or specific industries? Your answer determines the type of content you make.
Creative, informative, and educational. Create videos that provide value by answering questions about their pain points, questions, and interests related to business loans.
SEO-optimized. Use the right keywords in your video title and description. To attract clicks, you should also include a good thumbnail.
Authentic and of great quality. People tend to watch videos that are pleasing to the eyes and ears.

Video content that meets the criteria above will most likely attract a wider audience and drive engagement. The more watch time the video gets, the higher the chance of YouTube ranking it.

Ranked videos will eventually generate quality business loan leads for you. And you must promote these leads to your sales funnel.

I must also mention here that YouTube SEO is a game of numbers. The more videos you put out, the better your chances of having videos that perform well.

So, keep recording and posting.

You can learn more about YouTube for lead generation here.

3. LinkedIn Outreach

Best prospecting channel for business loan leads

LinkedIn outreach is another effective way for a broker to find business loan leads. Here is why I believe you should consider it:

Credibility: Your LinkedIn profile is a foundation to build trust and credibility.
Connecting with the target audience: Engage in conversations and nurture relationships over time.
Industry insights: Stay updated on industry trends and learn from other professionals.

LinkedIn outreach is fast, free, and simple. The only requirement here is your time. You need sufficient time to:

Optimize your LinkedIn profile to show your industry skills and experience.
Define and identify your target audience, e.g., local business owners, CFOs, CEOs, and other professionals.
Reach out and connect with them strategically with personalized connection requests.
Create organic conversations with them on business loans and related topics. Avoid being too ‘salesy’ while at it, and build rapport instead.
If they are responsive, move them to your sales funnel by offering value, such as a free lead magnet. This is a much better alternative to a free loan consultation or assessment.

But if time is a luxury, you can go the automation route. Paid LinkedIn automation tools can take care of the entire process for you. These tools can automate connection requests, message sequences, profile views, data extraction, and content engagement.

Here are a few LinkedIn automation tools you should consider:

Meet Alfred (best overall)
Linked Helper 2
useArtemis
BigLinker
LinkedRadar

To learn more about using LinkedIn for lead generation, watch this video.

4. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Ads

If you quickly want to find business loan leads for your brokerage business, I recommend running Facebook and Instagram Ads. I have used them to generate quality leads for clients in different industries.

Here is why Facebook and Instagram Ads (Meta Ads) work:

Precise targeting: You can specifically target people likely to need business loans, such as business owners.
Larger audience: The massive user base on these platforms lets you reach more potential borrowers.
New leads on-demand: The algorithm ensures that your loan ads reach users who are most likely to be interested in your services.
Cost-effective advertising: These ads often come at a lower cost per click compared to Google Ads
Quick results: Once you set up your ads, you can get leads quickly, usually within days.
Scalability: As your loan brokerage business grows, you can scale up your ad campaigns.

If you want to use Meta Ads to generate quality business loan leads, then you should:

Define your target audience by combining criteria like demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Create targeted lead ads. Lead ads are specifically designed for lead generation.
Craft compelling ad copies addressing your audience’s pain points and how your loan brokerage solutions can help.
Split-test the copies to see how they perform. You want to retain the best-performing ads.
Move people who show interest (leads) into your sales funnel.

Watch this video to learn more about Facebook and Instagram Ads for lead generation.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Another great way to get free business loan leads is with search engine optimization (SEO).

To get business loan leads and clients with SEO, you need to optimize your website and landing pages for keywords related to your services.

Here are some good starting points:

List your products and offers on separate pages on your website. For example, have separate pages for business loans, personal loans, mortgages, etc.
Create unique, informative, and engaging content. Show how your loan brokerage services work. Explain the application process, interest rates, repayment terms, and any special offers.
Include relevant keywords related to loans and your local area. For example, if you operate in New York, use phrases like “New York business loans” or “Brooklyn mortgage broker.”
Use the keywords “Best” and “how to”. Articles with these words are more likely to attract clients who are actively searching for business loans and lending services right now, and therefore, these leads are more likely to convert.
Add clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs) to every page. It encourages visitors to take action. It could be filling out a contact form, calling your office, or accessing a free lead magnet.
Add organic backlinks from high-authority websites. It helps improve your website’s SEO. To do this, you can guest post on other finance websites and add a link back to your website in your author bio.

The more content you create, the higher your chances of ranking for various keywords related to business loans. This might sound like a lot of work, but with AI copywriting tools, it’s now easier than ever to create content as part of your SEO lead generation strategy.

To learn more about how to use SEO as part of your lead generation strategy, watch this video.

6. Search Ads (Google and Bing)

Running ads can be an effective way to get business loan leads if you have a larger budget. Google ads can work well but competition is fierce and this advertising channel is often a lot more expensive than running ads on Facebook or TikTok.

You can also have search ads by buying ad placements for keywords related to business loans. The best thing about these ads is that they specifically target the people who are searching for these keywords.

You are getting not only quality leads but also leads with higher conversion chances. However, as a result, expect to pay a premium for these types of leads

If budget is not a problem, here is what you must do to get quality business loan leads via search ads:

Focus on long-tail keywords. These are phrases that potential borrowers might use when searching for loan-related information. Examples: “small business loans in New York,” “commercial real estate financing,” etc.
Expand your keyword targeting gradually. Start with a focused set of keywords related to your main offers (e.g., business loans). Then expand by adding variations, synonyms, and related terms.
Create high-converting landing pages. Design landing pages with your offer benefits, testimonials, and a clear CTA.
Track keyword conversion. You want to know the exact keywords that led to actual inquiries from the searchers.
Nurture the leads. When searchers (leads) make inquiries, provide personalized assistance, answer questions, and build trust.

7. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another way to generate quality leads as a loan broker.

Affiliates like bloggers, influencers, or industry experts work best for this strategy. They use their networks to drive traffic to your loan services, and you convert them into leads.

Why should you use affiliate marketers to generate leads?

You expand your reach. Affiliate marketers introduce your services to new markets and demographics. These are markets you probably won’t target ordinarily.
You get trusted leads. With affiliate marketing, your leads come through trusted recommendations from affiliate marketers, which increases your chances of conversion.
You gain industry knowledge. Working with affiliate marketers helps to learn about consumer behavior and preferences.

Next, let’s see how to implement an effective loan broker affiliate marketing strategy.

Find the right affiliates with access to relevant audiences, such as small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Offer incentives or commission for each successful referral (e.g., loan application, approval).
Provide the marketing materials, including affiliate banners, links, and promotional content that offer accurate information about your loan services.
Keep track of referrals and conversions to know which affiliates are driving quality traffic.
Create optimized landing pages for affiliate traffic. Such pages must explain the benefits of your offer and include a clear CTA.
Follow up with leads. When leads inquire, respond by offering personalized solutions and try to build relationships.

Conclusion

More leads mean more appointments and more clients, which is why leads are important. However, the number of lead generation strategies available can sometimes be overwhelming. Therefore, you must focus on what gets you the real, measurable results.

In this article, we have discussed some of the best lead generation strategies for loan brokers.

Strategies like TikTok Ads, YouTube SEO and LinkedIn outreach have been proven to work for multiple clients and businesses. So, instead of trying everything that comes your way, concentrate on these effective strategies on the list.

Once you find what works for you, stick to it. You must stay consistent because great results take time.

To learn more about getting

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, here are a few frequently asked questions about business loan leads and their respective answers:

What are the best strategies for generating business loan leads?

The best strategies include TikTok ads, search engine optimization, Facebook and Instagram ads, LinkedIn outreach, and affiliate programs.

What are the most effective ways to follow up with business loan leads?

There are a few ways to follow up with leads. You can use email marketing sequences, retargeting ads, SMS marketing, and sales calls/meetings. You should also aim to provide value through helpful content while gradually guiding leads through your sales funnel.

How can loan brokers leverage their existing client base for referrals and repeat business?

When the conditions are right, your existing client base can be a source of new leads. For this to work, you must provide exceptional service, build relationships through consistent communication, and offer incentives for referrals.

What are the common mistakes loan brokers should avoid when generating and following up with leads?

Some of the mistakes brokers make while nurturing leads include being too pushy with sales tactics and lacking focused messaging. They may also fail to nurture leads with valuable content. All of these pushes leads away.

How long does it take for leads to convert into clients?

The timeframe here often ranges from a few days to several months. The conversion can be faster if the leads are of high quality and an effective lead nurturing strategy is employed.

For instance, highly qualified and motivated leads may convert within a few weeks with proper follow-up. But, complex situations involving many decision-makers could take several months to convert.

Ashley Davis

Ashley Davis (or ‘Ash’ for short) is the CEO & Founder of Skyline Social. For over 15 years, Ash has been helping business owners with lead generation. Ash specializes in helping businesses get high-quality leads, appointments and clients each month with automated digital marketing strategies. Learn more about the author here.