If part of your marketing plan involves generating leads, then social media should be part of that strategy. Social media can drive the type of web traffic from those that are actively seeking your information. They may even be ready to buy. Using social media monitoring, content creation, advertising, and networking, you will be a hero at your organization by bringing in leads like never before. Here are 50 ways to drive leads with social media.

Build a network of strong ties
In order to create leads, you need to have interaction, affection and time, which are all aided by social media. Here are some ways to create strong ties:

1. Follow prospects on Twitter

2. Friend new connections on Facebook

3. Conduct a Google Hangout with industry leaders

4. Host a webinar with registration

5. Answer questions on social channels

6. Use Help a Reporter Out to offer information

7. Share peer referrals

8. Reach out to prospects where they're engaging

9. Expand pool of prospects

10. Share a Vine video

Influence connections for content sharing
Publishing and sharing content online is the single biggest lever to increase lead generation. Here are some content ideas:

11. Write ebooks and gate them with forms

12. Crowdsource content and credit your community

13. Find a Tweet that promotes your content and share it

14. Reshare existing content to breath new life into it and encourage clicks

15. Make your content visual for Pinterest pins

16. Blog about helpful information (not product)

17. Optimize site and blog for mobile viewers

18. Share relevant content with prospects

19. Make a compelling presentation on Slideshare

20. Ensure all your content links together to create as much inbound linking as possible

Utilizing Social Media Monitoring
Listening at the point of need can help you discover opportunities to help by offering information or expertise — without sales pressure — at the perfect time. This results in lead generation. Here's how to monitor for lead opportunities.

21. Monitor for buying indication terms within your product category

22. Monitor for recommendation requests within your product category

23. Monitor for discussions of your product category

24. Monitor target prospect personas to confirm accuracy

25. Monitor questions and conversations about your product category

26. Discover topics for remarkable content

27. Discover competitive insights

28. Monitor for key phrases customers are using when seeking help

29. Spot and answer direct questions from prospects

30. Monitor industry trends

Use Social Ads to Generate Leads
Paid advertising on social media, such as sponsored Tweets on Twitter or promoted content on Facebook can help you generate leads. Here are 10 examples of how to do it.

31. Use a Facebook ad to drive traffic to your website

32. Use a promoted Tweet to drive traffic to your website

33. Link back to dedicated landing pages for conversion

34. Sponsor a form on another Facebook Page

35. Create an ad on LinkedIn linking to a lead generation form

36. Promote a strong call to action

37. Promote offers

38. Make ads visually appealing for Pinterest pins

39. Advertise on relevant forums

40. Organize ad distribution by target personas

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search can be a huge driver to your website and utilizing key phrases in your content, social channels and throughout your website can boost your SEO. That will enable prospects to easily find your site, hence aiding in lead capture. Here's 10 ways to do it

41. Include key phrases in your Tweets

42. Link to your blog from Facebook

43. Ask followers to link to your website

44. Use keywords on your LinkedIn company page

45. Include keywords in your blog post headlines and body

46. Tag and name your images

47. Categorize and tag your blog with key phrases

48. Share ebooks using key phrases

49. Upload videos to YouTube (2nd largest search engine)

50. Encourage sharing with the G+ button on your web pages

What is your #51? What have you tried from the list above and what's worked for you? Share your ideas here.