Here are the 24 best lead generation tools + why they matter

Welcome to What I'm Reading!  Here's a look at what I found interesting over the last two weeks.  Hopefully these articles will help you in your business.

Here are the 24 best lead generation tools + why they matter - HubSpot
Need more leads?  Here are the tools to help you make that happen.  Some of these will be cost-prohibitive for small businesses but there are plenty of solid options in here.

Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which One Is Better for Businesses? - Embed Social
This isn't mutually exclusive.  You can do both.  However, if you're only going to do one, Google is a must.  Apple is a should.

Instagram likes: Why they matter, and how to get more in 2025 - Hootsuite
Likes might not be the biggest signal to the Instagram algorithm (those would be sends and watch time) but they're still helpful.  Getting more likes will help to grow your posts.

How to Legally Repost User-Generated Content on Instagram - Later
Getting permission is something that I preach whenever UGC comes up.  What the article doesn't mention is that you can get sued for illegally using content that isn't yours.

26 Free Instagram Tools to Help Grow Your Account in 2025 - Buffer
I know how much you guys love the Instagram articles, so I went hog wild and included a third one in this email.  I love free tools because... well... they're free.

AI for Small Business: Applications, Benefits, and Risks - Shopify
This touches on a lot more than marketing but I thought it was a good read so I'm still including it.  This has everything from research to sales to product development.

How to win back 100,000+ dead leads - Marketing Ideas
OK, 100k leads is just a bit of a stretch for small businesses.  Still, this is an interesting use case of one business and how they successfully resurrected their dead leads list.

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