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How can I generate leads quickly?



How can I generate leads quickly?


It seems like everyone is talking about generating more leads these days. It’s a great question and one we often get from our clients at Lead Generation Marketing, but it doesn't have to be so complicated! In fact, if you follow some simple steps, you will find you already know what works and what doesn't work well enough to make any real progress towards being able to generate leads quicker than ever before.

What are the best ways to generate leads?

You might think "Well, my company has been running ads online or offline and they've generated tons of leads." While those methods do help, they aren't always scalable or sustainable over time because the costs associated with them don't change very much. So which ones should you use then? The answer depends on who you're trying to reach and where your ideal customer spends their time. If they spend most of their time on Facebook (or other platforms) then you need content that speaks directly to them. If they spend most of their time reading articles on Google, you want to create valuable content that people share with others. Either way, you're going to need a lot of traffic to start making serious headway into getting quality leads fast.

When looking at your marketing budget, consider whether you'd rather spend $100 per day on advertising or $10,000 a month on SEO. That's right -- SEO takes longer to pay off but also puts less pressure on your wallet. And once you see results, you may decide to ramp up your ad campaigns again as needed. You won't necessarily need all three types of marketing channels to succeed though. Content marketing is usually the cheapest method by far, since it requires no investment whatsoever. There are many free tools available to put together blog posts, videos, infographics, etc. But sometimes just knowing what type of content would resonate with someone helps. For example, if you only sell products related to children's toys, and you run a toy review site, you could write reviews specific to kids' hobbies (like Lego Batman). On the flip side, if you sell home improvement supplies, maybe you instead focus on writing DIY guides.

What are lead sources in sales?

Once you start attracting new customers, you'll want to convert them into actual paying customers. This means finding out where exactly your target market hangs out. Are they browsing Amazon? Looking through Pinterest boards for inspiration? What websites do they visit regularly? Which blogs do they read? These questions are important not just for determining what kind of content you create, but also for creating effective landing pages, e-mails, and even advertisements.

To figure out where your prospects hang out, try using Buzzsumo to identify relevant keywords. Then look at the top 10 sites that rank high for those terms, and check out the analytics reports to see where visitors come from. Maybe they came straight from search engines, perhaps they clicked on banners on affiliate networks, or maybe they were referred through a friend. Once you know where your audience comes from, you can craft messages that speak directly to them.

Here are 5 sources of sales leads:

1. Blog comments - We mentioned above how useful it is to know what topics your readers care about, and commenting on blogs with similar interests is a good place to start. You can also comment on industry news stories and ask questions. Be sure to include links back to your website so potential buyers can find you. Make sure to respond to every single comment and thank each reader for taking the time to leave feedback.

2. Social Media - Many marketers overlook social media when it comes to lead generation, but it actually makes sense. After all, wouldn't you rather talk to a person who loves pizza or watches Game Of Thrones than someone who hates both? Use hashtags to find groups of interested parties, and post engaging pictures and videos. And yes, it does take effort to maintain a presence here, but the payoff is worth it.

3. Email lists - Your email list is probably the biggest asset you own. Not only can you send emails to subscribers whenever you feel like it, but you can segment it based on demographics such as location and job title. Send targeted messages to people who fit certain criteria, and keep your existing subscribers engaged by sending regular newsletters. Always remember to give value first. Don't spam, and don't waste anyone's time.

4. Referrals - When someone refers a friend to your brand, there's a chance they'll become a loyal customer too. Find ways to encourage word-of-mouth referrals, and offer incentives to refer friends. Sometimes it pays off to let people earn points or discounts for referring others. Or maybe you can set up a contest where participants receive something cool, like tickets to an event or a gift card. Whatever you choose, make sure you reward your referral partners fairly, and that they really understand why they're doing it.

5. Cold calls - No matter how old school or traditional you personally prefer to operate, cold calling still generates plenty of interest. Try reaching out to companies that provide services similar to yours, and asking if they can recommend a few names of contacts inside the organization. Keep in mind that if you call someone who isn't working during normal business hours, chances are she won't pick up her phone unless you're offering something exceptional. Instead, schedule a meeting after hours or early morning.



What are the different lead sources?

There are two main categories of lead source: passive and active. Passive sources collect information about customers passively, while active sources actively seek out prospective buyers. Examples of passive lead sources include public records databases, directories, and forums. Active sources generally require a larger upfront cost, but can drive higher conversion rates. Some examples of active lead sources include paid search engine optimization, direct mailings, and telemarketing.

A final note: Even if you've got everything lined up perfectly, you shouldn't expect to immediately begin seeing results. Building relationships with potential customers takes time, especially if you're starting from scratch. However, building strong foundational pieces to future success now will allow you to scale later down the road.

If you're a small or medium-sized company struggling with leads and not sure where to start, then it might be time to look at some new approaches. There is plenty of information out there about generating leads from various sources, but one thing remains constant - they all take work. So why spend hours upon hours trying to find something that will yield results overnight?

Here we’ll discuss what type of leads are available, as well as share seven simple tactics you could use to increase your chances of success. Let’s get started!

What are the types of leads in sales?

Leads come in different shapes and sizes depending on whether you’re dealing with B2B (business to business) or B2C (business to consumer). The main difference between these two groups is that B2B has longer buying cycles than B2C so they tend to have more complex requirements. They also require higher levels of trust due to their nature.

So let’s first break down each type into its own section before looking at what they offer.

What are the 7 types of leads?

The following lists contain examples of what each lead type looks like and offers. We’ve listed them by importance, starting with the most important and working our way through to least important.

Quarterly Sales Leads

These are the easiest to find because companies usually release quarterly reports detailing their financial performance. You can often find this data online and compile it yourself if need be. Quarterly sales leads typically provide a good chunk of free content, which makes them great candidates for cold calling campaigns. These leads may not always give access to other details such as contact info or industry insights, however, so make sure you ask.

Annual Sales Leads

These are harder to track down compared to quarterly sales leads, especially since annual reports are only released once per year. However, annual sales leads still represent a large portion of revenue, so don't despair. Companies that regularly publish annual reports include Apple, Microsoft, Google, Dell, IBM, etc., so keep your eyes peeled for those. Sometimes annual sales leads are included within quarterly ones, making tracking easier.

Inventory Lead

This kind of lead represents inventory that needs to be sold. Inventory includes products purchased directly from manufacturers as well as items that were previously ordered but haven't been shipped yet. While inventory leads themselves aren't necessarily difficult to obtain, they do require additional research. For example, you'd need to know the manufacturer name or product number in order to identify them correctly.

New Business Development Leads

A lot of businesses rely heavily on relationships with existing clients rather than approaching new customers. That being said, some businesses must develop new accounts every now and again to stay competitive. New business development leads are the perfect opportunity to reach out and build rapport with potential prospects.

Account Management Leads

These are pretty similar to account management leads except instead of focusing on finding new opportunities, they focus on managing current ones. Account managers typically handle day-to-day operations related to managing client relations. Their duties vary greatly based on who hired them, though. Some manage multiple accounts while others specialize in a single niche.

Customer Service Leads

Businesses must maintain customer service standards regardless of size. In fact, the larger the organization gets, the greater the need becomes. Customer support issues affect everyone involved, including employees, vendors, partners, investors, shareholders, etc. It doesn't matter if you run a fast food restaurant or a multinational corporation – customer satisfaction is essential.

Industry Insights Leads

While industry leads are less common than the previous three categories, they definitely exist. Industry trends and statistics are key components of any successful strategy. If you've ever wondered “what would happen if X did Y?” then you probably want to consider taking advantage of industry insights leads.

What are the five types of basic sales leads?

Now that we understand what kinds of leads there are, let’s get back to discussing the basics. Below you’ll find four variations of basic sales leads and one variation of a basic lead. Each category provides insight into how to improve your process, along with tips for how much effort should go into getting them.

Cold Calling Leads

One of the best ways to generate leads is via phone calls. This requires a little bit of extra effort upfront, but ultimately pays off big time later on. Cold calling leads generally fall under the quarterlies and annual sales leads categories above. You can either call or email contacts asking them questions regarding their interest in purchasing XYZ product/service.

Social Media Leads

Selling services over social media isn't just a fad anymore. According to Forbes, 80% of marketers plan to incorporate social selling initiatives into their 2017 plans. Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and increasing engagement rates. But it can also help you discover potential buyers via organic posts shared on popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.

Direct Mail Leads

Companies use direct mail to promote special deals, seasonal promotions, events, conferences, and more. Direct mail leads are considered "basic" because they require minimal effort up front, but they pay dividends throughout the entire campaign. Keep in mind that you won't receive responses right away so expect to wait anywhere from 1-3 days after sending them.

Email List Leads

Email list leads are among the simplest of all sales leads and yet they hold tremendous value. Your subscribers already opted in to hear from you, so no further action is required to generate a sale. Email list leads are ideal for promoting your latest blog post, event announcements, upcoming webinar recordings, etc.

Which lead source is the highest quality?

As discussed earlier, certain lead types require fewer steps to acquire than others. Therefore, it stands to reason that higher quality leads will require fewer resources to convert. These high quality leads also have better ROI (return on investment), which means they produce a bigger bang for your buck. Now that we know what types of leads are available, let's talk about how to find them.

How many types of leads are there?

There are lots of factors that determine the effectiveness of your lead generation techniques. For instance, how long does it take to generate a response? Is conversion rate consistent across channels? How frequently are your emails opened? What percentage of people actually engage with your message? Are you using the same language consistently? And so forth…

But even with all of that, there are still too many variables to pinpoint exactly how effective specific methods are. Instead, here are several general guidelines:

1. Try everything. Don’t limit yourself to one method. Use the tools that suit your budget and schedule.

2. Avoid spammy pitches. People hate receiving unsolicited messages and will avoid doing business with anyone who sends them.

3. Be honest. Be transparent. Do whatever you feel comfortable sharing with your prospects.

4. Focus on high quality leads. Quality over quantity.

5. Track metrics. Know what works and what doesn’t. Find solutions for problems.

6. Test everything. Experiment until you get it right.

7. Never stop learning.

Ready to put your knowledge to practice? Then read on below to see the exact steps you can follow today to successfully create targeted leads.

Want to generate leads faster? Read our article on 10 easy tricks to drive traffic to your website.

Get more ideas on how to generate leads by reading our guide on how to attract followers on Linkedin.

If you're looking for a way to increase revenue and grow your business faster, then one of the best things you can do is start generating more leads as soon as possible. If you don't have enough leads to work with right now, chances are good that you will eventually get them if you keep up the pace. And once they come into play, it becomes much easier to convert those prospects into customers.

The problem is that most people aren't doing anything about their lead generation until they run out of time or resources. They're waiting too long to start producing leads consistently so that they end up wasting precious energy chasing after something better instead of focusing on what actually matters - growing profits. It takes patience but not forever! You just need to be willing to put in some effort today. Let me show you why.

What are the five major stages of lead management?

There are several steps involved in managing a lead properly before turning it over to someone else to close. These include:

1) Identify who needs to see the lead. This includes identifying which person inside your company should receive it first. It also means figuring out who outside parties could benefit from being given access to the information contained within the lead.

2) Develop a strategy around how to manage the lead. The purpose here isn't necessarily to make sure that every step gets done correctly (though that's important). Instead, the goal is to ensure that each individual does his job efficiently while keeping all other responsibilities intact at the same time.

3) Implement a system to track where the lead goes next. For example, if you know that certain individuals require specific training courses, then you might want to set aside a particular day during the week for these sessions. Or perhaps you'd like to implement a new process where everyone knows exactly what happens to each lead upon its arrival.

4) Measure progress toward achieving goals. How well did your team perform against expectations last month? Did everything go according to plan? Were any problems identified along the way? What actions were taken to correct issues as they arose? Make note of these details and use them to improve performance going forward.

5) Repeat the cycle. Once your team has learned from past mistakes and implemented solutions that worked, you may want to begin repeating the process again. Over time, you can create a culture of excellence that encourages consistent improvement even when no immediate threats exist.



What are the sources to generate leads?

Now that we've got our ducks in order, let's turn our attention to finding leads. There are two main categories of approaches that you can take depending on whether you prefer to focus on quality or quantity.

Quality-focused methods involve only contacting qualified buyers by using targeted advertising such as email newsletters, webinars, blog posts, etc. As opposed to quantity-based techniques, which depend on simply sending emails to large lists of potential customers, these methods tend to yield better results because they target specific audiences rather than targeting broad groups.

Quantity-focused approaches rely heavily on paid advertisements placed through various channels including search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click ads (PPC), display advertising, and social media campaigns. There are many different types of PPC advertising available, including text ads, banners, and sponsored links. In addition, SEO works differently based on industry verticals. For instance, SEO differs between industries due to the fact that companies in different fields operate under very different sets of rules regarding content creation.

You may wonder -- "but doesn't Google own YouTube?" Yes and no. While Google owns YouTube directly, the video giant relies on an array of partners to distribute videos across all platforms. One of those partners is AdSense, whose ads appear alongside videos uploaded to YouTube. So technically speaking, AdSense is owned indirectly by Google, but it still pays YouTube handsomely to host and promote its products.

What are lead generation sources?

Once you've established your lead management systems and started tracking results, you'll find yourself asking questions that revolve around lead generation. Where do my prospective clients come from? Which sites drive traffic to my website? Who searches for keywords related to my product/service? These are great questions to ask because they help you identify which tactics and technologies are working effectively.

That said, remember that the answer depends largely on your niche. Some markets have extremely high competition, whereas others lack it altogether. To determine what kind of market you fall into, you must first understand the unique characteristics of your niche.

For example, if you sell software, then you probably won't succeed unless you offer a solution specifically tailored towards small businesses. Conversely, if you sell real estate, then you'll likely fare better if you cater exclusively to corporate entities.

Lastly, you may wish to consider leveraging external services in order to drive additional traffic to your site. Many online marketers choose to partner with third party providers in exchange for guaranteed monthly income. Just think about it -- wouldn't you love to hire someone to provide free backlinks to your website?

Here are a few examples of lead generation sources:

Email Marketing Software

Social Media Advertising Platforms

Affiliate Programs & Networks

Content Creation Services

Video Production Companies

Lead Generation Tools

How to Generate Leads Meaningfully Online

When it comes down to it, effective lead generation requires creativity and ingenuity. No matter what type of approach you decide to pursue, always stay focused on delivering value to your audience. That's the key to success.

In short, there are plenty of opportunities to generate leads online. All you need to do is figure out which ones are worth pursuing. Take action today and watch your bottom line soar tomorrow.

1) Get a Free Trial

When someone first contacts me about becoming a client, I ask them what product or service they want help with. Most people say something like "I'm trying to sell my idea", "I need to find new clients" or even "I just started my business". While these may be important questions in terms of finding out who might benefit from your services, they aren't necessarily great at helping you identify potential customers.

Instead of asking all of these questions yourself, consider using software that does so automatically. For example, one of the leading providers of free trial management tools is Leadformly. The tool automates many of the tasks involved in managing trials by allowing you to collect data on who signed up for the trial, how long they used their trial, etc... It also lets you know exactly which marketing channels were most effective.

The key here isn't really the tool itself, but rather the fact that you've taken steps toward making sure that you're actually collecting useful information during every stage of the sales process. That means that when you finally talk to prospective clients face-to-face, you already have some solid insights to share with them.

To see how Leadformly works, check out our own review. To sign up, simply click the banner below!

Leads vs. Leads

There's often confusion between the two words, especially since both mean the same thing (a person who has expressed interest in doing business with another company). But while they sound similar, the difference lies pretty heavily in intent.


Author

Anyleads

San Francisco

We are the leading marketing automation platform serving more than 100,000 businesses daily. We operate in 3 countries, based in San Francisco, New York, Paris & London.

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