Lead
Definition: A Lead in sales is a customer or an organization that has shown interest in a product or a service that a company provides, which in turn can be thought of as a potential opportunity to sell. Leads often have volunteered contact information or in some other way have indicated potentiality for becoming a prospect.
Detailed Explanation
A lead is a person or group that has been identified as a possible buyer but has not yet become a prospect. Indeed, many people believe that the lead-generation process is the one that fills the sales pipeline. Sometimes lead generation is considered the very first step in the sales process. Generally speaking, marketing is the principal source of leads. Other potential sources for leads are trade shows, direct inquiries, and other marketing efforts.
Following are the several types of leads based on how they are generated and their readiness to make a purchase:
- Cold Leads: Not much interest or effort invested here. These are typically contacts that fit a certain demographic but, other than that, no real engagement has been seen so far.
- Warm Leads: These are the leads who have shown an interest in the company’s products or services in some way by responding to a campaign, filling up a form, or visiting a booth at a trade show.
- Hot Leads: Hot leads are quite interested and intend to buy. In fact, they may have directly requested some information or a meeting with the sales representatives.
A lead’s journey often progresses from unqualified to a prospect and then to a customer. This is often managed by the process of lead management, which involves lead nurturing and scoring to measure and move leads down the sales pipeline.
Importance in the Sales Process
- Feeding the Sales Pipeline: Leads keep your sales pipeline filled with opportunities.
- Enabling Targeted Marketing: Understanding the characteristics of leads enables marketing that is customized and reaches the right individuals effectively.
- Improving Sales Efficiency: The sales team can concentrate on the leads with which they have better chances of winning, knowing more about the leads that are more promising.
- Basis for Sales Forecasting: The quantity and quality of leads may provide an outlook for future sales and help in planning business strategies.
- Enhancing Customer Understanding: Interactions with leads offer invaluable information on the needs and wants of the customers, guiding product development and marketing strategies.
Real-World Examples
A real estate agency sources for inquiries mostly through the use of online listings, open houses, and advertisements. A potential purchaser who completes the inquiry form on the agency’s website becomes a lead. The sales team then contacts these leads to understand their specific needs and budgets to further qualify them in the sales process.
For instance, a software company might generate leads through webinars, free trials, and downloadable content. The moment a user subscribes to a webinar or downloads a guide, they become a lead. The sales team then attempts to convert those leads into actual paying customers by further nurturing them with additional information and support.