How to Manage Inbound Leads: 14 Ways to Do It

How to Manage Inbound Leads

Below are the most effective ways you can manage your inbound leads:

1. Classify and Prioritize

2. Quick Response Time

3. Personalize Communication

4. Use Multi-Channel Follow-ups

5. Track Lead Source

6. Automate Where Possible

7. Educate Your Leads

8. Test and Iterate

9. Listen Actively on Social Media

10. Leverage Behavioral Email Targeting

11. Introduce Gamification

12. Use Predictive Analytics

13. Consider Lead Recycling

14. Incentivize Referrals

1. Classify and Prioritize

Before diving into any action, categorize your leads based on the following:

Urgency
Potential value
Fit for your business

Implement a scoring system to prioritize leads. This can be based on the information they provide, their behavior on your website, or their engagement level with your content.

2. Quick Response Time

The sooner you respond to a lead, the higher the chances of conversion. Even waiting for an hour can drastically reduce the odds.

Consider automating the initial response or using chatbots to keep the lead engaged until a human can take over.

3. Personalize Communication

Generic messages are passé, and personalization is the key. Tools like CRM software can help in understanding the lead's journey, which can then be used to tailor the communication to their specific interests and behaviors.

Here are a few tools you can use:

Freshsales: Developed by Freshworks, Freshsales is a user-friendly CRM that boasts AI-based lead scoring, built-in phone and email, and robust reporting functionalities.

Pipedrive: This CRM is designed to help sales teams manage leads and deals, track communications, and automate repetitive tasks. Its visually appealing interface makes it easy to grasp sales processes at a glance.

Nimble: Ideal for small businesses and professionals, Nimble smartly combines contact information, social media profiles, communication histories, and calendar appointments to provide a 360-degree view of customers.

4. Use Multi-Channel Follow-ups

While emails are the most common mode of communication, don’t ignore other channels like SMS, phone calls, or even direct mail.

A multi-channel approach can increase the touchpoints and chances of engagement.

Here’s how you can implement a multi-channel approach:

Segmentation: Understand your audience and segment them based on their communication preferences. Some might prefer digital modes, while others might lean towards traditional channels.

Consistent Branding: Ensure that your brand voice and messaging remain consistent across all channels, be it email, SMS, phone calls, or direct mail.

Feedback Loop: Always keep the channels open for feedback. Understanding what your audience prefers and how they'd like to be communicated with can refine your multi-channel strategy further.

5. Track Lead Source

It's crucial to know where your leads are coming from. By tracking the lead source, you can gauge which marketing efforts are paying off.

This, in turn, will guide your future marketing investments.

How do you track your lead sources? Here are the best tactics.

Use UTM Parameters: Especially for digital campaigns, UTM parameters in your URLs can help you track leads from specific campaigns, sources, or content pieces.

CRM Integration: Modern CRM systems allow you to track where your leads come from automatically. Ensure that your CRM is set up to capture this data.

Feedback Forms: For non-digital sources or to get more granular insights, consider asking leads directly where they heard about you, possibly during the sign-up or inquiry process.

Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics can provide insights into referral sources, organic search, and other digital lead sources.

Multi-Touch Attribution: Instead of just considering the last touchpoint before conversion, use a multi-touch attribution model to understand all the touchpoints a lead had with your brand. This offers a holistic view of your marketing efforts.

6. Automate Where Possible

Invest in marketing automation tools. From sending initial acknowledgment emails to segmenting your leads based on their behavior, automation can take a load off your team's shoulders and ensure no lead goes unnoticed.

7. Educate Your Leads

Often, inbound leads need more information before making a decision. Instead of hard-selling, focus on educating them.

Webinars, e-books, how-to videos, and detailed product guides can be powerful tools in this phase.

8. Test and Iterate

Your lead management process should be dynamic. Regularly analyze the results, find gaps, and tweak your strategies.

A/B testing of your email campaigns, landing pages, or even chat scripts can provide insights into what's working and what's not.

9. Listen Actively on Social Media

Social listening tools can help you catch mentions of your brand or product. Often, potential customers discuss or ask questions about brands on platforms like Twitter or Facebook.

By actively listening, you can engage with these leads, even if they haven't directly reached out to you.

10. Leverage Behavioral Email Targeting

Instead of sending the same set of follow-up emails to all leads, use behavioral triggers.

If a lead watches a product video on your website, the subsequent email could delve deeper into that product's features.

11. Introduce Gamification

Engage your leads by introducing gamified elements in your interactions.

For instance, a quiz to determine the best product fit or a small game on your website can not only keep the lead engaged but also provide valuable insights into their preferences.

12. Use Predictive Analytics

With the rise of AI, predictive analytics can forecast the likelihood of a lead converting into a customer. By understanding this, you can prioritize your efforts toward the most promising leads.

13. Consider Lead Recycling

Not all leads will convert immediately. Some might not be ready to purchase but could be potential customers in the future.

Instead of discarding such leads, put them in a ‘recycling' process, where you nurture them with periodic content until they're ready to buy.

14. Incentivize Referrals

A happy lead can be your brand ambassador. Encourage leads to refer friends or colleagues by offering them incentives or discounts. This not only brings in more leads but also increases the trust factor.

Wrapping Up: How to Manage Inbound Leads

Mastering the management of inbound leads requires a multifaceted approach: