Posts Tagged ‘Lead Life-cycle Management’

Ending the Sales & Marketing Blame Game

Every company which has marketing and sales departments has at some point, witnessed the famous – sales and marketing fight and blame game – more commonly known as the sales and marketing mis-alignment. In a B2B set up these differences are more glaring as compared to a B2C company.In most B2B companies, the primary objective of marketing is to generate quality business Leads and of sales to convert these into closed deals. Both these departments are also measured based on the number of Leads generated and the number of sales closed, respectively.

In reality the role of marketing in a B2B company is relationship building and that of sales to use this relationship and help the prospect make a rational buying decision based on business value offered by the company’s solutions.

Irrespective of how companies want to position their marketing and sales objectives the truth is marketing and sales are two sides of the same coin.


Decode Your Online Leads

Consciously or unconsciously, every visitor on your website leaves behind a set of clues, which if decoded, can easily convey a lot of information on the Lead and his intentions. This post tries to decode some of these clues, which provide greater insight on a visiting Lead.


‘Intent’ Inference – Changing The Future of B2B Sales & Marketing!

Being able to find the intent of a website visitor will act as a boon for B2b companies. Since B2b decisions are driven by a lot of research, deliberation, negotiations and by multiple decision makers, knowing whats on your prospects’ mind will help companies to plan their marketing campaigns, Lead management programs around the needs of the prospect rather than their own solution. Actions can be taken in real-time and will save companies a lot of time and resources

Social media revolutionized the way B2C companies , did business, marketed their products and engaged with their end customers. It helped them understand the needs of their customers better.

‘Intent Web’ or ‘Intent Inference services’ will do the same for B2B companies – it will change the way they engage their prospects and pitch to them for business. Intent will drive customization at all levels, bringing the customer back into the focus, giving him only what is relevant to him, doing away with all the information clutter.


Lead Scores – Your Data Minefield!

Two very important aspects of lead scoring that is often overlooked by most who use this process, is its role in defining the lead nurturing process and developing a more customized lead screening system.


10 Easy Tips To Nurture That ‘Lead’

Way back in 2006 Brian Carroll, CEO of InTouch and author of Lead Generation for the Complex Sale had found in a research that 95% of prospects on your website are not yet ready to talk with a sales rep, they are probably on the site to research your solution. Of these only 70% actually buy a product from you or your competitor.

The scenario is not very different even today. Many of the leads your marketing automation tool identifies may actually be dumped into trash or labeled useless by your sales team because the lead is not sale ready. In truth many of these leads could be turned into future sales if nurtured properly.

If I were to define Lead nurturing I would say its the art of building long term relationships with people who might at some point need and purchase your services. It is the art of adding that personal human touch to the entire lead management cycle.

It also requires a plan.


Subscribe to RSS Feed