Every business, whether B2B or B2C, needs leads to generate revenue. After all, there’s no deal to close if you don’t have a lead or prospective customer to win over. However, effective lead generation is no walk in the park. It takes skills, dedication, and something that not every business owner seems to have enough of—time.

Luckily, modern tech has gifted small businesses lead generation tools. These tools have the potential to help speed things up while also improving the lead generation process as a whole. Let’s explore what you can expect from using lead generation tools and the top options you should definitely consider adding to your entrepreneurial toolkit.

Benefits of using lead generation tools

Lead gen tools are excellent for business owners who want to beef up their pipelines in a cost-effective and efficient way. Here are some of the benefits you can reap when you use tools for lead generation:

Improved efficiency

The lead management process involves a lot of time-consuming and highly repetitive tasks, such as data collection, calling leads, and follow-up communications. A good lead gen tool can help automate such tasks, saving you a lot of time and freeing you up to focus on more strategic work.

Aside from acquiring quality leads generation tools also improves efficiency by streamlining workflows. Lead generation tools with integration capabilities can help ensure all systems are in sync. You can integrate lead gen systems with CRM or other email marketing tools, ensuring that all leads are managed effectively from the first point of contact to the point of conversion.

Increase lead volume

Handling the lead generation process manually may work in the beginning, but not if you want to boost the number of your leads. Tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator can extend your reach and increase the number of potential leads.

Better lead quality

The right tools can help you craft more targeted campaigns, ensuring you attract the right type of leads based on specific criteria or parameters. Segmentation and lead scoring features allow you to zero in on high-quality leads and create more tailored marketing efforts.

Top lead gen tools also enable the personalization of your external communications. This capability allows you to improve the relevance and appeal of your outreach efforts, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Cost-effective marketing

Instead of using up your budget on all the options available and just seeing what sticks, lead gen tools equip you with the right information and capabilities to focus. Targeted efforts help maximize your budget. You can spend your marketing budgets more efficiently if you know where to focus them (i.e., high-potential leads and channels).

At the same time, automating the whole process can mean fewer work hours and lower labor costs. By helping you focus your efforts and streamline processes, you can reduce the cost per lead and cut down overall acquisition costs.

Competitive Advantage

With the latest lead generation tools, you can stay ahead of industry trends. You can incorporate ones that apply to your business and give yourself an edge over your competitors. At the same time, the time and financial resources you save from automating repetitive lead generation processes can be redirected to improving other parts of the business.

Ready to hire a VA and take your inbound and outbound lead generation efforts to the next level? Schedule a free consultation session with our Growth Experts today!

Factors to consider

There are a lot of options to choose from. To help choose the most suitable lead generation tool for your business’s unique needs, you should consider the following factors:

Ease of use

It’s important to consider ease of use when selecting a lead gen tool. The last thing you want is to invest in a modern software or system only for your team to struggle with using it well. Choosing an option with a user-friendly interface can help transition to a more modern lead generation method smoothly and with less pushback. “It’s also essential to look for tools with onboarding and training resources, from tutorials to customer support,” suggests 20four7VA Training Manager Ronald Snyder Jr. “Doing so can help increase your staff’s confidence in handling a new tool.”

Scalability

You need a tool that can be easily scaled as you evolve and navigate the dynamic business landscape. It’s important to find tools that make it easier to make adjustments, like adding more users, increasing lead volume, or integrating with new or updated systems. At the same time, you must look for a lead gen tool with flexible features that will support your business as it is now and when it starts to expand in the future.

Integration capabilities

A lead gen tool with integration capabilities can be beneficial whether you have an existing CRM system or want to adopt a new one. It would also be best if your selected lead generation tool could also support integration with third-party applications such as marketing tools and analytics software. Integration features will help ensure a smooth flow of data and consistency in the end-to-end lead management process. Additionally, when you have synchronized data across different platforms, it will allow for more up-to-date information and better decision-making.

Measurement (ROI, conversion rates)

Robust analytics and reporting features are useful for monitoring and measuring your lead generation efforts. Look for tools that can provide insights into key metrics such as ROI, conversion rates, and lead sources. When you have the ability to make easy-to-understand visual aids like dashboards and charts, you can find it easier to interpret and act on the data.

Budget

Price is an essential factor in making any business decision. Cost is an incredibly crucial consideration for small to medium-sized businesses running on a tight budget.

You need to know that there’s value in what you’re investing in. Evaluate the available pricing plans and choose one that fits your budget and business size, with some tools offering tiered pricing based on the number of users or features for added flexibility.

To make the most out of your new tool lead generation VA services is a must. Hire a Lead Gen VA today. Book a free consultation call with our Growth Experts to get started.

Top lead generation tools for small businesses

With the amount of options in the market, it can be overwhelming. But don’t worry! We’ve enlisted the help of 20four7VA’s Business Development Manager, Joan Banez. “Here are three of the best lead generation tools I’ve come across,” she shares. “These options have free trials that you should definitely take advantage of. This will help you gauge whether or not a tool is suitable for your business’s specific needs.”

Zendesk Sell

Best features:

• Targeted prospect list builder
• Customized email sequences
• Sales workflow automation
• Advanced analytics and pipeline analysis
• Custom dashboards
• 2-week free trial

Price: Starts at $19 per agent/month

Salesforce

Best features:

• Salesforce Einstein/AI-driven lead scoring
• Easy integration with existing data and systems
• Automated lead generation processes
• Conversational and generative AI for faster resolution
• One-month free trial

Price: Starts at $25 per user/month

Zoho CRM

Best features:

• Lead qualification
• Customizable web forms to capture leads on the website
• Email sequencing
• Omnichannel communication
• Migration support
• One-month free trial

Price: Starts at $14 per user/month

Ready to enrich your lead generation efforts? Hire a Lead Generation VA today! Book a free consultation call with our Growth Experts to get started.

Tips for integrating tools into your business

Like any tool or system, you must invest time during the implementation phase. The following tips can help ensure you reap the benefits of your newly chosen tool.

• Assess your needs: You must clearly identify your specific lead generation goals and requirements. Doing so helps determine which features and functionalities you need to look for.
• Choose the right tools: Select tools based on factors like budget, integration capabilities, and essential features.
• Plan the integration: Landing on the right tool is only the start of your lead generation improvement journey. Develop an integration plan that outlines the steps needed to implement the tools, including migration, system setup, and user training.
• Train Your Team: Training helps educate users on the benefits and proper use of any new tool. This step can help ensure the team is comfortable and confident using the new tool, boosting the adoption process. “You can consider using a couple of platforms to facilitate learning,” shares 20four7VA’s Training Team Manager, Katherine Serapao. “Workshops and tutorials are great for introducing a new tool. But don’t forget to provide resources for teams to refer to at their own pace.”
• Monitor and adjust: Continuously monitoring the performance of the tools is crucial. Analyze metrics to measure how the tool helps you meet productivity and lead generation goals. You must also gather qualitative feedback from your team to learn about issues that may not have been uncovered during the trial phase. They can also offer their ideas on potential features that can be included in the future. Make necessary adjustments based on both qualitative and quantitative feedback.

Need help integrating your new tools with existing systems and software? Contact our Client Experience Team to learn about 20four7VA’s IT Services.

Lead generation is a critical first step in the sales process. Getting this right can mean having a sales pipeline filled with high-quality leads and better business opportunities. While lead generation can be done manually, you can amp up this part of the business with the help of modern technology. With the right lead generation tools and thorough implementation efforts, there’s nothing stopping your business from expanding its reach and closing more deals!