Categories   >   Lead Generation Software
Last Reviewed: November 14th, 2024

Best Lead Generation Software Of 2024

What is Lead Generation Software?

Lead Generation Software (LGS) refers to tools designed to automate the process of identifying and cultivating potential customers for a business's products or services. It primarily tackles the problem of manually scouting for prospects, a labor-intensive and time-consuming task. LGS enhances marketing strategies, expands potential customer bases, and effectively increases overall sales. Core functionalities include email campaigns, A/B testing, and tracking tools. Driven by technological advancements, LGS now incorporates AI and machine learning to predict customer behaviors accurately. Industries with a critical need to maintain a consistent influx of new business—like real estate, insurance, and tech companies—will find LGS most beneficial. However, efficient use of LGS requires a solid understanding of the target audience and consumption of quality data for precise targeting. Summarizing, the value of LGS lies within its capacity to automate and optimize lead generation efforts, contributing significantly to increased revenue and business growth.

What Are The Key Benefits of Lead Generation Software?

  • Increases sales opportunities
  • Automates lead prospecting
  • Enhances marketing efficiency
  • Optimizes email campaigns
  • Expands customer base
  • Improves targeting accuracy
  • Facilitates A/B testing
  • Saves time and resources
  • Streamlines customer tracking
  • Provides measurable analytics
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 41 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Lead Generation Software overall:

Salesforce
Salesforce
Start Price
$25
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Salesforce

As the undeniable powerhouse in the CRM space, Salesforce offers a suite of products with vast capabilities to enhance organizational performance and drive business growth. Its AI capabilities, level of customization available and mobile app to deliver flexible access are among its most cited benefits. Users also call out its data analytics and communication features, which enable optimal performance and better connection with customers.
Some limitations include slow performance, high price and missing automation features. Due to its size, it suffers from an overload of features that many find overwhelming, confusing and a distraction from core functionality they need. Users also find it difficult to navigate in many cases. Most smaller companies that don’t require a host of features and desire a more straightforward experience should look at alternatives. It’s best for businesses that need end-to-end, advanced capabilities for complex business operations and that have the technical resources and budget to use the system to its fullest.

Pros & Cons

  • Highly Customizable: The level of personalization is helpful for managing tasks, report 60% of users who reviewed customizations.
  • Accurate Data and Analytics: The system offers a catalog for data and analytics and categorizes tasks using performance metrics, a key benefit according to 80% of reviews on analytics.
  • Intuitive AI: All users mentioning AI indicate it’s very intuitive and helps drive team productivity.
  • User-Friendly: The software is easy to use and doesn't require technical knowledge, making it easy to adapt to, say 61% of reviews on usability.
  • Communication Tools: Automatic call recording, customization, automation, and records of emails and calls improve customer communication, as 65% of users referencing this feature suggest.
  • Mobile App: With easy functionality, the app grants access to files and data anytime, anywhere, a useful feature in the view of all users who mention it.
  • Clunky and Slow: The software is heavy on the network and takes time to install, with 80% of reviews on the matter suggesting it’s best not run on mobile network connectivity to avoid poor speed.
  • Outdated UI: The UI and interactiveness of the application is outdated and needs an upgrade, according to 61% of users reviewing this feature.
  • Weak Automation: The marketing automation feature doesn't allow users to generate suggestions and implement organizational conversations, leading to difficult functionality according to 66% of users referencing automation.
  • Too Many Features: The system offers robust features that aren’t always useful, and 60% of reviews on this topic suggest they found some additional features complex to use and unnecessary for their needs.

Key Features

Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft
Start Price
$159
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Infusionsoft

Infusionsoft by Keap is a comprehensive CRM platform that helps SMBs automate processes, connect with prospects and customers, and increase ROI. As many reviews noted, the price is on the high end for a small business, and it has some features that work best for enterprises. It also has a learning curve and limitations with storage and custom fields. However, it provides robust email marketing and campaign management tools, and its wide range of automations can save users a lot of time. There are mixed reviews about customer service, as some find it satisfactory while others believe it’s inadequate. Overall, the product can be a good choice for companies with a large enough budget.

Pros & Cons

  • Process Automation: Every user who mentions this feature notes the system has vast automation scope including automating customer acquisition and marketing processes.
  • Campaign Builder: It offers a robust, flexible and feature-rich campaign builder with excellent controls, as observed by 85% of reviewers who reference campaign management.
  • Email Marketing: According to almost 90% of reviewers who mention email marketing, Infusionsoft by Keap has a responsive, user-friendly interface that aids segmentation, sends mass emails and offers templates.
  • Contact Management: 85% of users who reference managing client databases feel it’s possible to manage databases efficiently with the ability to create, organize and configure contact lists.
  • Learning Curve: The system is confusing to learn, requires a lot of training and has some features that are hard to find, as noted by more than 80% of customers who refer to training.
  • Price: The cost of the software is on the higher side, according to 90% of reviewers who mention pricing.
  • Custom Fields: It’s difficult to search fields and the platform doesn’t support more than 100 fields, according to every user who mentions custom fields and tools.
  • Document Storage: It doesn’t store documents or client information internally or in the cloud, as indicated by each customer who mentions storage.

Key Features

  • Customer Relationship Management: Infusionsoft’s CRM platform acts as the central hub for sales and marketing efforts. From it, you can segment lists, automate lead data entry, sync client emails from your other accounts to the correct contact record and identify the best opportunities with lead scoring tools. 
  • Marketing Automation: Build efficient processes using a variety of marketing automation settings. Campaign sequences are easy to create using the drag-and-drop interface, and you can set up workflows by defining triggers based on user actions. A/B testing is also supported. 
  • Sales Pipeline: The software allows sales reps and managers to nurture leads through the pipeline. The Infusionsoft by Keap app facilitates the creation and management of custom quotes, which customers can accept with a single click. 
  • Online Sales: Using this feature, you can generate unique landing pages. The interface is drag-and-drop, and templates make the process quick and easy. Add elements like text and images, as well as define which products to include. The system is also equipped to process online payments and will send automatic follow-ups to customers based on the sequence you choose. 
  • Integrations: Infusionsoft plugs into a host of third-party apps that extend your capability. E-Commerce integrations include Magento, WooCommerce and Shopify. You can also connect the platform to Zendesk, QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Vimeo, WordPress and a host of other tools. 
  • Payment Collection: Simplify the process of collecting payments on time. The system allows you to set up automated reminders and shows which customers have paid and which have outstanding balances. The connected platform removes the need to juggle multiple tools. Infusionsoft offers a flat rate for every transaction. 
  • Analytics: Take the pulse of your business with the analytics dashboard. It tracks a number of KPIs such as email conversions, quarterly sales and number of contacts. This provides insight into every aspect of your marketing and sales efforts, along with informing decisions. 

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost
  • Recurring subscription-based model: per user, per month, plus maintenance, implementation and backup support
  • All plans are billed monthly according to the annual contract
  • All plans come with a mandatory one-time setup fee called Kickstart package for new customers
  • Costs vary depending on the plan selected, based on the level of consulting and implementation help businesses require
Maintenance Cost
  • Included in the subscription cost
Installation/Implementation Cost
  • Included in the subscription cost
Customization Cost
  • Varies depending on the functional requirements added in the product module, such as sales force automation, marketing automation and eCommerce capabilities. This is based on the organization’s business requirements
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost
  • Cost varies depending on the amount and type of data to be migrated from the legacy system, availability of migration tools, data profiling, data cleansing and audit trail of the migration process
Training Cost
  • Cost is over and above the subscription cost and varies depending on the type of plan chosen
  • Provides an initial training program for first-time users. Users need to enroll and pay for the training course
  • Provides embedded links, including walkthrough features and video tutorials, after initial training is completed
Recurring/Renewal Costs
  • Cost is included in the subscription fee, based on the number of users, additional add-ons and the plan purchased
Pipedrive
Pipedrive
Start Price
$14.90
Annual, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a sales and marketing management tool for small and medium businesses. It helps visualize the sales pipeline, track important activities and hold client conversations, with mobile access for greater productivity.

Even with its data exporting difficulties, filter complexity and non-intuitive email integration, the platform overall is easy to use. Integration with third-party software, such as Google Apps, Mailchimp and Zapier, along with a powerful API, increases its usefulness in enhancing business sales processes. Overall, it is a great solution for companies looking to streamline sales processes.

Pros & Cons

  • Sales Pipeline: 80% of reviewers referring to this aspect said the platform is good for keeping a close eye on deals at every stage and tracking individual progress to understand outcomes.
  • User Interface: Of the users mentioning the UI, 60% suggested that it’s functional and easy to use.
  • Mobile Application: 70% of the reviewers mentioning the mobile app stated that it makes Pipedrive easy to use anytime, anywhere.
  • Integrations: The platform helps users work seamlessly, with integrations for customer acquisition, goal achievement, application sync and more, as stated by 40% of reviews about integrations.
  • Data Exporting: Glitches and a lack of control make data querying and extraction slow, according to 50% of those who mentioned the exporting tool.
  • Filters: Filtering is complex, and 40% of users who referenced it stated it could improve in terms of usability and design.
  • Browser Extensions and Email Integration: Email integration, browser extensions and workflow automation are dated and not user-friendly, according to 70% of reviews on these features.
  • Expensive: 60% of users who reviewed pricing suggested that the features are overpriced in comparison to the competition’s products.

Key Features

  • Lead Management: Includes a product catalog, lead import tools and deal probability, in addition to visual pipelines. A color-coded feature called “rotting” uses different colors to represent how hot or cold a lead is, providing visibility into which leads require follow-up or are best to pursue. 
  • Contact Management: Import contacts from a previous CRM or spreadsheets, or sync from Microsoft or Google. Once in the system, contacts are stored as organizations and people, which can be attached to deals. Record and access a history of interactions to clarify where things stand. View contact locations by adding Google Maps integration. 
  • Web Forms: Generate leads via web forms embedded on a company website or shared in emails and on social media channels. Customize fields to capture personal details specific to company needs. Configure where the leads appear (e.g., as a deal or contact). 
  • Leadbooster Chatbot: Collect and qualify leads 24/7. Route leads to a custom destination, such as a stage or sales rep. Calendar syncing lets leads book meetings with sales reps from within the chatbot conversation. 
  • Activity Management: Contains a scheduling tool, reminder notifications and a premade list of activity types, which can be configured based on company needs. 
  • Sales Forecasting: Pursue the best deals and effectively plan strategies for open deals. Access and customize different views: 
    •  Individual views provide in-depth details for sales reps. 
    •  Forecasting views let managers filter deals based on criteria like date started or product. 
  • Integration: Integrates with dozens of other apps, including Asana. Connects with platforms like Zapier and Automate.io, allowing further integration with tools like LinkedIn, Zendesk, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce, Dropbox and various G Suite tools like Gmail. 
  • Marketplace: Supports dozens of third-party plugins. Thumbs-up/thumbs-down ratings and user reviews help gauge how an app performed for other users. 
  • User Access Control: Set user permissions and determine how users log in, whether it’s via two-factor authentication or using a single sign-on (SSO) platform. Track the identity and location of anyone who logs in on a dashboard. Receive alerts when an unrecognized device logs in. 
  • Data Security: Features include data encryption, daily backups and GDPR compliance. Also provides a data protection officer and multiple certifications. 
Dynamics 365 CRM
Dynamics 365 CRM
Start Price
$65
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Dynamics 365 CRM

A mix of praise and critique defines 2023 user reviews for Dynamics 365 CRM. Fans champion its robust customization, enabling precise tailoring to diverse business needs, like adding fields to track specific equipment rentals or crafting workflows for complex approval processes. This flexibility, some say, surpasses competitors like Salesforce, where out-of-the-box options might constrain unique workflows. Yet, this very strength can be a double-edged sword. Detractors find the customization curve steep, requiring significant IT expertise or costly consultant guidance, unlike the more user-friendly setup of HubSpot. Integration shines as a clear win for Dynamics 365. Seamlessly blending with Microsoft's ecosystem, including Outlook and Teams, streamlines communication and boosts collaboration. Imagine pulling CRM data directly into an email or setting up team meetings from contact records – a breeze for Dynamics users, while competitors often require clunky workarounds. However, pricing structure remains a sore spot. While subscription fees are competitive, the extensive customization often necessitates additional add-ons and consultancy, potentially inflating costs compared to more all-inclusive options like Zoho CRM. Ultimately, reviews suggest Dynamics 365 excels for businesses seeking in-depth customization and Microsoft integration, willing to invest time or resources in setup. For those prioritizing ease of use or budget-friendliness, alternatives might be a better fit. The key takeaway? Choose the CRM that complements your unique needs and technical capabilities.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to Use: 98% of reviewers referencing usability felt the software is user-friendly.
  • Improved Productivity and Efficiency: The system aids efficiency and productivity, as observed by every user who talks about this aspect.
  • Customer Relationship Management: 95% of the reviewers who reference this aspect noted that it aids a positive customer experience.
  • Customization: Adding or removing fields is simple and doesn’t require technical help, as observed by more than 85% of reviews mentioning this feature.
  • Integration: Important integrations such as Power BI, Cortana, Azure and Office are of great help, as noted by 92% of the reviewers who refer to this element.
  • Learning Curve: According to 90% of the reviewers talking about this factor, new customers require a bit of training, which is time consuming.
  • Pricing: Microsoft Dynamics 365 is expensive, as observed by every user mentioning cost.
  • Slow Performance: At times, the platform takes time to sync and perform simple tasks, as observed by almost 70% of reviewers referring to this aspect.
  • Navigation: 90% of the reviews about this feature mentioned the navigation is complicated, especially for new users.

Key Features

  • Campaign Builder: Set up and execute campaigns via a visual building tool, and design customer journeys by arranging templates using the drag-and-drop interface. It’s also possible to set triggers based on a range of rules, choose segmented groups, assign emails, include events or surveys, and more. 
  • Dashboards: Access a host of metrics related to leads, revenue and other data sources from dashboards and customize them to show the most important KPIs. Dashboard types include: 
    • User Dashboards: Visible to and controlled by individual users. 
    • System Dashboards: Visible to everyone, with the option to reduce visibility to certain roles. Customized and controlled by system admins. 
  • Lead Nurturing: Account-based marketing features provide capabilities such as customer segmentation, personalized email content and performance metrics. Build buyer journeys and set rules that define a lead’s score based on the individual lead record, the related contact or the related account. 
  • Integrations: Apart from the Dynamics 365 toolset and other MS applications, the platform integrates with partner systems. Integration with Zapier offers access to more than 1,500 apps, ensuring greater extendability. 
  • Event Management: Control all aspects of events, from registrations and speakers to sessions and venue logistics from an event portal. It integrates with ON24 and other providers to support running webinars. 
  • Customer Service Insights: Powered by AI, machine learning and BI tools, this feature helps track KPIs visually for at-a-glance insights. Monitor: 
    • Customer satisfaction levels
    • A range of case metrics
    • Backlog trends
    • Incoming support topics
    • Engagement patterns
    • Support agent performance
  • Customer Insights: This add-on feature uses AI to support marketing efforts. 
    • Use Microsoft Graph to input audience intelligence.
    • Build triggered workflows with Microsoft Flow.
    • Customize reports and dashboards with the Power BI connection.
    • Microsoft PowerApps enables custom app creation.
    • Governance tools and security features ensure GDPR compliance and data privacy.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign
Start Price
$9
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign provides cloud-based marketing services to businesses of any size. It’s easy to use and offers a wide range of features, along with robust automation and campaigning capabilities. The system integrates with all major platforms. Most users also find the customer support team as well as the training materials to be helpful.
However, it takes time to learn the intricate features thoroughly. Reviews also state the system suffers from glitches and the interface could be more user-friendly. Businesses that need a system that caters to CRM as well as marketing needs, and that have the ability to leverage its complex functionality effectively, should consider this as a solid choice.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: Everyone referencing this aspect states the software is easy to use.
  • Automation: It helps run customer and lead campaigns, triggered automatically based on set specifications, note 98% of reviewers referring to this feature.
  • Customer Support: The support team is easy to reach and very responsive, according to 93% of reviewers talking about this aspect.
  • Functionalities: Every user mentioning features states the system offers robust capabilities including client onboarding, lead funnels, newsletters, contact tracking and more.
  • Email Campaigns: In the view of 85% of reviews about this feature, it’s easy to send weekly emails, replicate earlier emails and develop templates for other uses.
  • Integration: Connecting with Zapier and other platforms makes it easy to transfer leads, according to 88% of reviewers referencing integration.
  • Help Resource: Everyone mentioning training reports there are helpful tutorials and webinars.
  • Learning Curve: According to 77% of reviewers talking about training, it’s tough and time consuming to learn the platform.
  • Glitches: Every user mentioning this aspect notes it can be glitchy at times and quite slow to load during peak business hours.
  • Interface: The interface is slow and not very intuitive, according to 62% of reviewers referencing this aspect.

Key Features

  • Dynamic Content: Keep content fresh and personalized by automatically changing email content depending on where a lead is in the buyer’s journey. 
  • Email Marketing: A robust and fully-featured suite offers broadcasting, triggered and targeted emails, funnels, and robust integrations with popular social media and e-commerce platforms. Also offers: 
    • Drag-and-Drop Builder: Create and automate campaigns with ease. 
    • Scheduled Emails: Enables scheduling emails for specific dates and times. 
    • Email Autoresponders: Enables sending welcome emails, starting a welcome series or delivering lead magnets automatically. 
  • Segmentation: Target specific groups within the contacts list to be more personal in emails and engage people with the right information. 
  • CRM: Notify the sales team, update deals, create tasks and nurture leads automatically. Scores leads, passes off highly-qualified targets to sales and integrates with popular email providers. 
  • Advanced Reporting: Offers custom reporting features, including custom KPIs, sales reporting, tag counting and robust segmentation. Gives insights into email performance. Split testing can also be used to get email opens, clicks and buys. 
  • Fast Training: Schedule one-on-one appointments with the company’s customer service team to help teams get up to speed with training. A series of robust webinars and user docs are available. 
  • Migration Services: Receive assistance migrating from another marketing automation product. Services include contact list and tag import, form recreation, workflow recreation, and email template recreation. 
  • Powerful Integrations: Integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Facebook, Google Analytics and more than 250 other apps including payment processors, membership websites and e-commerce stores. 
  • Audience Segmentation: Allows personalized messages by adding tags to segments. Tags can be based on purchase history, geographic location, time since last purchased, personal interests and more. 
  • Geo-Tracking: Automatically capture a contact’s location for geo-targeted email marketing campaigns. 
  • Site Tracking: Pulls data in from other websites to assist in tracking the customer’s activity. 
  • Social Sharing: Gives insights into performance on social platforms and enables greater audience engagement. 
  • Split Testing: Try different email subject lines, body copy and more to increase and optimize campaign conversion rates. Add up to five variations for a single campaign. 
  • SMS Marketing: Automate SMS marketing to send notifications and campaigns such as appointment reminders, flash sale notifications and more. 
  • Conversation Features: Provides: 
    •  Live chat to facilitate capturing leads and creating contacts from the website. Includes customizable auto reply, custom branding, contact creation and triggered automations. 
    •  A unified inbox to connect conversations with customers. 
  • Predictive Sending: Automate emails using machine learning algorithms. It ranks the hours in a day based on a contact’s open time and uses these recommendations to schedule an optimal send time. 
  • Contact and Lead Scoring: Sends notifications when leads are getting hot, with automatically triggered email notifications and task assignments based on lead score changes. Helps follow up with deals that are most likely to close. 
  • Win Probabilities: Calculates the conversion chance for a specific lead, giving foresight into lead behavior. 
Seismic
Seismic
Start Price
$32
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Seismic

Is Seismic the tectonic shift your sales team needs to crush quotas? User reviews from the past year paint a largely positive picture of Seismic.com, highlighting its strengths as a comprehensive sales enablement platform. Users rave about its intuitive interface and robust content management system, which consolidates sales and marketing materials into a single source of truth. This centralized approach eliminates version control issues and empowers sales reps with easy access to the latest and greatest resources. For instance, one user shared how Seismic.com became their "one-stop shop," providing easy access to nearly 1,000 assets. Users also appreciate the platform's seamless integration with popular tools like Salesforce, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. The robust analytics dashboard provides valuable insights into content engagement, allowing sales teams to tailor their approach based on real-time data.

However, some users find the platform's extensive features a double-edged sword, noting that the initial learning curve can be steep and require significant training. A few users expressed that while the platform excels as a content management system, its functionality for creating customer-facing materials could be more robust. Despite these minor drawbacks, Seismic.com emerges as a top contender in the sales enablement arena. Its ability to centralize content, streamline workflows, and provide actionable insights makes it a perfect fit for sales and marketing teams in fast-paced environments who are looking to optimize their processes and drive revenue growth.

Pros & Cons

  • Centralized Content Hub: Seismic consolidates marketing collateral, sales content, and training materials into a centralized location. This eliminates wasted time searching for information and ensures everyone accesses the latest versions.
  • Seamless Salesforce Integration: Users praise Seismic's integration with Salesforce, enabling them to access and utilize Seismic features without leaving their familiar CRM environment. This streamlines workflow and boosts productivity.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Seismic's tracking features provide valuable insights into prospect engagement with shared content. This data empowers sales teams to tailor their follow-up strategies and improve their chances of closing deals.
  • Limited Mobile App Analytics: While Seismic offers a mobile app, it lacks comprehensive analytics to track app downloads and usage across the sales team. This makes it challenging to monitor adoption rates or identify regions with low engagement.
  • Cumbersome Content Updates: Some users have reported difficulties in editing and updating LiveDoc content, a crucial aspect of maintaining up-to-date sales materials. This can lead to delays and frustration for teams relying on dynamic content.
  • Search Functionality Issues: Despite its robust features, Seismic's search function has been criticized for returning irrelevant results, requiring users to manually sift through content. This can hinder productivity and make it difficult to locate specific information quickly.

Key Features

  • Content Management: Provides a central place for managing sales content. Create content, set permissions to define access, design approval workflows, edit content, change access and perform other admin tasks effortlessly. 
  • LiveDocs: Saves time creating documents using automation. Reusable elements, automatic content population and business rules simplify the process. 
  • Distribution: Sales reps can save time and view only relevant information with access to the proper training materials and content, in any system and on any device. Includes customized search, targeted content, machine learning suggestions and a news stream. 
  • Compliance: Avoid fines and reduce compliance-related risks via automated workflows and access controls. 
  • Content Analytics: Use content more effectively by gaining an overview of company assets, engagement levels and which ones drive the most revenue. Provides a library, a dashboard powered by Microsoft’s Power BI application, metrics and activity views. 
Bitrix24
Bitrix24
Start Price
$39
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a collaboration platform that handles various tasks such as communications, notifications, subscriptions, reporting, workflow management and more. Automation, customization and integrations are a few noteworthy features. However, reviews noted that there are too many features and that the platform isn’t user-friendly. In addition, users found customer support unhelpful. Overall, it has all the basic CRM features along with extras like project management not always found in CRMs. That, along with a free subscription, makes it a good choice for companies on a tight budget.

Pros & Cons

  • Budget-Friendly: 87% of users mentioning this aspect suggested that the software is inexpensive and fits well for any size organizations, providing good value for the price.
  • Workflows: It automates many tasks to make work easier, according to 88% of reviews about workflows.
  • Report Generation: 64% of user reviews referencing this feature indicated the reporting tool is useful.
  • Integration: The platform integrates all the necessary applications that users need, as observed by 67% of reviewers mentioning integration.
  • Customization: Users can customize Bitrix24 based on their needs, according to 66% of reviews mentioning customization.
  • Device Compatibility: It works well on all kinds of devices and various digital networks, according to 75% of users who reference compatibility.
  • User Interface: 57% of users mentioning the UI said it was difficult to understand and use for daily operational tasks.
  • Customer Support: 100% of users who talked about support remarked that it wasn’t prompt and supportive in solving product-related queries.
  • Unnecessary Features: 50% of the users referring to capabilities noted the platform has many unnecessary features that never come to use.

Key Features

  • Pipeline Management: A kanban layout provides a visual view of your pipeline. The software supports custom deal stages and multiple pipelines. 
  • Campaign Management: This feature lets you build dynamic or static audience segments, run advertising campaigns on social networks, and set up campaigns across channels such as bulk mail and instant messaging. It includes campaign templates and metrics. 
  • Call Center Capabilities: Features include: 
    • PBX (private branch exchange) functionality for routing, queueing, voicemail, call transfers and forwarding, employee extensions, and recording.
    • Telemarketing features such as voice or SMS broadcasting, automatic call transcribing and callback requests.
    • Local numbers across more than 50 countries.
    • Integration with RingCentral and other VoIP tools.
  • Customer Support Tools: Post business hours, send canned replies, route and transfer conversations, and view client and supervisor ratings with a live support widget. A helpdesk feature provides tickets, SLAs, statuses and case priority. A multichannel contact center lets service teams provide email and telephone support, live chat, social media support and more. 
  • Document Management: Manage quotes and invoices, create custom documents, set up recurring invoices and build a product catalog. Documents support e-signature, and the kanban layout shows what stage invoices are at. Includes multi-currency support and tax capabilities, with accounting achieved via integrations with Xero and QuickBooks. 
  • Mobile Apps: Free iOS and Android apps are available. 
  • Self-Hosted Solution: The on-premise solution is a scalable platform offering: 
    • LDAP and Active Directory support.
    • Web clustering.
    • Multiple single sign-on (SSO) options and robust security features such as two-factor authentication and RSA encryption.
    • Modules for eLearning, a helpdesk and idea management, which aren’t available in the cloud version.
    • Access to the source code for full customization.
    • Deployment on any major server, including readiness for AWS deployment
    • 30-day trial.
ZoomInfo
ZoomInfo
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Automated Intelligence and Outreach: With this feature, users no longer have to struggle with manual data updates and can completely automate contact discoveries and company searches with precision. 
  • Webform Optimizations: ZoomInfo FormComplete makes it easy for users to capture contact information without tedious form fields. All users need to capture is the prospect’s email address and the rest of the information is scored accordingly. 
  • Website Visitor Tracking: Users can turn intent into action with the software’s WebSights service, which tracks all anonymous visitors to landing pages or the website. Users never have to miss a visitor's responses again. 
  • Lead Enrichment: The Enrich feature prevents outdated and incomplete data by auto-updating data with new additional information. This process makes database management and lead management much simpler. 
  • Activity and Pipeline Management: The software’s InboxAI tool saves hours of manual work by quickly aligning the sales teams’ email inboxes directly to Salesforce. This data sync allows complete access to the engagement of accounts and activities. 
  • Enterprise API: Managers can customize workflows and data presentation. ZoomInfo’s API helps search, enrich and append existing data, so users never run out of contact discoveries. 
  • Account Targeting: The platform’s advanced targeting capabilities allow users to reach out to key decision-makers. The account targeting watchlist enables account managers to have access to updated insights that help promote business growth. 
  • Campaign Optimization: This feature helps users understand their target audience, enhance their data and develop hyper-targeted campaigns. It provides updated, accurate and actionable CRM data to ensure successful outreaches. 
SAP Sales Cloud
SAP Sales Cloud
Start Price
$134
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked SAP Sales Cloud

Having spent considerable time evaluating SAP Sales Cloud, I want to share my honest experience with the platform.

My journey began with the basic free trial, which only scratches the surface of what the platform can do. While this limited preview was helpful, it didn't give me the full picture of the advanced features I'd later discover.

The initial setup was quite tricky. I found myself deep in configurations and customizations, which took more time than I expected. However, I noticed that if your company already uses other SAP products, the implementation becomes significantly smoother. The platform works well alongside SAP ERP and other SAP tools, creating a connected ecosystem.

Senior SAP C4C Consultant Irshad Ichu said:

I would like to tell you about the lead to cash process in Sales Cloud. A salesperson can easily create a lead and can capture all the details within a beat. We have seamless integration with S4 or ECC systems. Also when compared to maintenance and cost with any other legacy system, no maintenance is required for Sales Cloud and licensing costs also would be less”

The analytical capabilities are very impressive and, thus, a user favorite. AI-powered forecasting tools help you make better decisions, while thorough reporting provides insights you probably hadn't been able to access before. The platform’s cloud-based nature allowed me to access these tools from anywhere, which is a huge plus for remote work.

But the platform occasionally runs slower than I'd like, especially when handling larger data sets. I also found that integrating with non-SAP systems required extra effort and technical expertise — something that might not be readily available in smaller organizations. During system updates, I experienced some minor disruptions, though these were usually temporary.

The learning curve was steeper than anticipated. While some team members may adapt quickly, others might struggle with the platform's complexity. In fact, many users I spoke with ended up hiring consultants just to get their systems configured properly, which added to the overall cost.

According to Azhar I, Team Lead at Accenture:

The CRM system helped me by streamlining customer interactions, allowing for better tracking of leads, sales and follow-ups. It made managing client data more efficient.

Talking about the challenges I faced — some customization options were a bit limited and data integration with other tools wasn’t always seamless, requiring manual updates at times. Still, the integrations are not as hard as they seem. These days business expectations are just sky high and they expect everything in a single press.”

My conclusion is that while SAP Sales Cloud offers customization options, it sometimes falls short for businesses with unique requirements. The platform works best for medium to large enterprises, particularly those already invested in the SAP ecosystem. For smaller businesses, the combination of high costs, technical requirements and implementation complexity might be overwhelming.

That said, once you get past the initial hurdles and have it properly set up, SAP Sales Cloud is a powerful tool. The key is having the right resources, budget and technical support to fully take advantage of its capabilities.

Pros & Cons

  • Data Analysis: SAP Sales Cloud’s advanced analytics tools help you make data-driven decisions across your sales pipeline.
  • Customer Insights: Users like that they have a 360-degree view of each customer's journey, interactions and history in one place.
  • Automation: It helps you save time with automated workflows that handle repetitive sales tasks and documentation.
  • Complex Interface: The platform's extensive features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring significant training time.
  • Performance Issues: Users may experience slower loading times when handling large amounts of data or multiple processes.
  • Limited Integration Options: Connecting with non-SAP systems can be challenging and may require additional development work.

Key Features

  • Sales Forecasting: Known for its analytics capabilities, SAP lets you track sales performance with precision using the Forecast Tracker. It compares your submitted forecasts against targets and opportunity amounts. Run simulations to see how different scenarios impact your revenue estimates in real time and quickly identify discrepancies that need attention.
  • Dashboards & Reports: Scoring a 100 for this functionality, the CRM lets you build custom reports that match your business requirements by selecting specific data sources, time frames and key figures. Interactive visualizations like bubble charts and bar-line combinations bring your data to life, helping you spot trends and opportunities at a glance.
  • Document Management: Store and organize all your sales documents in a centralized library where you can create custom folder structures to keep everything organized. Share files securely with team members through links while maintaining control over access permissions for private folders and sensitive documents.
  • Lead Management: Capture leads from multiple sources, including phone inquiries and email campaign responses, and smoothly convert them into opportunities. Use Lead Intelligence to predict conversion likelihood through machine learning, which analyzes historical data points like lead dates, priorities and sources to give you accurate lead scores.
  • Contact Management: You can create detailed contact profiles linked to corporate accounts and track all their interactions across activities, orders and opportunities. Get a complete 360-degree view of your relationship with each contact, including their current status and all past interactions.
  • Mobile App: Manage your sales operations on the go with native apps for both Android and iOS devices. You can create opportunities, leads, tasks and sales quotes, log calls, view interactive charts, and manage your appointments.
  • AI-Based Coaching: Receive step-by-step guidance from AI-powered recommendations that help you win more business. Get prescriptive suggestions on your next best actions to progress opportunities through your sales pipeline effectively.
Ontraport
Ontraport
Start Price
$24
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Ontraport

Ontraport is an all-in-one platform providing combined CRM and marketing automation, with intuitive features for a host of needs. Users report a high level of customization, along with excellent service and community support, as chief benefits. The platform also offers useful features such as campaign management, workflow management and time-saving automation.
However, the price and lack of basic integrations and compatibility are drawbacks. Users also find the reporting features are slow, making it difficult to run campaigns. The system overall is a solid pick particularly for small businesses with a big enough budget that wish to upscale operations and deliver marketing outcomes.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: Of users mentioning the platform, 60% describe it as intuitive, easy to use and powerful.
  • Highly Customizable: All users reviewing this aspect suggest it offers a full range of capabilities and can be personalized to fit tailored requirements.
  • Workflow Management: Useful metrics are available to help guide workflows and delegate work based on results, say 72% of users who review this feature.
  • Campaign Management: Nearly 85% of users reviewing this feature find benefit from its data tracking, data management, open and click-through rates, sales data, form creation and useful metrics.
  • Customer Service: Customer support is very diligent and is well-versed with product knowledge, in the experience of 87% of users citing support.
  • Timely Updates: More than 65% of users referencing this aspect agree that the platform is continuously evolving and improving with every update.
  • Community Support: All reviews on this subject appreciate the dedicated Facebook community that provides insights and lets users offer feedback on improvements.
  • Not Budget-Friendly: Despite being for small businesses, the software price is more suited for larger companies, according to 75% of users referencing price.
  • Slow Reporting: The reporting feature is not very robust and has a fixed time frame that restricts deriving reports as per requirement, state 87% of users talking about this.
  • Lacks Integration: In 66% of reviews on this topic, users note the platform isn’t fully compatible with browsers like Safari and lacks integrations such as payment gateways, making it difficult to process campaigns.

Key Features

  • Marketing Automation: Strengthen marketing efforts while automating daily tasks throughout the customer lifecycle. Create unified campaigns, set up marketing funnels, personalize customer journeys, send messages on multiple channels and build a variety of automated user paths. 
  • Lead Management: Visual elements and intuitive tools make it easy to track, store and update leads. A complete view of customers from lead score to engagement history helps make data-based decisions. Import leads from multiple sources, including API, SMS, direct import and lead-capture forms. 
  • Segmentation: Send the right content and campaigns to the right audience using behavior-based tagging, automatic lead assignment to campaigns and multiple segmentation criteria. 
  • Sales Force Automation: Sales team can simplify all sales-based activities and processes with task automation and pipeline management. Features help bring the most important information forward, identify the best leads, equally distribute leads and keep everything organized. 
  • Email Marketing: Drive higher engagement with contacts by seamlessly connecting and following up with them. Analytics tools optimize efforts for better results while a private IP ensures a strong email reputation. Offers a mobile-responsive design, templates, scheduling, SMS reminders and opt-ins, and automated lead assignment. 
  • Landing Pages: Build landing pages without knowing code or hiring a developer thanks to drag-and-drop tools, templates and predesigned elements. Pages are mobile-responsive and can connect with contact databases to provide dynamic content and personalize each visitor’s experience. 
  • Analytics: Provides reports and real-time analytics, measuring things like campaign performance, engagement, customer lifetime value (CLTV), UTM data, A/B results and conversion rates. 
  • Process Automation: Save time, standardize processes and scale more effectively using this suite of tools to automate time-consuming tasks. Supports blending manual and automated tasks for full control. 
  • E-Commerce: Seamlessly manage business online, giving customers a smooth shopping experience. Includes upsells and add-ons to boost revenue. Also offers integration for payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal, coupons, web forms, and automated management for scenarios like refunds. 
  • Referral Programs: Drive more sales by providing partners with referral management capabilities. Supports end-to-end management to offer incentives, set commission rates, measure results, integrate with WordPress sites via plugin and centralize data storage.  
  • Membership Sites: Provides a single, hassle-free platform to get the site up and running quickly. Includes prebuilt page templates, free hosting, an Ontraport domain, a user-friendly page builder and automated management for things like access levels and registration. Supports WordPress integration if needed. 
  • Integrations: Integrates with dozens of third-party applications for e-commerce, help desk, accounting, forms, learning platforms, reporting and tracking, video, social media, webinars, voice and SMS, API connectors and more. 

COMPARE THE BEST Lead Generation Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Lead Generation Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Salesforce
$25
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Salesforce
Infusionsoft
$159
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Infusionsoft
Pipedrive
$14.90
Annual, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Pipedrive
Dynamics 365 CRM
$65
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Dynamics 365 CRM
ActiveCampaign
$9
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
ActiveCampaign
Seismic
$32
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Seismic
Bitrix24
$39
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Bitrix24
ZoomInfo
Still gathering data
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
ZoomInfo
SAP Sales Cloud
$134
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
SAP Sales Cloud
Ontraport
$24
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Ontraport

All Lead Generation Software (41 found)

Narrow down your solution options easily






X  Clear Filter

Buyer's Guide

Don’t Get Lost in the Funnel: Choose the Best Lead Generation Software

By Riya Jamble, Technical Content Editor at SelectHub

Ever wish you had a crystal ball to reveal exactly who's interested in your product or service? A lead generation system is the next best thing! It helps businesses find and attract potential customers. It's like a big net designed to catch "leads" — people who have shown they might be interested in your product or service.

The system lets you gather information about these potential customers through email, phone calls and other communications so you can follow up with them and turn them into paying customers.

In this buyer’s guide, we'll cover essential benefits, must-have features and steps for evaluating software to help you make the right choice for your business.

Key Takeaway 1

Essential features include contact databases, lead capture tools and email sequencing functionalities.

Key Takeaway 2

Choose the right system for your needs and budget by considering your specific goals and pricing options.

Key Takeaway 3

Free systems are a good choice for startups, while paid solutions are a good option for businesses needing advanced functionalities.

Key Takeaway 4

Don’t forget to make a list of internal and vendor-related questions to make informed buying decisions.

What This Guide Covers:

Primary Benefits

Here are the benefits you can expect to reap from implementing lead generation systems.

Lead Generation Software Benefits

Find and Attract the Right People

Imagine you had a band. You wouldn't just play any song anywhere, right? You'd pick the songs people love and play where your fans hang out. Lead generation software is like that, but for finding customers!

Here's what it helps you do:

  • Create Landing Pages: Think of these as online posters that grab your audience’s attention. You can add catchy headlines, pictures and videos to show off what makes your product special.
  • Develop Targeted Ads: Instead of random ads that may or may not fly, using targeted ads is like knowing where your ideal customer goes and putting up posters right where they can see them — and not wasting money on ad space elsewhere. This saves time and money by focusing on people who are most likely to buy from you.
  • Learn About Customers: Lead generation software is like a detective, figuring out what potential customers like based on what they do online. This helps you tailor your message for them, making them more likely to become loyal customers.

Keep Potential Customers Interested

Once you've got people excited, you need to keep them that way! Lead generation systems help you stay on their radar. They can:

  • Automate Emails: These are like sending out special messages to your biggest fans, keeping them updated on your latest news and offers.
  • Answer Questions Fast: Your system is like a 24/7 helper who knows everything about your product. AI sales assistants can chat online with potential customers, giving them helpful info.
  • Schedule Meetings Quickly: Lead generation tools act like your assistant, finding the perfect time for meetings and sending out invites.

Figure Out What Works

Continuing with the band metaphor, you don’t always start out with the perfect setlist — you try different songs or stage setups to see what the crowd likes best. This software lets you test different marketing ideas to see what your customers respond to, helping you:

  • Make Smart Choices: You can track everything people do online, giving you valuable info on what's working and what's not.
  • Test Different Options: Want to see if a blue or red button works better? The system can run A/B tests to compare different versions of your pages, emails or ads.
  • Predict What's Next: Predictive analytics helps you guess which people might become customers, so you can focus your efforts on the hottest leads.

Stay Organized

Just like a band manager, this software helps you keep track of potential customers with:

  • Customer Database: Think of it like a big digital address book storing all your customer info — names, contact details, what they like and even what they've bought before.
  • Ranking Leads: You can automatically rank people based on how interested they seem. It's like having a VIP list for your biggest fans.
  • Automated Messages: You can automatically send personalized emails or messages to people based on what they do on your site.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Lead generation software helps your business grow by:

  • Automating Tasks: Say goodbye to boring manual work. The software does it for you, letting you focus on building relationships with customers.
  • Customizing Your Approach: You can set up your marketing and sales the way you want.
  • Tracking Your Results: You can see what's working and what's not so you can easily retool your strategy.

Key Features

Contact Database

This is where you keep everything about potential customers — from their first visit to when they buy something. It's more than just names and emails. It includes their industry, company size, what problems they're trying to solve and what they've bought before.

You can easily filter leads to find exactly who you're looking for. For example, you could search for "software companies with over 500 employees interested in cloud services." This helps you focus on the best potential customers.

Outdated or wrong info is a hassle. This system helps you find duplicates, fix mistakes and update your customer information to ensure you’re working with the most valuable data.

Lead Capture

Tired of website visitors slipping away unnoticed? Lead generation systems help you:

  • Design forms that look great on your website, encouraging visitors to share their info in exchange for something helpful (like ebooks, webinars or free trials).
  • Use AI chatbots to say hello to website visitors, answer their questions and guide them towards becoming leads.
  • Connect with potential customers directly from social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn Sales Navigator) through targeted ads.

Lead Qualification

The system helps you figure out who's most likely to become a customer. It gives them a score based on what they do and what they're interested in.

You can set up the system to automatically do things based on these scores. For example, high-scoring leads can go straight to your sales team, while others get helpful emails to keep them interested.

Lead Segmentation

Sort leads into groups based on what they like, what industry they're in or what they do on your website. This helps you send messages that are relevant to each person.

Pipeline Management

See all your leads on a kanban board, like sticky notes. You can easily move them from one stage to another as they get closer to buying.

Customize the stages on the board to match how your sales team works. Stages might include "New Lead," "Qualified," "Demo Scheduled," etc.

Enrichment Credits

These let you buy extra info about your leads, like their job titles, company details and social media profiles.

Email Sequencing

Create a series of emails that go out automatically to leads over time. These emails should give them useful information, address problems and build relationships.

How To Compare Lead Generation Software

Choosing a lead generation system can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help the process.

Know Your Goals

What do you want the software to do for you? Get more leads? Better quality leads? Make your sales process smoother? All of the above?

How many leads do you want? What's your goal for turning leads into customers?

Knowing your goals helps you narrow down your choices and pick the right tool.

Determine Your Features

Think about what features are important for your lead generation plan. Do you need tools for building landing pages, sending automated emails, connecting to your existing customer database, scoring leads or analyzing data?

How big is your sales team? Do you need a simple tool or one with more advanced features like managing the sales pipeline or nurturing leads?

Look at different software options and compare their features to see which ones fit your needs best.

Evaluate Scalability

How do you think your lead generation needs will change in the future? Will you need a tool that can grow with your business?

Look for software that has flexible pricing and can handle more users and leads as you grow.

Request Trials

Most companies offer free trials or demos. Use these to test the software yourself and see how it works with how you do things.

Get your sales and marketing teams to try it too. Ask them for feedback to make sure the system works for everyone.

During the trial, pay attention to how easy it is to use, if it has the features you need and if it connects well with your other systems.

Factor in Callback Timing

Some tools help with callbacks for companies that reach out to potential customers directly. This lets you schedule follow-up calls at the best times to reach people.

Look for a system that suggests good times to call based on what the lead does and who they are.

Assess Integration

If you already use tools like a customer relationship management (CRM) system, a marketing automation platform or data analytics tools, make sure the new software can connect with them easily.

This will make your work smoother, avoid having info in different places, and give you a complete picture of your leads and customers.

Check if the software already works with your other tools or has a way to make custom API connections.

Need further assistance? Check out our nine-step Lean Selection methodology to simplify your software selection process.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

When evaluating lead generation software, it's crucial to consider the various costs and pricing models to ensure you're getting the best value for your investment. Here's what you need to know:

Pricing Models

Subscription-Based: Most lead generation software operates like a gym membership — you pay a recurring fee (monthly or annually). The price tag varies depending on what's included (think fancy workout classes vs. basic equipment) and how many team members are using it.

Pay-Per-Lead: Some vendors charge per lead generated. This might be tempting if you're just starting with a limited budget, but beware: if your lead volume skyrockets, so will your costs!

Usage-Based: Imagine paying for electricity based on how much you use. That's the idea behind usage-based pricing. You're charged for the number of emails sent, API calls made or other actions taken within the software. It offers flexibility, but your bill could fluctuate like the stock market if your usage isn't consistent.

Tiered Pricing: This is like choosing a streaming service plan — basic, standard or premium. Each tier offers a different set of features and limitations. It's a great way to get started with a budget-friendly option and upgrade as your business grows.

Additional Costs

  • Setup Fees: Some vendors charge a one-time fee to get you up and running, like a personal trainer's onboarding session.
  • Data Enrichment: Want to dig deeper into your leads' backgrounds? You might need to buy credits or subscribe to services that provide additional information, like their job titles or company size.
  • Integrations: Connecting your new software to your existing tools (like your CRM) can sometimes come with a price tag. Think of it like buying an adapter to plug in your new gadget.
  • Training: Learning the ropes of new software takes time and effort. Some vendors offer training programs (for a fee) to help your team become pros.

Hidden Costs

  • Opportunity Cost: Picking the wrong software is like buying shoes that don't fit — you'll waste time and energy trying to make them work. Make sure the software you choose aligns with your needs and goals to avoid costly missteps.
  • Data Migration: Factor in the potential cost and hassle of migrating your data if you decide to change platforms.
  • Support Costs: Some vendors offer basic support for free, but if you need more hands-on help, you might have to pay for premium support services.

Questions To Ask During Your Search

Asking questions to your internal team and vendors ensures your chosen software aligns with your business goals, maximizes lead generation, and mitigates potential risks or unforeseen costs.

Lead Generation Software Key Questions

  • How will the system align with our overall sales and marketing strategies?
  • Can we justify the cost based on the potential ROI?
  • Do we have the internal resources to manage the software, or will we need external support?
  • What types of lead capture forms does your software offer (e.g., pop-ups, embedded forms, multi-step forms)?
  • Does your software offer predictive lead scoring based on machine learning or AI?
  • Can you provide a detailed demo of the software's features and how they address our needs?
  • Can we speak to current customers about their experience with your software?

FAQs

Q: What is B2B lead generation?

B2B lead generation is the process of finding and attracting potential business customers who are a good fit for your products or services. It's like a treasure hunt where you seek out companies needing what you offer.

This process involves diverse strategies:

  • Creating compelling content to draw businesses to your website.
  • Engaging with them on social media.
  • Reaching out directly through personalized emails or phone calls.

The ultimate goal is to convert these potential customers into paying clients. It's about:

  • Building relationships
  • Establishing trust
  • Showcasing the value you can bring to their business.

Think of it as nurturing a seed into a flourishing plant. You provide the right environment and resources, and eventually, it blossoms into a fruitful partnership.

Q: What is outbound and inbound lead generation?

Outbound Lead Generation

Outbound lead generation is when you directly contact potential customers to tell them about your products or services.

Think of it like a friendly knock on the door, a phone call or an email saying, "Hey, check out what we have to offer!" It's a more active way of finding new customers.

Here's how outbound lead generation usually works:

  • Cold Calling: This is like calling someone out of the blue to tell them about your product, even if they haven't shown interest before.
  • Email Marketing: Send tailored emails to a group of people who might be interested in what they offer. These emails talk about the product's benefits and invite the recipient to try it.
  • Paid Advertising: You can display paid ads in places where many people will see them. It's like putting up posters in a busy area. It can be costly, but it helps more people learn about the product.
  • Social Selling: This involves using social media to build relationships and spark conversations with potential customers. The goal is to turn those connections into sales.
  • Direct Mail: Send physical letters or postcards to potential customers, inviting them to check out your products.

Inbound Lead Generation

Inbound lead generation involves creating interesting content and experiences that draw potential customers to your company.

Think of a bookstore with comfy chairs and displays of new books — it naturally makes people want to come in and look around. This method is a more passive way to attract new customers.

Here's how inbound lead generation usually works:

  • Content Marketing: You can create blog posts, articles or videos to share helpful information with potential customers. This shows expertise and gets people interested in learning more.
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): This involves making your website and content easy to find on search engines like Google. The goal is to appear at the top of search results when people look for things related to your product.
  • Social Media Marketing: You can use social media to create a community around your brand. Host discussions and share engaging content to connect with potential customers.
  • Webinars and Events: You can host online talks or events to share your knowledge, helping you build trust and showing potential customers why they should choose your products.
  • Lead Magnets: You can offer freebies like ebooks or discounts in exchange for contact information to build a list of potential customers to connect with later.

Q: Why do businesses need a lead generation application?

A lead generation app makes it easier to find and attract potential customers. It automatically gathers information about people interested in your product and organizes that info, helping you decide which leads are most likely to buy.

The app also lets you send personalized messages to keep those leads interested, track your progress and connect with other tools you're using. This means you'll work more efficiently, make smarter choices and get more customers in the end.

Q: Are lead generation systems a marketing or sales tool?

Lead generation systems are mainly used for marketing. Their main job is to find and attract potential customers. But they're also important for sales because they give the sales team good leads to follow up on. This makes the system a link between marketing and sales, helping the two teams work together better.

Q: Which one is better — paid or free lead generation systems?

The best lead generation system for you depends on your needs and budget.

Free Systems

  • Good For: Small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Pros: Easy to start using.
  • Cons: May have fewer features, might not have advanced modules like lead scoring or marketing automation tools. Not the best choice if you want to grow quickly.

Paid Systems

  • Good For: Businesses that want advanced features to automate and nurture leads.
  • Pros: Can handle more leads as your business grows. Usually work well with other marketing and sales tools you might be using.
  • Cons: Can be expensive. Might take some time to learn how to use all the features.

Find the Right Lead Generation Software

Free Comparison Report

Need help finding your perfect match? Dive into our free comparison report to compare products quickly and easily.

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Riya
By Riya Jamble
Technical Content Writer
Riya is a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub. She writes content for our construction scheduling and bidding, CMMS and medical billing categories. She's also a part of the social media team where she crafts posts that engage and resonate with our audience. Riya holds a Graduate Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. Fueled by a love for black coffee, her day begins and ends with its energizing ritual. Riya enjoys a variety of TV series, including Friends, Suits, American Horror Story, and How to Get Away with Murder. During her free time, you'll find her reading or spending time with her close ones. She believes in magic and is waiting for that day when reality compromises and fairytale swirls around with a smile.
See Full Bio
Dianna
Edited By Dianna Dragonetti
Content Editor
As an editor, Dianna Dragonetti leads a team of five writers in writing about a variety of software, with an emphasis on how these tools empower businesses. Categories include accounting, learning management systems, content management systems, supply chain management, and electronic data interchange.
See Full Bio