Hire Better B2B Lead Generation Teams For Your Business

 

When it comes to better business performance, it is always about your employees.

Yes, you might have some really good business ideas or products to offer, but if you do not have the people who have the skills for the B2B lead generation job, then you will not be going anywhere at all.

 

You have to hire the right people for the job, in this case. After all, this is an investment that you should never take for granted. The B2B leads that you want to generate are dependent on the skills of the marketing team you will form. But how will you assemble one? There are several ways to do that, but the following are the most important:

  

1. Be Slow

   Yes, while this might sound weird for those who are under time constraints, but taking things too fast might cause you to make mistakes in the decision-making process.
   
   Remember, the people you hire for your B2B appointment setting campaign plays a big role in your marketing efforts. Take your time in choosing your job candidates before you truly hire someone.

   
   

2. Filter things out through the very process

   When you are looking for that ideal employee, you need to choose from a pool of candidates that stopped by your business.
   
   Basically speaking, you to do some weeding work, rejecting unqualified candidates and allowing the ones you see potential with to proceed to the next stage. I know that this might look too much, but there is a marketing campaign that you need to ensure a smooth operation.

   
   

3. Create check-points

   Since you were able to lengthen the hiring process, not to mention getting only candidates that are qualified for the task, now is the time for you to set up check-points that will help you determine the right person for the job.
   
   Yes, this might require a lot more effort from you, but at least you can use this to identify the ideal appointment setters.

   
   

4. Use skills as basis

   This is so true for many companies who are constantly hiring new people for the job.
   
   A lot of people tend to judge a person based mainly on what diplomas and certificates you were able to show. To be more effective, put your candidates to a test, one that will reveal their actual marketing skills. This might take time to properly pull off, but at least it is worth it.
   
   Related: Do You Know How To Hire Skilled Employees?

   
   

5. Ask your own team for opinions

   This is particularly useful when you have a hard time deciding on whom to hire.
   
   A good team will be able to give you a different perspective on how things work. This is something that you would really need come decision time on who the right hire will be for your B2B telemarketing campaign..

Of course, if you think that working things out on your own B2B lead generation campaign is hard, you can always opt for another solution: outsource the work to a competent marketing agency. There are a lot of those who can help you generate more sales leads.

Turn B2B Leads Into Closed Deals In Five Ways

Closing business deals is always hard. 

After all, sales leads are sales leads because they have an interaction or relationship with you. It is in taking it to the next level that things can be a bit challenging.

First of all, you are not solely selling something. You also have a business to attend to. That is why we leave the job to the others, particularly to our B2B lead generation specialist. Now, what can you do if you do not have one (be it due to budget constraints or with the nature of your business)? A lot of things can go wrong if you do not know where to start.

But, if you are able to read this article, then you will learn some pointers in converting B2B leads into B2B deals, such as:

  

1. This can be long process
   

   Lead generation is no instant transaction.
   
   This is something that takes time to process, since you have to have a conversation with them first, and this takes time to complete. Just get on with it and keep talking. Besides, nurturing B2B leads is also an important part of marketing.
   
   
   Related: Jedi Mind Tricks: The Psychology of Sales Persuasion
   
   

2. Always keep your objectives clear
   

   You know that having an objective is important in keeping your team focused, but you must be able to build one that is clear and aggressive.
   
   Ideally, you should aim high and realistic, like signing a deal or making sale happen. Words like building relationships and the like will not get you anywhere at all.
   
   

3. Close the deal naturally
   

   While you may have aggressive objectives, you are constrained to where the conversation takes you, as well as its pacing.
   
   While you can steer it towards the desired direction, you cannot rush the close. It is up to your skills as a marketer to lead your telemarketing prospects into making a deal with you. It must also be a decision that is agreeable to both parties. This is something that you cannot afford to mess up.
   
   
4. Ask for the sale when the time is right
   
   While you cannot hurry the close, you should also be aware of whether the prospect is approaching a decision.
   
   And if you are sensitive enough, you can tell if they will do it with your company or not. If they decide to partner with you, then ask for the sale. There is nothing wrong with that. Besides, this saves both of you time, in terms of the marketing process, as well as the paperwork that both of you will have to manage.
   

5. Stay positive
   

   Yes, lead generation is a very stressful job, one that has a high rate of rejection, and with very few sales leads to earn.
   
   But you have to admit that the few leads you get may actually be the big ones. Besides, there are other things that you can be happy about. You just have to know what these are. That will keep you from getting depressed.
   
   

Easy tips, right? Keep these in mind and you will be all right in lead generation.

How To Be The First Choice In A Lead Generation Campaign

In terms of generating good B2B leads, what makes all the difference in the B2B lead generation game is to be the first choice of the customers.

After all, when you are the first choice, your customers will go straight to you. And only an idiot will let go of such opportunity.

This is something that you need to take care of properly as you look for potential sales leads. And while we may want to know the various ways to attract more customers, what actually matters is how to make that attraction really stick in their minds.

We ought to have a lasting good impression, and you can do that by following these tips:

First of all, you need to build trust.

Establishing this at the very start of your telemarketing campaign is very important. This is, shall we say, is the true test of marketers.

So, how will you approach this? We can start by figuring out what the prospect’s problem was. You can then suggest the best solution for that. And if necessary, you should also help them compare your product to the others. This will show your prospects that you are a reliable person.

Now, when we are dealing with price, it pays to have a comparison chart of your offering and that of your competitions.

It would be nice if you can get a third-party to provide those numbers.

Still, you have to make sure that you are able to explain your pricing sufficiently to your prospects. If it is too high, explain to them the reason for it. If it is too low, it is the same thing. It is all about reasoning, anyway.

Another thing: most marketers, after meeting their prospects in an appointment setting campaign, wait for the customer to ask for the price after their presentation in order to increase value.

A good tip, one that quite radical, is to offer pricing before the buyer asks for it.

Related: How To Compete Against Cheaper Competition In Lead Generation

Tell them upfront about it and then show why the investment costs what it cost.

This approach shows confidence, keeps the marketer on the offensive and prevents unnecessary negotiating from the side of the prospects.

You need to understand that trust is the one most valuable asset that your company can ever get in this kind of business. You are aware of how risky it can be to spend money on projects or other activities where you have no assurance of it getting returned.

In the case of your customers and prospects, you would want to put them at ease. There is no point talking about business if the person you are talking to does not really see your offer as significant or if your words are not convincing enough for them. You had better put your best efforts on this, lest you end up losing in the lead generation race.

Trust is, and will always be, an important business investment. You had better work well on your B2B appointment setting processes if you want to be successful there.

Two Things That Are Helping Businesses Get More Leads And Appointments

Business appointments  and qualified sales leads can be hard to come by if you're not doing the right things to attract potential customers. 

If you think your prospects are simply going to appear in front of you thanks to your vast social media presence, think again. Though these marketing methods might help, there is still no substitute to traditional marketing methods like  cold calling and email marketing. 

That's right, these old school methods are still effective, even though you might consider them as old as dirt.

Cold Calling

Why would you want to sell your products using such an old-fashioned marketing method? 

Because it is undoubtedly effective. This age old method of selling is a great way for not only appointment setting, but also to sell your products and services directly to your prospects. When your business leads receive a  telemarketing call, they immediately know that you are a seller, and that means you don't need an elaborate introduction as to why you're calling them.

Your telemarketers  need only to concentrate on proving the benefits of your product or service to the customer. The decision for a purchase can be made immediately during that call, which also means that the longer and the more prospects your telemarketers  get to call, the more they can sell. 

It goes the same for appointment setting. 

Telemarketing for  appointments allows for an immediate response from the business leads or prospects. Schedules can be set or changed quickly, without any time wasted waiting for the prospect's response.
 

Email Marketing

A prospect's email address is by far the easiest contact information to acquire, which is why it is also the easiest methods for online marketing. 

Moreover, email marketing is basically free, and hiring a  professional email marketing company is relatively cheap. So if you want to get more business sales leads, then you should definitely do more lead generation using  email marketing.  

Related: What is the best first move--cold calling or emailing? An argument settled


Because telemarketing  and email marketing are both old marketing methods, they are much cheaper than most popular marketing strategies today. 

And because they are cheaper, you can get more business leads,  appointments or sales for the same budget than you would from SEM (search engine marketing) or SMM (social media marketing).

Break Through Your Doubts During Telemarketing

Telemarketing can be a very intimidating career, one where only the most determined and creative enough will be able to survive.

It is only natural that you feel fear in doing it, especially if this is your first time. But really, in order to generate B2B leads for your business, you really have to do this. Still, the fear of doing this could cripple you tremendously. You have to get some way to deal with it, you know. To tell you the truth, there are many ways to approach this.

The best, and perhaps the most effective, in helping you become a more effective lead generation representative, are the following:

  

1. Make no excuses

   
   When given B2B appointment setting task, never give excuses not to do it.
   
   You want to generate sales leads, right? So when the opportunity knocks, you should make it a point to actually do it. Think of this as something you want so badly, so desperately. With that kind of thinking, you would naturally do things that others will not do. You will seek ways to achieve your goals. All you need, in this junction, is to get rid of the excuses not to do it.
   
   

2. Face your fear

   
   Fear will always be part of your work.
   
   Fear of rejections, fear of poor sales, fear of the unknown, etc. To tell you the truth, the list of fears simply will not end. So, will you still cower in front of it? You had better not. What separates successful B2B telemarketers from the others is their willingness to experience the fear, but still push through with their plans. This is the only way for them to succeed. If you fail, then take it as a learning opportunity.
   
   

3. Go beyond your comfort zone

   
   Do you know what makes for a successful marketer? It is being stretched beyond their limits.
   
   Most people avoid discomforts. It never sat well for them, but if you really want to go further in your business, if you truly want to be the best in your industry, then you should make it a point to push yourself further. Even if it is just for a short time, this can mean a big deal in improving your chances in the market, and generate more sales leads.
   
   

4. Be decisive

   
   When it comes to getting something, you cannot just wish for it. You have to take action.
   
   To take action over something, you have to take responsibility for it. You have to acknowledge that you, as the business owner or manager, are solely responsible for the success or failure of your marketing campaign. Keeping that in mind will help you stay focused in your work, as well as ensure that you are giving your all. You want to be successful, right?

Fear and self-doubt can be powerful drivers in pushing you down. But as long as you know how to deal with them, as long as you are ready to face them, then nothing is stopping you in your B2B lead generation campaign.

Is Your Company’s Facebook Page Dying of Loneliness? Maybe These Can Help

There can only be two possible explanations why your Facebook page is not on the social media map: one, the last time you updated it was before Obama became President; or two, you DO update it regularly, but only with pointless, sometimes ridiculous posts that couldn’t attract even the most bored soul on Earth.

You might have noticed that in both cases, it’s your fault.

You can’t blame people if they don’t feel like interacting on your Facebook page. You have to give them reasons to take notice, and doing so can require a little bit of your extra time. 

And perhaps some extra brain juice, too. Here’s how:

• Do The Twist.  
  No, not the dance (although that would be fun). It means using an entirely different approach to how you post stuff, especially on status updates. Don’t bore them to death by posting only industry news or encyclopedia-ish entries. Ask specific questions, make them think and respond, and couple it with engaging photos or videos. That’s a start.
• Timing is Everything. 
  Awesome posts can be put to waste if not posted at strategic times, which could have otherwise generated a lot of feedback. The perfect moment? Mornings and early evenings.
• Talk “With” Them, Not “To” Them.  
  When you respond to comments, the worst thing you could do is put yourself on a pedestal and converse in an “authority” sort of way. Try commenting as if you didn’t own the post, and blend in with the perspective of others. It’s okay to let them be the experts every once in a while.
   Related: Authenticity Matters In Social Media And Appointment Setting
• Gamble With Contests. 
  It’s a bit awkward to host contests when you only have a following of 20 people and half of them were totally unfelt in like a century. You have to establish a solid fan base first, and then expand it even more by monthly games and contests. And for once, make the prize a bit more attractive than a customized coffee mug.
• Hashtags!  
  Facebook has just endowed you a convenient way to harness a certain group of people based on their interests. Private users don’t really get the point of hashtags, but marketers do. Exploit it.
• Spread The Word. 
  If you’re doing a little better on Twitter or other social media sites, use it to help your Facebook page gain recognition. Synchronize tweets to your Wall and regularly provide your followers with links to your company page.

Three Ways To Waste Money In Your Lead Generation Campaign

Well, if we think about generating qualified sales leads, you have to admit that organizing a lead generation campaign is the only way to go. If you want to be the best in your business, you have to employ the best marketing strategies and tools to maximize results.

The problem here, in case you have not noticed it yet, is that this is precisely the point where you can make a mistake.

Think about it, you want to use the most modern tools, or the latest marketing strategies in generating a lot of B2B leads. Surely, you will be spending money on this. How sure are you that you are going to get your money back?

This all comes down to choosing the right tools for the job. In other words, you would want to avoid the ones that will not work.

And frankly, there are three strategies that you can skip your spending on:

First of these would be brochures. 

Yes, we all get one of those whenever we go to business meetings, trade fairs, industry forums, and the like, but how often do we read these and get compelled to sign up to whatever product or offer they have? 

It may be safe to say that it would be a very rare episode indeed. Such is the way with your business as well. Honestly, printing brochures is not just a waste of your time; it also wastes your resources. Unless the sales leads prospects request it, or if your type of business demands that you present some, then you better stay put and stick to the ones that actually work.

This actually leads us to the second point.

We call it brand advertising. 

Now, we all know just how important a brand is in creating demand for the product or the like. 

This is basically the face of your offer. But, if all you do is advertise your brand (without actually promoting whatever product or service you have), then all that advertising effort will just go down the drain. Remember, for a business to succeed in their marketing and appointment setting efforts, you must have a product that delivers and a customer service that matters. 

If you want to improve your brand’s image, or to promote you brand better, then you had better work on your product or services being offered.

Thirdly, and perhaps the one most commonly overlooked, is the sales tools you use. 

All right, while the use of sales scripts, cue cards, prospective emails, etc. are all wonderful ways to attract an audience, putting these things in motion can create the most damage to your business. 

This is the problem faced by any marketer, be they in email, social media, and even in telemarketing. I mean, look at the logic here: if you have a swell marketing plan but a lackluster marketing performance, then you have nothing to gain.

It is that simple, and believe me, when I say that these are really big money wasters to avoid in your lead generation campaign, then by all means avoid them.