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Guide To Prospecting For Sales Lead Generation

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Generating Sales Leads is a Challenge

Without the right leads, your sales reps spend their time chasing cold prospects that will never close. Your pipeline ends up clogged with noise, and you remain blind to the majority of companies that are visiting your website.

But prospecting can change this.

It’s more than adding names to a call list; it’s about having the intelligence on which target accounts look like they’re getting ready to buy and reaching out to them at the right time.

What is B2B Sales Prospecting?

B2B sales prospecting refers to the process of identifying and reaching out to potential clients and other businesses that would benefit from your product or service. It’s the foundation of your sales funnel and a critical first step in creating meaningful business relationships.

Unlike B2C, where the focus is often on individual consumers, B2B sales prospecting targets decision-makers within companies. That’s why prospecting techniques for B2B sales require a more strategic approach.

Studies show that over 50% of B2B buyers prefer to do extensive research before making a purchase decision. As a result, B2B prospecting is not just about finding leads but finding the right ones; those that are already inclined toward your offering.

Sales Lead Generation Focuses on Quality

Every salesperson understands that not all leads are created equal. In fact, pursuing unqualified leads can waste time, drain resources, and lower overall productivity. But what makes a “quality” lead?

A quality lead is someone who not only fits your target market but also shows genuine interest in your product or service. Research suggests that 61% of B2B marketers find generating high-quality leads their biggest challenge. However, generating sales leads that are relevant and likely to convert can dramatically improve sales performance.

Quality leads result in shorter sales cycles, higher conversion rates, and better customer retention. Instead of casting a wide net and hoping for the best, focusing on quality leads helps sales teams prioritize their efforts and achieve better results.

Targeted Data Helps Generate Quality Sales Leads

Effective B2B prospecting and sales lead generation begins with comprehensive research. Knowing your prospects’ business needs, industry challenges, and decision-making processes helps you craft more personalized outreach. According to HubSpot, 47% of top-performing salespeople focus heavily on research before reaching out to potential leads.

Start by building an ideal customer profile (ICP). What industry are they in? What are their pain points? What types of solutions are they currently using? This information helps you to refine your messaging and better tailor your approach.

Data analysis also plays a crucial role here. By leveraging CRM data, market research, and online behavior tracking, you can pinpoint high-quality prospects more effectively. Lead Forensics, for instance, provides you with data on who’s visiting your website, where they’re coming from, and what they’re interested in. With this level of insight, your prospecting efforts become significantly more targeted, allowing you to engage with prospects who are already in the awareness phase of the buying journey.

Personalize Your Prospecting

Once you’ve identified your target prospects, the next step is to craft a personalized outreach strategy. The days of cold, generic emails are long gone; today’s B2B buyers expect a tailored experience. According to Salesforce, 80% of B2B buyers are more likely to engage with companies that personalize their outreach and messaging based on their specific needs.

Personalization can come in many forms, from customizing the subject line of an email, referencing specific challenges the prospect may be facing, or highlighting how your product or service can provide a solution to their unique pain points. Make sure every communication feels personal and relevant.

Additionally, using a multi-channel approach, like email, LinkedIn and phone calls, can significantly improve conversion rates.

Cheat Code: Start With The Accounts Looking at You

There’s a much easier way to do sales lead generation, and that’s to prioritize the businesses that are already browsing your website. Afterall, no one visits a B2B website for their pleasure.

If a company has visited your website and looked at more details of your product or service, and even checked out your pricing page, they’re displaying signs that they’re getting ready to buy. They’re a sales lead, they just haven’t filled out a form yet, so you’re totally unaware of the opportunity.

Often, these prospects will be looking at your competitors too. And they might be won by someone else before they ever come back to request a demo or ask for more information.

If you use website visitor identification software like Lead Forensics, you can uncover your anonymous B2B website visitors as soon as they visit your website. No more waiting to see who completes a form. This tool helps you identify your warm leads, which can you pursue with warm calling. If you’re not already using Lead Forensics, you can get a free trial when you book a demo.

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