It's B2B again.
What exactly is a quality lead, our clients always talk about them but rarely does it get defined. The sales perspective is something like a prospect who invites them to tender. But this is not perfect, the likes of IBM, HP, Vauxhall will more often than not be on the shortlist as part of a benchmarking exercise. Marketing would probably define a lead as anyone who has engaged with the organisation, either via an event or on line.
Clearly there is a disconnect and explains why sales often complain about marketing, sales understandably want easy sales.
We could 'settle' the argument is by linking the marketing database to the website to ad serving data and other on line marketing activity. Easier said than done. But in the meantime if anyone has a better definition or two of leads (that marketing and sales agree on) i would love to hear about it.
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About Me
- thinking marketing
- United Kingdom
- Just curious about marketing, psychology, economics, business, irrational behaviour, people, models, communications, advertising, market imperfections, b2b marketing. I work in the marketing communications industry for OgilvyOne.
Relationships are started through sampling or an activity that generates interest. A lead starts when you positively effect the opinion and consideration of a product or service, building on the initial interaction, suubsequently driving one's behavior and engagement.
ReplyDeleteI think the sales definition as you give it is correct. People who fall into your marketing definition are prospects who may be engaged with and nurtured till they are ready to buy and be sales leads. True some leads are actually just benchmarking, a percentage of leads will be lost in this way - this is where lead scoring and doing some segmentation work comes in as some leads are better than others and obviously if they have engaged with the organisation in some way as you describe they are much better leads than someone who is merely tendering. :)
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