How to Get Started With Lead
Generation for SaaS Businesses

B2B lead generation (lead gen) is the process of acquiring potential customers or clients for a business. It’s usually done through marketing efforts such as creating content, running ads, or hosting events designed to attract attention and generate interest.
SaaS businesses need lead gen because it’s an essential part of the sales process. By generating leads, businesses can increase their chances of making a sale and growing their customer base.
For example, a SaaS business might generate leads by writing blog posts about relevant topics, publishing videos that showcase the product, or creating infographics that help people understand how the product works.
This article will give you some tips on how to get started with lead generation for your SaaS business.
Let’s get started.
What Makes a Good Lead?
As the SaaS industry matures, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate their offerings and stand out in a crowded marketplace. For many SaaS companies, the key to success lies in the quality of their leads. No wonder 53% of marketers spend at least half of their budget on lead generation.
But what makes a good sales lead for a SaaS business? There are a few key characteristics that the best leads share: they’re well-qualified, they have a genuine need for your product, and they’re likely to convert into paying customers.
Qualified leads are those that match your target customer profile. They’re typically decision-makers or influencers at their companies who have a problem that your product can solve. If you’re selling enterprise software, for example, you might target leads who work in large organizations with complex IT needs.
A good lead for a SaaS business also needs to have a genuine need for your product. If they re not a good fit for your product, you’ll want to pass on them. This is especially important when you’ re selling complex software, where you need to make sure that the person has the knowledge and time to really use your product.
Lastly, a good lead for a SaaS business are those that likely to convert into paying customers. You don’t want to waste your time and effort on leads that are unlikely to convert into paying customers.
How do you figure out whether or not a lead is likely to convert into a paying customer?
You can start by looking at their profile ask the following:
- Do they have the right profile?
- Are they using the right software?
- Do they have a company size that is likely to buy your product?
- Do they come from an industry where your product is used or needed?
- Do they have a job description that is likely to use your product?
- Do they have the budget and authority to buy?
If you can answer yes to all these questions, then this lead is a good lead for you. If you can’t, then you should move on until you find one.
After finding out more information about your lead, what’s the next step? The answer is that you need to find out more about this lead. What kind of a product or service do they need? Do they have any budget constraints? How much are they likely to spend?
If you can answer these questions, then you have a very good chance of closing the sale. Be sure to ask for their contact information and write it down.
7 Ways to Generate More Leads for Your SaaS Businesses
As the cloud-based SaaS industry continues to grow, so does the competition for customers. In order to stay ahead of the curve, SaaS businesses need to generate more leads. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
1.) Create a Strong Value Proposition
As a SaaS company, it’s important to have a strong value proposition. This is what will set you apart from the competition and convince potential customers to use your product. Here are some tips for creating a strong value proposition:
- Clearly define what your product does and how it benefits users.
- Highlight what makes your product unique and different from other similar products on the market.
- Showcase customer testimonials or case studies to illustrate the value of your product.
- Keep your value proposition simple and easy to understand.
- Make sure your value proposition is prominently featured on your website and marketing materials.
By following these tips, you can create a strong value proposition that will help you win over new customers and grow your business.
2.) Use Effective Lead Magnets
If you want to increase conversions on your website, then you need to use effective lead magnets. A lead magnet is a freebie that you offer in exchange for someone’s contact information. It can be anything from an e-book to a webinar or even a discount code.
Offering a lead magnet is a great way to capture leads and build your email list. But, if you don’t have an effective lead magnet, then you’re not going to see the results you’re hoping for
So, how do you create a lead magnet that will actually attract new leads and build your business?
Here are some steps to take:
What is the Goal of Your Lead Magnet?
The very first step is to clearly define the goal of your lead magnet. Is it to get new leads? Or, is it something else? For example, if your goal is to get new leads, you may want to create a lead magnet that teaches people how to do something.
If you are a SaaS company that offers online accounting software, then your lead magnet could be an e-book on “10 Tips for Saving Money on Your Small Business Taxes”. The key to an effective lead magnet is making sure that it is relevant to your target audience and that it provides value.
Do You Have Any Resources to Tap Into?
It’s important to note that if you don’t have the time to create your own lead magnet, then there are a number of sites out there where you can purchase lead magnets. The process of creating your own lead magnet is the same regardless of whether you decide to purchase one or create one yourself.
To get started, head over to LeadQuizzes . This site offers two types of lead magnets: quizzes and surveys. Both of these are proven to be great lead magnets, but we recommend using quizzes. They’re less time-consuming and more engaging for your readers.
How Will You Structure Your Lead Magnets?
Before you can start creating your lead magnet, it’s important to figure out how you will structure it. This will help you to make the most of your content and avoid creating a lead magnet that’s too long or too short. Here are some tips:
- Pick a length. A standard length for a lead magnet is between 1,000 and 4,000 words. If you’re creating a quiz or survey, the length will depend on how many questions you have.
- Keep them short and sweet. If your lead magnet is too long, it’s less likely to be read in its entirety. That’s why it’s important to keep your content concise.
- Make them action-oriented. Lead magnets should give readers a reason to take action. Some examples of lead magnets include: Checklists, E-books, PDFs, Templates, Videos.
- Give them an incentive to act. The best lead magnets include a coupon or special offer that encourages readers to take action immediately.
- Include a CTA at the end of your lead magnet. Have a contest or giveaway to get people to share your lead magnet.
- Make it aaccessible. It should be easy for readers to access and download your lead magnet. You can do this by adding a link to your lead magnet in the email that you send out to readers.
- Make it free. If your lead magnet costs money, most subscribers won’t download or read it.
3.) Build Targeted Landing Pages
As a SaaS company, one of your main goals is to increase conversion rates and acquire new customers. In order to do this most effectively, you need to have targeted landing pages that speak to the specific needs of your target audience.
Creating targeted landing pages can be a challenge, but it’s worth it to take the time to get it right. By understanding your buyer persona and what they’re looking for, you can create a landing page that will address their specific needs and increase the likelihood of conversion.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating targeted landing pages:
- Define your buyer persona – who are you targeting?
- What are their specific needs?
- What kind of content will appeal to them?
- How can you make the overall design of the page look professional and trustworthy?
4.) Use Social Media to Your Advantage
As a small business owner, you may be wondering if social media is worth your time. The answer is yes! Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach new customers and grow your business. Here are three ways to use social media to your advantage:
- Create a strong presence. Make sure your social media profiles are up-to-date and include relevant information about your business. Use high-quality images and engaging content to attract attention from potential customers.
- Connect with your audience. Take the time to interact with people who are interested in your products or services.
- Show that you care about what they have to say and offer valuable insights or advice when you can.
- Promote special offers or events.
- Use social media to spread the word about sales, discounts, or other special offers you have for your customers.
- Encourage them to share the news with their friends and followers.
5.) Invest in Paid Advertising
Paid advertising can be a great way to get started with lead generation for your SaaS business. You can reach a larger audience with your message and increase the chances of generating leads.
However, it is important to keep in mind that paid advertising is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to lead generation. You will also need to create compelling content and have a strong sales funnel in place to convert leads into customers. Here are some paid advertising options to consider:
Facebook Ads
These ads are a great way to reach a broad audience. You can target potential customers based on their location, demographics, interests and more. The ads are displayed in the right column of your customer’s Facebook news feed. They are also shown on Facebook-owned apps, such as Instagram.
In addition to seeing your ad, customers can also engage with it by clicking on it or even liking it. The cost per click is determined by the amount you’re willing to pay. The cost per like depends on how much you’re willing to spend.
Google Ads
These ads are displayed in the right column of a customer’s Google search results. You can target potential customers based on their location, demographics, interests and more.
The ads are also displayed on Google-owned apps, such as YouTube. If your ad is clicked, the customer is taken to your business’ website. The cost per click is determined by how much you’re willing to pay.
LinkedIn Ads
These ads are displayed on LinkedIn’s desktop and mobile pages and within its members’ news feed and emails. You can target potential customers based on their location, job title and more. If your ad is clicked, the customer is taken to your business’ website.
6.) Implement Lead Scoring
Sales teams working in a SaaS environment can use lead scoring to help them prioritize which leads are worth pursuing. By assigning a score to each lead, based on factors such as the lead’s budget, authority, and need, sales teams can quickly identify which leads are more likely to convert.
Lead scoring can be a valuable tool for sales teams, but it’s important to remember that every lead is different. The best way to use lead scoring is to combine it with other data points, such as customer surveys and web analytics. This will give you a more complete picture of each lead, and help you make better decisions about which leads to pursue.
7.) Make Use of Email Marketing
Email marketing can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your SaaS product. Here are a few tips for making the most of email marketing:
- Keep your emails short and to the point. Customers are likely to skim through your email, so make sure the important information is easy to find.
- Use images and videos to break up text and make your emails more visually appealing.
- Personalize your emails as much as possible by addressing the recipient by name and including relevant information about their interests and needs.
- Take advantage of email automation to send timely, targeted messages that are triggered by specific customer actions or behaviors.
- Make it easy for customers to unsubscribe from your emails if they no longer want to receive them. Include an unsubscribe link in every email you send.
Measuring Success
In order to ensure your SaaS company is successful, it is important to measure various factors. Doing so will help to ensure your company’s long-term success.
1.) Use KPIs to Measure Lead Generation Strategy Success
There are a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) that you can use to measure the success of your lead generation strategy. Here are eight of the most important ones:
MQLs, SQLs, and SALs
When it comes to generating leads and sales, marketing teams will often use different terminology. MQLs (Marketing Qualified Leads), SQLs (Sales Qualified Leads), and SALs (Sales Accepted Leads) are all important in the process, but what do they mean?
MQLs are leads that have been identified as having potential based on certain criteria set by the marketing team. This could include factors such as demographics, interests, or budget.
SQLs are leads that have been passed on to the sales team by the marketing team and have been deemed ready for further engagement. The criteria for this will be more stringent than for an MQL and may include things like a need for a specific product or service.
SALs are leads that have been accepted by the sales team and are ready to be worked on. This may include things like an agreement to meet with the sales rep as well as some level of qualification. SALs are leads that have been closed by the sales team and are ready to be counted. This is where you get your final number for the month.
Cost Per Lead
With so many options available, it’s more important than ever to know your cost per lead. For most SaaS businesses, the average cost per lead is between $200 and $300.
However, there are a number of factors that can affect this figure, including the type of product or service you offer and your target market.
If you’re looking to reduce your cost per lead, there are a few things you can do.
- Take a close look at your target market and make sure you’re targeting the right people. Focus on generating high-quality leads rather than quantity.
- Consider using various marketing channels to reach your target audience. If you’re using a lead generation tool to help attract leads, like a landing page builder or an email capture service, make sure your landing page is up to scratch.
- You can also try testing different lead generation tactics to see which ones work best for your business.
Lead Conversion Rate
Lead conversion rate is a metric that measures how many leads are converted into paying customers. SaaS businesses typically have a high lead conversion rate because they offer a free trial or a freemium model which allows potential customers to use the product before they purchase it.
The lead conversion rate is important for businesses to track because it indicates how effective their sales and marketing efforts are in generating new business.
A high lead conversion rate means that the company is good at converting leads into customers, while a low lead conversion rate indicates that the company needs to improve its sales and marketing efforts.
Revenue Per Sale
Revenue per sale is one of the most important metrics for any SaaS company. It tells them how much revenue they are generating for each sale, and it is a key metric in determining profitability.
There are a few things to keep in mind when calculating revenue per sale.
- You need to include all forms of revenue, not just subscription revenue. This means including one-time fees, usage fees, and any other recurring revenue streams.
- You need to make sure that you are only including sales that have been made, not free trials or other promotional offers.
- You need to calculate your gross margin before calculating your revenue per sale.
Once you have all of this information, you can start to calculate your revenue per sale. To do this, simply take your total revenue and divide it by the number of sales made.
2.) The Difference Between Top-of-the Funnel (TOFU) and Bottom-of-the Funnel (BOFU) Metrics
Top-of-the funnel (TOFU) metrics are those that indicate whether a lead is qualified and should be further pursued. Bottom-of-the funnel (BOFU) metrics, on the other hand, are used to determine whether a lead is ready to buy.
SaaS companies use different types of TOFU metrics, but some common ones include website traffic, number of leads, and conversion rate. BOFU metrics are typically things like customer lifetime value and customer churn rate.
Both TOFU and BOFU metrics are important for SaaS companies, but they serve different purposes. TOFU metrics help you generate leads, while BOFU metrics help you close deals.
The TOFU is typically a conversion funnel (a funnel with a single conversion event). It’s pretty straightforward: if you have a lead, you want to convert that lead into a customer.
3.) Setting Up Tracking
Setting up tracking for your lead generation strategy can ensure that the leads generated are of high quality and quantity. To do this, you need to:
- Define what a quality lead looks like for your company. This will vary depending on what your company sells and who your target customer is.
- Set up a system for tracking leads from the point of initial contact through to conversion (or not). This could be a simple spreadsheet or a more complex CRM system.
- Keep track of all the different channels through which leads are coming in, including online advertising, PR and word-of-mouth referrals.
- Regularly review and analyze your data to identify which lead generation strategies are working well and which need improvement.
Final Thoughts
These are a few of the things you can do to get started with lead generation for your SaaS business. Keep in mind that it takes time and effort to see results. However, if you’re consistent with your efforts, you will eventually start to see the fruits of your labor.
Moreover, it is important to remember that lead generation is only one part of the equation. SaaS businesses also need to focus on other areas such as customer retention and customer acquisition.
For more tips on growing your SaaS business, don’t forget to check our blog.