If you’re like many of LeadsHQ’s clients, both you and your sales teams are incredibly busy. In the fast-paced world of sales, time is of the essence.
As discussed in our previous post on developing an effective contact cadence for leads, best practice looks like making initial contact with your leads within 5 minutes.
To make things even more complex, it is an industry standard recommendation that you continue to follow-up with each lead a minimum of 6 times!
No doubt a daunting task.
For many companies, particularly those managing high volumes of inbound enquiry, achieving this manually is nearly impossible…
Enter automated lead nurturing.
Why Lead Nurturing Even Matters
Lead nurturing is the process of engaging and building relationships with prospects throughout their buyer’s journey.
It involves providing relevant information and interactions that help prospects move towards an educated purchase decision.
There are 6 compelling reasons why lead nurturing is important for your organisation.
01. Timing is Everything
“The early bird catches the worm.” This age-old saying holds true in sales.
Studies show that contacting a lead within 5 minutes increases the likelihood of conversion by 21 times compared to waiting 30 minutes.
Automated lead nurturing ensures timely follow-ups, capturing leads when their interest is at its peak.
02. Efficiency and Effectiveness
“Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” – Bill Gates.
However, when applied correctly, automation can revolutionize lead nurturing.
According to Gleanster Research, 50% of leads are qualified but not yet ready to buy.
Automated systems can keep these leads engaged until they are ready to make a purchase decision.
03. Higher Sales at Lower Costs
Companies that nurture leads make 50% more sales at a 33% lower cost compared to non-nurtured leads.
By automating the lead nurturing process, you can efficiently allocate resources and reduce the cost per acquisition.
04. Increased Sales Opportunities
On average, nurtured leads produce a 20% increase in sales opportunities (DemandGen).
Automated lead nurturing allows for consistent and personalized communication, which builds trust and increases the likelihood of conversion.
05. Larger Purchases
Nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases than non-nurtured leads (Annuitas Group).
The continuous engagement and education provided through automated nurturing campaigns help prospects understand the value of your offerings, leading to higher-value sales.
06. Improved Response Rates
Lead nurturing emails achieve 4-10 times the response rate compared to standalone emails (SilverPop / DemandGen Report).
Automated systems can send personalized and timely messages, significantly improving engagement rates.
Choosing the Right Lead Nurturing Platform For Your Business
Whilst the importance of lead nurturing is clear, the next step is to choose the right platform for your organisation.
There are numerous user-friendly options available, but the best choice depends on your specific needs and existing systems.
Ideally, your automated lead nurturing should be tightly integrated with or come directly from your sales CRM. This integration ensures a seamless flow of information and better alignment between marketing and sales efforts.
Furthermore, ideally this platform should allow for automation of communication across a number of different channels e.g. phone, SMS and email.
Recommendations for New Starters
If you’re just getting started with automated lead nurturing, we recommend starting simple.
The good platform you actually use is better than the perfect platform you do not.
Below are a few options that offer robust features that can help you achieve your lead nurturing goals effectively:
- Pipedrive: Known for its intuitive interface and strong CRM capabilities, Pipedrive allows for easy integration of lead nurturing workflows.
- HubSpot: HubSpot offers a free and user-friendly CRM platform that includes email marketing, automation, and a range of tools to help you nurture leads. It’s particularly suitable for beginners due to its intuitive interface and extensive support resources.
- Mailchimp: Known for its ease of use, Mailchimp provides robust email marketing and automation features that are great for beginners. It allows you to create targeted campaigns and automate follow-ups to nurture leads effectively.
- ActiveCampaign: This platform combines email marketing, automation, and CRM, making it a versatile choice for businesses looking to enhance their lead nurturing efforts.
Ok… So Where Do I Start?
Knowing where to start with automated lead nurturing sequences can be tricky, there’s few things more daunting than a blank piece of paper.
So it’s a good thing that we’ve got you covered with some done-for-you templates that you can take, amend and use immediately.
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SMS Template #1:
- Delivery: Immediate
- Sent To: {{PHONE}}
- Sent From: {{COMPANY}}
- Copy:
Hi {{FIRST NAME}}, {{YOUR-NAME}} from {{COMPANY}} here. Thanks for your enquiry about our {{OFFER}}! The next step is to have a quick chat about how we can help, so keep an eye out for my call. Chat soon, {{YOUR-NAME}}!
—–
Email Template #1:
- Delivery: Immediate
- Subject: Thanks for your enquiry & important information
- Sent From: {{COMPANY}}
- Body:
Hi {{FNAME}},
Thank you for your enquiry about {{OFFER}}! We have received your information. Here’s what you can expect next from {{COMPANY}}:
A member of our team will call to discuss your {{INDUSTRY}} needs.
Our {{INDUSTRY}} experts will provide you with the perfect solution.
You will receive a customized quote for your new {{INDUSTRY-PRODUCT}} system.
To make the most out of our first call, please review our frequently asked questions below:
Frequently asked question 1?
Response to FAQ 1.
Frequently asked question 2?
Response to FAQ 2.
Frequently asked question 3?
Response to FAQ 3.
Can’t wait to chat? Feel free to call us now at {{PHONE}}.
Thank you again for your enquiry. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
{{YOUR NAME}}
{{YOUR SIGNATURE}}
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Email Template #2:
- Delivery: 1-2 Days Post Enquiry
- Subject: Why do more {{TARGET AUDIENCE}} choose {{COMPANY}}?
- Body:
Hi {{FNAME}},
Want to know why more {{TARGET AUDIENCE}} choose {{COMPANY}}? Here are the top three reasons our customers love working with us:
Reason #1:
Description of USP #1.
Reason #2:
Description of USP #2.
Reason #3:
Description of USP #3.
I hope this gives you insight into why choosing {{COMPANY}} could be the right choice for you.
Chat soon,
{{YOUR NAME}}
P.S. If we haven’t had a chance to chat yet and you’d like to speak with someone now, give us a call at {{PHONE}}.
P.P.S. If you prefer us to call you at a specific time, hit reply and let us know when!
{{YOUR SIGNATURE}}
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Email Template #3:
- Delivery: 3-5 Days Post Enquiry
- Subject: What our customers say about us!
- Body:
Hi {{FNAME}},
{{YOUR NAME}} from {{COMPANY}} here again. Choosing the right {{INDUSTRY}} company can be challenging. Positive customer feedback can help reassure your decision.
Here’s what other {{TARGET AUDIENCE}} have to say about their experience with {{COMPANY}}:
“This is the first lovely testimonial from the landing page copy.”
– Mary from Maryland
“This is the second lovely testimonial from the landing page copy.”
– Jim from Jimtown
“This is the third lovely testimonial from the landing page copy.”
– Brad from Bradfield
I hope this gives you more insight into why choosing {{COMPANY}} is the right choice.
Chat soon,
{{CLIENT NAME}}
P.S. If we haven’t had a chance to chat yet and you’d like to speak with someone now, give us a call at {{PHONE}}.
P.P.S. If you prefer us to call you at a specific time, hit reply and let us know when!
{{CLIENT SIGNATURE}}
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In Summary
In today’s competitive market, automated lead nurturing is not just an option — it’s an absolute necessity.
By leveraging automation, you can ensure timely follow-ups, improve efficiency, increase sales opportunities, and ultimately drive higher revenue.
Investing in the right lead nurturing platform is a critical step towards achieving sustained business growth.