What Generates the Best Internet Lead?
This is an “open mike” question, but let’s start with some context (also up for discussion):
Best Internet Lead = contactable + awareness of inquiry + reasonable level of interest + willing to give application information and be presented offers
Bonus variable: turns into a customer and a sale
(I isolate this variable from the equation because this has a lot to do with sales process, product mix, and customer scenario–things in this question lead generators can’t control)
What is the answer(s)?
[Disclaimer so no one gets bent out of shape--these are only idea starters not any sort of judgment of forced categorization--BTW, comments are open so I encourage all thoughts]
- great web properties (Oversee.net/Low)
- consumer brand (LendingTree)
- quality control on affiliates and lead suppliers (LeadPoint)
- call qualified (DoublePositive)
- robust data scrubbing (JuicyLeads)
- premium banner placement (LowerMyBills)
- organic and niche web properties/methodologies (ConsumerTrack and Key Leads)
- others
Technorati Tags: lead generation, Internet leads, marketing
4 comments so far
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I think the silence is the ultimate answer here…the fact that no one has commented leads me to believe that there is no answer. I think I can say that Internet leads, in general are better than email marketing leads, but to narrow it down to types of Internet leads is a little difficult. I read this post 3 or 4 times before I started writing this comment trying to come up with an opinion. Here it is:
I think good organic placement holds priority over everything. I say this because our organic placement kills every lead source we buy from as well as our own PPC and CPM campaigns and we have a fairly unknown company (nationally speaking) and only a competent website (Better than most, but far from perfect).
The fact is that many people today are becoming more and more savvy with regards to paid and organic search. They are more comfortable trusting in Google or Yahoo to give them relevant, trustworthy results than clicking on a paid search ad.
So the short of it is Organic Search results, of which no Lead-gen company focuses on.
nice to see that someone still has an opinion on this. Organic – Organic – Organic. We all want the organic. The minor problem for marketing is simply filtering thru the cruddy companies out there that claim to have an organic pressence.
Just the two guys I wanted to bite on this question. I, of course, would tend to agree. So, the question that begs is why are more lenders not taking upon themselves to learn this part of the business? They would be in the best position to generate that lead, if nothing else as a supplement.
Arguably landing on the first page of Google is a virtual impossibility for small budgets and resources. However, could you get the top organic search for your company name? How about you local town?
My point is I am amazed at how many mortgage businesses are frustrated with the quality of mortgage leads, but don’t try to pick up the simple splash out from people seeing you name on Web form offers (like LendingTree or LowerMyBills) or even worse past clients trying to find you again.
Most have websites, few are attempting to SEO, less are attempting to actively generate, and almost know one handles their organic web traffic and leads as aggressively as they do lead buys.
This issue and lead providers is another deeper topic. Maybe we should start some commentary on why they don’t use their marketing acumen to control the mortgage search space more effectively.
Bill I agree, I am one of those that do actually pay attention to the organic search for our smaller firm. Check out “Bankruptcy mortgages” or “Foreclosure mortgages” on either Google or MSN and we’ll be anywhere from 4th – 1st in listing. Equity Direct. There are drawbacks though for trying to drive more traffic to our webpage, dup’ing pages can drop placement, etc.