In the last 10 years, the Internet and Social Media have altered the marketing landscape. However, some things remain the same, including the reality that lead generation is how a company motivates prospective customers to make a purchase.
In her engaging, almost conversational style, Ruth Stevens provides a clear definition for what is and isn't a lead. She explains the science behind lead generation and outlines clear steps that any marketer can follow.
Rather than inundate the reader with endless case studies, those chosen are targeted to showcase how a company used a specific concept to achieve success. The samples of what made a specific campaign work are both interesting and informative.
Once she demonstrates the necessity to plan a lead-generation campaign, Stevens provides information on the tools a marketer needs in his or her arsenal of tools in order to achieve success.
In our ADD-world, Stevens promotes use of lead-generation basics such as databases and paying attention to best practices to develop the most effective plan. She provides ample charts and tables the reader can replicate to measure the cost, effectiveness and rationalization for each metric or media chosen. One of my favorite points at this junction is that Stevens does not advocate any one metric or media choice as the Holy Grail; instead, she clearly delineates the uses and best use for a plethora of choices.
Embracing the changing vista in marketing, Stevens explains how to use content as a valuable source of advice to entice potential customers to raise their hand. She demystifies the landing page and promotes the use of several to extend your reach and attract a broader range of leads.
She then explains how to measure the potential of the lead and provides clear steps on nurturing the lead throughout the buying process. She goes so far as to offer three easy steps for lead qualification success.
For a thin book (just under 200 pages), the subject of lead generation is dissected and diced so that both the neophyte and expert will find something new and exciting. By embracing how the Internet has changed marketing, Stevens demonstrates how certain social networking tools can be used to help develop prospective leads. What I specifically enjoyed at this junction was the clear explanation for what social media tools could and can't offer you lead generation efforts.