In the dynamic landscape of modern marketing and sales, businesses are on a perpetual quest to perfect Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). LeadRouter stands out as an exemplary advocate of this principle, using it as a guiding force not just for their product but also for their own sales cycle. Unlike many companies that fixate on conversions from leads to pipelines, LeadRouter adopts a holistic approach, striving to optimize and measure conversion rates at each distinct stage of the marketing funnel. To provide a comprehensive insight into their approach, we’ll delve into the six primary stages that constitute the LeadRouter funnel, explore their methodologies, and understand the critical role of data and benchmarks in this continuous journey.
I. Building Trust and Awareness: The “BRAND” Stage
The conversion journey commences even before a lead is generated. In LeadRouter’s nomenclature, this is the “BRAND” stage, where they embark on a journey to build brand awareness and establish trust with potential customers. Their approach involves conveying their values and strategic messaging. To optimize conversion rates at this initial stage, LeadRouter employs various strategies, including A/B testing on landing pages, refining messaging, and precisely targeting ad audiences.
This stage is crucial as it shapes the prospect’s perception and sets the tone for the entire conversion journey. When prospects encounter LeadRouter, their first impression is formed during this stage, impacting their trust and willingness to engage further.
II. Rolling Out the Red Carpet: The “ENGAGE” Stage
Having successfully established trust and awareness in the “BRAND” stage, LeadRouter proceeds to the “ENGAGE” phase. Here, they go beyond conventional lead generation and embrace what they term “meeting handraisers.” These are individuals who express their interest in booking a meeting through actions like filling out a demo or contact form.
To optimize conversion rates during the “ENGAGE” stage, LeadRouter relies heavily on automation, facilitated through tools like Form Concierge. The use of automated qualification processes ensures that only the most promising leads are nurtured further, streamlining the process.
In addition to automation, LeadRouter places significant emphasis on messaging, ad audience targeting, and outreach strategies. The alignment between marketing and sales is meticulously maintained through up-to-date ideal customer profiles and persona documents.
III. Sealing the Deal: The “ACCELERATE” Stage
As prospects advance further into the conversion funnel, LeadRouter enters the “ACCELERATE” stage, where the primary objective is to close deals. This stage emphasizes the importance of making the booking process as seamless as possible for qualified leads. LeadRouter leverages automation tools, such as Form Concierge, to facilitate this, ensuring that qualified leads can easily book meetings.
One of the noteworthy challenges in this stage is addressing any drop-off that may occur between qualified leads and booked meetings. LeadRouter delves into the intricacies of meeting scheduling automation and leads follow-up processes to optimize this stage.
IV. Reviving Closed Opportunities: The “RESTART” Stage
Conversion journeys often have their twists and turns, with some prospects who initially didn’t convert resurfacing at a later stage. LeadRouter dubs this the “RESTART” stage, and it’s all about revisiting previously closed opportunities. Here, the objective is to re-engage with prospects who didn’t convert during earlier interactions.
One potent strategy used by LeadRouter is the deployment of reminder emails. These reminders play a pivotal role in ensuring that prospects who have scheduled meetings show up, preventing missed opportunities. Furthermore, the consistent delivery of value throughout the process keeps prospects engaged and excited about the prospect of a meeting.
V. Maximizing Platform Utilization: The “EXPAND” Stage
“EXPAND” is a stage where LeadRouter focuses on helping customers make the most of their platform across various teams. This stage involves an in-depth analysis of held meetings. LeadRouter’s Account Executives evaluate whether the prospect is a good fit for their tool. Based on the data, they might revise the criteria for disqualification.
This stage is instrumental not only in maximizing the utility of the platform but also in refining LeadRouter’s understanding of what constitutes a qualified lead. It serves as a feedback loop that helps to enhance the entire conversion process.
VI. Sustaining Customer Loyalty: The “RENEW” Stage
The final stage in the LeadRouter funnel is the “RENEW” stage, which centers on ensuring that customers continue to derive value from their products. This stage is of paramount importance for customer retention. LeadRouter invests in continuous customer research, transparent communication of the product’s value, and gathering feedback to ensure that customers remain loyal and satisfied.
At each stage of the LeadRouter funnel, there’s a clear focus on both optimizing the current process and gathering data and insights that inform subsequent stages. It’s a cycle of continuous improvement that ensures that conversion rates remain at the forefront of LeadRouter’s strategy.
Standards: The Cornerstone of CRO
One of the key aspects of LeadRouter’s approach to CRO is the role of data and benchmarks. They emphasize that the specific benchmarks for conversion rates can be elusive, as they depend on various criteria like Ideal Customer Profiles (ICP), Average Contract Value (ACV), sales cycle, and the type of tool.
Nevertheless, LeadRouter’s approach is rooted in the principle that the focus should always be on consistently improving these numbers. They do this by meticulously fine-tuning messaging and targeting to ensure that a higher percentage of hand-raisers become qualified. Simultaneously, they focus on presenting a clear value proposition and creating a seamless booking flow, thereby enhancing the percentage of qualified leads converting to meetings.
LeadRouter generously shares some conversion rate data from the IT/SaaS sector:
- More than 80% of those requesting a meeting are qualified.
- Most customers achieve a conversion rate of close to 89% for qualified meetings.
These statistics are primarily based on bookings through the form. LeadRouter acknowledges that some qualified prospects book meetings through AE follow-ups, which might not be captured by these numbers.
Conclusion: The Continuous Journey of CRO
In conclusion, LeadRouter’s approach to Conversion Rate Optimization is a testament to the power of a multifaceted, data-driven, and customer-centric strategy. Their emphasis on optimizing and measuring conversion rates at every stage, from building brand awareness to sustaining customer loyalty, serves as a model for businesses looking to enhance their CRO throughout the customer conversion journey.
The continuous journey of CRO is marked by meticulous attention to messaging, automation, and data analysis. This journey not only results in happier prospects but also in a streamlined and efficient process that ultimately leads to a healthier bottom line. LeadRouter’s commitment to ongoing improvement and data-driven decision-making is a valuable lesson for companies seeking to excel in the art of Conversion Rate Optimization.