Capturing the interest of potential customers is one of the toughest challenges for big and small businesses alike. Fortunately, using the best lead generation software tools can make things a lot easier.
The question is, “Which lead management software should you pick?”
There are so many options to choose from, each one claiming to be better than the rest. To help you cut through all the noise, we will take a look at some of the top lead generation tools on the market today. We will also discuss what to look for in a lead generation software tool.
A Quick Look at Today’s Top Lead Generation Software Tools
Before anything else, allow us to give you a sneak peek into some of the most popular lead generation tools today:
| Lead Generation Software | Type of Lead Generation | Key Features |
| Mailmunch | Complete marketing and lead generation platform | A comprehensive toolkit that collects leads and keeps them engaged |
| ActiveCampaign | CX automation platform | Offers the best email automation tool |
| OptinMonster | On-page lead generator | Optimized for popup campaigns |
| HubSpot | End-to-end marketing platform | More effective marketing tools thanks to a powerful CRM |
| ConvertBox | On-page lead generator | Launches personalized and engaging opt-in forms |
| TrustPulse | Social proof notification plugin | Easier lead generation process by building trust with visitors |
| Mailchimp | Email marketing tool and more | Automates email marketing |
| ManyChat | Chat software platform | Enables instant communication at any time |
| SeedProd | On-page lead generation tool | Landing page specialist |
| Qualaroo | On-page lead generation tool | An effective customer-feedback tool |
| Trafft | Service business management tool | Online scheduling and appointment booking tools |
| WPForms | On-page lead generation tool | Helps obtain key customer insights |
| ProProfs Survey Maker | On-page lead generation tool | Captures important user information to turn into leads |
| Google Ads | Advertising tool | Lets you target specific keywords to reach your target audience |
| Constant Contact | Email marketing tool | A marketing automation tool that drives engagement and boosts sales |
| Picreel | On-page generation tool | Popup builder with many onsite targeting and segmentation options |
Best Lead Generation Software and Tools
There are different types of lead generation tools that can help attract your target audience, nurture leads, and boost sales. In many cases, you need to use a combination of these tools to generate the results that you want. Here’s a closer look at some of the top options today:
1. Mailmunch
When talking about lead generation, one of the first names that often come up is Mailmunch. It is a comprehensive marketing and lead generation platform with various toolkits for different purposes.
A good example is its extensive selection of opt-in forms consisting of popovers, scroll boxes, embedded forms, and more. These various form types can captivate your target audience and help you collect leads.
There are several templates for you to choose from, so you do not have to start from scratch. That said, you could play around with the background, colors, and fonts to match your brand voice and attract more eyeballs.
You can also use Mailmunch to send stunning emails that will engage and nurture your prospects until they are ready to make a purchase.
On top of all these, this site has a landing page builder that uses a highly intuitive drag-and-drop method. Even if you do not have any experience, you can create pages that attract traffic and boost sign-ups or conversions.
There are a lot more lead generation features you can enjoy through Mailmunch, from marketing analytics to customized coupons. It is truly a complete lead generation toolkit that can draw prospects and keep them engaged.
2. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform designed to help businesses grow by engaging their customers at a meaningful level. It arguably has the best email automation tool today, which is one of the main reasons it is so popular.
That said, it has so much more to offer, including:
- Website tracking
- Subscription forms
- Marketing automation
- Dynamic content
- Landing pages
- CRM and pipeline automation
- Split testing
- Predictive sending and content
If you look at its suite of services, you will find that it has something for every stage of the customer journey. It is no wonder that over 180,000 businesses across 170 countries trust it to take them to the next level.
While the platform is pretty powerful on its own, you can also integrate it with over 850 other apps. This includes Microsoft, Shopify, Facebook, Salesforce, and many other big names. By unlocking ActiveCampaign’s true potential, you can deliver a personalized customer experience at every customer touchpoint.
3. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is one of the most popular lead generation tools when it comes to building email lists and converting visits into sales. Founded in 2013, it took the marketing industry by storm and quickly established itself as one of the go-to tools for businesses.
At its core, OptinMonster helps capture emails from visitors by using lightbox popups, floating bars, scroll boxes, and more. What makes it stand out is that it has all the other features that you could possibly need to generate leads.
Whatever type of website you are running or whatever kind of lead you are trying to capture, OptinMonster has you covered.
There was a time when people found popups distracting and even annoying. That is why it saw very little success in terms of generating leads. Tools like OptinMonster changed all of that. It helps you engage more of your target audience without being too aggressive or pushy.
Its secret is that it does not bombard visitors with popups at every turn. Instead, it allows you to trigger your campaigns in places where conversion is more likely. What’s more, it is very easy to use. You can start generating leads right away with its beginner-friendly builder.
4. HubSpot
HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing software with a suite of tools designed to increase traffic, generate leads, and maximize conversion. It helps businesses launch customer-focused campaigns that go beyond traditional ads, landing pages, or thank-you emails.
With HubSpot, you can provide a seamless experience for your customers from end to end. It starts with the ad tool, which allows you to target your ideal customers right in the networks where they congregate.
Next, you can use it to create compelling landing pages complete with engaging web forms, live chat, and other features. Once you get your prospect’s information, you can send them a personalized email without enlisting the help of an IT expert or designer.
HubSpot is a powerful marketing tool, but it is surprisingly easy to use. Plus, it has the HubSpot Academy, where you can learn everything you need to know about lead generation and more.
Its paid plan is a bit more expensive than some other platforms, but its comprehensive toolkit will justify the price tag. Also, it offers a free trial if you create an account.
5. ConvertBox
ConvertBox is a relatively new self-hosted SaaS tool designed to help businesses capture emails from their website visitors. It deploys highly targeted opt-in forms based on the user’s site activity, ESP/CRM data, and other information.
This method allows ConvertBox to launch personalized messages that are more engaging and likely to succeed in capturing important customer information. On top of that, it has a collection of other features that can boost your lead generation and conversion performance. This includes A/B testing, real-time tracking, and online forms.
All these features allow you to gain powerful insights that you can use to determine what is working and what is not. They also help you customize your capture forms and even create a sales funnel that is tailor-made for each of your visitors.
Even with all of these features, you will be pleased to know that ConvertBox is quite easy to navigate. Its digital editor uses a simple drag-and-drop method, making it easy to create opt-in forms that match your brand’s personality.
6. TrustPulse
It’s hard to generate leads if people don’t trust you, and what better way to build it than with social proof? TrustPulse is a unique notification plugin because it shows what real people do on your site. So, when someone buys one of your products or signs up for a newsletter, others will know.
Once people see that many of your visitors trust you enough to engage with your brand, they will follow suit. In addition, the more visits you convert into leads or sales, the more attractive your website will be to new visitors.
While the idea behind this tool is simple, it does offer a number of cutting-edge features.
It is capable of smart targeting using advanced rules and timing control. You can also customize many of the design elements, allowing you to stay consistent in terms of branding. To top it all off, TrustPulse is easy to set up and does not require any coding.
7. MailChimp
If you are a blogger or a small business owner, chances are you have heard of MailChimp. It is a wildly popular email marketing and marketing automation tool designed to turn emails into revenue.
MailChimp allows you to send the right messages to your prospects at the right time by automating your email marketing efforts. On top of this, you can also embed a number of CRM features, although this is only available in the latest version of the tool.
While MailChimp is known mostly for email marketing, it has a lot more tricks up its sleeves. It can provide AI-assisted suggestions to help make your content more appealing to your target audience. Another cool feature is its target segmentation, which allows you to identify high-value prospects.
If you want access to additional features, you can integrate MailChimp with other equally powerful tools. This way, you can unlock more data and make better business decisions.
Please note that MailChimp offers a free trial, although it is not as feature-packed as it used to be. That said, it has a budget-friendly pricing structure, so you won’t have to break the bank if you decide to upgrade.
8. ManyChat
Around 41% of all customers prefer live chat over voice mail or email when it comes to communicating with a business for support. One of the many things that make this mode of communication so popular is instant response.
It has an average wait time of 46 seconds, which is much faster than waiting for an email or trying to get through via telephone. So, if you want to make it easier for potential customers to reach you, this channel of communication should be available on your site.
By giving your visitors a seamless user experience, you stand a higher chance of turning them into leads. When it comes to chat marketing, no other lead generation tool comes close to ManyChat.
ManyChat is one of the biggest chatbot software platforms on the market, serving some of today’s biggest networks. It helps you generate more leads by giving you an automated point of contact.
Even if your agents are out, your site users will be able to get answers to some of their common questions. With this capability, you do not have to miss out on any opportunity to interact with a potential customer.
9. SeedProd
SeedProd is a specialist when it comes to landing page building. It uses a drag-and-drop editor that requires no coding and allows you to create captivating landing pages within minutes.
One of its many strengths is its ease of use. It has over 80 blocks to choose from, so you can display either static or dynamic content as you see fit. There are also more than 150 templates at your disposal, allowing you to build anything from sales pages to opt-in campaigns.
Whatever device your target audience uses, you can count on these landing pages to look good. All your messages will appear crystal clear, regardless of the size of their screens. What’s more, its code is optimized for search engines, so your pages will rank with Google and become more visible online.
While SeedProd is mainly a landing page builder, you can unlock other functionalities by integrating it with other apps. For instance, you can use it along with MailChimp or ActiveCampaign to capture emails from visitors.
10. Qualaroo
Surveys are very effective in terms of gathering actionable insights from your target audience. They translate people’s opinions and behaviors into hard numbers, making it easier for you to make specific business decisions. The catch is that you have to execute them properly.
That is where tools like Qualaroo come in. It is a customer and user feedback software that is more effective than email surveys. Basically, it allows you to ask the right questions at the right times on-site using popups.
These popups are like chatbots that try to engage users and ask them what their preferences are. In effect, it is like you are launching mini-surveys. It is a very important feature because, while you want to get useful data, you wouldn’t want to be too intrusive.
Another thing you would like about Qualaroo is that it uses AI-based methods, including sentiment or text analysis. It will do the heavy lifting for you when it comes to data analysis.
11. Trafft
Trafft is primarily a scheduling platform designed to help you organize your business. It supports online booking and payments, virtual appointments, and more. You can also use it to send reminders to existing and potential customers and manage services.
With Trafft, you can really boost your lead generation software stack. It helps you provide visitors with a seamless booking experience, increasing visitor-to-lead conversion and customer retention rates.
To date, Trafft has helped over 50,000 businesses process over eight million appointments and more than $1.8 million in payments monthly.
12. WPForms
WPForms is another lead generation tool that allows you to obtain key customer insights. It is a highly intuitive WordPress form builder you can use to create survey forms in a matter of minutes. You can also use it to build other types of forms, such as:
- Contact forms
- Payment forms
- Newsletter forms
- Registration forms
WPForms has over 400 pre-made templates for you to choose from. You can take your pick and tweak it based on your unique needs and preferences. It does not require any coding, so you can easily embed it in blog posts, sidebar widgets, and more.
13. ProProfs Survey Maker
If you are looking for a reliable WPForms alternative, you can try ProProfs Survey Maker. It is another versatile tool that can help you launch compelling surveys that turn into high-quality leads.
ProProfs has a library of over 100 templates, all of which are made by industry experts. It also has more than 100,000 questions ready for you to use. With these and other helpful features, anyone can create surveys and web forms in under one minute. You can then use them to capture key user data, which you can convert into leads.
14. Google Ads
Google is hands-down the biggest search engine platform in the world, controlling as much as 92.47% of the market. Its ad revenues, which amounted to $256.73 billion in 2021, account for the majority of the tech giant’s earnings.
So, if you want to put up an ad for certain keywords, it is safe to say that Google Ads should be your top choice. Note that search engine optimization or SEO is a reliable marketing strategy that you should not ignore.
That said, it takes time to see the results of an SEO initiative. Launching PPC ad campaigns helps you generate tons of leads quickly, allowing you to stay competitive while waiting for your SEO efforts to kick in.
15. Constant Contact
Are you having a hard time choosing between SendGrid and MailChimp? If so, Constant Contact would be a great choice.
Constant Contact is an email marketing and automation tool that can help you stay connected to your leads until they become customers. It has a simple interface that is very easy to use, and it can help you craft professional-looking emails for your prospects at the same time.
After launching your email campaign, you can also use Constant Contact to track your performance. Doing this allows you to identify what is working and what is not so that you can make the necessary adjustments.
As an added bonus, Constant Contact comes with a tool that lets you sort, add, or manage your email contacts in many ways.
16. Picreel
Picreel is an online form builder designed to increase website engagement and maximize lead generation. Like Qualaroo, it specializes in building delightful popups and other types of online forms.
What makes it so effective is that it offers many onsite targeting and segmentation options. This way, you can connect with prospects who are more likely to buy your products or use your services.
Picreel comes with a CSS popup editor that is easy to navigate, even for novice builders. It also has an extensive library of templates that can get you started quickly with popup marketing. Whatever industry you are in or the type of lead you are chasing, this tool has you covered.
What Is Lead Generation?
First things first: All of your existing customers went through many stages before they bought your product or used your services. One of the first steps they took from having no awareness of your brand is showing interest in it.
In other words, they became potential customers or leads.
Lead generation is the process of interacting with your target audience until they become willing to give up important customer data. You can then use this information to maintain contact with them until they become buyers or clients.
It is only one of several stages in your sales funnel, but without it, nothing else can take place. That is why generating leads is often the main focus of a company. This is as true for big corporations as it is for small businesses. In fact, lead generation ad spending reached around $3.05 billion in 2021, and that’s just in the US.
Now, to generate leads, you usually have to go through the following steps:
Step 1: Identifying your target audience or people who are likely to buy from you
Step 2: Nurturing your relationship with existing and potential customers
Step 3: Evaluating potential leads using a scoring model
Step 4: Turning leads into customers
Step 5: Identifying the weak points in your lead generation system and coming up with ways to strengthen them
Like the modern-day sales process, it is not linear. It is a continuous cycle of adjustment and improvement, taking you closer and closer to your ultimate goal as a business. Once you go through all five steps, take the lessons you’ve learned and do everything again.
Why Should Businesses Use a Lead Generation Tool?
It is hard to generate leads consistently. However, your sales cycle will break down without it. So, how does using the best lead generation software fit into all of these? Here is a rundown of the many reasons you should jump on this particular bandwagon:
1. Better Understanding of Customer Behavior
Do you remember the first step of your lead generation process? Before anything else, you need to find out who your target audience is to know who to focus on.
The problem is that people are not just going to give you information of their own accord. What you need to do is reach out to them. You need to ask the right questions to get the right information. More importantly, you need to understand their pain points.
That is where a powerful lead generation tool comes in. The best lead generation tools will make it easier for you to obtain the information you need.
With better insights into how paying customers think, you can adjust your sales pipeline, and your sales teams can come up with a better pitch. You would also find out which product features to highlight and which ones to enhance. By making all these improvements, you increase your chances of turning visits into leads and leads into purchases.
2. Better Qualified Leads
While it is important to generate leads, you can’t stop there. You still have to guide them through your sales funnel until they become loyal customers. However, this is easier said than done.
To illustrate, the average conversion for all marketing teams is a measly two to five percent. These numbers apply not only to small businesses but mid-sized and big companies, as well. So, how do you maximize your chances of turning your potential customer’s maybe into a yes?
One thing you can do is to have not only more qualified leads but better ones. For this to happen, you need a solid lead qualification strategy, and it is exactly what you’ll get with a lead generation tool.
The best lead generation solutions use advanced lead scoring systems based on engagement and other personal data. It allows them to identify who among your potential leads is more likely to buy from you. From there, you would know which prospects to pursue and which ones to leave for later.
3. Improves Marketing Campaigns
Launching winning marketing campaigns costs money. Naturally, you would want to squeeze every possible lead you can get out of each one. To maximize your ROI, you need to launch effective lead generation campaigns that draw prospects in droves.
One of the best ways to ensure your lead generation campaign is robust is to use lead gen software. These tools are capable of high-level analytics reporting, allowing you to see which lead generation campaigns work and which ones don’t.
Using this information, you can identify the things that made your marketing efforts successful. From there, it is just a matter of reapplying them so that you can generate similarly positive results.
4. Saves Time and Energy
Using the best lead generation tools eliminates most of the grunt work that your sales and marketing teams have to do. They won’t have to spend too much time chasing down customers for their information or researching leads.
Even better, they won’t have to waste their energy on cold leads, thanks to an improved lead qualification process. Instead, they can spend more hours on other value-adding activities that will bring more business growth. It is small details like these that will give you a leg up on your competition.
5. Integrates With Customer Relationship Management Tools
Another great thing about using sales lead generation tools is that you can integrate them with other software systems. A good example is your customer relationship management (CRM) tool, which can help ensure that none of your leads will fall through the cracks.
Another advantage that CRM integration offers is that it lets you update your system automatically. So, whenever new leads come in, whether they are from email or web forms, you will see all of them.
Having access to this much information will give you a bird’s eye view of all your sales activities. It will also make it easier for your sales teams and marketing teams to align their goals.
6. Allows You To Spend More Time Closing the Sale
Having access to a sales acceleration tool will make the lives of your staff much easier. They won’t have to get stuck on researching and evaluating leads, leaving them more time to close deals instead.
Note that not all leads are created equal. Some prospects are ready to buy, while others need more convincing.
A good lead generation tool will do most of the heavy lifting for you by nurturing your leads automatically. This way, you only add the most qualified leads to your sales pipeline, maximizing your chances of converting them.
What To Consider When Shopping Around for Lead Generation Software
A quick online search will show you that there are so many lead generation tools available right now. Here are some ways to narrow down your options and make your decision-making process much easier:
1. Is it easy to use?
The first thing you need to remember is that everyone in your sales and even marketing teams will be using this tool. While most people today know a thing or two about computers, not everyone has the same skill level.
You do not know who will be able to use the software right away. For those who would need training, you won’t be sure how long it would take for them to be comfortable using the tool. In any case, you can’t afford to wait around too long for your team’s skills to catch up with the technology that you use.
To minimize this potential gap, make sure that the lead generation tool you get is user-friendly and intuitive. This way, even if you have to train your team, they won’t need too much time to be productive using the software.
2. Can you integrate it with other apps?
Most businesses today use a suite of apps for different processes, from CRM to communication. If your company is one of them, you need a lead generation tool that is easy to integrate into your current systems.
You would not want to have any downtime just to add your new software. Also, you do not want your staff to switch from one browser to another every time they have to get into different platforms. This is especially true if you operate in a fast-paced industry where every minute counts.
To make sure the transition is seamless and painless, look for a lead generation tool that is compatible with your current apps.
3. Is it effective at analyzing data?
Every business decision you make should be supported by data. Whether it’s as big as making a branding change or as simple as changing the web form font, you need to be able to justify it. Things are no different when it comes to lead generation.
Before you make any changes in any of your marketing campaigns, you need to have complete and accurate information.
If you are shopping around for a lead generation tool, make sure it has solid analytics and reporting features. This way, you have a more realistic and updated view of the situation, and you will be able to make the right moves.
4. Is it scalable?
If you are like other business owners, you dream of growing your company and expanding your operations all the time. This is true whether you run an online business or a brick-and-mortar establishment.
You should keep this in mind when you are considering which lead generation tool to get. Why is this important?
If your business is getting bigger and your email list is growing, you wouldn’t want to have to switch to another software. It would be more expensive, not to mention inconvenient. So, your lead generation tool must be scalable and capable of handling more data if necessary.
5. Can you afford it?
As mentioned, there is an endless list of lead generation tools you can choose from. They all come with their own pricing structures, so there is surely one that will fit every budget.
Of course, you need to pick a software tool you can afford. You also need to consider the value you are getting in return for your money. You wouldn’t want to feel shortchanged with your purchase, even if it does not cost that much.
6. Does it have a solid customer support infrastructure?
Nobody is perfect, and no system is either. Even if you do end up getting the best technology there is, some issues are bound to come up. The question is, how fast will you be able to resolve it?
To answer this with confidence, you must know that you can count on the provider’s help when needed. In other words, they must have a solid customer support infrastructure.
When shopping around for a lead generation tool, check out its customer care service. Are they accessible through multiple channels? Do they provide round-the-clock assistance? Does their website have resources you can use? If your answers to these questions are no, then you need to look for other lead generation tools.
Using the Right Tools for the Job
If you want people to give you their customer information, you have to make it worth their while. That said, this is easier said than done.
Fortunately, like all other pursuits, there are tools that can make the job a lot easier. Once you find the right combination of lead generation tools, things will fall into place. So, take your pick from the software solutions outlined above, and before you know it, you’d be a lead generation pro.
Lead Generation Software FAQs
1. Is lead generation a marketing or sales activity?
Lead generation tools are both marketing and sales tools. You use them to build materials that will put your products in front of your target audience. Once you have your leads, your marketing team will nurture them until they make a purchase.
2. Are lead generation tools worth it?
It’s hard to compete for the attention of the consumers. Equally challenging is the task of identifying which potential customers to engage. Lead generation tools can help you do both, so they are essential to every business.
3. Which tool is best for generating leads?
To find the best lead generation tool, you need to understand what you need to improve on. Are you having trouble finding new customers? Do you have difficulty converting? Once you figure out the answer to these and other questions, you’ll find the tool that meets your needs.
4. Why is it so hard for businesses to generate leads?
The main culprit is competition, as there are many similar businesses vying for the attention of the same customers. Another reason is that it’s hard to get, analyze, and use the right information to engage with prospects.
5. How do you get more leads?
There are a number of strategies you can use, from email marketing and PPC ads to content marketing and SEO.
