What are B2B lead generation tools?
B2B lead generation tools are software platforms and services designed to help businesses attract and identify potential customers in the business-to-business (B2B) market. These tools streamline the process of finding, qualifying, and engaging prospective buyers, ultimately helping businesses generate more sales.
There are two main types of B2B lead generation tools:
- Inbound lead generation tools: These tools help you attract leads to your website and convert them into qualified leads.
- Outbound lead generation tools: These tools help you find and proactively reach out to potential customers through various channels like email, social media, or phone calls.
Here are some specific examples of B2B lead generation tools:
Inbound lead generation tools:
- Landing page builders: Platforms like LeadPages or Unbounce help you create high-converting landing pages that capture leads through contact forms.
- CRM software: Tools like HubSpot or Salesforce help you manage your leads, track their progress through the sales funnel, and nurture relationships.
- SEO tools: Platforms like SEMrush or Ahrefs help you optimize your website and content for search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
- Email marketing tools: Services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact help you create and send targeted email campaigns to reach your ideal audience.
Outbound lead generation tools:
- Lead databases: Platforms like ZoomInfo or Cognism provide access to comprehensive databases of B2B contacts, including contact information and firmographic data.
- Social media marketing tools: Tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social help you manage your social media presence and identify potential leads on social platforms.
- Sales intelligence tools: Services like Clearbit or Discoverly help you gather valuable information about potential customers, such as their interests, budget, and decision-makers.
- Email outreach tools: Platforms like Outreach or Groove allow you to automate and personalize your email outreach to potential customers.
The best B2B lead generation tools for your business will depend on your specific needs, budget, and target audience. It’s important to carefully consider your goals and resources before selecting a tool.
19 best B2B lead generation tools
The best tools for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Here are a few of the most popular options:
Tool | Website | Category | Price Range (USD/Month) | Key Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leadfeeder | https://www.leadfeeder.com/ | Website Visitor Identification | $29 – $999 | Identify companies visiting your website, with contact details and firmographics |
Cognism | https://www.cognism.com/ | Sales Intelligence & Lead Data | $299 – $4999 | Access verified B2B contact data and build targeted lead lists |
LinkedIn Sales Navigator | https://www.linkedin.com/sales/ssi | Social Selling & Lead Generation | $65 – $135 | Find qualified leads on LinkedIn, save leads to CRM, and get lead recommendations |
HubSpot Marketing Hub | https://www.hubspot.com/products/marketing | Marketing Automation & Lead Nurturing | $45 – $3,600 | Create landing pages, manage email campaigns, score leads, and nurture them with workflows |
Zendesk Sell | https://www.zendesk.com/sell/ | CRM & Lead Management | $39 – $199 | Manage leads, track sales pipeline, automate tasks, and integrate with other tools |
Pipedrive | https://www.pipedrive.com/ | CRM & Sales Pipeline Management | $29 – $99 | Visually manage your sales pipeline, track deals, and collaborate with your team |
Saleshandy | https://www.saleshandy.com/ | Email Automation & Lead Nurturing | $47 – $199 | Automate email sequences, personalize outreach, and track email performance |
OptinMonster | https://optinmonster.com/ | Lead Capture & Conversion Optimization | $9 – $499 | Create popups, opt-in forms, and landing pages to capture leads |
Marketo Engage | https://business.adobe.com/products/marketo/adobe-marketo.html | Marketing Automation & Lead Nurturing | $3,000+ | Advanced marketing automation platform for large enterprises, with complex lead nurturing workflows |
Demandbase | https://www.demandbase.com/ | Account-Based Marketing (ABM) | $25,000+ | Identify and target high-value accounts, personalize campaigns, and track engagement |
RollWorks | https://www.rollworks.com/ | Account-Based Marketing (ABM) | $12,000+ | Build targeted ABM campaigns, score accounts, and measure campaign impact |
LeadSquared | https://www.leadsquared.com/ | CRM & Lead Management | $25 – $199 | Manage leads, automate workflows, track sales pipeline, and integrate with other tools |
AeroLeads | https://aeroleads.com/ | Lead Generation & Prospecting | $49 – $199 | Find contact details for B2B professionals, build prospecting lists, and verify email addresses |
LeadFuze | https://www.leadfuze.com/ | Lead Generation & Prospecting | $49 – $299 | Find leads based on keywords and filters, build targeted lists, and export data to CRM |
Outfunnel | https://outfunnel.com/ | Sales Engagement & Outreach | $49 – $199 | Automate email outreach sequences, personalize messages, and track engagement metrics |
ZoomInfo | https://www.zoominfo.com/ | Sales Intelligence & Lead Data | $299 – $4999 | Access comprehensive B2B contact data and firmographics, build targeted lists, and enrich existing data |
Clearbit | https://clearbit.com/ | Sales Intelligence & Lead Enrichment | $49 – $2999 | Enrich your existing data with firmographics, technographics, and contact details |
Unbounce | https://unbounce.com/ | Landing Page Builder & Lead Capture | $80 – $325 | Create high-converting landing pages, track conversions, and optimize for lead generation |
Hunter.io | https://hunter.io/ | Email Finding & Verification | $49 – $199 | Find email addresses for B2B professionals, verify accuracy, and build email lists |
These are just a few of the many B2B lead generation tools options. When choosing tools, it’s important to consider your specific needs and budget. It’s also a good idea to try a few options before deciding.
Which platform is best for lead generation?
Function | Platform | Description |
---|---|---|
Overall Best Lead Generation: | HubSpot Marketing Hub | Powerful all-in-one platform for landing pages, email marketing, lead scoring, CRM, and analytics. Great for businesses of all sizes. |
Best CRM & Lead Management: | Pipedrive | Simple and visual CRM with strong lead capture, pipeline management, and forecasting features. Perfect for sales teams seeking focus and efficiency. |
Best Marketing Automation: | Marketo Engage | Feature-rich platform for lead nurturing, email marketing, campaign management, personalization, and analytics. Ideal for large companies with complex marketing needs. |
Best Website Visitor Intelligence: | Leadfeeder | Identifies website visitors, reveals company information and contact details, and tracks engagement. Helpful for understanding website traffic and identifying potential leads. |
Best Sales Intelligence & Lead Data: | Cognism | Provides verified B2B contact data, lead scoring, intent data, and campaign targeting tools. Excellent for sales teams targeting specific accounts and personas. |
Best Social Media Lead Generation: | LinkedIn Sales Navigator | Advanced LinkedIn search, lead recommendations, lead outreach tools, and account insights. Essential for B2B companies relying heavily on LinkedIn for lead generation. |
Best Conversational Marketing & Lead Generation: | Outfunnel | Live chat, chatbot lead capture, personalized chat interactions, and marketing automation. Ideal for businesses wanting to engage website visitors proactively and convert them into leads. |
Best Account-Based Marketing (ABM): | Demandbase | Advanced account targeting, intent data, personalization, campaign measurement, and integrations. Suitable for enterprise companies with targeted ABM strategies. |
Best B2B Intent Data & Audience Insights: | Bombora | Provides deep B2B intent data, audience segmentation, campaign targeting, lead scoring, and reporting. Valuable for understanding buyer intent and reaching relevant companies. |
Best Market Research & Buyer Intent Data: | G2 Crowd | Offers buyer intent data, lead generation, market research reports, vendor comparison, and reviews. Useful for gaining market insights and targeting ideal customers. |
10 best free tools for B2B lead generation
Here’s a table outlining some of the best free B2B lead generation tools, their categories, and the key features offered in their free plans:
Tool Name | Type of Tool | Free Features | Website |
---|---|---|---|
HubSpot CRM | CRM & Website Analytics | 1,000 CRM contacts, email marketing for up to 2,000 contacts, basic landing page builder, website visitor tracking | https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm |
Hunter.io | Email Finder | 25 email searches per month, 50 email verifications per month | https://hunter.io/ |
Social Media Network | Access to profiles of millions of professionals, basic lead prospecting features, join relevant groups and engage with potential customers | https://www.linkedin.com/ | |
Google Search Console | SEO Tool | Monitor website search performance, identify keywords driving traffic, analyze backlinks | https://search.google.com/search-console/about |
Canva | Graphic Design Tool | Create free visuals like infographics, social media graphics, and presentations to attract leads | https://www.canva.com/ |
Hotjar | Website Heatmap & User Recording | Basic heatmaps, analyze visitor recordings, track scroll depth and click behavior on your website | https://www.hotjar.com/ |
Mailchimp | Email Marketing | Up to 2,000 contacts, create basic email campaigns, landing page builder | https://mailchimp.com/ |
Zapier | Automation Tool | Automate basic workflows between different tools and services (e.g., send leads captured via forms to your CRM) | https://zapier.com/ |
Social Media Network | Connect with potential customers and industry influencers, share valuable content, participate in relevant conversations | https://twitter.com/?lang=en | |
Quora | Q&A Platform | Answer questions related to your expertise, build brand awareness, attract qualified leads | https://www.quora.com/ |
Bonus: Check out free trials of paid tools like SEMrush, Leadfeeder, and Cognism to access additional features and explore their functionalities before committing to a paid plan.
Remember, the best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and goals. Experiment with different tools and find a combination that fits your budget and generates valuable leads for your B2B business.
How do you generate B2B leads?
B2B lead generation software can be a powerful tool to generate B2B leads. Here’s how:
1. Hyper-target your ideal customer profile (ICP):
- Use tools like Cognism or ZoomInfo to build detailed buyer personas and identify companies that perfectly match your ICP.
- Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn Sales Navigator to target key decision-makers within those companies.
- Tailor your landing pages, content, and email campaigns to resonate with the specific needs and challenges of your target audience.
2. Content Marketing with Lead Magnets:
- Create high-quality content like white papers, case studies, ebooks, or webinars that address your target audience’s pain points and interests.
- Offer these valuable resources as lead magnets in exchange for contact information through strategically placed landing pages and forms.
- Leverage tools like HubSpot Marketing Hub or Marketo Engage to automate content distribution and track lead capture effectiveness.
3. Leverage Data-Driven Personalization:
- Use lead scoring tools to prioritize high-quality leads based on engagement, firmographics, and website behavior.
- Personalize your email marketing and outreach efforts based on lead score and individual demographics.
- Employ dynamic landing pages and website content that adapt to the visitor’s profile and interests.
4. Embrace Multi-Channel Lead Generation:
- Don’t rely on just one channel. Combine website visitor identification tools like Leadfeeder with social media lead generation platforms like LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
- Integrate email marketing campaigns with conversational marketing tools like Outfunnel or Drift to engage leads in real-time.
- Consider Account-Based Marketing (ABM) platforms like Terminus or Demandbase to target high-value accounts with personalized campaigns.
5. Optimize and Analyze for Continuous Improvement:
- Track your lead generation efforts through analytics dashboards provided by your B2B software.
- Identify what’s working and what’s not based on conversion rates, lead sources, and engagement metrics.
- Constantly test and refine your approach, adjusting your content, messaging, and targeting strategies based on data insights.
Bonus Tips:
- Don’t forget the power of referrals and influencer marketing. Leverage existing customers and industry experts to reach new audiences.
- Participate in relevant industry events and webinars to increase brand awareness and connect with potential leads.
- Offer free trials or consultations to incentivize initial engagement and showcase the value of your product or service.
By implementing these strategies and leveraging the capabilities of your B2B lead generation software, you can transform your lead generation efforts and build a pipeline of qualified leads ready to convert into customers. Remember, continuous optimization and data-driven decision making are key to achieving lasting success in B2B lead generation.
Tim is a B2B enterprise marketing expert with nearly 10 years of specialising in lead generation content marketing for B2B enterprise products and services in Southeast Asia and the US.