Understanding how to capture and convert potential customers is critical for any business looking to grow and succeed. While there are many ways to grow your customer base, you won’t get very far without the proper research. That’s where lead generation comes into play—a vital process that involves attracting prospects and increasing future sales.
In this article, we’ll explore various statistics that paint a picture of the current lead generation landscape. We’ll cover the effectiveness of different strategies, industry benchmarks, and emerging trends. These statistics will offer you valuable knowledge to boost your own lead generation efforts.
General Lead Generation Statistics
Lead generation has been around for decades, but it is changing rapidly and becoming more difficult to implement. Here are some basic lead generation stats to get started.
1. 6 Out of 10 Marketing Experts Identify Lead Generation as Their Primary Hurdle
With markets growing increasingly competitive, generating leads has become more challenging over time. A study indicates that 61% of marketing professionals see driving traffic and obtaining leads as their most significant challenge.
2. Over Half of Marketing Professionals Allocate 50% of Their Budget to Lead Generation
Though challenging, lead generation remains a top priority. A majority (53%) of marketers allocate at least half of their budget towards efforts to gather leads. Conversely, 34% of them dedicate less than half to such initiatives. The remaining 13% either did not respond or were uncertain.
3. A Massive 97% of People Disregard Cold Calls
Highlighting a shift away from traditional outbound lead generation tactics, cold calling is on the decline in effectiveness. Most find unsolicited calls bothersome, resulting in 97% of these calls going unnoticed or ignored.
4. Lead Generation Solutions Set to Triple in Value by 2028
Forecasts suggest that the worldwide market for lead generation solutions, valued at US$ 3,103.8 million in 2021, will soar to an impressive US$ 9,589.1 million by 2028. This growth represents an anticipated CAGR of 17.5% between 2021 and 2028.
5. North America’s Lead Generation Market Set to Triple by 2028
The market for lead generation solutions in North America, valued at US $1,224.68 million in 2021, is projected to reach US$ 3,618.21 million by 2028. This surge represents a predicted CAGR of 16.7% from 2021 through 2028.
6. Paid Search Draws 11% of Leads for Marketers
The challenge of lead generation has intensified recently. As a result, many marketers are turning to paid channels to boost their lead numbers. This shift seems to be paying off, as 11% of marketers report that their main source of leads is through paid campaigns.
7. 27% of Marketers Consider Organic Search as the Top Lead Generator
Only 27% of marketing professionals report that organic search is their primary source for lead generation. While SEO remains a dominant force for website traffic, accounting for about 50% on numerous sites, securing a spot among the top three search results—which bring the bulk of clicks and leads—has become more challenging.
8. A Quarter of Small Businesses Unaware of Their Lead Conversion Rates
One in four small businesses aren’t aware of the success rate of their lead generation efforts.
Email Lead Generation Statistics
Call us old-fashioned, but email lead generation is still the top-tier method for growing your business. Here are some statistics on email lead generation.
9. Email Stands Strong as a Key Lead Generation Tool for 42% of Businesses
Contrary to beliefs about email lead generation methods declining, it remains resilient. Even with the rise of content marketing and social media, email persists as a leading channel for generating leads, with 42% of businesses considering it the most effective.
10. Email Leads at 37% as the Top Communication Method for Generating Leads
A recent study reveals that email is the choice for 37% of participants when it comes to following up on leads, with phone calls coming in close at 36%. Meanwhile, 6% prefer SMS, and 7% favor live chat.
11. Email Tops the List with 58% of Users Checking It First
Research suggests that a significant 58% of individuals open their emails before engaging in any other activity. In contrast, just 14% turn to social media first. This highlights the dominant role of email as a means of communicating with potential leads.
12. On Average, 21.5% of Marketing Emails Get Opened
The typical open rate for marketing-oriented emails is around 21.5%. Different sectors see varied results, with retail at 17.1% and education at 28.5%. The boost in education-related email engagement might come from the recent shift to online learning.
13. The Best Days for Marketing Emails Are Monday Through Wednesday
Mondays boast the most significant open rate at 22%. Tuesdays take the lead with the best click-through rates at 2.4%. Meanwhile, both Tuesdays and Wednesdays shine with the highest click-to-open rates, registering at 10.8%.
14. Nearly Half of Online Shoppers Regularly Open Brand Emails Daily
E-commerce has quickly risen to be an extremely profitable industry in the last decade. Around 43% of individuals shopping online engage with retail emails every day. When broadened to a weekly perspective, this engagement rate rises significantly to 72%.
15. Brand Emails Influence 60% of Shoppers to Buy Monthly
From a 2022 survey sampling 1,015 online consumers, a significant 60% indicated that promotional emails prompted them to buy at least once a month. On the other hand, 10% reported weekly purchases, and 22% stated they never buy based on email promotions.
16. 1 p.m. Proves Optimal for Sending Lead Generation Emails
While numerous studies have explored the prime time for emailing potential leads with varied conclusions, recent findings pinpoint 1 p.m. as the most effective hour.
Social Media Lead Generation Statistics
Using social media for lead generation is a relatively new and effective way of reaching new potential clients. Here are a few statistics on social media lead generation.
17. Social Media Aids 68% of Marketers in Lead Generation
The strength of social media in lead generation is undeniable. Interestingly, seasoned marketers witness more success; 72% with over five years of experience acknowledge its benefits in generating leads. In contrast, 42% of those with under a year of experience recognize its impact.
18. LinkedIn Dominates as the Top Source for B2B Leads
Choosing the right social platform for B2B marketing can be challenging. However, a research study indicates that a staggering 80% of B2B leads are generated through LinkedIn.
19. Lead Generation is a Key Learning Focus for 25% of Social Media Marketers
In a survey including more than 2,000 social media marketing professionals, a quarter expressed their keen interest in learning “lead generation.” This only goes to show how important lead generation is.
20. 50% of Marketers Show Interest in TikTok Insights
While TikTok has rapidly gained global popularity, many marketers still remain in the learning phase. Currently, 18% have adopted TikTok for lead generation, and nearly 50% of social media professionals are gearing up to integrate the platform into their campaigns.
21. With Just Six Weekly Hours on Social Media, 66% of Marketers Obtain Leads
Remarkably, two-thirds of marketers who dedicate only six hours weekly to their social media activities succeed in capturing leads.
22. Instagram Tops in Getting Customer Attention
Instagram is now a big deal for businesses. It gets four times more clicks than Facebook. Plus, 8 out of 10 people on Instagram say it helps them choose what to buy. So, Instagram is a valuable tool for e-commerce.
Content Marketing Lead Generation Statistics
Content marketing is less “in your face” but remains a highly effective way to generate leads.
23. Content Marketing Delivers 3x More Leads than Outbound at a Reduced Cost
Content marketing is producing triple the leads than traditional outbound strategies, all while slashing expenses by an impressive 62%.
24. Blogging Marketers Achieve 13x Higher Chances of Positive ROI (Return on Investment)
Content marketing’s significance in lead generation is evident once again. Those who utilize blogs as a marketing tool increase their likelihood of realizing positive returns on investment thirteenfold.
25. Powerful Blog Titles Can Surge Traffic by a Whopping 500%
Maximizing the impact of your content marketing hinges on crafting compelling blog headlines. Captivating titles have the potential to elevate click-through rates, increasing website traffic by up to 500%.
26. Twice-Yearly Content Audits Is the Key to Success for 61% of Leading Companies
A significant 61% of businesses excelling in content marketing conduct content audits more than twice annually.
27. A Vast 97% of Businesses That Implement Content-Based Lead Generation Report Marketing Success
An overwhelming 97% of the participants in a 2021 study were successful in their content marketing strategy for lead generation.
28. Lead Generation Ranks Among Top Three Objectives for Content Marketers
In the 2022 analysis of content marketing trends involving 1,500 professionals, 36% identified lead generation as a key objective. However, increasing brand visibility (45%) and boosting website visitors (37%) took the lead spots.
29. Podcasts Hailed as Top Lead Generation Tool by 77% of Marketers
Podcasting was a major tool for content-based lead generation. 77% of marketers vouch for podcasts as the premier content medium in transitioning leads. Blog posts, though impactful, trail slightly behind at number 2.
30. Content Marketing Adopted by 89% of B2B Firms
As noted by the Content Marketing Institute, 89% of B2B entities use content marketing strategies to generate leads.
31. Regular Blogging Increases Lead Count
Recent findings highlight that companies publishing 16 or more blogs every month can expect their leads to multiply by three and a half times. This stands in stark contrast to those businesses that only produce four or fewer blogs within the same period.
Lead Generation Conversions Statistics
Building up leads is one thing, but converting these leads to sales is the ultimate goal. Here are some statistics to give you an idea of lead generation conversion rates.
32. A Whopping 80% of New Leads Don’t Convert to Sales
A revealing statistic shows that a mere 20% of fresh leads actually result in sales. This underscores the importance for sales and marketing teams to intensify their lead nurturing strategies.
33. 63% of Leads Take Over Three Months to Convert
Lead generation success does not happen overnight. Converting leads is a gradual process, demanding persistence and dedication. Research indicates that 63% of those reaching out need more time to commit.
34. A Significant 79% of All Leads Don’t Convert into Sales
Such figures might come across as a setback. However, data proves that just 21% of acquired leads are poised for a sale and see a successful conversion.
35. Half of Marketers Turn to Phone Calls for Lead Conversion
Direct phone outreach may be dying out, but it remains a pivotal strategy for engaging potential clients. While half of the marketers harness this method, 62% face challenges tracking these leads effectively.
36. 84% of Marketers Rely on Form Submissions for Lead Generation
Marketers frequently use various forms, such as contact forms, demo requests, and gated content, to engage potential leads. Yet, 36% of these marketers face challenges in tracking these submissions.
37. Conversion Increases by 300% with Multi-Step WordPress Forms
Using multi-step forms in WordPress simplifies the user experience. It’s observed that conversions can skyrocket by as much as 300% by using this method.
38. Professional Services Lead with a 9.3% Conversion Rate
Topping the chart, professional services boast an impressive 9.3% conversion rate. However, sectors like B2B technology and real estate trail significantly, both recording the lowest 1.7% conversion rate.
39. 77% of Marketers Increase Lead Conversions with Automation
Many businesses turn to automation for a primary purpose: generating leads. 35% of business experts say they use automation tools mainly to attract more leads. Interestingly, marketers who adopt these tools see a 77% higher lead conversion than those who don’t.
40. Responding Within 5 Minutes Increases Conversions by 9x
Speed matters in lead conversion. Answering in under five minutes can elevate conversion rates by a remarkable nine times. In fact, a study showed that 8 out of 10 consumers expect a response within 10 minutes.
41. Typical Landing Page Converts at 9.7%
The standard conversion rate for landing pages across various sectors is 9.7%. While conversion rates can differ widely, targeting a rate between 2% and 5% is a good starting goal.
Lead Generation Trends
What does the future look like for lead generation? Here are some statistics that will give you a glimpse into the future of lead generation.
42. 72% of Shoppers Prefer Personalized Marketing Content
Customized advertisements have gained traction, leading the way in attracting potential customers. Today, 72% of shoppers exclusively interact with marketing content that resonates with their preferences. However, it’s worth noting that 86% remain wary about the security of their personal data.
43. Chatbots Rise as 24/7 Support Becomes Essential
With the growing need for round-the-clock customer support, chatbots are gaining momentum. In fact, 80% of businesses are now thinking about including them in their service lineup.
44. Influencers: The New Big Thing in Lead Generation
In 2022, people spent a huge $16.4 billion on influencers in the U.S. One of every four marketers is using them. Most young folks, specifically Gen Z and Millennials, love following influencers. And the good news? About 89% of marketers want to spend more on influencers in 2023.
45. Video Content Is Becoming a Key Player In Lead Generation
People love videos, not just for fun but for shopping, too. A new study found that 91% of shoppers want to see more videos from brands they like online. Today, a record 92% of video marketers believe they get good returns from their videos. Five years ago, only 78% felt the same.
46. 29% of Marketing Budgets Allocated to Account-Based Strategies
Account-based marketing is a rising trend in lead generation, helping target top potential clients. On average, businesses allocate nearly a third of their marketing funds toward account-based marketing (ABM).
And that’s it! If you need help with lead generation, consider Growth List. We can create bespoke lead lists based on your ICP and send out weekly reports of startups ready for new partnerships and growth.
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