Podcast

Cold Leads

- have no idea they need you until they see you

- takes time and money to find

- requires a foolproof strategy and lots of nurturing to move into a warm lead

Examples: connection on social media, search result on google or Pinterest, listing from a directory or lead generating site or app

Leads have different "temperatures", depending on your contact with you, and how they are coming to you.

A cold lead is your target market. You want them to know you, but they don't know they need you until they come across you in your marketing. They might find you on social media, a lead generating site like The Knot, or your website through a search engine.

You'll need to spend some time getting in front of them and impressing them until they know they want what you have to offer.

They are cold, so of course you need to invest the time and money into your marketing to warm them up.

Warm leads can come in many forms. A recommendation is always the best type of lead.

- likely to be a recommendation, from an individual or another wedding business, could even be someone who was a guest at a wedding and you impressed them so much they want you for theirs

- a brief strategy may be needed but they already know they want you

Hot Leads

- wants your product or service now, and are at the right buying stage

- will convert in a very short time

- they often come to you with the question “are you available” instead of “how much are your services”

Word of mouth is a great example of a lead who is anywhere from warm to hot, depending on many things, including the following...

- your relationship with the person or business who is referring them to you and their level of trust and enthusiasm for you. Another business is generally a hot lead, for example, from a preferred vendor list.

- the level of trust your website and social media communicates to them

- the communication you have with them when they reach out to you. Are you excited for them? Enthusiastic?

Hot leads are as close as you can get to a promised sale for you. The couple who needs what you offer, contacts you, and if it what they need and what you offer match, they will book.

Hot leads normally have a quick turn around and are from your target market.

The beauty of the hot leads is that if you treat them well, the likelihood is they will be your best cheerleader for more warm leads.

Hot tip: As you work with a client, remember that their loved ones are always your next potential client, nurture the whole group along the way for a built in stream of warm leads.

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