Lead Generation Virtual Assistant
Hire a Lead Generation Virtual Assistant To Improve Conversion Rate
Quality leads take time, effort, strong strategy, and a professional lead gen expert to fuel the sales pipeline. While an on-site lead generator costs more bucks and can not give round-the-clock service, a lead generation virtual assistant withstands all these challenges and is more beneficial for any business growth.
A virtual lead generation is a professional who works remotely to handle all pre-sales responsibilities and handover the high-quality leads to the sales team. These skilled remote workers work more with the latest updated tools but charge only for work done.
If you are seeing any sustainable growth in your business revenue your sales team is overburdened with other works, or you have a small business with limited resources, then you need a lead generation VA.
So, let’s talk first about what exactly a lead generation virtual assistant is, why you should hire one, what their core responsibilities are, and where you can find the best one.
What is a Lead Generation Virtual Assistant?
A lead generation virtual assistant is a skilled sales professional who does research, identifies leads for business, and engages and outreach to potential customers to generate leads, all from a remote location. To do so, the VA may use digital tools and conduct online research. Their goal is to reduce the extra burden on the sales team and improve the process of getting new leads easily.
The lead generation VA has specialized sales skills in managing lead data, segmenting leads, communicating and pitching potential customers, and gauging their interest. They adopt two main sales strategies inbound lead generation or outbound lead generation, sometimes both to create a pipeline of interested prospects.
Why You Should Hire Virtual Assistants For Lead Generation?
You should hire a virtual assistant for lead generation if,
- Your sales team is burdened with tons of work
- Repetitive tasks like data entry and follow-ups are killing your precious time
- You want to reach out to and sell your business or product
- You are not seeing strategic business growth in sales and revenue
- You want to expand your professional network
- Want an increased sales through large outreach
- Need some niche-based, and industry-specific lead generator
- Or, your business scales up and you are not able to cope.
A virtual lead generation assistant can be a great addition to your sales team to transform your lead gen strategy and boost your lead generation efforts if you hire one. They are best at finding, qualifying, and nurturing potential leads for consistent sales growth.
Besides, having a small business or being an entrepreneur’s continuous stream of leads is tough. But with the specialized knowledge of your VA, you can use their expertise to match with your business strategies, so why not hire a virtual lead generator?
What Does a Lead Generation Virtual Assistant Do for You?
The answer is very clear, the lead generation virtual assistant will generate quality leads for your business, and to do so, they may do research, apply several sales strategies, nurture them, and give you an optimized sales result.
Here we have outlined all the responsibilities of a virtual lead generator with one ultimate goal of more appointments and high-end leads.
Market Research & Target Audience Profiling
The virtual assistant lead generator first does lead research online or using free or paid software to build a list of niche contacts. These niche contacts lead to new sales. However, for marketing research, the virtual research assistant uses SEO, social media, and digital tools and implements targeted outreach strategies.
As for the target audience profiling, the VA analyzes to identify the ideal customer to attract high-quality leads who are most likely to convert into paying customers.
Here is a path VAs often follow to market research and audience profiling,
Define your ideal customer profile (ICP)
- Create a detailed profile of your perfect customer, including demographics like age, gender, location, income level, job title, pain points, behaviors, preferences, values, and motivations.
Conduct primary research
- Gather direct feedback from existing customers and potential prospects through surveys.
- Conduct in-depth interviews with key decision-makers in your target audience.
- Facilitate group discussions within your target market.
Analyze secondary research
- Access market research reports from reputable sources.
- Analyze data from social media platforms.
- Track website traffic and user behavior.
Competitor analysis
- Research your main competitors their target audience, marketing strategies, and strengths and weaknesses.
Prospecting & Lead Sourcing
The virtual lead generator knows how to prospect and source leads to get paying customers. This can result in a huge turnover in your business revenue.
For prospecting the VA narrows down the list of leads by assessing their convertibility. He may assign priority based on the customer’s readiness to buy. And while doing so, the focus stays on quality over quantity for better sales results.
Next lead sourcing is integral to prospecting by having some additional processes like identifying, collecting, and qualifying potential customers for your business. The lead generation VA combines both of these sales strategies to get warm leads.
An experienced virtual assistant for lead sourcing may begin by identifying the channels where your audience is most active. LinkedIn, for example, is an ideal platform for B2B prospecting, where professionals engage and network.
Another good thing about an expert lead generator is they do not overlook platforms like Quora and other online Q&A forums for lead sourcing. They answer relevant inquiries to your industry and engage potential leads.
Again for lead generation with your permission the VA can host educational webinars and workshops to build trust and position your brand as an authority in your industry.
Lead Qualification Services
The virtual assistant knows how to fill the sales pipeline with interested prospects only, hence the VA screens the leads and does lead qualification. This is due to not all leads being equal, some are cold leads who won’t turn to customers immediately. The high-quality leads have more potential to convert into actual sales.
Another point of lead qualification which depends on business type is Marketing Qualified Leads and Sales Qualified Leads. The VA may differentiate the customers among these two categories.
Also lead qualification process includes the BANT (Budget, Authority, Need, and Timeline) technique. Divide your target audience into smaller groups based on shared characteristics. By this, the virtual lead generation assistant understands the lead quality to be a higher probability.
Based on the criteria the virtual helper can utilize a lead-scoring strategy to handover you only the prospective clients. Hence the sales team can spend valuable time only on potential prospects.
B2B Lead Generation
If your business is focused on B2B clients, then you can hire a virtual sales rep who is an expert in pitching other target businesses. This is not easy, though, and it requires more professionalism and a strategic approach.
However, an experienced virtual sales representative knows how to generate high-quality B2B data. Then the VA may use sales cadences to increase the chances of a B2B lead responding. Their approach includes cold calling, cold email, business research, and their pain points for B2B lead generation.
Linkedin Lead Generation
LinkedIn is 277% more effective for lead generation than other social media networks and 92% of B2B marketers prefer this platform. So, how can you not utilize LinkedIn’s lead generation strategy? Here you can hire a virtual assistant who is dedicated to LinkedIn leads and knows everything about how to utilize this platform.
This process starts with optimizing your LinkedIn business profile, by adding your business name, align with your branding color, and add all the necessary information. Next, publish content, and insights regularly on the platform which builds your brand credibility and authority. By doing so, the leads will trust your brand and be attracted to the professionalism you maintained.
The next two incredible features of LinkedIn are LinkedIn Sales Navigator helps you generate leads and LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms which automatically connect members with your offers and content after they submit a lead. Your LinkedIn management VA must use these tools for effective lead generation.
Last and most important is network growth through LinkedIn management, which has no replacement. The more network you can expand, the chances will increase you will get actual prospects and your VA will help with this dedicatedly.
Sales Lead Generation
To improve the sales cycle and keep the sales funnel full, a virtual assistant expert in sales can best help you.
In this process with excellent communication skills, the VA gauges the interest of businesses or individuals in your business product or services. Since they already have the research skills, they find out the pain points. Then organize the sales script on how to solve the pain points and pitch the client so he willingly takes the service.
Cold calling, social engagement, and content marketing are some of the common ways for sales lead generation.
Here not often is the VA able to convert the lead, but sometimes solves their basic inquiries and gains trust. This helps to build your brand image.
Marketing Lead Generation
Lead generation through marketing can bring organic leads to your business if you can do it in the proper way. A marketing virtual assistant with expertise in lead generation adjusts their marketing approach with your business type and need and tries to hunt more prospective customer.
Some of the effective marketing lead generation strategies are getting referrals, partnering with other businesses or influencers, organize industry events with a personalized approach. An intelligent virtual assistant may offer free trials, and demos or use lead magnets by communicating with the marketing team.
However the best marketing lead gen way is optimizing the website, and landing pages for conversions. If the VA is technically proficient, then he will do it on his own, otherwise handover to your technical team.
Outbound Lead Generation
A lead generation virtual assistant can handle the responsibilities of an outbound sales team and outbound marketing for reaching to lead generation goal. In outbound lead generation, the virtual sales rep proactively reaches the clients, initiates contact, and offers the service.
For example, outbound marketing strategy involves advertising campaigns, targeted email or phone outreach, direct mailers, and other direct promotional methods. There is a common pathway to generate outbound leads and a virtual assistant lead gen is well-known for that. The VA may start with,
- Identify leads based on your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) defined by your sales and marketing teams.
- Gather contact details from reliable sources like email databases or LinkedIn tools.
- Choose the best channels to reach your target audience.
- Start outreach and qualify leads based on their responses.
- Once interest is shown, schedule meetings, demos, or consultations.
- After initial contact, sharing more info, and addressing any concerns.
Cold Calling & Telemarketing
Telemarketing lead generation, still so popular worldwide, is the process of using telemarketing services to generate leads through cold calling. Here a virtual assistant expert in cold calling only can best help you B2B outbound marketing, generate leads, and expand your customer base.
Through this cold call strategy, the VA tries to initiate contact with potential customers who do not know about the product nor show any previous interest in the service or product. This is one of the best ways to let people about your service, but also can irritate the customers. That is why a skilled VA with excellent communication ability can pitch properly grabbing the pain point and sealing the deal.
So, when you are hiring a remote assistant for lead generation asses their cold-calling skill properly. This should include how they prepare, like researching the prospect, making a list, creating a cold calling script, maintaining the tone, and how they pitch.
Email Outreach & Marketing Automation
In lead generation, you can not forget about email outreach to your potential client which takes time and knowledge in email management. While in-house employees may not particularly skilled with email outreach, a virtual assistant for email management can better help you with email content writing, eye-catching subject lines, and so on.
Moreover, for lead generation, the VA will help you by creating an Excel database for list building, using Email finding through crawler applications, personalizing your messages, and using a cold email tool.
Next for better lead generation techniques, virtual helpers use a marketing automation strategy. They use software tools and automate marketing tasks to attract, engage, and convert potential customers. The goal is to simplify lead identification, and outreach by automatically sending targeted emails.
Paid Advertising & PPC Campaign
If you want to see a drastic boost in conversions and grow your customer base, you must look for paid advertising and a PPC campaign. But what about appealing content, writing engaging titles, selecting the target audience, and running a proper advertising campaign? Do you have time? If not then again a virtual lead generation assistant will do this for you too.
The VA on your demand will pick platforms where your audience is active, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or LinkedIn Ads. Then identify relevant keywords that match what your audience searches for. Write engaging ad copy and design visuals, and choose your bidding strategy.
All these to attract qualified leads quickly.
Inbound Lead Generation
Investing in inbound marketing for lead generation is more popular in digital marketing and is a popular sales strategy among business owners. By utilizing inbound marketing the VA can get you fresh leads, with a solid impact on the long term.
Because, inbound lead generation means sharing values and educating the customers, so after getting value from you the customer converts. Content marketing like regular blog posts, posting on social media, engaging with customers directly, uploading relevant videos, or sharing blog content and infographics to gauge potential customer interest.
Today most popular inbound outreach is hosting industry-specific podcasts or video series, where many companies hire dedicated podcast virtual assistants.
With this inbound sales strategy the customer himself comes and seeks to purchase the product or service, hence increasing the conversion rate.
Social Media Lead Generation
When social media dominates and most of your leads may scroll on the newsfeeds, your virtual assistant will utilize social media lead generation strategy too.
You no longer need to be concerned about optimizing your social media profiles on different social media platforms. The VA will optimize by ensuring your profile clearly states who you are and what you offer.
For lead generation, they will share engaging, relevant content like infographics, or polls and quizzes. Responding to audience comments, questions, and direct messages is another way to build trust and encourage the lead to take the next step. Your VA lead generation regularly engages with your audience, so none of your leads jump into your competitor’s hands.
Social media being both inbound and outbound marketing, your VA as required may run social media ads too to reach the target audience.
Appointment Setting & Scheduling
The appointment setting means you are way too close to your potential lead to convert. Companies hire appointment setters with higher salaries, where you can opt for a budget-friendly option which is a virtual appointment setter.
Just like your in-house appointment scheduler, the virtual one will reach out the prospective clients, pitch to them, and try to schedule as many meetings as possible. Also, the VA sets reminders for your meetings so you do not miss any, nor your sales team.
Database Management & CRM Integration
Most often on-site sales representatives do not know how to use CRM and about database management. But if you hire a lead generation virtual assistant, chances are more they are quite expert in using CRM tools.
With a CRM expert and database manager, you get to consolidate customer information for easy access. Also, the system helps to update data regularly and ensure accurate data entry. Also, the VA automates the repetitive tasks using the tools saving time for himself and the sales team.
So, with a virtual assistant who knows how to utilize database management and CRM, it will increase the volume of your potential customers, and enhance lead quality with more data accuracy.
Lead Nurturing & Follow-Up
Lastly, the core point of lead generation is lead nurturing and regular follow-up to current clients. If you can not nurture the relationship of your clients and follow up consistently, be sure to lose most of your leads. Here a handy strategy can be lead generation virtual assistant.
Since you are hiring a dedicated virtual helper to generate leads, you must be aware of how to nurture the leads and make consistent follow-up strategies. None of your clients will miss any updates about your products. Your VA will be present in every need of your potential customers, anytime.
To do these, the VA may send follow-up emails, or call directly. Make a list of whom to reach later and maintain the schedule promptly.
Tools & Technologies Used By Lead Generation VAs
The best part of a virtual assistant is that you do not need to force them to use modern lead gen tools and software. They stay updated with the latest tools and constantly use them in their lead generation effort for better results.
However, you still should be well aware if your lead generation VA is using the following lead gen tools or not,
LinkedIn Sales Navigator: This advanced tool is for finding and connecting with potential leads on LinkedIn. It offers detailed filtering options to target the right audience.
ZoomInfo: Another powerful B2B contact database that provides company and contact details. It helps VAs find decision-makers and key leads quickly.
Hunter.io: This tool is designed to find email addresses based on company domains. So, the VAs can gather direct contact information for outreach.
Apollo.io: For easier campaign management, this tool provides prospect data, automates email outreach, and offers tools for managing your lead pipeline.
Lusha: For your VA to get accurate contact information and lead insights, including phone numbers and emails, directly from platforms like LinkedIn.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools: CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive help VAs manage lead data, track communication, and streamline the sales process from one place.
Lead Generation Automation Tools: Pardot, Marketo, or Mailchimp automate email marketing, lead nurturing, and tracking campaigns for efficient management of multiple leads at scale.
Benefits Of Hiring A Virtual Assistant For Lead Generation
Apart from handling your core lead gen tasks, there are some additional benefits you can get by hiring a virtual lead gen assistant. Check out those,
Personalized Approach to Leads
The first benefit you will get by hiring a lead generation virtual assistant is contacting your leads with a personalized approach. Today to get clients and close the deal you can not rely on a generic approach. Rather customers are more engaged with personalized engagement.
A virtual assistant will research the client’s ICP, find out their pain points, and approach them like their trusted advisor. You won’t get this facility with an in-house team, as they are already bound with numerous other tasks. But a virtual assistant dedicated to lead gen only can change, and refine their outreach strategy in a personalized way.
24/7 Operations & Global Reach
Next, that business who have an international customer base or need to be active round the clock, it is daunting for the on-site workers. Here again a virtual assistant steps in to give support after office hours or as per your need.
You do not need to stop your official operations or the global reach after office hours. Your solution is hiring a lead generation virtual assistant.
Speed & Accuracy in Finding and Qualifying Leads
Virtual assistants continuously stay updated with the latest tools and have a good grasp on tools that help speed up their working process. This can prove effective in finding quality leads quickly with accurate information.
The VA automates the follow-up process, sending emails, or marketing automation tools. This way they ensure high accuracy in database information.
Positively Impacting Sales Conversion Rates
A virtual lead generation specialist can significantly improve sales conversion rates. They do it by efficiently identifying and qualifying high-quality leads. As a result, the sales team focuses on meaningful interactions with potential customers and leads to more closed deals. Ultimately you can get increased revenue, all while optimizing time and cost efficiency.
Flexibility, Scalability & Cost Effective
When it comes to flexibility and scalability every company owner knows the real struggle of hiring an on-site employee, that eliminates a virtual assistant. When it is peak season for your company to get more leads you can instantly hire a VA season or project based. Or hire for a fixed time frame and only pay for the specific time. You do not need to pay for every additional employment benefit.
When your projects are done, simply stop working with the VA. This does not end here, as when you need it again you can contact the VA. This type of flexibility is every business owner’s dream.
Moreover, the VA is cost-effective with the pay-per-hour method. You get to pay only for the work done and save a lot of money.
Best Practices for Managing a Lead Generation VA
When you are deciding to hire a virtual assistant, there are some tactics you should know to use properly your VA. Here we are describing some pathways, check out these,
- Define specific tasks, goals, and performance metrics from the start.
- Provide your VA with the necessary tools, software, and knowledge about your business, target audience, and products.
- Use a CRM or project management tool.
- Schedule consistent check-ins or updates to discuss feedback.
- Ensure the VA understands your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and what makes a lead qualified.
- Use automation tools like Apollo.io or Mailchimp to help your VA manage outreach.
- Monitor performance.
- Provide opportunities for your VA to stay updated on the latest lead generation trends and tools.
- Regularly offer feedback.
Hire a Lead Generation Virtual Assistant From YesAssistant
New clients that have more potential to convert in tough, time-consuming, and more challenging as you need an expert. This raises another problem as you can not opt for any general VA, and need a professional lead generator. This assessing and searching process is long and takes effort, but we at YesAssistant are here to help you with the best lead gen virtual assistant.
We helped many companies, like yours who may struggle to keep their sales pipeline full and overburden the sales team. Our virtual assistants are skilled and trained with specific sales and pre-sales tasks. They know how to utilize the best lead generation strategy based on the business requirement and type.
So, the time you book an appointment with us and select your package and VA, our VA will instantly start working for your business growth and sustainability.