Lead Generation Mistakes (and Their Easy Solutions)

If you don’t have clients, you don’t have a business. That means your lead generation process should be a top priority.

However, lead generation is more than generating potential clients. It’s also a way to nurture them until they agree to work with (or buy from) your business.

But, since there are hundreds of ways to draw in clients, the overwhelm is real. To help you avoid these pitfalls, here are the five most common mistakes made with lead generation and how to avoid them.

Not Using a CRM System

If you want better lead generation, the first step is to find a way to track and organize them. A simple Google or Excel Sheet will work in a pinch, but you’ll eventually want to upgrade to a dedicated CRM system.

With a CRM, you can track where your lead comes from, record conversations, note the client’s likes or dislikes, store contact information, plan and schedule interactions, monitor your platforms, define your target audience, and more.

I recommend Dubsado because it’s easy to use and has plenty of valuable tools to take your lead-generation process to the next level. Or, if you’d like other options, you can try Hubspot, even ClickUp works if you use it right- and see which one is right for your business needs.

Whatever you choose to do, tracking your leads is a MUST!

Not Utilizing Automation

Another mistake is trying to do everything yourself instead of relying on automation.

Automation may seem like a giant undertaking, but it can help nurture client relationships while making your business more efficient.

You can use it to get your follow-ups out on time, streamline your sales funnels, keep your content consistent, and take a few extra tasks off your plate. This isn’t something you can set up with your google sheet, but you can set it up with a CRM.

Not Targeting the Right Audience

When you don’t get in front of your target audience, you waste a lot of time and effort (and money) by wading through a bunch of different leads in hopes of finding the one hot one among the rest.

To find your target audience, ask yourself, “Who is my ideal client?”

If it’s for accountants, then tailor your marketing specifically for accountants. If you want to work with health coaches, create posts that appeal to health coaches.

The more specific you are in your lead generation, the better your chances of finding your target audience and drawing in your ideal clients.

Not Using the Right Platform

I know it’s tempting to create profiles on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, and every other social media platform on the internet today, but that doesn’t mean you should.

Using the wrong platform is almost worse than using no platform at all, and limiting yourself to the right platforms can make all the difference in your success.

But which is the right platform? Well, it depends on your audience.

Once you find your target audience, look at the platforms they use. For example, if you cater to photographers, you’ll want to use photo-heavy sites like Instagram or Pinterest. If you prefer to work with business coaches or financial gurus, Facebook and LinkedIn are good places to start.

And once you find the right platforms, you’ll never think about another social media profile again.

Fearing the Lead

Finally, one of the most common problems I’ve experienced with lead generation is a fear of the lead.

Here’s the thing- when you get a lead, you have to pursue it. It can be as easy as sending a follow-up email or scheduling a call, or you can hop on a Zoom meeting, but you will have to initiate contact.

However, many business owners don’t like the idea of bothering their leads. They’ll make excuses like “Oh, they’re busy now,” or “I’ll do it later when they don’t have so much going on,” and put off contacting the lead until it’s too late.

Being a business owner means having a certain amount of courage, and you’ll want to use that courage to stop making excuses and contact your leads. Yes, some will be in fragile or devastating situations, but that shouldn’t prevent you from moving forward.

Remember, we’re all human beings with empathy. You’ll know when to pursue a lead and when to back off.

Final Thoughts

These are five of the most common mistakes in lead generation, and- if untreated- they could cost you thousands of dollars and untold amounts of wasted time and effort.

However- by tracking your leads, automating your follow-ups, narrowing down your audience and platforms, and having some courage- you can finally create and streamline the lead generation process of your dreams.