Definition
Lead generation is the process of finding potential customers (leads) and getting their contact details or attention so you can start a sales conversation. A lead is a person or business that fits who you sell to and could plausibly buy.
Inbound vs outbound
- Inbound — prospects come to you: search, content, ads, referrals. They raise their hand first.
- Outbound — you go to them: cold email, calls, LinkedIn, direct mail. You choose who to contact.
Most businesses use both. Outbound gives you control over who and when; inbound brings people already looking.
The outbound process
- Define who you want (your ideal customer profile).
- Find them in a source where they are listed (Google Maps, YouTube, Product Hunt…).
- Enrich: add emails, decision-maker names, phones.
- Filter and segment.
- Reach out with a relevant offer.
- Follow up and track replies.
Kinds of leads
- Cold lead — fits your profile, no contact yet.
- Warm lead — has interacted with you (opened, replied, visited).
- Qualified lead — confirmed fit and interest; ready for a sales conversation.
How it is measured
Common metrics: leads collected, contact rate, reply rate, meetings booked, cost per lead and cost per customer.
Where Prospect Cheap fits
Prospect Cheap handles the finding and enriching steps for outbound lead generation: live lists from Google Maps, YouTube, the Facebook Ad Library, Product Hunt, TrustMRR and Skool, with emails, owner names and socials, ready for your outreach tool.
Example
A web designer wants roofing clients. They search Google Maps for roofers in five Texas cities, add emails and owner names, keep the 300 with good reviews but no website, and email each owner a homepage mock-up. Twelve reply, five book calls and two become clients. That whole chain — from finding roofers to booked calls — is lead generation.
Key takeaways
- A lead is someone who fits who you sell to and could buy.
- Inbound waits for prospects; outbound goes to them.
- Good lists, clear offers and follow-up drive outbound results.