Businesses running ads on the internet (PPC campaigns or Social Media advertising) often encounter spam leads and fake leads in their lead generation efforts.
These types of leads can be problematic for businesses, as they can waste valuable time and resources and give a false representation of the ad campaign’s success.
As a business, you need to know the difference between the two.
It can help you identify, manage, and eliminate these leads from your campaigns, allowing you to focus on genuine potential customers.
In this post, we will list the difference between spam and fake leads and how to avoid them.
What are Spam Leads?
Spam leads are generated by automated programs or bots that crawl the Internet, looking for contact forms, email addresses, and other online forms where users can submit false information.
Spam leads usually contain fake names, email addresses, and phone numbers and are not intended to become actual customers.
They are simply created to generate a large number of leads quickly.
How Do Spam Leads Affect Businesses?
For businesses running ad campaigns, spam leads can be a significant problem.
- Waste resources (money, time, and productivity).
- Give a false representation of campaign success.
- Clog up databases, making it difficult to identify genuine leads.
How Can You Identify Spam Leads?
Some key indicators can help you identify spam leads:
- Multiple submissions from the same IP address.
- Unrealistic or incomplete information (e.g., phone numbers with too many digits or fake names).
- No engagement beyond filling out a form (i.e., no clicks, website visits, or inquiries).
If you notice these patterns in your lead data, you’re likely dealing with spam leads.
How Can You Eliminate Spam Leads?
- Use a double opt-in process: Require email verification or a confirmation click to ensure the lead is genuine.
- Implement CAPTCHAs and other security measures: These measures will help to filter out bots and automated programs.
- Regularly clean your lead database: Identify and remove any leads that show signs of being spam (e.g., fake names, incomplete information).
- Monitor your campaigns closely: Keep an eye on patterns in your data and adjust your strategies accordingly.
What are Fake Leads?
Unlike spam leads created by bots, fake leads are intentionally submitted by real people using false information.
They may do so for various reasons, such as:
- Receive freebies or discounts.
- Access gated content without providing genuine contact information.
- Sabotage competitor campaigns by submitting fake leads.
How Do Fake Leads Impact Businesses?
Fake leads can have similar effects on businesses as spam leads, including:
- Wasting resources and giving a false representation of campaign success.
- Misrepresenting target audience data and hindering the ability to effectively reach genuine customers.
How Can You Handle Fake Leads?
- Use lead validation services: These tools can verify the authenticity of lead information.
- Implement strict form requirements: Require specific fields (e.g., phone number verification) to ensure the lead is genuine.
- Use social media verification: Allow leads to sign up using their social media accounts, which can help authenticate their identity.
- Limit access to gated content: Only provide access to valuable resources after verifying a genuine lead.
- Regularly review and clean your lead database: Like spam leads, regularly checking for fake leads and removing them from your database can help maintain its accuracy.
What Other Strategies Can You Use?
There are other strategies you can take to improve the quality of leads and prevent fake and spam submissions:
1. Use A Lead Management System
Your sales team or marketing team deal with leads daily, and they should use a lead management system to track lead performance and behaviour. Such a system can also help identify spam, fake or low-quality leads.
A lead management system can save time and resources by scanning incoming leads and identifying spam and fake leads before reaching out to them.
Leadtrekker is CRM and lead management software that offers many beneficial features. Two of them are tracking lead sources and qualifying leads using lead scoring. This allows you to focus on leads with a higher potential for conversion.
2. Create A Landing Page For Lead Generation
Landing pages are designed to convert visitors into leads by providing valuable content in exchange for their contact information.
By creating a landing page specifically for lead generation, you can better target and attract genuine leads who are genuinely interested in your products or services.
A well-designed landing page should contain:
- Clear and concise information.
- A compelling call to action.
- A form that captures essential lead information.
3. Utilise Retargeting Ads
Retargeting ads are an effective way to promote content or offer to people who have already shown interest in your brand.
Retargeting ads use cookies to track website visitors and display targeted ads to them as they browse the internet. By targeting people who have already shown interest in your brand, you can increase the chances of converting them into leads.
4. Implement Lead Segmentation
Lead segmentation is the process of dividing leads into smaller groups based on specific criteria such as demographics, behaviour or interests.
Segmented leads allow for targeted and personalised communication, which can improve the chances of converting them into customers.
By segmenting leads, you can tailor your messaging and offers to their specific needs or pain points, making them more likely to convert.
Get Genuine Customers Today!
Are you tired of spam leads and fake leads?
Implement these strategies to generate genuine leads for your business and see a significant improvement in your conversion rates.
Don’t wait any longer; implement these strategies today and watch your customer base grow!
