Sales reps sometimes overlook the fact that outsourcing may be more beneficial than internal lead generation. We've got the scoop on buying third-party electric company mailing lists for your organization.

Mailing List Return on Investment

It's a common misperception that lead lists are cost-prohibitive for most sales programs. Although there is an added expense associated with lead lists, the price of generating leads using internal resources is more than the amount of cash you'll spend to acquire a reliable list. Combined with the amount of organizational energy it takes to maintain constantly updated electric company contacts, it's not difficult to see why lead lists are an attractive alternative to internal processes.

Where Can I Buy Electric Company Leads?

The key to finding a good electric company lead list is to focus your search on dependable providers. Some providers charge big bucks for leads that are stale and inaccurate. Good lead list providers pay attention to the quality of their products. They go the extra mile to guarantee that their lists are up-to-date and they supply their clients with leads that have been targeted to meet precise sales criteria.

There are several good lead list providers on the market. If you're just getting started, we highly recommend Experian Business Services. Experian has the characteristics we look for in a electric company lead list vendor. Their database of more than 14 million U.S. companies is updated monthly and can be filtered by geographic, demographic and other criteria to create lead lists that are customized to your needs and specifications.

Using Lead Lists to Convert Sales

When it comes to conversions, lead lists can be powerful sales tools. If your electric company lead lists are up-to-date, they can be leveraged for customized marketing pieces. Promotional material that has been customized with the name of the electric company has a higher conversion rate than generic marketing content.

After the initial mailing, electric company lists can provide the backbone for follow-up calls, e-mails and sales calls. The key is to use the accuracy of the lead list to your advantage and to maximize its potential throughout the sales cycle.

How Do Lead List Brokers Get Their Data?

Great question. Top lead providers are continually combing a variety of sources to get fresh, accurate massive lead databases. Among other things, they scan Yellow Pages directories, SEC databases, and web sites. In contrast, on the other side of the spectrum, be aware that there are some companies that sell old, stale mailing lists that haven't been updated in ages.