How to Find Leads for Sales: 8 Proven Strategies

If you’re looking for reliable ways to find leads for sales, you’re not alone.

Whether you’re an SDR, founder, or marketing manager, building a predictable lead pipeline is one of the biggest challenges in B2B sales.

Cold calls fall flat, contact lists are outdated, and outbound messages rarely get replies — unless you’re working with clean data and a proven lead generation strategy.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• 8 Proven Strategies to Find Leads for Sales
• 5 Tools to Enhance Your Lead Generation Efforts
• What are Sales Leads?
• Why is Lead Generation Crucial for Sales?
• Measuring the Success of Your Lead Generation Efforts

Let’s dive in.

8 Proven Strategies to Find Leads for Sales

These 8 proven strategies will show you exactly how to find leads for sales:

1. Cold Outreach via LinkedIn and Email
2. Content Marketing
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
4. Social Media Marketing
5. Email Marketing
6. Referrals and Networking
7. Online Advertising (PPC)
8. Webinars and Workshops

1. Cold Outreach via LinkedIn and Email

Cold outreach remains one of the most effective (and repeatable) ways to find leads for sales, especially in B2B.

Since most of your buyers are already active on LinkedIn, it’s the perfect starting point to identify and reach them.

And if you’re ready to invest some money in a powerful tool, you can even create hyper-targeted lead lists on Sales Navigator, based on filters like location, job title or industry.

Examples:

• Marketing directors at tech companies hiring new agencies
• HR managers at fast-growing startups investing in employee benefits
• COOs at manufacturing companies exploring process automation tools

Once identified, these leads can be reached with personalized cold emails or LinkedIn messages that speak directly to their needs.

And instead of manually copying leads from LinkedIn, tools like Evaboot help you export LinkedIn Sales Navigator lead lists in one click — removing irrelevant profiles and exporting qualified contacts instantly.

Pair this with a cold email software like Lemlist or Instantly, and you’ve got a scalable system for turning cold leads into booked meetings.

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing is one of the most sustainable ways to generate inbound sales leads — by offering real value before asking for anything in return.

When done right, it builds authority, earns trust, and draws qualified prospects directly to you.

• Blog Posts: Write SEO-optimized articles that answer your audience’s most pressing questions or objections at each stage of the buyer journey.

• Infographics: Use infographics and carousels to make complex ideas easy to understand and shareable across social media platforms.

• E-books and Whitepapers: Offer gated content like eBooks, whitepapers, or templates in exchange for email addresses.

• Videos: Create short-form videos or live sessions to educate, demonstrate expertise, and build personal connection.

• Podcasts: Launch a podcast or become a guest on others to reach niche audiences and position your brand as a go-to voice in the space.

3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps your ideal buyers find you at the exact moment they’re searching for solutions.

Unlike paid ads, SEO drives long-term, compounding traffic from people actively looking for what you offer.

• On-Page Optimization: Craft pages with optimized headlines, meta descriptions, and internal links that clearly align with search intent.

• Keyword Research: Identify keywords your potential customers are Googling — including pain points, product comparisons, and industry-specific questions.

• Local SEO: Set up and optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate info, service areas, and real client reviews. This boosts visibility in local map results.

• Link Building: Earn backlinks from relevant and authoritative sites to improve your rankings and build trust with search engines.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media isn’t just for brand awareness: it’s a powerful channel for generating leads and building relationships with potential buyers at scale.

• Choose the Right Platform: Go where your audience already hangs out. For B2B, focus on LinkedIn. For B2C or visual brands, try Instagram or TikTok.

• Engaging Content: Share content that educates, solves problems, or sparks conversation. Use carousels, videos, and thought leadership to earn attention.

• Community Engagement: Join local or niche Facebook groups, comment on posts, answer questions, and connect with people organically.

• Paid Social Ads: Run targeted campaigns for high-intent offers. Use location, age, and income filters to reach your ideal client.

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is still one of the highest ROI channels for sales teams — especially when it’s personalized and automated.

• Personalize Every Message: Go beyond “Hi [First Name].” Use insights like job title, company size, or pain points to tailor your emails and increase reply rates.

• Send Helpful Newsletters: Share tips, industry insights, success stories, or exclusive offers. Keep it relevant and easy to scan — not a sales pitch.

• Segment by Buyer Intent: Group leads based on funnel stage, product interest, or acquisition source. That way, your messages always match their current needs.

• Automate Lead Nurturing: Use tools like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or ActiveCampaign to build welcome emails, follow-ups, and re-engagement sequences — all on autopilot.

6. Networking and Referrals

Personal connections and word-of-mouth recommendations are incredibly powerful lead generation tools. Trust built through these channels often leads to higher conversion rates.

• Networking Events: Attend industry conferences, trade shows, or niche meetups where your ideal buyers spend time. Face-to-face still wins.

• Launch a Referral Program: Give happy customers a reason to refer you — with discounts, gift cards, or exclusive access. Make it easy for them to say yes.

• Ask for Referrals: Don’t wait for referrals to happen organically — directly ask satisfied clients, partners, or past customers if they know anyone who could benefit from what you offer.

7. Paid Advertising (PPC)

If you need leads fast, paid advertising is the most direct way to put your offer in front of the right audience, with full control over who sees it and when.

• Google Ads: Target high-intent keywords like “best B2B software for small teams” or “affordable CRM for startups” to appear at the top of search results when prospects are actively looking for solutions.

• Social Media Ads: Launch targeted campaigns on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram using filters like job title and location, or even behaviors like recent business page visits or event attendance.

• Retargeting Ads: Re-engage visitors who clicked an ad or browsed your site but didn’t convert. Show them tailored follow-up offers to stay top-of-mind and drive them back when they’re ready to act.

8. Webinars and Events

Webinars and events are powerful tools to attract and engage high-intent leads. Especially when you position yourself as a helpful expert (not just another salesperson).

• Choose the Right Topic: Focus on problems your audience is actively trying to solve. Think “How to scale outbound sales in 2026” rather than a product pitch.

• Make it Interactive: Live Q&As, polls, or even spotlighting attendees keeps energy high and builds trust.

• Make it Interactive Don’t let leads go cold. Send the replay, key takeaways, and next steps (like a free consult or product demo) within 24 hours.

5 Tools to Enhance Your Lead Generation Efforts

Technology doesn’t just save time, it helps you find better leads, faster.

These tools will streamline your outreach, automate your follow-up, and show you what’s actually working:

1. Evaboot’s Sales Navigator URL Generator
2. CRM Software
3. Social Media Management Tools
4. Email Marketing Platforms
5. Website Analytics
6. Lead Capture Forms

1. Evaboot’s Sales Navigator URL Generator

Need to find qualified B2B sales leads on LinkedIn without wasting hours tweaking filters?

Evaboot’s Sales Navigator URL Generator uses AI to turn a plain-English description into a ready-to-use Sales Navigator search link.

• No more guessing with LinkedIn Sales Navigator search filters
• Instantly generate hyper-targeted LinkedIn lead searches
• Perfect for agents selling life, group, or commercial insurance to founders, executives, or HR teams

For example, try:

“Marketing Directors at mid-sized companies in California”

➔ Click here to see the search in action

Once the leads are surfaced, you can export them with the Evaboot Chrome extension and get a CSV with clean data and verified professional emails.

This tool takes you from “I need leads” to “Here’s my list” in seconds — no spreadsheets, no scraping, no guesswork.

2. CRM Software

Your CRM is your sales command center: it keeps your pipeline organized, your follow-ups consistent, and your leads moving forward.

• Track every deal, contact, and touchpoint in one place
• Set automated reminders for outreach, follow-ups, or demos
• Sync calls, emails, and meeting notes in one place

Whether you’re a solo SDR or part of a larger sales team, a CRM ensures you never miss a lead because of poor timing or disorganization.

Best tools:

• HubSpot CRM – Powerful free plan, great for tracking pipelines
• Pipedrive – Sales-focused CRM with intuitive deal tracking and automation
• Close – Built for inside sales teams with built-in calling, SMS, and email sync

3. Social Media Management Tools

Posting manually every day? That’s not sustainable. Use tools to help you stay visible without the daily grind.

• Schedule posts for Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn
• Batch-create content and set it to auto-publish
• Track which posts actually generate clicks or messages

Whether you’re posting thought leadership, lead magnets, or case studies, consistency matters — and automation keeps you visible without eating up your calendar.

Best tools:

• Buffer – Easy-to-use scheduler perfect for solo founders and SDRs
• SocialBee – Offers content categories and automation for repurposing evergreen posts
• Hootsuite – Great for teams managing multiple accounts and platforms

4. Email Marketing Platforms

Sales leads rarely convert on the first touch. A smart, well-timed email sequence keeps you top-of-mind, without spamming or chasing manually.

Here’s what you can do with the right email platform:

• Build drip campaigns for cold leads, demo follow-ups, or free trial sequences
• Segment contacts by buyer intent, industry, or funnel stage
• Send helpful content, case studies, or time-sensitive offers automatically

When set up correctly, email becomes your silent closer, nurturing leads until they’re ready to buy.

Best tools:

• La Growth Machine – Great for multichannel outreach across LinkedIn + email.
• Mailchimp – Simple to use with drag-and-drop templates
• ActiveCampaign – Advanced segmentation and automations for scaling sales workflows

5. Website Analytics

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s a 24/7 lead engine (if you know how to optimize it).

With the right analytics setup, you can:

• See which pages or blog posts drive traffic
• Track form submissions, demo requests, and newsletter sign-ups
• See which acquisition channels actually convert visitors into leads

Use this data to improve SEO, refine CTAs, and double down on what works — while fixing what doesn’t.

Best tools:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4) – Free and powerful for traffic and conversion insights
• Hotjar – Understand how users behave with heatmaps and screen recordings
• Clarity – Free Microsoft tool for click tracking and session replays

What are Sales Leads?

A sales lead is an individual or organization that has expressed some level of interest in your product or service.

They represent a potential customer who has, through their actions or profile, indicated they might be receptive to a sales proposition.

How do we differentiate a lead from a casual observer?

• Indicators of a Lead:
  • Downloading an e-book from your website.
  • Subscribing to your newsletter.
  • Attending a webinar.
  • Filling out a contact form.
  • Interacting with your content on social media.

Leads are not yet qualified prospects; they are merely potential opportunities that require further engagement and qualification to determine their suitability and readiness for purchase.

Why is Lead Generation Crucial for Sales?

Lead generation is the lifeblood of your sales pipeline.

It ensures a continuous flow of new opportunities, preventing your sales funnel from drying up.

• Sustained Growth: A constant stream of new leads is essential for achieving and exceeding sales targets, enabling continuous business expansion.

• Pipeline Health: A robust lead generation strategy keeps your sales pipeline full, providing diverse opportunities and reducing reliance on a few large deals.

• Market Penetration: It allows you to reach new markets and demographics, expanding your customer base beyond existing networks.

• Competitive Advantage: Effective lead generation helps you identify and engage potential customers before your competitors do, securing a first-mover advantage.

• Brand Awareness: The process of attracting leads naturally increases your brand’s visibility and establishes your authority in the market.

• Data for Improvement: Analyzing lead generation efforts provides valuable insights into your target audience, marketing effectiveness, and sales process.

Measuring the Success of Your Lead Generation Efforts

Tracking performance isn’t optional: it’s the only way to know what’s working and where to improve.

• Lead Volume: How many leads are you generating weekly or monthly? It’s your baseline for growth.

• Lead Quality: What percentage of those leads are actually qualified — and likely to close?

• Conversion Rate: How many leads turn into paying clients? This tells you if your nurturing process is working.

• Cost Per Lead (CPL): How much are you spending to get each lead? Track by channel to find hidden inefficiencies.

• Return on Investment (ROI): How much revenue are your lead gen efforts bringing in vs. what you’re spending?

• Lead Source Performance: Which channels (email, ads, referrals, LinkedIn, etc.) bring in your best leads — not just the most?

• Time to Conversion: How long does it take a new lead to become a client? Faster is better, but longer cycles need nurturing.

Conclusion

Generating leads for sales isn’t just a tactic — it’s the engine behind every high-performing sales team.

Whether you’re booking cold outreach campaigns, testing paid ads, or scaling organic content, the goal is always the same: bring in qualified leads, fast.

Use the strategies in this guide, pick the tools that match your workflow, and build a system that keeps your pipeline full without burning time on guesswork.

FAQs