How Pay-per-Lead Programs Attract Quality Leads

Key takeaways

• Pay-per-lead (PPL) marketing models let you pay only when someone who fits the definition of a “lead” (as you specifically defined it) shows real interest in your offer and, thereby saving you money on ads that don’t convert.
• PPL campaigns bring in better-quality leads by targeting people who are more likely to become customers. 
• A strong PPL program needs clear goals, the right strategy, and ongoing tracking to keep improving results.

With so many websites and businesses on the internet, getting your customers’ attention is important. You’ve ramped up your marketing efforts to get paying customers, but starting out may be difficult with a limited budget. You want to generate leads without breaking the bank.

Pay-per-lead programs allow businesses to acquire leads without putting a heavy dent in their pockets.

In this article, you’ll learn how pay-per-lead programs work, their benefits, and how to get started on your own program.

Let’s dive right into it!

What is a lead?

“Leads” refers to potential customers who showed interest in a product or service you’re offering. They’re often in the early stages of the sales funnel, which means they may not be ready to make a purchase immediately but have a high potential of doing so with a little more push.

There are different kinds of leads, each at different stages of the sales funnel, but they broadly fall into any one of these:

• Qualified leads. A qualified lead is a genuinely interested potential customer, matches your ideal customer criteria, and is likely to make a purchase.
• Warm leads. Leads who have expressed some interest but may not be ready to buy immediately, require further nurturing.
• Cold leads. These are leads who have shown little or no interest in your product or service.

To improve customer acquisition, your sales team should focus on your qualified leads. You can customize your digital marketing tactics for them, which saves time, effort, and money.

What are pay-per-lead programs?

Pay-per-lead (PPL) is a performance marketing model where businesses only pay for potential customers. Typically, marketers or lead generation companies generate leads through various means, such as:

• Online forms
• Discounts and free trials
• Social media advertising
• Email marketing campaigns
• Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
• Blog posts
• Videos
• Webinars

The idea behind PPL is that businesses only pay when they receive and accept a lead, as opposed to paying for advertising space or clicks on an ad. It’s often used in various industries, including insurance, real estate, education, and B2B services.

Advantages of pay-per-lead programs to your business

Here are the primary reasons why businesses choose PPL to spend their advertising budget more efficiently:

• Saves you money. PPL saves your money by letting you pay only for leads who are genuinely interested in what you offer. Instead of paying upfront for ads that may or may not work, you invest in leads that have already shown they want to know more about your product or service. This makes your marketing budget more predictable and efficient, helping you reach potential customers without wasting money on those who aren’t interested.
• Produces measurable results. PPL programs provide you easy-to-measure results, so you can track how much you’re spending and exactly how many leads you’re getting. This transparency helps you see if your marketing is working and where you might need to make changes, so you can get the best results from your budget.
• Focuses your targeting. PPL programs often provide leads that match your specific target audience criteria. This directs your marketing efforts toward individuals or businesses more likely to be interested in your products or services.
• Controls lead quality. Many PPL programs pre-screen or qualify leads to ensure that they meet certain criteria. So, you’re not spending time and effort on people who might not be interested. This way, you get better-quality leads, and they’re more likely to become happy customers because they’re genuinely interested in what you offer.
• Reduces risks. Since you’re only paying for leads, you reduce the risk associated with advertising campaigns that may not yield the desired results. PPL provides a more cost-effective way to test the market and evaluate the potential return on investment. If it’s successful, you can invest more confidently, knowing it’s worth it.
• Allows flexibility. You can change your strategy to fit your needs. Whether you want to find customers in a specific place, reach certain types of people, or promote a particular product, PPL lets you customize your approach. It makes your marketing strategy as flexible as a puzzle that you can put together in many ways.
• Streamlines lead generation. PPL programs often involve lead generation experts who specialize in finding and delivering leads. These experts are really good at discovering potential customers, so you don’t have to spend all your time searching. They handle the hard part of finding the leads, while you focus on turning those leads into actual customers.
• Predicts your lead volume. PPL programs can be set up to provide a consistent flow of leads. This predictability helps you plan your marketing efforts more effectively.
• Ensures no clicks are wasted. With PPL, you’re not paying for every click. Instead, you invest in getting in touch with people who are genuinely interested in what you offer. It makes sure your money goes where it matters most, ensuring that every click counts towards connecting with potential customers.
• Enhances your ROI. When you manage it well, you can get a lot more back than you put in. Pay-per-lead programs spend your money on leads that are more likely to become paying customers, which means you get more value in return.

Different forms of pay-per-lead programs

Pay-per-lead programs come in different types depending on how the leads are collected and who is involved.

Here are some common forms of PPL programs:

• Affiliate marketing PPL. In a lead affiliate program, businesses partner with affiliates who promote their products or services. Affiliates earn a commission for every lead they generate. This is a popular model for eCommerce, software, and various online businesses.
• Content marketing PPL. Content creators, like bloggers and YouTubers, may use PPL to earn a commission when their content leads to customer sign-ups, purchases, or other desired actions.
• Web form submission PPL. Many businesses use online forms to collect information from potential customers. They may pay a fee for each completed form submitted by a user who expresses interest in their products or services.
• Survey participation PPL. Some companies gather market research data by paying users to participate in surveys. For each survey completed, the user receives compensation.
• Local services PPL. Local businesses like restaurants, salons, and auto repair shops can buy leads generated from local directories, review websites, or social media.

What’s the difference between pay-per-lead, pay-per-click, and pay-per-conversion?

PPL, pay-per-click (PPC), and pay-per-conversion represent distinct digital marketing models, each with a specific purpose. The ideal choice among these models depends on your business’s specific objectives, budget, and desired outcomes.

Pay-per-lead

Pay-per-lead (PPL) is where advertisers pay for each potential customer lead, they acquire. In this approach, the emphasis is on gathering contact information from individuals who have shown interest in a product or service. This can result in higher lead quality but may involve competition for the same leads, influencing costs.

Pay-per-click

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a marketing model where advertisers pay for each click on their online advertisements. The primary goal of PPC is to drive website traffic and increase brand visibility. Advertisers control their budget and targeting parameters, thus it’s a valuable tool for achieving online visibility.

Pay-per-conversion

Pay-per-conversion, often referred to as cost per action (CPA), involves payment only when a specific action or conversion is accomplished, such as a sale or lead generation. Since advertisers pay solely when desired outcomes are achieved, it’s a performance-based and cost-effective model. However, it can require more significant upfront costs and sophisticated tracking and optimization.

14 steps to create an efficient PPL program

Creating an efficient PPL program requires careful planning, execution, and ongoing optimization. Let’s lay down the necessary steps to create an efficient PPL program.

Step 1. Define your objectives

Before diving into a PPL program, you need to know exactly where you want to go. Figure out what you want from the program, like how many people you want to connect with or how many of them you hope will become your customers. These clear goals act as your guide, keeping you on track and helping you measure your success as you progress.

Step 2: Identify your target audience

Define your ideal customer or client. Consider demographics, behavior, interests, and needs. A well-defined target audience helps you speak their language and offers solutions that truly matter to them.

Step 3: Set a budget

Determine how much you’re willing to invest in your PPL program. This budget should cover the cost of getting those quality leads and what you expect to get back in return. By planning your budget, you ensure that your PPL program is financially sound and has a clear path to profitability.

Step 4: Select a lead generation method

Choose the lead generation method that aligns with your target audience and goals. This could be through:

• Your website
• Content marketing
• Social media
• Affiliate partnerships
• Online ads
• Lead generation services

Each method is a different approach, and you want to choose the one that’s most likely to get you the leads you’re looking for.

Step 5: Create compelling offers

You need to make it exciting and valuable to your target customer. Think of what would make you say, “I want that!” and then create offers like eBooks, webinars, discounts, or free trials to catch people’s attention. When your offers are enticing, more people will want to share their contact information with you in exchange.

Step 6: Design high-converting landing pages

Create dedicated landing pages that are designed to convince people to take action, whether it’s signing up, downloading, or buying. These pages should have clear call-to-action signs like “Buy Now” or “Sign Up Here” and forms that are easy to fill out.

Step 7: Implement lead tracking

Use analytics and tracking tools to monitor the performance of your PPL program. It helps you figure out where your leads are coming from, and which ones are the best. With these strategies, you can understand which sources are working best and if your leads are top-notch.

Step 8: Qualify leads

Qualifying leads makes sure you’re focusing on the important stuff. Develop lead qualification criteria to ensure that the leads you generate align with your target audience. This can reduce the chance of unqualified leads and improve conversion rates.

Step 9: Establish a follow-up system

Design a lead nurturing process to engage with and convert acquired leads. Utilize email marketing, content marketing, and other strategies to build relationships and trust with potential customers.

Step 10: Monitor and optimize

Your PPL program isn’t a one-time thing; you need to keep an eye on it. Monitor how it’s doing and check if your goals are being met. Use A/B testing to see what works best and what doesn’t. It’s like trying different keys to open a lock and finding the right one. By doing this, you can make your program more effective over time and get even better results.

Step 11: Comply with privacy regulations

Ensure that your PPL program complies with data protection and privacy regulations, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Respect user preferences regarding data collection and use. By doing this, you show that you value people’s privacy, gaining their trust and later generating leads.

Step 12: Select your vendor

If you’re using a lead generation service, choose a reputable and reliable provider. Check their track record. Investigate the quality of leads they offer, ensuring they’re the kind of players you want on your team. Finally, review the terms of service carefully.

Step 13: Scale and grow

As your program becomes more efficient, consider scaling it up to generate more leads. Be ready to allocate more money and resources. This way, you’re ready to grow and meet the demands of your expanding business.

Step 14: Measure your ROI

Continually evaluate the return on investment for your PPL program. Calculate the cost per lead and compare it to the revenue generated from those leads. It’ll show you whether your PPL program is producing results and adjust if needed.

How to earn and make money with pay per lead programs

If you’re looking for more ways to make money online, you can also earn by joining other people’s PPL marketing programs.

With PPL you don’t have to buy anything—you just get paid when they become a lead. You can promote these links on your blog, social media, YouTube channel, or through email.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Get lots of leads. Most PPL programs don’t pay a lot per lead, so you’ll need a good number of people signing up to make real money. Focus on getting more traffic and more people to click and take action.
• Help people solve a problem. If you recommend something that fixes a problem your audience has, they’re more likely to sign up. For example, if they need help with saving money, promote a free budgeting app.
• Share stuff your audience cares about. Only promote products or services that fit your audience’s interests. If the offer doesn’t match what they need or want, they probably won’t sign up—so you won’t get paid.

Top pay-per-lead affiliate programs you can consider

If you want to earn money through getting people to sign up or try out services, these affiliate programs are great options:

• ClickFunnels. ClickFunnels helps businesses build online sales funnels. As an affiliate, you can earn up to 40% recurring commission for every customer who signs up through your link and continues using the service.
• QuickBooks. QuickBooks offers payroll and accounting software for small businesses. You get paid $5 for every person who signs up for a 30-day free trial.
• Acorns. Acorns is a micro-investing app. You earn $60 for every new account that signs up and makes an initial deposit.
• FreshBooks. FreshBooks is accounting software for small businesses. You can earn up to $10 for each free trial sign-up and up to $200 if that user later becomes a paying customer.
• Grammarly. Grammarly is a writing tool that checks spelling and grammar. You earn $0.20 for every free account and $20 for every upgrade to a premium account. It also has a 90-day cookie window, so leads have time to convert.
• Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning platform with creative and business-focused courses. You can earn up to 40% commission on new members who join through your referral.
• CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction). CJ Affiliate is a large affiliate network where you can find hundreds of PPL programs across different industries. It’s a great place to access a variety of offers all in one place.

Important: Commission rates and terms may vary and change without prior notice. Please refer directly to their websites for specific and up-to-date information.

Boost your lead marketing with pay-per-lead programs

PPL lets you target and acquire individuals who are genuinely interested in what you offer, leading to higher-quality leads. It’s a cost-effective and results-focused approach to customer acquisition.

Enhance your marketing strategy by combining pay-per-lead programs with Network Solutions’ lead generation tools, like SEO services, PPC advertising and custom landing pages.

We can help you attract more qualified leads and grow your business online.