Understanding Leads and Pipelines: A Simple Guide
Leads and pipelines are tools designed to help you manage potential business opportunities with ease. Whether you're handling inquiries from parents about classes or following up on trial sessions, these tools will keep you organized and efficient. Let’s break it down step by step!
Why Should You Care About Leads and Pipelines?
Running a business, like an enrichment centre, means juggling lots of inquiries and opportunities. Parents might call, email, or message you about classes for their kids. Without a system, it’s easy to lose track of these inquiries or forget to follow up. That’s where leads and pipelines come in—they’re your secret weapon to staying on top of things.
What Problems Do Leads and Pipelines Solve?
- No More Missed Opportunities: Without a system, inquiries can slip through the cracks.
- Clear Visibility: You’ll always know where each inquiry stands (e.g., new, follow-up, enrolled).
- Save Time: Stop wasting hours manually tracking inquiries—let the system do the work for you.
With leads and pipelines, you can:
- Organize inquiries into a clear, step-by-step process.
- Track progress as leads move through stages (e.g., new inquiry → trial class booked → enrolled).
- Save time by automating repetitive tasks and focusing on what matters most.
What is a Lead?
A lead is simply a potential opportunity tied to a person. For example:
- A parent asking about math classes for their child.
- A student interested in a trial coding workshop.
Every lead includes:
- A Title (e.g., "Math Class Inquiry").
- A Created At date (this is automatically recorded when the lead is created).
You can also add custom fields to capture more details, such as:
- Preferred Timeslot (e.g., Weekday, Weekend).
- Source (e.g., Facebook Ads, Google Ads, WhatsApp).
- Programme (e.g., Coding, Math, Art).
What is a Pipeline?
A pipeline is like a roadmap for your leads. It helps you track where each opportunity is in the process. For example:
- A New Student Pipeline to manage inquiries and enrollments.
- A Workshop Pipeline to handle sign-ups for special events.
Each pipeline has:
- Stages: These are the steps a lead goes through (e.g., "New Inquiry," "Trial Class Scheduled," "Enrolled").
- Leads: These are the opportunities tied to contacts.
Pipelines help you:
- See progress at a glance: Know exactly which stage each lead is in.
- Filter leads: Quickly find leads based on criteria like stage, source, or creation date.
- Measure success: Track how many leads move through each stage.
Example: How an Enrichment Centre Uses Pipelines
Let’s say you run an enrichment centre. Your New Student Pipeline might look like this:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| New Inquiry | A parent asks about classes. |
| Trial Class Scheduled | A trial class is booked. |
| Follow-Up | Waiting for the parent’s decision. |
| Enrolled | The student has signed up. |
Tracking Where Your Leads Come From
Pipelines also help you track how leads find you. For example:
- How many leads came from Facebook Ads?
- How many leads came from Google Ads?
- How many leads reached out organically (e.g., via WhatsApp or walk-ins)?
This information helps you:
- Understand what’s working: See which marketing campaigns are bringing in the most leads.
- Focus your efforts: Spend time and money on the most effective channels.
- Improve your strategy: Make smarter decisions based on real data.
Key Takeaways
- A lead is a potential opportunity tied to a person.
- A pipeline is a system to track leads through stages.
- Pipelines help you stay organized, save time, and understand where your leads are coming from.
What’s Next?
Now that you understand the basics of leads and pipelines, it’s time to create your first pipeline!