The 12 best strategies to generate marketing agency leads

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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  1. Using email outreach for B2B lead generation

  2. Running targeted Google Ads campaigns

  3. Leveraging content marketing and SEO

  4. Hosting webinars and virtual events

  5. Building referral and partnership programs

  6. Optimizing lead magnets and gated content

  7. Creating case studies and success stories

  8. Engaging on social media platforms

  9. Using marketing automation tools

  10. Publishing industry reports and original research

  11. Networking at industry events and conferences

  12. Offering free audits or consultations

Getting high-quality marketing agency leads has never been easy. Sales teams often waste hours on repetitive tasks, like searching for contacts, validating data, and jumping between tools that don’t connect. The result is less time for actual selling and more frustration.

Another challenge is that prospecting usually happens in silos. Cold emails, phone calls, or event outreach are handled separately, making it difficult to keep a clear view of the pipeline. Without centralized information, teams struggle to make decisions based on reliable data.

Modern solutions now allow sales teams to work with multichannel prospecting flows, where every action is tracked and automated. This not only saves time but also ensures smarter and more effective outreach. 

By eliminating low-value tasks, teams become far more productive and can focus on conversations that actually move the needle.

In this article, we’ll dive into how technology is reshaping lead generation, what makes these new approaches different, and how they help businesses scale their sales efforts with confidence.

The 12 best strategies to generate marketing agency leads

1. Using email outreach for B2B lead generation

Cold email outreach remains one of the most effective ways to connect with potential clients. 

The key is to make it personalized, concise, and valuable. Instead of sending generic pitches, tailor each message to the recipient’s industry, challenges, and goals.

A strong multichannel approach amplifies results. Combine email campaigns with follow-ups through other contact points, ensuring your agency stays visible across different touchpoints. 

This makes outreach feel more natural and significantly increases the chances of engagement.

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2. Running targeted Google Ads campaigns

Google Ads allow agencies to reach prospects who are already searching for services. By targeting specific keywords and crafting compelling ad copy, you can capture intent-driven leads at the right moment.

To maximize ROI, focus on high-intent phrases such as “digital marketing agency for SaaS” instead of broad terms. 

Pair ads with dedicated landing pages optimized for conversions, ensuring prospects get a clear and relevant offer when they click.

3. Leveraging content marketing and SEO

Publishing consistent, high-value content positions your agency as an authority while attracting organic traffic. Blogs, guides, and industry insights not only educate potential clients but also build trust before any direct conversation begins.

Optimizing for SEO ensures your content is discoverable. Target long-tail keywords that reflect real problems prospects face. 

This way, your agency appears as a solution at the exact moment they’re looking for help.

4. Hosting webinars and virtual events

Webinars are a powerful tool to showcase expertise and connect with decision-makers at scale. Instead of a sales pitch, focus on delivering actionable insights that address specific pain points. 

Attendees should leave with value, not just an offer.

Promoting webinars across multiple channels—such as email campaigns and paid ads—guarantees higher attendance. Recording the session also creates content that can be repurposed for ongoing lead generation.

5. Building referral and partnership programs

Referrals remain one of the most trustworthy sources of leads. Happy clients can become advocates, recommending your services within their networks. 

Offering incentives, whether discounts or exclusive perks, makes it easier to encourage referrals.

Beyond clients, strategic partnerships with complementary businesses open new pipelines. For example, agencies can collaborate with software providers or consultants, creating a win-win scenario that benefits both parties and expands reach.

6. Optimizing lead magnets and gated content

Lead magnets like free templates, reports, or calculators attract prospects by solving immediate problems. To be effective, they must provide tangible value that resonates with your target audience.

Pair lead magnets with gated content, ensuring that users exchange their email address for access. 

The more aligned the content is with your services, the more qualified the leads will be. Follow up through a multichannel strategy, turning interest into conversations and, eventually, clients.

✉️ Using email outreach for B2B lead generation

  • Personalize concise cold emails and combine them with follow ups to increase response rates.
  • Use multichannel sequences so email outreach integrates with calls and events for better pipeline visibility.

7. Creating case studies and success stories

Case studies demonstrate real results, making them one of the most persuasive tools for lead generation. Instead of abstract claims, they show exactly how your agency solved a client’s problem and delivered measurable outcomes.

Well-crafted success stories create trust and credibility. Include metrics, client testimonials, and a clear before-and-after picture. 

When prospects see proof, they are more likely to start a conversation with your agency.

8. Engaging on social media platforms

Maintaining an active presence on social media helps agencies stay top of mind. Sharing educational posts, industry updates, and behind-the-scenes insights humanizes your brand and builds familiarity.

The goal is not just visibility but engagement

Responding to comments, joining discussions, and adding value in professional communities strengthens relationships that can later turn into qualified leads.

9. Using marketing automation tools

Marketing automation enables agencies to nurture prospects at scale without losing personalization. 

Automated workflows can deliver timely follow-ups, reminders, and offers across multichannel outreach, saving countless hours of manual work.

By combining automation with centralized data, teams can prioritize the most promising leads and make better decisions. 

This transforms lead generation into a structured, repeatable process rather than a scattered effort.

10. Publishing industry reports and original research

Producing original research or in-depth industry reports positions your agency as a thought leader. 

These resources are highly shareable and often picked up by media outlets, driving authority and inbound leads.

Reports should address emerging trends, benchmarks, or pain points your audience cares about. Offering them as gated content also ensures you capture high-quality contacts genuinely interested in your expertise.

11. Networking at industry events and conferences

Face-to-face or virtual networking still carries immense value. Attending conferences, trade shows, or specialized summits provides direct access to decision-makers who are actively seeking solutions.

Prepare with a clear value proposition and follow up quickly afterward using a multichannel sequence

A short, relevant follow-up email or phone outreach within 24 hours can make the difference between being remembered or forgotten.

12. Offering free audits or consultations

A free audit or consultation is a low-barrier way to start a relationship with potential clients. It demonstrates your expertise while delivering immediate value, creating a natural bridge to a paid engagement.

To maximize effectiveness, audits should be specific and actionable. Instead of generic advice, highlight key opportunities tailored to the prospect’s business. 

This builds trust and shows what working with your agency really looks like.

What are consulting leads and why they matter

Consulting leads are potential clients who show interest in hiring a consultant’s expertise to solve specific business challenges.

Unlike general inquiries, these leads represent organizations or individuals actively considering professional support to improve performance, reduce costs, or unlock growth.

They matter because consulting is a relationship-driven business. Without a steady flow of qualified leads, consultants struggle to maintain revenue, scale their practices, or demonstrate long-term impact. 

Effective lead generation is not just about numbers, but about finding prospects who truly fit the consultant’s expertise and value proposition.

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The main challenges consultants face when generating leads

High competition across consulting niches

The consulting industry is crowded and diverse, with firms and solo consultants competing for the same clients. 

From strategy and operations to marketing and HR, prospects often have dozens of options. 

Standing out requires a clear positioning and a strong message that communicates why one approach is more valuable than another.

Rising costs of acquiring qualified prospects

Acquiring qualified leads is becoming more expensive. 

Paid ads, premium directories, and specialized outreach tools drive up costs, while decision-makers demand more proof before engaging. 

Consultants need to balance spending and ROI, ensuring that each euro or dollar invested generates real opportunities rather than vanity metrics.

Long sales cycles with multiple stakeholders

Consulting deals often involve complex sales cycles

Multiple stakeholders — executives, managers, and sometimes boards — need to align before moving forward. This makes closing a deal time-consuming and unpredictable. 

Nurturing leads through consistent multichannel touchpoints, such as targeted emails and professional events, helps keep momentum alive.

Difficulty in building trust and authority

One of the biggest hurdles is credibility. Clients hire consultants for expertise they cannot easily access internally, so establishing trust and authority is critical. 

Without strong case studies, testimonials, or thought leadership, consultants risk being overlooked. 

Creating valuable content, sharing success stories, and demonstrating measurable impact are essential for building confidence among potential clients.

Tools and platforms that help consultants capture leads

CRM systems to centralize and qualify prospects

A CRM system is essential for organizing contacts, tracking interactions, and qualifying leads. Instead of juggling spreadsheets or scattered notes, consultants can manage all relationships in one place. 

This makes it easier to identify which prospects are most likely to convert and to follow up consistently.

Genesy AI integrates seamlessly with existing CRMs, ensuring consultants don’t need to replace the tools they already know. 

By automating data transfer and keeping records up to date, teams save hours of manual work and gain a clear picture of their pipeline through effective CRM integration.

Marketing automation and workflow tools

Marketing automation platforms help consultants nurture leads without adding more workload. With automated multichannel campaigns—such as targeted emails and scheduled calls—prospects receive timely and relevant messages.

This consistency builds trust and keeps the consultant top of mind throughout long sales cycles.

Genesy AI enhances this by eliminating repetitive tasks. 

By handling outreach sequences and reminders automatically, it allows consultants to stay productive while focusing on high-value conversations rather than administration.

Sales outreach solutions

Tools designed for prospecting outreach make it possible to contact potential clients at scale. Instead of isolated efforts through email or phone, consultants can rely on multichannel workflows that combine different contact points into a single strategy. 

This avoids the common problem of channels working in silos and ensures data remains centralized.

Genesy AI takes this further by consolidating outreach into one flow. 

Consultants no longer need to switch between platforms; all communication is tracked and enriched with reliable data, making it easier to prioritize leads and close opportunities.

Landing page builders for lead magnets

Landing page builders allow consultants to create dedicated pages for lead magnets like eBooks, checklists, or industry reports. 

These pages are optimized for conversion, helping capture contact details while offering real value upfront.

Pairing landing pages with automated follow-ups ensures that new leads are immediately nurtured through a multichannel approach, strengthening the chances of turning interest into qualified conversations.

Analytics platforms for measuring campaign ROI

Without measurement, lead generation is guesswork. Analytics platforms provide visibility into which campaigns, channels, or messages bring the best results. This helps consultants allocate resources effectively and double down on what works.

When connected with Genesy AI and a CRM system, analytics become even more powerful. 

Centralized reporting highlights not just activity but impact, showing consultants how many hours were saved, which prospects are worth pursuing, and where the pipeline can be optimized with data extraction tools for better returns.

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Best practices for qualifying and nurturing consulting leads

Define and prioritize your ideal client profile

The foundation of effective lead qualification is having a clear client profile

Consultants need to define the industries, company sizes, and decision-makers they want to work with. Without this clarity, time is wasted chasing leads that will never convert.

Prioritization is equally important. Not every lead deserves the same attention. By ranking prospects according to budget, urgency, and fit, consultants can focus energy where it delivers the highest return.

Segment leads by industry and consulting needs

Segmentation makes nurturing more relevant. Prospects in finance have different challenges than those in healthcare, and messaging should reflect that.

Tailored communication increases engagement and demonstrates that the consultant understands specific needs.

Grouping leads by pain points or goals also improves the nurturing process. Instead of sending generic resources, consultants can share insights that resonate directly with what the prospect is trying to solve.

Align marketing and sales teams on qualification criteria

Misalignment between marketing and sales often leads to friction. Marketing may deliver large volumes of contacts, but without clear qualification criteria, sales teams waste time filtering.

Defining together what constitutes a qualified lead ensures consistency. When both teams share the same standards, the pipeline becomes healthier and conversion rates improve.

Automate follow-ups with personalized sequences

Leads rarely convert after the first interaction. That’s why follow-up sequences are essential. Automating them saves time while ensuring prospects receive consistent attention across multichannel outreach, from emails to calls.

Genesy AI makes this process even more efficient. By automating repetitive follow-ups, it helps sales teams stay productive and recover hours that would otherwise be lost in manual tasks.

Use intent data to spot prospects closer to conversion

Not all leads are equally ready to buy. Intent data—signals like recent funding, job changes, or engagement with specific content—reveals which prospects are closest to making a decision.

Centralizing these insights in one platform avoids the traditional problem of isolated channels such as email, phone, or events. With Genesy AI, all signals are collected in a single automated flow, giving teams the intelligence needed to act at the right time.

Why these practices matter

Following these practices ensures consultants don’t just collect leads but actually nurture relationships that result in clients. The key lies in clarity, consistency, and efficiency.

Genesy AI supports this by integrating seamlessly with existing CRMs, so consultants can adopt it without replacing current systems. 

The result is a streamlined process where data flows automatically, tasks are minimized, and decisions are backed by accurate insights.

🔍 Running targeted Google Ads campaigns

  • Target high intent keywords and send visitors to conversion-optimized landing pages.
  • Measure and iterate quickly to lower acquisition costs and improve lead quality.

Real-world examples of firms scaling with lead generation

Small consultancies growing pipelines with webinars

Smaller consultancies often lack the budget for large advertising campaigns. Many have turned to webinars as a cost-effective way to showcase expertise and attract new leads.

By offering sessions with actionable insights, they position themselves as trusted advisors.

The result is a steady stream of qualified prospects who already see value before a sales conversation begins. When combined with multichannel follow-ups, webinars can transform into one of the most reliable sources of pipeline growth.

Mid-size firms leveraging automation

For mid-size consultancies, scaling outreach is the main challenge. Relying only on manual email campaigns or phone calls limits growth and drains resources. 

By introducing automation tools, these firms maintain consistent communication with larger pools of prospects.

This multichannel approach ensures no opportunity slips through the cracks. Automated workflows help nurture leads over time, keeping consultants visible and relevant until prospects are ready to engage.

Enterprise consultancies boosting ROI with data-driven funnels

Large consultancies typically handle long and complex sales cycles. To maximize efficiency, many use data-driven funnels that track interactions across multiple channels and provide insights into buyer intent.

With advanced analytics, these firms identify which prospects are closer to conversion and allocate resources accordingly. 

This data-first approach increases ROI by focusing effort where it creates the greatest impact.

For agencies working in sensitive industries, specialized strategies are essential. For example, firms targeting cybersecurity leads need tailored outreach that balances trust, compliance, and highly technical messaging.

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Why Genesy AI is a powerful solution for consulting leads

Traditional prospecting forces consultants to work in isolated channels like email or phone, making it hard to keep information consistent and actionable. 

Genesy AI eliminates that problem by centralizing all outreach into a single automated flow, enriched with reliable data.

By automating repetitive tasks such as follow-ups, Genesy AI allows teams to be far more productive, saving hours each week that can be invested in strategic conversations and closing deals. 

This shift improves both efficiency and morale.

Another key advantage is multicanality. Genesy AI combines outreach across different contact methods, ensuring prospects receive communication in the right format and at the right time.

This increases engagement and accelerates movement through the funnel.

Adoption is simple. Genesy AI integrates smoothly with existing CRMs, so firms don’t need to replace their systems. Data synchronization is automatic, ensuring records remain clean, accurate, and ready for decision-making.

For consultants of any size, Genesy AI provides a scalable way to generate, qualify, and convert leads. 

It transforms fragmented prospecting into a streamlined process, giving firms the structure and intelligence needed to grow confidently.

Build more pipeline with no effort!

Create targeted lists in seconds, get reliable contact data, reach them automatically and convert with our AI sales agent.

Book a Demo
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the most effective ways to get leads for consulting?

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The most effective strategies combine content marketing, webinars, referrals, and targeted outreach.

Consultants who share valuable insights consistently attract prospects that already trust their expertise.

Pairing these methods with multichannel follow-ups ensures leads are nurtured properly instead of slipping away.

How can consultants shorten long sales cycles?

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Sales cycles are naturally longer in consulting because multiple stakeholders are involved.

The best way to shorten them is by building authority early through case studies, success stories, and tailored insights.

Using automated sequences across email and calls keeps the relationship active and helps decision-makers move faster.

Which tools are best for consulting lead generation?

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Consultants benefit from CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and analytics tools. CRMs help centralize contacts, automation ensures consistent outreach, and analytics provide visibility into what actually drives conversions.

Together, they create a more structured and measurable pipeline.

How can AI help in qualifying and nurturing consulting leads?

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AI can analyze vast amounts of data to reveal intent signals, prioritize the most promising leads, and recommend the best next steps.

It also supports personalized multichannel outreach at scale, ensuring consultants stay visible without increasing workload.

This turns lead generation into a more efficient and predictable process.

What’s the most cost-effective way to generate consulting leads?

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For many firms, the most cost-effective strategy is leveraging content and referral programs.

These methods require more effort upfront but build long-term authority and trust.

When paired with automation, even small teams can sustain consistent multichannel nurturing without overspending on ads.

Can Genesy AI help consulting firms win more clients?

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Yes. Genesy AI allows sales teams to be far more productive by automating repetitive tasks and saving hours of manual work each week. Traditionally, prospecting happened in isolated channels such as email or phone.

With Genesy, the entire process is integrated into a single automated flow, with centralized data for smarter decisions.

Another key advantage is multichannel outreach. Genesy manages outreach across multiple contact points, ensuring prospects receive relevant communication in the right way. It also integrates easily with existing CRMs, so firms don’t need to replace their systems. This makes adoption fast, smooth, and highly effective.

By combining automation, centralized data, and seamless CRM integration, Genesy AI helps consulting firms not only capture more leads but also convert them into long-term clients with greater consistency.