Want More B2B Leads? All the Methods I've Tried Are Here
After years in B2B sales, I've tried various methods to find potential customers. Some work, some don't, some are too expensive.
Today I want to share 10 methods I've actually used and that really work. These aren't theories, but practical experience I've gained after making mistakes and paying tuition.
Method 1: Content Marketing + SEO, Let Customers Find You
This is my most recommended method. Although it takes time to see results, once it works, the effects are continuous and lead quality is highest.
Why does content marketing work? Because when customers have needs, they actively search. If your content solves their problems, they'll actively find you.
My approach:
- Write in-depth articles targeting customer pain points
- Create industry reports and white papers
- Share real customer case studies
- Optimize SEO to ensure content can be found on Google
The key is: content must be valuable, don't just sell products. Help customers solve problems, and they'll naturally trust you.
Method 2: Community Engagement, Build Trust and Authority
Whether it's Reddit, LinkedIn, or industry forums, actively participating in relevant community discussions can help you build a professional image and attract potential customers.
But note: don't directly advertise. Community users strongly dislike hard advertising.
My strategy:
- Answer other users' questions, provide professional insights
- Share valuable resources and tools (not necessarily my product)
- Participate in popular topic discussions, showcase expertise
- Host AMA (Ask Me Anything) activities for direct interaction
The result: I built a professional image in the community, and many people started actively consulting me.
Method 3: Personalized Cold Emails, Not Spam
Cold emails still work, but the key is better targeting and personalization.
Generic "we help companies grow" emails get deleted immediately. B2B buyers in 2025 are immune to spam, only truly valuable personalized emails can open their inbox.
My approach:
- Deeply research recipient's company, role, recent activities
- Personalized opening, mention their specific pain points or achievements
- Value-driven, not selling products, but providing value
- Clear call-to-action, tell them what to do next
Remember: 66% of B2B buyers prefer email contact. The key is your email must be valuable, not spam.
Method 4: Automation Tools, 10x Efficiency Improvement
Manual lead finding is too slow. In 2025, you must use tools.
But the problem is: many tools are too expensive or incomplete. I've tried many tools, and finally found: tool combinations work best.
For example, you might need:
- One tool to get raw contact lists
- Another tool to enrich data (add company info, job titles, etc.)
- Another tool to verify emails and reduce bounce rates
This combination approach does work better, but the problem is: costs multiply. If you use ZoomInfo + Hunter.io + email verification tools, monthly costs could reach thousands of dollars.
My Automation Solution: mnmLeads
For acquiring large numbers of precise leads, I chose mnmLeads. Why? Because it solves my core pain points.
Pain Point 1: Tools Are Too Expensive
ZoomInfo costs $15,000-20,000 per year, Hunter.io, Lusha, etc. cost tens to hundreds of dollars per month. For small teams, this cost is too high.
mnmLeads costs much less, and its features are fully sufficient. You can start with the free version and upgrade as needed.
Pain Point 2: Limited Data Sources
Traditional tools rely on fixed databases, which may not cover all industries and regions you need.
mnmLeads is based on Google search, so it can find any publicly available websites and contact information. As long as Google can find it, mnmLeads can help you extract it.
Pain Point 3: Manual Operations, Low Efficiency
Even with tools, many operations still require manual work, which is inefficient.
mnmLeads is fully automated: set keywords and parameters, click start, then go do other things. When you come back, the system has silently crawled all web pages and organized your email list.
Pain Point 4: Inconsistent Data Formats, Difficult CRM Import
Different tools export data in different formats, requiring manual organization for CRM import, which is troublesome.
mnmLeads exports CSV files in formats fully compatible with mainstream CRM systems. You can directly import into HubSpot, Salesforce, or MailChimp, seamlessly connecting to follow-up work.
Method 5: Referrals and Word-of-Mouth, Highest Conversion Rate
This has the highest conversion rate, period. Referrals from existing customers are more effective than any other method.
Why? Because trust is already established, and referrals themselves are a form of endorsement.
My approach:
- Provide excellent service, satisfy existing customers
- After successful project completion, politely request referrals
- Build referral programs, give referrers some incentives (but comply with regulations)
- Maintain relationships, don't only reach out when you need something
Referred customers have the highest trust and closing rates.
Method 6: Attend Industry Trade Shows and Events
Although digital is hot, face-to-face communication still works. Trade shows and industry events still work for certain industries, and face-to-face communication builds trust better than digital outreach.
Especially in B2B, trust is the foundation of closing deals, and face-to-face communication is the best way to build trust.
My approach:
- Prepare in advance, research exhibitor lists, identify target customers
- Prepare demos, have product demos and cases ready
- Collect business cards, follow up promptly after the show
- Build relationships, don't just sell, build trust first
Method 7: Monitor Buying Signals, Follow Up Timely
This is a 2025 trend. By monitoring potential customers' buying signals, you can appear when they need you most.
Common buying signals include:
- Job Postings: Company hiring related positions indicates business needs
- Job Changes: New decision-makers may have new projects
- Funding News: Company receives funding, usually has expansion plans
- Social Media Engagement: Liking, commenting on your LinkedIn content
- Website Behavior: Visiting your pricing page, downloading white papers, etc.
Based on these signals, timely personalized outreach will greatly improve conversion rates.
Method 8: Advertising, Precise Targeting
Whether it's LinkedIn ads, Google ads, or Reddit ads, precise advertising can help you directly reach target audiences.
The key is: precise targeting. Don't cast a wide net, target precisely.
My approach:
- Clearly define target customer profile (ICP)
- Choose appropriate advertising platforms
- Precisely set audience targeting
- Continuously optimize ad performance
Advertising costs are higher, but if targeting is precise, conversion rates will also be high.
Method 9: Partners and Channels
Building partnerships with other companies and mutually referring customers is an underestimated method.
My approach:
- Find complementary companies (not competitors)
- Build mutually beneficial partnerships
- Regular communication, share leads
- Build long-term relationships
Partner-referred customers usually have high quality because they've been preliminarily screened.
Method 10: Combination Use, Best Effect
Finally, and most importantly: don't rely on just one method.
B2B lead generation in 2025 is no longer a single method, but a combination:
- Multi-channel layout: Content marketing, cold emails, referrals, advertising—don't rely on just one method
- Personalization first: Whether emails or content, personalize for target customers
- Automation tools: Use tools to improve efficiency, spend time following up with customers, not finding them
- Continuous optimization: Monitor data, constantly optimize your lead generation strategy
My recommendation:
- Use content marketing to build brand and trust (long-term)
- Use mnmLeads to automatically acquire large numbers of precise leads (short-term)
- Use personalized cold emails for follow-up (conversion)
- Use referrals and word-of-mouth to expand influence (growth)
This ensures both quantity and quality, the best combination.
Conclusion: No Perfect Method, Only the Most Suitable Combination
After years of trying, I've found: there's no perfect method, only the most suitable combination.
If you have sufficient budget, you can try multiple method combinations. If you have limited budget, I recommend:
- Use content marketing to build long-term brand (free or low cost)
- Use mnmLeads to automatically acquire leads (low cost, high efficiency)
- Use personalized emails for follow-up (conversion)
Most importantly: don't be bound by methods. Methods are means, not ends. Your goal is to find potential customers, establish contact, and ultimately close deals. When choosing methods, consider cost, efficiency, and effectiveness, and find the combination that best suits you.
Want to learn more? Check out mnmLeads pricing plans, start with the free version, and upgrade to more powerful plans anytime. Start your automated lead generation journey!