Definition

What is lead-to-revenue management (L2RM)?

Lead-to-revenue management (L2RM) is a set of sales and marketing methods focusing on generating revenue throughout the customer life cycle. More prominent in business-to-business (B2B) marketing and sales, L2RM starts in the lead generation phase and extends through each stage in the buyer's journey to evaluate how much money customers in each stage bring in.

The goal of L2RM is to judge customer engagement through the lens of revenue generation to optimize the customer acquisition and retention process and maximize an organization's income. This approach ensures that every interaction and engagement with a potential or current customer is evaluated for its revenue potential, aiming for a seamless and profitable customer journey.

Stages of the customer journey.
Lead-to-revenue management aims to maximize revenue throughout the customer journey.

Key practices in L2RM

Practices such as customer journey mapping and calculating a customer's lifetime value help L2RM practitioners determine which sales or marketing practices need improvement to advance lead generation and net revenue gain.

In addition, predictive analytics and data-driven decision-making are increasingly integral to L2RM strategies. They help businesses forecast potential revenue from leads and make informed adjustments to their sales and marketing tactics.

An example of the customer journey.
Customer journey mapping is one of the practices that helps when employing L2RM to improve lead generation and increase net revenue.

Technological integration in L2RM

L2RM requires many information technology systems to work together, including customer relationship management systems, marketing automation platforms, sales enablement tools, content management systems and business intelligence frameworks. Integrating these systems lets marketing and sales departments use the same data, work closer and close more deals.

Recent advancements in AI and machine learning have further enhanced the capabilities of these systems, providing deeper insights and more accurate predictions regarding customer behavior and revenue outcomes.

L2RM and change management

A change management checklist.
Lead-to-revenue management is frequently a component of a larger change management initiative.

L2RM is often part of a more comprehensive change management strategy that defines and implements procedures and/or technologies to augment business processes. If done well, a successful L2RM initiative is likely to disrupt an organization's sales and marketing practices by exposing weaknesses and/or introducing new procedures that disrupt the status quo.

Continuous improvement and adaptability are critical components of L2RM as the market dynamics and customer expectations continually evolve.

L2RM serves as a strategic framework that aligns sales and marketing efforts with revenue generation goals. By leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven insights, businesses can enhance their lead generation, optimize customer journeys and achieve sustainable revenue growth.

To ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of customer journey maps, CX teams should adhere to specific best practices. Discover the top customer journey mapping strategies. Llearn how customer communications management, facilitated by generative AI and other technologies, is key to improving customer experience success for B2B and B2C businesses alike. Compare top marketing automation software.

This was last updated in July 2024

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