Lead Generation Companies – Distribute More Leads with Multiple Payment Methods

A key component of lead sales process which helps lead generation and distribution companies sell more leads is providing multiple, flexible payment options. Each lead buyer will have a specific requirements depending on their lead sales practices in that specific business segment. Using a Lead Distribution Software solution with multiple payment support options will help you cherry pick a suitable method based on the client requirements.

Providing flexibility does not mean that all payment related activities should be carried out manually. On the other hand, you should automate the payment processes as much as possible, so that you can focus on lead generation and sales.

The above screenshot shows an example of payment options that  could provided for a lead order from a lead client. The options include:

• Payments not processed via the lead distribution and management system. This is the least preferred option. However, you have a different arrangement with the client and payments could be entirely handled outside of the system.
• Capture Payment in Full for the entire Order volume. This option could be used if the order volumes are small (in the case of real time leads) or aged leads are delivered immediately.
• Deduct Full Payment for the entire order from the client’s account balance. Again this could be used in the above order scenario. This case is applicable when the client has money in his account, either through a prepay method (ex. auto capture of certain amount of payments at preset conditions) or through manual methods.
• Accumulate Payment and process at certain intervals. This would be useful if you are extending a credit plan for the buyer. The accumulated payments could be captured at the end of the day, end of the week or when the outstanding hits a threshold.
• Deduct payment from buyer’s account balance in real time. This option is applicable when balance is available in the account and the payment can be taken in real time.
• Capture payment from buyer’s credit card in real time. When the individual leads are delivered in real time, this option can be used to capture the payment from the client’s payment card.

In every case, the system should be able to handle the exceptions and trigger payment capture as necessary or put the order holder with an alert to the administrator.

If you are receiving payments outside of the system via wire transfer, physical checks, etc. from lead clients, the same should be entered into the system. Even if you are processing credit card payments externally, the same should be recorded in the system. Similarly any adjustments should be posted into the system. This would help to have a unified view of the situation and automate the rest of the processes as much as possible. The above picture shows a typical manual payment / refund entry screen on the lead distribution and payment processing software tool.