When implemented correctly, both B2B demand gen and lead gen are key methods that can work harmoniously to produce impressive results.
As demand gen serves to develop organic interest and awareness in a company and its solutions, it also acts as the foundation for future B2B lead generation strategies.
Any content produced with demand generation in mind helps to establish a brand in its position in the marketplace, as well as build its reputation as an expert.
Demand gen across multiple channels provides marketers with the opportunity to field insights from early interactions with potential prospects that can be used to inform strategies that better qualify leads.
Within the buyer’s journey (as illustrated in the Bow-Tie Funnel below), demand generation and lead generation are interconnected processes. At the awareness stage, demand generation expands the market through content and campaigns, while B2B lead gen captures interested parties as prospective buyers.
As the journey progresses, demand generation continues to nurture interest with targeted content, and lead generation refines its focus on qualified leads. During the initial deal, supplying sales teams qualified leads for conversion falls under lead generation, while the value proposition is reinforced by demand generation strategies.
Post-purchase, implementation is supported by demand gen with resources, and client feedback is leveraged through lead generation for strategy refinement. In subsequent stages, such as renewals, upsell, and cross-sell, both demand and lead generation maintain client loyalty and function to identify growth opportunities.