How to Buy Leads — A Complete Guide
Whether you're new to lead buying or looking to optimize your approach, this guide covers everything: lead types, pricing, quality metrics, and best practices.
Understanding Lead Types
Exclusive Leads
Sold to one buyer only. Higher cost, higher conversion. Best for businesses with strong sales teams. Learn more →
Shared Leads
Sold to multiple buyers (typically 3-5). Lower cost, more competitive. Good for businesses wanting volume.
Live Transfers
Pre-screened consumers transferred to your team in real-time. Highest intent and conversion. Learn more →
Key Quality Indicators
- Recency: How recently the lead was generated — fresher leads convert better
- Exclusivity: Exclusive leads convert 3-5x higher than shared leads
- Verification: Phone, email, and identity verification reduce bad data
- Intent signals: Form completeness, time on page, and search queries
- Compliance: TCPA consent, one-to-one opt-in documentation
- Return policy: Ability to dispute and return invalid leads
Pricing Models
- Cost Per Lead (CPL): Fixed price per lead. Most common model.
- Pay Per Call: Fixed price per qualified phone call
- Ping Post (auction): Real-time bidding determines price. What is ping post? →
- Revenue Share: Pay a percentage of revenue from converted leads
The right model depends on your vertical, volume, and risk tolerance.
Best Practices
Start Small
Test with 50-100 leads to validate quality before scaling volume.
Track Everything
Measure contact rate, appointment rate, and close rate by source.
Follow Up Fast
Contact leads within 5 minutes. Speed-to-lead is the #1 conversion factor.
Ready to Buy Leads?
Talk to our team about the right lead type, volume, and pricing for your business.