Lead Distribution Methods

Learn about multiple proven methods for lead distribution among your agents

Matt avatar
Written by Matt
Updated over a week ago

For a comprehensive distribution strategy, view the webinar, "Developing Your Lead Distribution Strategy".

The type of lead distribution method you choose will significantly impact response times and overall conversion, below are several methods that focus on maximizing different goals.

Review Your Options

There are a number of ways to distribute leads, some are more effective than others. All methods fall into three buckets:

  1. Push - Leads are assigned.

  2. Pull - Leads are claimed.

  3. Push-Pull - Multiple agents contacted, first to respond is assigned lead.

  • Round Robin (Push) - Assign leads to agents in order. 

  • Top Producer (Push) - Assign leads based on agent performance. 

  • Territory (Push) - Assign based on location of the lead / agent. 

  • Cherry Pick (Pull) - Agents view leads and claim the ones they want. 

  • Blind Pull (Pull) - Agents claim leads without seeing details first. 

  • Shark Tank (Pull) - Multiple agents contacted, first to claim lead wins. 

  • First To Call Version of All The Above (Push-Pull) - One or more agents contacted, first to call lead wins. 

LeadSimple does not provide traditional push methods for lead distribution because they are inherently inferior to push-pull based distribution. All of the lead distribution methods below involve notifying one or multiple agents and awarding the lead to the first agent to actually CALL the lead.

Set Up a Lead Distribution Method

Once you have selected a lead distribution method you can set that up in LeadSimple.

Avoid confusion over lead assignment If you've got multiple agents competing for leads it's best to only send phone and text notifications to reduce the odds of multiple agents calling the lead. Text messages only contain the tracked number, which will alert the agent if the lead is already assigned when dialed and the agent who responds first and has the lead assigned to them will always be sent a lead assignment email notice regardless of whether email notifications are active.

Round Robin (Push-Pull)

Click the settings icon in the upper-right corner of the lead list page and select "Notifications and Routing" in the left-hand menu that appears.

Agent A will be called first, if they accept the lead no one else will be called. If they ignore the lead, agent B will be called and the process will be repeated.

The next time a lead comes in Agent A will be called last and Agent B will be moved to the front of the line.

If no one responds and the default assignment option is left empty the lead will be left unassigned. The default permission setting allows agents to view and reassign leads.

Shark Tank (Push-Pull)

On the Notifications and Routing page, set it up to look like this.

Agents A, B and C will all be called and texted simultaneously. The first person to accept the lead by calling it will have the lead assigned to them. Once the lead is assigned, other agents will hear, "We're sorry, John Doe is already assigned to Agent A" when they try to call the lead.

There is no limit to the number of people that can be contacted simultaneously.

If no one responds and the default assignment option is left empty the lead will be left unassigned. The default permission setting allows agents to view and reassign leads.

Top Producer Pull (Push-Pull)

This method shows preference to one agent over the others by giving them the first chance to claim new leads. This preference is typically given because that agent has maintained a higher close rate than their peers.

Navigate to the Notifications and Routing page again and set up the notification orders to look like this.

Sarah Keller will be called and texted first. If she accepts the lead, no one else will be contacted, if she doesn't then Bruce and Amy will be called. 

If none of the agents have responded, you can set the system to auto-assign the lead to a sales manager who will be notified via email and can then manually assign the lead and follow up with his team to find out why no one accepted the lead.

If no one responds and the default assignment option is left empty the lead will be left unassigned. The default permission setting allows agents to view and reassign leads.

Blind Push-Pull

With any of the push-pull methods listed above, you can add the condition of making it a 'blind' distribution. What this means is that agents will only be notified of the name of the lead with no additional information. This prevents agents from cherry picking leads and forces them to respond to every lead.

To do this, click the "Call Notification Settings" button at the top of the Notifications and Routing page and then click on the "Call Config Fields" menu. You can select the information you want LeadSimple to read off on new-lead notifications here. Deselect all options other than the leads name (which the agent will need to address them).

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