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Lead Categories

Lead categories in SendSquared provide a way to group similar lead types together for better organization and reporting. This guide explains how to set up and manage lead categories effectively.

Understanding Lead Categories​

Lead categories are the highest level of organization in your lead management system. They allow you to:

  • Group related lead types together
  • Filter pipeline views by category
  • Create organizational hierarchies for your business opportunities
  • Generate reports based on category performance

Think of lead categories as the broadest classification of your business opportunities. For example, a property management company might have categories like "Property Acquisition," "Guest Services," and "Vendor Management."

Accessing Lead Category Settings​

To manage your lead categories:

  1. Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner
  2. Select Global Settings from the dropdown menu
  3. Navigate to Lead Settings
  4. Select the Lead Categories tab

Creating a New Lead Category​

To add a new lead category:

  1. Click the Add Category button

  2. Enter a descriptive name for the category

    • Choose a name that clearly represents the group of lead types it will contain
    • Use consistent naming conventions for all categories

  3. (Optional) Add a description to provide context

  4. Select a color for visual identification in reports and pipelines

  5. Click Save to create the category

Managing Existing Categories​

From the Lead Categories screen, you can:

Edit a Category​

  1. Find the category you want to modify
  2. Click the Edit (pencil) icon
  3. Update the name, description, or color as needed
  4. Click Save to apply your changes

Delete a Category​

  1. Find the category you want to remove
  2. Click the Delete (trash) icon
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted
caution

Deleting a category that contains lead types will not delete the lead types themselves, but they will be left without a category. Consider reassigning lead types before deleting a category.

Organizing Lead Types Within Categories​

After creating your categories, you'll assign lead types to them:

  1. Navigate to Lead Types in the Lead Settings
  2. When creating or editing a lead type, select the appropriate category from the dropdown
  3. Save the lead type to associate it with the category

This association allows you to:

  • Filter your pipeline view by category
  • Generate reports based on category performance
  • Quickly find related lead types

Best Practices for Lead Categories​

Keep It Simple​

  • Start with a small number of categories (3-5) and expand only if necessary
  • Use clear, concise naming that everyone in your organization understands

Align with Business Structure​

  • Consider structuring categories around your business units or departments
  • Align categories with how you report on business performance

Consider the User Experience​

  • Create categories that make sense from a user perspective
  • Think about how your team will filter and search for leads

Review Periodically​

  • Audit your categories every 6-12 months
  • Adjust categories as your business evolves or new opportunities emerge

Example Lead Category Structure​

Here's an example category structure for a property management company:

CategoryDescriptionIncluded Lead Types
Guest ServicesOpportunities related to guests and their staysReservations, Guest Inquiries, Special Requests
Property AcquisitionOpportunities to add new properties to portfolioOwner Prospects, Property Listings, Partner Referrals
Vendor ManagementOpportunities with service providersMaintenance, Cleaning, Amenities
Marketing PartnershipsPromotional and cross-selling opportunitiesLocal Attractions, Event Venues, Activity Providers

Reporting on Lead Categories​

SendSquared provides several reports that utilize lead categories:

  1. Navigate to Reports → Lead Reports
  2. Select from available reports like:
    • Category Conversion Rates
    • Revenue by Category
    • Category Performance Trends

These reports help you understand:

  • Which categories generate the most leads
  • Which categories have the highest conversion rates
  • The revenue impact of different categories
  • Performance trends over time by category

Next Steps​

After setting up your lead categories, proceed to: