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:
- Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner
- Select Global Settings from the dropdown menu
- Navigate to Lead Settings
- Select the Lead Categories tab
Creating a New Lead Category
To add a new lead category:
-
Click the Add Category button
-
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
-
(Optional) Add a description to provide context
-
Select a color for visual identification in reports and pipelines
-
Click Save to create the category
Managing Existing Categories
From the Lead Categories screen, you can:
Edit a Category
- Find the category you want to modify
- Click the Edit (pencil) icon
- Update the name, description, or color as needed
- Click Save to apply your changes
Delete a Category
- Find the category you want to remove
- Click the Delete (trash) icon
- Confirm the deletion when prompted
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:
- Navigate to Lead Types in the Lead Settings
- When creating or editing a lead type, select the appropriate category from the dropdown
- 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:
Category | Description | Included Lead Types |
---|---|---|
Guest Services | Opportunities related to guests and their stays | Reservations, Guest Inquiries, Special Requests |
Property Acquisition | Opportunities to add new properties to portfolio | Owner Prospects, Property Listings, Partner Referrals |
Vendor Management | Opportunities with service providers | Maintenance, Cleaning, Amenities |
Marketing Partnerships | Promotional and cross-selling opportunities | Local Attractions, Event Venues, Activity Providers |
Reporting on Lead Categories
SendSquared provides several reports that utilize lead categories:
- Navigate to Reports → Lead Reports
- 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:
- Configure lead types within each category
- Define lead statuses for your lead workflow
- Set up your pipeline view to visualize your leads