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You are here: Home / Grow Your Business / How to Conduct a Discovery Call to Qualify Leads

How to Conduct a Discovery Call to Qualify Leads

April 7, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

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A discovery call is your chance to dive deeper into your prospect’s needs and determine if they’re a good fit for your services. Here’s how to structure an effective call:

1. Start with a Warm Welcome

Set the tone for a positive conversation by being personable and professional. Example: “Hi [Name], thank you so much for taking the time to chat today. I’m excited to learn more about your goals and how we might work together.”

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Focus on uncovering their pain points and goals. Examples include:

  • “What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now?”
  • “What would success look like for you in the next 6-12 months?”
  • “Have you tried other solutions before? What worked, and what didn’t?”

3. Qualify Their Budget

Politely inquire about their budget to ensure alignment. Example: “Many of my clients invest between $X and $Y in this solution. Is that in line with what you’re expecting?”

4. Assess Their Timeline

Gauge how soon they’re ready to act. Example: “When are you hoping to implement a solution?”

5. Present Your Solution Briefly

Share a high-level overview of how your product or service addresses their needs. Example: “Based on what you’ve shared, I think our [specific service] could help you achieve [specific outcome].”

6. End with Next Steps

Always leave the call with a clear action plan. Example: “Would you like to schedule a follow-up meeting to go over the details and next steps?”

Best Practices

  • Prepare Ahead: Research the lead’s business and industry.
  • Take Notes: Document key insights during the call.
  • Follow Up: Send a summary email highlighting what was discussed and the agreed-upon next steps.

Discovery calls are more than just conversations—they’re an opportunity to build trust and showcase your expertise. By following a structured approach, you’ll be able to qualify leads effectively and focus your energy on those who are most likely to become paying clients.

Best Practices for Qualifying Leads from Lead Magnets

  1. Segment Your Audience: Tailor your follow-up emails and offers based on the lead magnet they engaged with. For example, someone who downloads a guide on “Saving Time with Automation” is likely different from someone attending a webinar on “How to Close High-Ticket Sales.”
  2. Keep It Simple: Don’t overwhelm leads with too many questions or steps. The goal is to learn enough to assess their fit without scaring them off.
  3. Use Personalization: Address leads by their name and reference their interaction with your business. Example: “Hi [Name], I saw you downloaded our guide on scaling your business…”
  4. Be Timely: The faster you follow up after a lead engages with your content, the higher the chances of converting them. Aim to reach out within 24-48 hours.

Example Workflow for Lead Qualification

  1. Lead Magnet Engagement: A prospect downloads your eBook.
  2. Automated Email Sequence:
    • Email 1: Thank them and provide the resource.
    • Email 2: Offer additional value and ask them to complete a qualification form.
    • Email 3: Invite them to schedule a discovery call.
  3. Form Submission: Review their responses to gauge fit.
  4. CRM Scoring: Track their behavior and assign points.
  5. Discovery Call: Conduct the call to confirm their readiness to move forward.
  6. Next Steps: Present your offer or nurture the lead further.
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Filed Under: Grow Your Business, Human Resources, Sales, Your Small Business Tagged With: discovery calls, how to qualify leads, interviewing prospects, lead magnet, lead qualification

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About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social selling, and online marketing strategy. As CEO of Quintessence Group, her Philadelphia-based marketing consulting firm serves Fortune 500 brands that target the small business market. Clients include Amazon, Adobe, Verizon, VISA, Google, FedEx, Chase, American Express, The Hartford, and Pitney Bowes. She also has an online school, www.smallbizladyuniversity.com, that teaches people online marketing and how to start and grow a successful small business and publishes a blog SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com. Her advice is widely read, reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She hosts The Smallbizchat Podcast and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded, and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

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