ProcessCatalogueVerticalsBlogPricingFAQBuy leads →
ESEN
Buying leads·9 min read

The sales funnel explained: from lead to customer

What the sales funnel is, its stages (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU) and how bought leads fit into each one.

Buying leads// PRACTICAL GUIDE

The sales funnel is the best metaphor to understand how a stranger becomes a customer. Understanding it helps you know which lead type to buy and which message to use at each stage.

What the sales funnel is

It is the representation of the journey a customer makes from discovering you to buying. It is called a funnel because many enter and few exit: each stage filters.

The three stages

  • TOFU (top): discovery. Many people, low intent.
  • MOFU (middle): consideration. Fewer people, more interest.
  • BOFU (bottom): decision. Few, ready to buy.

We expand on it in TOFU, MOFU and BOFU.

Where bought leads fit

You can buy leads for any stage: volume leads to feed the top, or close-ready leads for the bottom. The key is buying the tier that matches the stage you want to fill.

The mistake of treating everything the same

A TOFU lead needs information; a BOFU one, an offer. Sending an aggressive offer to a lead that just discovered you scares it off. Match the message to the stage.

Recommended resource
Funneld — Data mining & business intelligence
Proprietary platform, +40 data providers and AI scoring. The data engine that turns market signals into commercial opportunities.
Visit funneld.net
Key takeaways
  • The funnel goes from discovery (TOFU) to decision (BOFU).
  • You can buy leads for any stage.
  • Match the message to the lead\u2019s moment.

Buy the lead for your stage.

Define which part of the funnel you want to fill and we give you the right tier.

MR
Marta Ruiz
B2B acquisition specialist

Helps sales teams buy and work leads that convert: brief, scoring, response speed and CRM. Less fluff, more pipeline.