Posts tagged: closing leads

If you are wanting to convert more leads, we are heaer to help. You’re spending money on advertising, pouring effort into SEO, and maybe even running Facebook or Google ads. Leads are coming in through your website, chat widgets, contact forms, phone calls, or social media messages. But here’s the million-dollar question: Are you actually closing those leads?

For many lawn mower and tractor dealerships, the answer is “not as many as we should.”

The gap between generating leads and closing sales is where the magic (and the revenue) happens. And it all starts with how fast and effectively you respond to those leads. In this blog post, we’ll explore why lead response time is critical, how to identify high-intent leads, and what systems and strategies you can use to convert more leads into actual sales.

Why Speed is Everything in Lead Response

When someone fills out a lead form on your website, they’re not just casually browsing. They’re actively shopping. And chances are, they’ve submitted inquiries to your competitors too.

Why Speed to Lead is Everything for Dealerships:

When it comes to converting internet leads into paying customers, time is not just money—it’s everything.

A study by Harvard Business Review confirms what many dealership sales teams instinctively know: the longer you wait to respond to a lead, the less likely you are to close the deal. In fact, the odds of qualifying a lead drop by a staggering 400% when your response time increases from just 5 minutes to 10.

And yet—only 1% of B2B companies respond within that critical 5-minute window.

In today’s fast-paced online environment, “speed to lead” refers to how quickly you respond after someone fills out a form, sends a message, or requests a quote on your website. From the moment they hit submit, the clock is ticking—and so are your chances.

Here are some eye-opening stats from Amplemarket that should grab your attention:

• The average B2B response time is 42 hours—by then, your lead has probably bought elsewhere.

• Reaching out within 5 minutes makes you 21x more likely to qualify a lead than waiting just 30 minutes.

• 78% of B2B buyers purchase from the vendor that responds first.

• Responding in under a minute can boost lead conversions by 391%.

• After just 5 minutes, your chance of qualifying a lead drops by 80%.

• Shockingly, 71% of leads never receive any follow-up at all.

Let’s put it in dealership terms: if someone is shopping for a lawn mower or compact tractor and reaches out to two dealers at the same time, who are they more likely to buy from? The one who responds first.

If your dealership is spending real dollars on ads and SEO to drive leads, but not jumping on them quickly, you’re pouring money into a bucket with holes in it.

High-Intent vs. Low-Intent Leads: Know Who to Prioritize

All leads are not created equal. Some are tire-kickers. Others are ready to buy today. The key to convert more leads is learning how to identify high-intent leads and prioritize them accordingly.

High-Intent Leads Look Like This:

• Submitted a form requesting a quote
• Called your dealership directly
• Asked specific product or pricing questions
• Clicked a “Schedule a Test Drive” or “Check Availability” button

Low-Intent Leads Might Be:

• Liked a post on Facebook
• Downloaded a free guide
• Visited your website but didn’t engage further

You can nurture low-intent leads over time, but high-intent leads need immediate attention.

Tools and Systems That Help You Respond Faster

1. Use a Texting Platform Something like DealerAmp or Kenect allows you to send an instant text the second someone submits a lead form. Texts have a 98% open rate and a near-instant response time.
2. Automate the First Touch Use auto-responders that say: “Thanks for your inquiry about the Cub Cadet XT1. A member of our team will reach out shortly!”
3. Missed Call Text Back When someone calls your dealership and no one answers, have a system that texts them back automatically.
4. CRM with Mobile Notifications Make sure your CRM (Customer Relationship Management tool) notifies your team instantly when a new lead comes in—even on their phones.

You are able to do all of these things through our texting & crm platform, DealerAmp. Even if you don’t use our platform, you need a crm to help you track and convert more leads.

Step-by-Step: The Lead Follow-Up Process That Works

Step 1: Immediate Contact Respond within 5 minutes—preferably via text.

Step 2: Qualify the Lead Ask questions like:

• Are you looking for a residential or commercial mower?
• Do you need financing?
• Are you trading in equipment?

Step 3: Offer Value

• Send a link to an in-stock product
• Offer to schedule a demo or walk-around
• Mention current promotions

Step 4: Stay Consistent Don’t drop the lead if they don’t respond the first time. Use a mix of follow-ups via:

• Text
• Email
• Phone call

Step 5: Nurture Until Close Sometimes people need a few days (or weeks) to decide. Stay in touch with:

• Financing offers
• New inventory alerts
• Reminders about trade-in events or sales

Tips to Help Convert More Leads

1. Use Video Wvlkarounds Send a personalized video of the model they asked about. Use platforms such as youtube, Tik Tok or even Facebook Leads
2. Always Ask to Set an Appointment Even if they’re unsure, give them a time to come in and look.
3. Mention Trade-Ins or Free Delivery Those two incentives can push someone over the edge.
4. Know Your Promotions Being able to rattle off your 0% financing or rebate details builds credibility.
5. Be Helpful, Not Pushy People want to buy—they just don’t want to feel sold to.

Keep Score to Win: Tracking Your Lead Response Performance

If you want to close more sales, you have to know your numbers. Your CRM isn’t just a database—it’s your playbook for better performance.

Here’s what you should be tracking:

• Average Lead Response Time – How fast is your team actually following up?

• Leads Contacted Within 5 Minutes – Are you hitting the window where conversions are most likely?

• Conversion Rate by Source – Which channels (Facebook, Google, Website, Walk-Ins) are driving the leads that turn into sales?

By measuring what matters, you can spot bottlenecks, coach your team, and make sure every advertising dollar is working harder. Remember: you can’t improve what you don’t track.

Advertising Is Just the Start – Conversion Is What Matters

Running Facebook and Google Ads is a great way to generate traffic. But the real ROI doesn’t happen until you convert those leads into actual sales.

Don’t let your marketing budget go to waste by missing the follow-up.

Your competitors might be spending more on ads. But if you respond faster and follow up better, you will be the one closing the deal.

Final Thoughts: Respond Fast, Close More, Grow Faster

If you’re running a lawn mower or tractor dealership, the key to more sales isn’t always more ads—it’s better follow-up.

Responding within minutes. Nurturing leads consistently. Using tools that help you automate and track everything. That’s the real secret sauce.

Need help setting up your lead system? Dealers Digital can help you:

• Build your dealership a lead-capturing website
• Automate your texting and follow-up
• Launch Facebook & Google Ads that convert

Let’s make your marketing dollars count. Contact us today for a free lead process audit and start turning your clicks into customers.