How a Website Instant Quote Calculator Boosts Lead Generation and Sales

If you run a service-based business, you know how important it is to turn website visitors into paying customers (who, hopefully, refer you to other paying customers!)

And while there are more than a few ways to lead curious customers into buying decisions, if you are in the habit of providing quotes, why not shorten the process and give estimates to your potential customers on the site? After all, with only 20% of fresh leads resulting in sales, you need to ensure your time is being spent on connecting with those most qualified.

Instant quote calculators on websites are a great way to help offer free insight into what value your service will bring to a customer, and by reducing the number of steps necessary to become a paying customer, you can greatly improve your lead generation efforts.

With an instant quote feature, potential customers can instantly create an estimated cost for the exact service they are interested in without having to go through the hassle of calling or emailing you for a personalized quote.

What Is An Instant Quote Calculator?

Think of the last time you needed to order a product or service online. You know you’re going to need to talk out the specifics with a salesperson, but you dread the “pitch” and the feeling of being sold to.

An instant quote feature can eliminate that initial dread by offering a no-commitment, no-pressure way for customers to get an idea of what your service will cost.

It can even be used as a product configurator, where customers can add and remove services they need and get the exact pricing right there on your website.

How Does It Work?

An instant quote feature typically works by asking the user a series of questions related to their needs.

Based on their responses, a calculation is made using pre-determined pricing factors, and an estimated cost is generated. The user may have the option to adjust certain variables or add additional services for a more accurate quote.

Best of all, an instant quote feature on a website can be used for a variety of use cases:

•       E-commerce websites can use them for product configurators or bulk purchase pricing.
•       Service-based businesses can offer quotes for different service packages or project scopes.
•       Insurance companies can provide quick estimates for potential clients based on their personal information and coverage needs.
•       Home renovation companies can give rough estimates for different home improvement projects.

What Can You Include In an Instant Quote Feature?

An effective instant quote feature can be customized to include various elements that provide value to the customer and your business. Let’s look at some key components you can incorporate based on a real-world example from a photography business:

•       Service Options: Allow customers to select from a range of services, such as event photography, birthday parties, corporate events, weddings, and headshots.
•       Add-ons and Upgrades: Offer additional services or products that complement the main service in exchange for submitting lead information.
•       Event Details: Fields for essential information such as event date, duration, location, and number of guests.
•       Customization Options: Provide choices for specific requirements that can be customized based on your services.
•       Contact Information: Include fields for the customer’s name, email, and phone number to capture lead information.

How Instant Quote Calculators Help Drive Lead Generation

The key to using instant quote features is to integrate them into your sales funnel or pipeline. Once you know how to start using the data you are receiving from your instant quote calculator, you can enhance your sales process to target ideal customers based on a variety of factors:

1. You gain contact information from qualified leads

 In return for an email address or other contact information, the quote is sent or shown to the consumer instantly.

In return, you gain a valuable piece of contact data for a qualified lead. This sets the stage for a follow-up with a potential customer who is at least interested enough in your product or service to fill out the quote questionnaire.

2. You can drive contact through your instant quote feature

Within the instant quote feature itself, you can drive engagement with the right questions and messaging.

While offering free information on your product or service’s pricing, you can encourage the customer to explore other aspects of your website or even request a demo. This helps build trust and establish you as an expert in your field, making it more likely that the customer will convert into a paying customer.

3. You can qualify your leads faster and more effectively

Lead generation is all about collecting and using the right data.

With an instant quote feature, you supercharge your lead processes by having the potential service or product the customer is looking for, their budget, and other important information right from the get-go. This allows you to qualify leads faster and more effectively, saving time and resources in the long run.

Customers are more likely to provide accurate information since they are actively seeking a price estimate. This means you can trust and use the data to personalize your sales approach accordingly.

4. You can learn more about your customers and pricing

Are you getting tons of instant quotes created but few paying customers? Do you see a particular service or product consistently quoted? By collecting instant quote data from your website or app, you can gain valuable insights into your customers’ preferences and what they are willing to pay for.

This information can help you make better decisions about pricing strategies, product offerings, and target markets. It also allows you to tailor your marketing efforts to attract the right types of customers who are most likely to convert into paying ones.

Providing instant quotes is just one of several ways you can provide helpful content to your potential customers and reduce the friction in the buying process. It builds trust and positions your company as forward-thinking in offering guidance rather than simply relying on sales.

Give your website an instant quote feature a try and see how you can start bringing real value to your best customers without the hassle.