If you’re spending too much time chasing leads that go nowhere, you’re not alone. Manual lead scoring is slow and, honestly, pretty error-prone. This guide is for sales and marketing folks who want to cut the guesswork, get smarter about who they contact, and put their CRM on autopilot—without getting lost in a jungle of features you’ll never use. We’re focusing on Linkwheelie, but the basics apply anywhere.
Why Automate Lead Scoring in the First Place?
Before you jump in, let’s be clear about why this matters:
- Saves time: Stop wasting hours on spreadsheets or gut-feel guesses.
- More focus: Your best leads get the attention they deserve.
- Consistency: Everyone’s on the same page about what a “good lead” actually is.
But don’t expect automation to work magic. If your criteria for a good lead are off, automating just gets you bad results, faster. Get your basics right first.
Step 1: Nail Down What Makes a "Good Lead" for You
Automating junk criteria is pointless. Take 20 minutes and decide, with your team if possible, what a high-value lead looks like. Don’t overthink it—start simple.
Typical things to score: - Company size - Industry - Job title or role - Website activity (downloads, sign-ups, demo requests) - Email engagement (opens, clicks) - Location (if relevant)
Pro tip: Skip vanity metrics. Just because someone downloaded your eBook doesn’t make them ready to buy.
What not to do: Don’t try to build a scoring model that needs a PhD to understand. You can always adjust later.
Step 2: Map Out Your Scoring Rules
Now, turn your criteria into something Linkwheelie can actually use.
Example scoring rules: - +10 points for visiting pricing page - +5 points for opening an email - +15 points for filling out a contact form - -5 points if using a free email provider (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) - +20 points if company size > 100 employees
How much is each action worth? Don’t stress about getting it “perfect” the first time. The goal is to create a rough filter, not a crystal ball.
Watch out: If you give points for things like “opened any email,” you’ll end up with a lot of tire-kickers floating to the top. Weight actions based on how closely they tie to buying intent.
Step 3: Set Up Lead Scoring in Linkwheelie
Alright, let’s get to the nuts and bolts. Here’s how to make Linkwheelie do the heavy lifting.
3.1 – Find the Lead Scoring Section
- Log in to your Linkwheelie dashboard.
- Head to “Settings” or “Automation”—depends on your version.
- Look for “Lead Scoring.” If you don’t see it, check your plan level. Some features are locked behind paywalls (annoying, but true).
3.2 – Build Your Scoring Model
- Click “Create New Scoring Rule” or similar.
- For each of your criteria, set a rule:
- Pick the trigger (e.g., “Page Visited: /pricing”).
- Assign points (positive or negative).
- Add as many as you need, but don’t go overboard—start with your top 5-7 signals.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure what triggers to use, check your analytics. Where do your best deals usually start? Start there.
3.3 – Set Thresholds for Sales Actions
- Decide what score makes a lead “hot,” “warm,” or “cold.”
- Example: 40+ points = Hot, 20-39 = Warm, under 20 = Cold.
- In Linkwheelie, set up automation to assign leads to different sales reps or workflows based on these scores.
- E.g., Hot leads trigger an instant notification to the sales team.
Don’t bother: With overly complex branching early on. You’ll just confuse yourself and your team.
Step 4: Automate Notifications and Workflows
No point scoring leads if nobody acts on it. Here’s how to keep things moving:
- Set up email or Slack alerts for “hot” leads.
- Automatically add high-scoring leads to your sales pipeline.
- Trigger follow-up tasks (calls, emails) in Linkwheelie or your connected CRM.
Pro tip: Limit notifications to what matters. If everyone gets pinged for every warm-ish lead, people will tune out fast.
Step 5: Test, Watch, and Tweak
Here’s where most people get it wrong—they set it and forget it. Don’t do that.
- Review your top-scoring leads weekly. Are they actually converting?
- Adjust scoring weights if junk leads keep bubbling up.
- Ignore the urge to make it “fancier” unless you see a clear problem or opportunity.
What works: Keep your rules simple and your feedback loop short. Get buy-in from both marketing and sales, or this will turn into a blame game fast.
Common Pitfalls (And What To Ignore)
Let’s save you some headaches.
- Overcomplicating the model: More rules ≠ better results. Start basic.
- Scoring based on vanity actions: “Likes” and “opens” are cheap signals.
- Ignoring negative scoring: Don’t be afraid to dock points for bad fits (e.g., students, competitors, spam).
- Chasing every trend: AI-powered scoring sounds fancy but is often just noise unless you have serious data volume.
What About Integrations?
Linkwheelie plays well with most major CRMs and email platforms, but double-check before you assume. If your stack is a Franken-system of outdated tools, expect some hiccups.
- Use native integrations where possible—they’re usually more stable than third-party zaps or connectors.
- Map your lead score field clearly into your CRM. If your reps can’t see or use the score, it’s basically invisible.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Don’t fall for the myth that you need a perfect lead scoring system out of the gate. Simple, clear rules—aligned with your actual sales process—will beat a fancy model every time. Set up the basics in Linkwheelie, watch how it works, and adjust as you learn. That’s how you get smarter targeting, less wasted time, and more wins.
Remember: automation is supposed to make your life easier, not give you more busywork. Start small, stay skeptical of hype, and let real-world results guide your tweaks. Happy scoring.