What does B2B lead generation mean?
B2B lead generation means identifying and capturing contact-ready demand from businesses, then qualifying it into sales opportunities using measurable marketing and sales processes. In 2026, that process increasingly includes Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), because AI assistants often influence which vendors get shortlisted before a form fill. The Starr Conspiracy’s AEO methodology suggests tracking “AI-sourced leads” by asking every inbound lead, “Which AI tool or assistant influenced your research?” and logging the response in CRM.
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