Lead management is the process of capturing, tracking, and nurturing potential customers (leads) in order to convert them into paying customers. The stages of lead management typically include:

1. Lead Generation: This is the process of attracting potential customers through various marketing channels, such as social media, email campaigns, or paid advertising.
   
   
2. Lead Capture: Once a lead has expressed interest in a product or service, their information is captured and added to a lead management system. This information may include their name, contact information, and details about their level of interest.
   
   
3. Lead Qualification: Leads are typically categorized based on their level of interest or readiness to make a purchase. This involves evaluating the lead's level of interest, budget, authority, need, and timeline (BANT) to determine whether they are a good fit for the business.
   
   
4. Lead Nurturing: This stage involves using marketing and sales efforts to guide the lead through the sales funnel. This may include providing educational content to help the lead learn about the product, or more direct sales messaging for leads who are further along in the process.
   
   
5. Sales Handoff: Once the lead has been nurtured and is ready to make a purchase, they are handed off to the sales team to complete the transaction.
   
   
6. Analysis and Optimization: Lead management also involves tracking and analyzing lead behavior to gain insights into what works and what doesn't in terms of marketing and sales efforts. By continually refining lead management strategies, businesses can improve their conversion rates and increase their revenue.
   

Overall, lead management is a crucial process for businesses looking to convert potential customers into paying customers, and requires a strategic approach and ongoing optimization to be effective.