How To Generate Sales Leads-21 Lead Generation Ideas You Can Execute Today
How To Generate Sales Leads-21 Lead Generation Ideas You Can Execute Today
Free Online Articles Directory
Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
ABAnswers
Publish Article
0 && $.browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($.browser.version);
if(ie_version Login
Login via
Register
Hello
My Home
Sign Out
Email
Password
Remember me?
Lost Password?
Home Page > Business > Home Business > How To Generate Sales Leads-21 Lead Generation Ideas You Can Execute Today
How To Generate Sales Leads-21 Lead Generation Ideas You Can Execute Today
Posted: Dec 23, 2009 |Comments: 0
| Views: 120 |
]]>
There’s a lot of misconception and controversy about list building and lead generation. If you’re not a guru and don’t have an access to one-then you can easily get confused about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to generating sales leads online.
I would like to clear up all the fallacy and give you a list of ideas you can execute to generate targeted leads (free and paid) ASAP.
What I share in this post is not a concrete and absolute truth. I can only speak about my own experience as an internet marketer. If I say that something doesn’t work-it means it didn’t work for me.
On the other hand, if I say that something does work-don’t assume that it will work for you 100%. This post is only to get your head moving in the direction of the list building truth. You should test what works before you do anything else.
1. Streaming Video Syndication
Anyone who’s hooked to an internet connection, even if he lives in Zambia or Uganda, knows what YouTube is. Video sharing networks are a fantastic place to generate sales leads.
Videos can be easily embedded into your website, shared on Twitter, Facebook and other Social Networks and have a much higher perceived value then written text.
Many Internet Marketing experts say that streaming video is the future and I say that their hunch is just. Video allows you to connect with your clients even before they meet you, email you or talk with you on the phone.
After watching only one clip featuring you-they feel instant empathy towards you which multiplies your chances of closing the deal on the backend.
2. Article Marketing
Contrary to a huge misconception Article Marketing isn’t dead.
Amount of sales leads you generate using Article Marketing depends on:
How Good Is Your Headline
Quality Of Your Articles
Author Bio Box Click Trough Rates
Keyword Research
Article Marketing is still one of the most popular ways of lead generation online. The reason it’s still one of most notorious lead generation approaches is because it’s free and because it works. It works for me, it works for many of my colleagues and it should work for you too (if you don’t screw it up).
3. Blogging
Blogging is my personal favorite lead generation strategy of all times. I find blogging fun, rewarding and profitable but it’s a lot harder than it looks.
Behind every great blog there’s a great marketer. Blogging is much harder than any other lead generation method because it takes much more then writing quality articles couple of times a week.
Don’t be scared though, because with hard work comes great pleasure and huge success!
Blogging may very well be the only lead generation strategy you’ll ever need (e.g: John Chow, ProBlogger, CopyBlogger). Blogging can be much more than a lead generation strategy-it can and should become a separate income stream for you and your business.
Powerful and Influential blog is not a chore-it’s an asset. The difference between a blog and a squeeze page is that a squeeze page on and of itself isn’t worth anything while blog does.
Through a blog you can setup numerous lead generation sources and utilize them all at once-without spending a fortune on paid traffic.
Besides, blogging is so popular now that every major corporation started one. Isn’t about time you catch up?
4. Joint Ventures
Joint Venture is a mutually beneficial agreement that takes place between two parties.
For instance, if you have a product but don’t have a big list, you can approach a person with a list and offer a JV in a form of giving away 50% commission off every sale to be made.
Joint Ventures are actually the number one strategy the gurus use to do big launches. They approach their friends and colleagues 2-3 weeks prior to launch and personally invite them to do a promotion.
The next thing you know, every marketer on the planet talks about the launch and it’s a success.
If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t have a big list or a product (or both) so you might think that JVs are not for you. This is another misconception.
Joint Ventures aren’t only done on product-list-commission basis. JVs can take many forms: instead of offering a commission you can offer a service or something of value to that particular party.
5. Ad Swaps
An advertisement swap or ad swap is simply an arrangement where you agree to put up someone else’s ad on your site or email newsletter in exchange for them doing the same.
This is a perfect strategy for startupreneurs with small lists, because it’s all about equality. You can easily find list owners with similar list sizes and exchange promotions.
Requirements for a successful Ad Swap:
High Converting Ad Copy. Test your Ad Copy with your own list or paid traffic to develop the highest converting email template you can use to maximize the results of each Ad Swap.
Equal Traffic And Exposure. It’s important to make sure list sizes of both parties are equal or similar in size because otherwise the exchange can’t be fair.
High Relevancy. Ad Swaps should be done with list owners who are involved in similar or relevant niches.
]]>
6. Forum Marketing
Forums are another great place to generate leads, build authority and generate traffic.
Forums can be used not only to build a list but also for building profitable relationships with other business owners which can lead to Ad Swaps, Joint Ventures and other profitable activities.
Not all forums were made equal. Choose carefully-some of them aren’t worth your time. Use these criteria to hand-pick your favorites:
Size-forum needs to be big. A minimum of 2000 active members online at all times. If you can’t find a forum this big, go for the next big thing or start your own forum.
Activity-another important quality for a forum to serve a good lead generation tool. If a forum isn’t active-it’s the same as dead.
Moderation-forum should be strictly moderated by an administrator to keep it clean of SPAM and useless entries. That way the content stays fresh and has a higher perceived value by the crowd.
Use your signature file to drive traffic to your capture page, where you offer some incentive for signing up. Provide quality content, helpful answers and link to your blog once in a while with a helpful article that is related to the discussed topic. Don’t SPAM!
Your forum profile is extremely important. Fill in all the necessary information and add as much descriptive details as possible. Post links to your social profiles on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc and don’t forget to leave a link back to your blog for the curious once.
Did I mention that you shouldn’t SPAM?
7. Social Media
It’s no secret that Social Media is on the rise. Twitter is spreading faster than news about the swine flu. Facebook has grown twice the size of MySpace and has no intention to stop. Use them to grow your business.
8. Guest Blogging
Guest Blogging is arguably the best way to generate new leads. By guest blogging on other blogs that are equal or greater in size you increase your marketing reach tremendously.
Guest blogging traffic is more likely to subscribe because these people conditioned to trust you more than a regular visitor who is defensive about your marketing.
9. Reciprocal Link Building
Reciprocal link building is similar to Ad Swaps only instead of email newsletter the parties exchange links on their site.
Party A links to Party B and Party B links to Party A. That way both parties receive an incoming link and traffic which they can convert into leads.
This strategy is extremely popular amongst bloggers, however it is also useful for Thank You and Download pages.
10. Banner Ads
In his book “Purple Cow” famous Marketer and Author Seth Godin says that banner ads aren’t effective. On the other hand, Internet Marketing Guru Frank Kern believes in the total opposite.
My experience proves that banner ads aren’t as effective as we want them to be but they generate leads never the less-otherwise you wouldn’t see so many of them …everywhere!
Banner ads are also effective (and cheap) because they are placed outside the content area of the website. Usually it’s either the sidebar or header-either way, no matter where the visitor lands-he can see them and there’s a chance he’ll click on them.
If you’re going to use banners (chances are that you are already), make sure to set up some kind of tracking software that will help you in identifying which banners work best, where’s the highest click through rate and how many leads were generated of each specific unit.
11. PPC For Search
Pay Per Click is known to be the fastest way for driving targeted traffic to a page if you have the money to invest.
PPC has evolved far beyond Google, Yahoo and MSN. Today you can buy PPC ads on Facebook, as well as drive paid traffic to your YouTube videos.
I am not an expert in paid traffic, frankly, because I have never paid for traffic-I used SEO to get my blog on the map. Partially because I didn’t have the money and partially because I refused to believe that paying for traffic is the way to go.
My perception shifted since then. I believe that PPC is the way to go. We see all the major companies prove it over and over again. Even Google, which is the most visited site in the world, uses PPC to advertise Chrome and other related products.
Many advertisers are afraid of PPC because of the famous Google Slap. I say, don’t listen to those idiots because they don’t know how to advertise with Google.
Just like any other advertising network, Google has a set of strict rules and guidelines. If you’re getting slapped by Google it means that you’re breaking the rules and Google is simply punishing you for being stupid.
Bottom line is-paid traffic works and it doesn’t cost as much as people lead you to believe.
12. PPC For Content
Basically it is the same as Google Adwords or Yahoo Paid Search only your ads are displayed on relevant Google publishers’ pages instead of the SERPs.
It’s hard to say which source of paid traffic is more effective, but if you’re not using both-you’re definitely leaving leads on the table.
13. Search Engine Optimization-SEO
Search Engine Optimization-the silver bullet 99% of internet marketers are after. They used to say that if you’re on page one of Google for your keyword-you’re destined to make tons of sales.
It sounds logical, because when you think about it: a prospect searches for something and finds you. Your social proof and authority rises and now it’s a matter of time before you close the sale.
That would be true if people were stupid, but since people are evolving beings, now it’s not enough to dominate the SERPs, it’s also important to match that domination with a compelling copy, structure and marketing.
I used to work with a client that would generate 150 unique visitors a day to his travel website using only SEO. He had position #4 for a related term and thought he was the king.
His sales stats showed him he was wrong. He hadn’t any. Why?
His website was bright and shiny, slick design and he even had a call to action. However he failed to generate the much needed empathy and connection with his visitors which resulted in astonishing 80% bounce rate and visitor to lead conversion of 0.6%.
14. Social Bookmarking
Social Bookmarking is a way for users to store their favorite websites or bookmark them online for easy reference.
You can generate a fair amount of leads using this strategy. If your content makes it to the front page of a major social bookmaking website such as Digg, Delicious, Reddit, StumbleUpon, etc you will get s**t load of visitors in a matter of hours.
Social Bookmarking is also used for link building purposes to improve SEO rankings, but don’t confuse it for a useless method of link submission. You can get traffic even if you don’t get on the first page. It’s all about how good is your content and how many people you can get to support you.
Social Bookmarking is like a huge traffic getting snow ball on a top of a hill. It doesn’t present much danger if it’s motionless, but if you get couple of people and push to over the edge, it will grow in size and pick up speed until it hits something.
If you want your snow ball to roll down the hill and pick up speed, the first step is to make the snow ball attractive and worth pushing down. Focus on the content first, and then assemble a social bookmarking support group to help you push it down the traffic getting hill.
15. Rent-a-List
Your list is small, you don’t know SEO and you’re afraid of approaching PPC. Why not Rent-a-list?
There are list brokers that will rent you a list you can market to. I have never used this strategy myself, but there are good responses about it on the forums, so I thought you’d like to know.
16. Webinars
Webinars are great for lead generation purposes because they have a higher perceived value then a PDF report or an audio recording.
For me, webinars proved to convert as high as 50% listener-to-sale, which is outstanding.
I believe it happens because on a webinar you share a lot of information and you do it in “person”. It’s happening live whether the prospects visits or not and it elevates your social status by showing your prospects that they are not alone-there are more people who think you’re cool too!
17. Podcasting
Podcasting is similar to online video syndication only it’s in an audio format and there are different networks of syndication for them.
Podcasting is great for doing interviews with experts, getting them to spill useful information for your readers in exchange for exposure opportunity.
You can also say that it is similar to webinars only it’s recorded and posted later as a listenable audio or a downloadable file.
18. Safelists
Although the name sounds safe, Safelists should be avoided, because they are far from being a safe lead generation strategy.
The idea behind a Safelist is getting people to join the Safelist and refer other people so the Safelist grows into one huge list of people who are interested in promoting things to each other.
Only sometimes things get out of hand and a lawyer receives your offer, tells you he did not subscribe and sues you.
19. Traffic Exchanges
Traffic Exchange is a network of website owners who surf each other sites to increase traffic.
They don’t work anymore …move on.
20. Software and Plugins
Developing a piece of software or a plugin that’s useful is also proven to generate leads (and donations) effectively.
Many WordPress Designers use plugins as a way of attracting visitors to their websites, make sales and get donations.
To become a viral explosion, your software has to solve a major problem your prospects have. Otherwise it’s just a useless piece of code no one gives a damn about.
21. Press Releases
Press Releases are effective in getting you on top of the search engines quickly for a short period of time. They are used to announce a release of a new product or other breaking news.
I am not an expert on Press Releases because I’ve never written one in my life, but you can visit John Cow, he knows Press Releasing inside and out.
Watch your traffic increase just by submitting articles with us, click here to get started.
Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!
Igor Kheifets -
About the Author:
What now? You should take some time to digest this information and first thing tomorrow-implement at least 3 of the strategies mentioned above!
Key is to take action. Feed your stallions, shoot the ponies! Find out what works and capitalize on it!
Get More Internet Marketing Tips.
]]>
Questions and Answers
Ask our experts your Home Business related questions here…
Ask
200 Characters left
I am struggling to get leads in my mlm online business – can you help? I look for an easy system, and where it is easy and quick to set-up for affiliate mktg (clickbank)? Thanks. Pudjo
What is an effective career plan to develop from an Executive Assistant to a lead role like a Director or Mid Management level?
I’m interested in generating investor leads in europe via post card or other direct mailing piece. Need list and full service. Can you help?
Rate this Article
1
2
3
4
5
vote(s)
1 vote(s)
Feedback
Print
Re-Publish
0) {
ch_selected = Math.floor(Math.random()*ch_queries.length);
if(ch_selected == ch_queries.length) ch_selected–;
ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected];
}
}catch(e){
ch_query = document.title;
}
]]>
Source: http://igorkheifets.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/how-to-generate-sales-leads21-lead-generation-ideas-you-can-execute-today-1618123.html
Article Tags:
business lead generation, lead generation, lead generation software, mortgage lead generation, sales lead generation
Related Videos
Related Articles
Latest Home Business Articles
More from Igor Kheifets
Leads and List Building
Discover how to generate free leads and build a massive optin email marketing lists. Lead generation and optin email tricks and tips. (06:49)
How to Create a Website Traffic Funnel to Generate Leads
Learn how to leverage ‘Authority’ sites to improve your search engine ranking and increase targeted website traffic for FREE!
Free Traffic Tips! only at:
http://www.OnlineSellingDomination.com/ebook
End the guesswork and follow a proven online marketing system!
[+] Includes all resources & instructions (incl. a free landing page template for lead capture!)
(03:00)
How a Lead Trust Reduces Taxes and Aids Church Fundraising
Need to reduce income taxes or pass assets on to the next generation with the least tax impact? A lead trust can do both while also benefiting your church fundraising. (05:04)
How to Generate More Leads in a Buyer Centric World
Learn how to market like the pros, if not better, for less. Let the ROM Group show you how to create real marketing strategies that’ll work. (05:37)
How to Make a Real SEO Blog that Works
Learn how to install and set-up a WordPress.org blog on your own server (very inexpensive to do and makes a huge difference) and search engine optimize it.
Free Traffic Tips! only at:
http://www.OnlineSellingDomination.com/ebook
End the guesswork and follow a proven online marketing system!
[+] Includes all resources & instructions (incl. a free landing page template for lead capture!)
(05:30)
Prime reasons for using sales lead management system
The advantage of sales lead managing system in business administration is explained here.
By:
Anne Pastor Cissell
Business>
Managementl
Aug 13, 2010
Tips for Quality Sales Lead Generation
Handy tips for sales leads generation is described in this article in reader-friendly tone.
By:
Anne Pastor Cissell
Business>
Managementl
Jun 14, 2010
Sales lead management and the role of automated lead management system
Get better lead management system working for your business for the better results in your profit motives and better sales.
By:
Anne Pastor Cissell
Business>
Managementl
Dec 22, 2010
Five prime benefits of using Sales Lead Management Software
The prime benefits of Lead Management Software use are discussed here.
By:
Anne Pastor Cissell
Business>
Managementl
Jul 12, 2010
Better prospect of business with centrally monitored lead management system
Centrally monitored lead management system and the effect help that it offers for the better prospect of the business.
By:
Anne Pastor Cissell
Business>
Managementl
Nov 13, 2010
Consider Modular Homes North Carolina
If you are thinking of building your dream home at the shortest time possible and at the most affordable cost, consider a modular home. Aren’t these the modular units built in factories and assembled on-site, like Lego? Well, there is similarity between Lego and this type of houses since you piece them together in order to produce something ? in this case a house. But rest is assured that the resulting structure is as durable as a building constructed on-site from scratch.
By:
Terro Whitel
Business>
Home Businessl
Sep 23, 2011
Choosing the best Blank media for your personal or professional use
We all are aware of the fact that we require CD or DVD for our personal use. Their usage is not limited to anyone because they are used by children, Young people and even adults for various
By:
prince simonl
Business>
Home Businessl
Sep 23, 2011
Work From Home Jobs- Money With Comfort
Nowadays, work from home jobs are giving good options to people who are otherwise not able to do regular jobs
By:
elissajoycel
Business>
Home Businessl
Sep 23, 2011
Work on the best internet based home businesses to earn comfortably
internet based home businesses will not be difficult if you have the right internet based home businesses related guidance.
By:
Get Leads Fastl
Business>
Home Businessl
Sep 23, 2011
Becoming a Handyman is a Profitable Home Business Opportunity
Becoming a handyman can be a reliable way to earn income for yourself. This is an in-demand service with low start up and running costs and good profit potential.
By:
Julia Derbyl
Business>
Home Businessl
Sep 23, 2011
Email Opt-in Lists: Building One Vs Buying One
When it comes to opt in lists, internet marketers face a hurdle: should they build a list from scratch or buy one instead? Is it smarter to just pay for a database of random email addresses or invest time and effort into creating a fresh database of eager-to-buy leads that showed interest in what you have to offer?
By:
Igor Kheifetsl
Business>
Home Businessl
Jun 10, 2010
Being Rich Is Good
Being rich is good. Having millions of dollars is good. Living in a beach front mansion is good. Driving a Lamborghini is good. Depending on what your current mindset is about money you will either agree with the above statements or really struggle with them.
By:
Igor Kheifetsl
Business>
Home Businessl
Dec 23, 2009
Footballer’s Way To Becoming Internet Marketing Mega Superstar
It’s no secret that experts consider Christiano Ronaldo to be the best footballer on the planet. It’s also no secret that Christiano did not become a mega superstar over night. Read on to discover what made Christiano Ronaldo the 3 million player he is today and how you can become internet marketing mega super star if you do the same.
By:
Igor Kheifetsl
Business>
Home Businessl
Dec 23, 2009
10 Ways Twitter Improved My Business In 2009
Twitter has dramatically improved my business during the course of 2009 and in this post I want to share 10 specific ways Twitter allowed me to run a more profitable Internet Marketing Campaign.
By:
Igor Kheifetsl
Business>
Home Businessl
Dec 23, 2009
Add new Comment
Your Name: *
Your Email:
Comment Body: *
Verification code:*
* Required fields
Submit
Your Articles Here
It’s Free and easy
Sign Up Today
Author Navigation
My Home
Publish Article
View/Edit Articles
View/Edit Q&A
Edit your Account
Manage Authors
Statistics Page
Personal RSS Builder
My Home
Edit your Account
Update Profile
View/Edit Q&A
Publish Article
Author Box
Igor Kheifets has 53 articles online
Contact Author
Subscribe to RSS
Print article
Send to friend
Re-Publish article
Articles Categories
All Categories
Advertising
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Beauty
Business
Careers
Computers
Education
Finance
Food and Beverage
Health
Hobbies
Home and Family
Home Improvement
Internet
Law
Marketing
News and Society
Relationships
Self Improvement
Shopping
Spirituality
Sports and Fitness
Technology
Travel
Writing
Business
Agriculture
Ask an Expert
Business Ideas
Business Opportunities
Corporate
Customer Service
Entrepreneurship
Ethics
Franchise
Fundraising
Home Business
Human Resources
Industrial
International Business
Leadership
Management
Negotiation
Networking
Non Profit Organizations
Online Business
Organizational
Outsourcing
Presentation
Project Management
Public Company
Public Relations
Sales
Six Sigma
Small Business
Strategic Planning
Team Building
Training
]]>
Need Help?
Contact Us
FAQ
Submit Articles
Editorial Guidelines
Blog
Site Links
Recent Articles
Top Authors
Top Articles
Find Articles
Site Map
Mobile Version
Webmasters
RSS Builder
RSS
Link to Us
Business Info
Advertising
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2011 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved.
What now? You should take some time to digest this information and first thing tomorrow-implement at least 3 of the strategies mentioned above!
Key is to take action. Feed your stallions, shoot the ponies! Find out what works and capitalize on it!
Get More Internet Marketing Tips.
