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5 Proven Strategies of Generating Qualified Leads posted on Wednesday, 09 July 2008

Lead generation is the “lifeblood” of all business. Without a continuous stream of qualified prospects, many businesses just won’t make it in highly competitive markets.

By | David Carleton

Unfortunately, you’ll never find that lead until you learn how to market your business better. But, if you're using the traditional marketing and lead generation methods out there today, then you're working twice as hard for half the results.

Here are a few ideas to generate leads used successfully by a variety of industries:

1. Use Recorded Message Hotlines
The real estate industry has been using recorded message hotlines for years to showcase home listings. A recorded message hotline simply delivers a customized message that you’ve developed. The message can give instructions, describe something, sell a product or service, or deliver any message you like.

Any type of company can use hotlines to describe the products or services they offer. But you need to take it one step further and entice the caller to leave their name and e-mail address. How? By offering a Free Report. Example: Don’t buy a life insurance policy until you read my special report…7 Deadly Mistakes That Most People Make When Buying Life Insurance. 7 out of 10 people will leave their contact info to get a report with a catchy title. You now have a hot prospect that you should continue to market too.

To hear a real example of this system in action, call 1-800-391-6309, Extension 4100

2. Offer Special Reports at Shows, Workshops and Seminars
In many industries, "white papers" are used to generate qualified leads and educate prospects. A white paper is simply a special report about a specific topic that can be anywhere from three to fifty pages in length.

Businesses that participate in trade shows, workshops or seminars can use this same strategy to draw in qualified prospects and generate more leads. Create your own special report about specific products and services that prospects would be interested in reading and offer it at your booth using a sign or banner. However, don’t actually have the special report in your booth. Have your prospect give you their contact information and send it to them after the show.

3. Create a Lead Generation Website
Visit the website of any successful Internet marketer and you’ll quickly be exposed to an offer to either sign up for their newsletter or download a free electronic special report. However, to get their newsletter or special report you are asked to give your e-mail address. Here again is the idea of capturing names and e-mails of qualified prospects so you can continue to market to them.

4. Speak and Grow Rich - Give Free Workshops and Seminars
Consumers and businesses alike are always looking for information to make their lives better or business more profitable. One way of attracting qualified prospects is to put on free seminars. If you scan the newspaper you’ll notice free workshops on such topics as “Living Trusts”, “Buying Foreclosure Properties” and “ “Managing Back Pain.”

The key here is to entice prospects using an irresistible headline. A good example right here in San Diego is: “Pay For College without Going Broke” – Rancho Bernardo Woman Teaches Free Workshops to Help Parents Save Thousands.”

The objective is to get hot prospect to identify themselves, attend your workshop and then hopefully sign up for or buy your product or service.

5. Use “Tell-A-Friend” Scripts
Make sure you add a “tell-a-friend script” to your website or on-line newsletter that let’s the reader forward the web page on to others. Many of the scripts are free, easy to install and let you get a copy of the e-mail address they send to. Now you have another e-mail and another opportunity to market to new qualified prospect.

Posted by David Carleton