Top 5 ways of Lead Generation

1) Direct Mail to your Best Buyers

The fastest way to build your business is to target the best customers with a“laser-focused” approach with direct mail to your “best buyers.” This strategy alone has helped many businesses literally double their revenues in just 12 to 18 months (or less). This disarmingly simple strategy is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to market and grow your business… fast!

2) Buy leads from lead brokers and leads companies

Another great way to generate hot “ready to buy” leads is to purchase them from lead brokers and lead companies. These company’s sole focus is to generate leads and them sell them to companies like you who want a great source of consistent new business.

3) Buy leads from the Internet Search Engines

One of the most effective online strategies for generating leads is by attracting targeted traffic to your Website with the “Pay-Per-Click” Search Engines (PPCSEs). PPCSEs can and should become an indispensable part of your lead generating arsenal.

The 2 best PPCSEs are…

• Google AdWords http://www.google.com/ads/
• Overture http://www.overture.com/

4) Advertise

Studies show that 50% of all purchasing is motivated by advertising. Advertising is also one of the best tactics for generating leads that a company can deploy. Plus, it’s also the great way to build name recognition in the market which can get you publicity, “word of mouth” advertising, and other great benefits.

Here are a few tips for running an advertising campaign that brings you a high return on investment…

• Place ads in the most targeted publications that your target market reads.
• Consider inexpensive ads in e-mail newsletters and Web Sites that your target market reads.
• Use direct response ads – always ask the reader of your ad to respond for more information by phone, mail or via your Web Site.
• Be proactive. Have a follow-up system in place to get maximum results from your advertising dollar.
• Use a compelling headline that introduces the biggest benefits your product or service offers your client.
• Make them an offer that they’d be crazy to refuse so they’ll respond and become a new long-term client.

5) Referrals

Referral marketing is one of the most effective techniques for creating steady streams of prospects and clients. Plus, according to a survey, 70% of Internet users are compelled to visit new web sites through referrals. 

Here are a few tips…

• Give your customers an incentive or additional products or services in return for referring others to you.
   
• Use a “Give a Gift” referral system where you invite your clients to give a free sample of your product or service to others as a gift. Referral gift certificates are great tools for this.
   
• Use a “Loss Leader” referral system. Here’s how it works… Advertise a free sample to get new clients to try out your product or service. This alone will get you more sales. Plus, you can build a perpetual referral generator by giving each person who tries your freebie 3 or more referral gift certificates to give away to their friends and family. Then, watch your new referral system take off and bring you a steady flow of new customers!
   
• Along with your mailed or e-mailed invoices to clients, include surveys that ask for feedback about how to improve company’s product or service. Be sure to ask for referrals in the survey as well. This works!
   
• Identify and create relationships with non-competitive companies and people who already serve your target market. Then partner with them and have them automatically refer you to their database of clients. Give them an incentive if possible and watch your business grow!

Best Ways To Improve Client Interaction

Client interaction is very crucial start before project management and securing leads.

Here are the few ways to improve client interaction

Engage With the Client

Engaging with the client means being personable. That doesn’t mean you have to go to his son’s baseball games and daughter’s wedding but show a genuine interest in what they have to say. Actively listen to the client and make small talk when not talking about the project. Your goal in this part of the game is become the client’s personal freelancer. You want to be his freelancer. You want the client to feel as if you care about them and hopefully you really do.

Empathize With the Client

By putting yourself in your client’s shoes, you’ll be able to identify problems and engage more with the client. Start thinking of them as humans instead of the means by which you feed your Apple addiction. When clients see you truly care they become more receptive, making it easier on you to make suggestions that get discussed instead of looked over.

Ask Questions

Any way you cut it, freelancers don’t ask enough questions. By asking questions, actively listening to the client, and empathizing or empathizing with client you gain buy-in and acceptance. The more intriguing and thought provoking your questions the more you will learn about your client and project. Of course, that will only lead to a great project, a happy client, and repeat business.

Be Humble

Practicing humility will set you apart from other freelancers without this valuable trait. The hardest part about being humble is if you think you are being humble, sadly you are not.

Be an Effective Problem Solver

When a client comes to us they have a problem. It could be that they need a website, search engine optimization, or branding. They have the problem and it becomes our job to solve it, effectively. By design we are a creative lot, so problem solving comes very easy for us. Strive for the simplest solution to the problem, as those have the highest success rate of client integration. As long as the problem is solved with the client’s well-being in mind, then the problem has been solved effectively.

Educate the Client

Does the client need to know how to call a php hook from within the loop in wordpress? No, but they will need to understand what they are paying for. Educate the client on the look of the design, explain some of the science behind end user psychology, or explain the major differences between the content management systems that you are trying to decide on. Like before, if the client can mentally invest into the project and design then less objections rise during the revision process. Don’t go into geek overload and explain color theory, even I can only handle that after a cup or two of coffee.

Million Dollar Treatment

If you have a great client on your hands or even if its a so-so client, it’s still miles beyond a “client from hell”. Let them know you appreciate them. During the project, give them a custom Twitter background that matches their final design, and early payment discount, or some other little freebie. It’s virtually no cost and clients love it! Also, giving them a shout-out on their social network of choice, sending them a thank you card after the project is over, or during the holidays goes a long way with clients. Who doesn’t like to be appreciated?

Have a Good Contract

Believe it or not, having the details of the project laid out in a clear and easy to understand format not only makes it easier on you, but also for the client. Contracts give the client a sense of security and give you an aire of professionalism. It takes some of the guess work out of the project. The client knows what’s expected of them and what’s expected of the designer. Plus, if for one reason or another, the whole project goes belly up then both you and the client have a course of action

Don’t Be Afraid to State Your Opinion

The hardest freelance lesson to learn is learning when to state your opinion. If the client is wrong about something say so. They will appreciate the honesty. Just be ready to point out the error and have a solution ready to go. There’s no sense in pointing out an error only to not have an effective plan of action. Don’t shoot holes in an idea, only to have nothing to patch it up with. Also be ready to admit when you are wrong should the client call you on something too.

Communicate

The best way to ensure client interaction is to communicate effectively. Following some of the suggestions given above will definitely put one on the straight-and-narrow. Be sincere. If you’ve done your job correctly then the little things that you have done (the suggestions of this article) will add up. In the end, its all about value added to the client and the project.