Sales Leads Made Easy |

We are part of growing sales lead generation group. So we need to get accurate company information to enhance our productivity. Anyone can suggest a reliable source?

Hello. Our firm provides lead generation for dozens of companies, and in our experience, purchased lists often contain 30-40% "bad" data.

What we’ve done to work around this is to attempt to secure fairly updated lists online, using published industry directories. Our goal is to find company names and urls first, not worrying about accurate contact info, as in today’s economy, it’s very likely the decision maker has changed. To "backfill" our list with accurate contact info, we actually call and qualify each record we’ve found online. Although somewhat labor intensive, the accuracy of the data pays off quickly, and the end result is a pure list that you own.

Best of luck.

We Need You…..

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Register before February 2009 and Gold Membership is absolutely free.

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Go Underground is an Australian founded B2b online Marketing Networking cross promoting the Arts, Health and Humanities industries, covering Oceana & Asian Regions. (Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific)

 

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Equality in Business! Search for business leads and needs or be found by clients, and partners….. No matter how small or large your business may be, go underground offers facilities to help all size businesses be seen and heard. Go Underground has been developed for business to affordably market, network and sell products and services, raise awareness, collaborate and inspire others. Our vision is to not only to help businesses grow but to revolutionalise the way we do business.

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petrina fuda
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/calling-for-businesses-within-the-arts-health-and-humanities-sector-launching-february-2009-729220.html

I plan on working for a life insurance company that has me either buy or finance leads from them. This would be ok if I could write them off for a deduction. Thanks. It is a door to door sort of job. Also, I know I can write off mileage in california , what about gas?

Assuming you are an independent contractor, the cost for the leads would be considered a business expense which can be written off on your federal tax return. For car expenses, you have the option of actual expenses in which you include gas, oil, maintenance, depreciation, etc. or the flat mileage rate. If you choose the flat mileage rate you do not add gas on top of that; it is already part of the mileage rate.

If you are considered an employee, you may claim the deductions as unreimbursed business expenses on Schedule A however you may only claim the total expenses which are more than 2% of your adjusted gross income.

WE’VE POSTED OUR WHITE PAPER ON THE NET,

BUT NO ONE IS CLICKING OR CALLING!

HOW TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE (BUT SIMPLE) WHITE PAPER MARKETING PLAN

White Papers have a great reputation for really working – for getting more leads, closing more sales and helping companies reach positions of thought leadership in their industry.

And yet… many companies have this complaint:

We’ve written a great White Paper. We’ve posted it on our website – and there has been VERY LITTLE RESPONSE.

Like the tree falling in the forest, if no one hears about the White Paper, does it really exist? Well, sure, it’s there, but if it doesn’t have an effect, if it’s not noticed, does it really matter?

In order for your White Paper to matter it has to be heard, read, it has to make an impact. Posting White Papers alone is clearly not enough.

This report presents ways to market White Papers more effectively so they can truly be heard falling into the hands of prospects, decision makers and buyers – So you can hear a resounding YES to your product or solution.

80% of Companies Make the Same Mistake

According to leading B2B copywriter Steve Slaunwhite, nearly 80% of companies make this very same mistake. They post their White Paper to their website and wait. And wait some more.

Why? It boils down to inexperience. While brochures have been around for centuries, White Papers as marketing tools are a relatively recent phenomenon. And while it is clear that they work, companies simply are not aware of the means to get them to do so.

White Paper specialist Michael Stelzner presents a similar argument. In his book, Writing White Papers, he describes the “post and hope” fallacy. Companies spend a lot of money and effort to put out a terrific White Paper only to post it their website and wait – “if you post it they will come.” Companies are inevitably disappointed in the results, often questioning the efficacy of their choice of White Papers as a tool.

Blame the Messenger, not the Message

In situations like this, it’s not the message, but the messenger that’s the problem. White Papers are uniquely effective – they slip under the “don’t try to sell me” radar. They convince in a non-threatening way. And they have a great track record of closing deals.>

But they have to be seen to be effective. When they are not seen, it’s their method of delivery that must be further examined.

Make a White Paper Marketing Plan

White Papers are extremely valuable marketing tools. Your mission is to get them seen as much as possible, to get them passed around. And once they get into peoples’ hands, they will work very strongly and effectively for you.

Considering how valuable a tool they are, it is more than worthwhile to make a Marketing Plan for getting them seen. This plan does not have to be overly complicated or expensive. What it should be, though, is varied and far-reaching. Don’t just post it – use the different means at your disposal to expose your White Paper as much as possible. Get it seen. And when it is seen, it will certainly be heard.

Suggested Marketing Plan Components

Steve Slaunwhite provides several suggestions for steps companies can take to market their White Papers. These steps can be taken in part or in whole – based on what works for the individual company. The important thing is to plan ahead with numerous components, to utilize a varied comprehensive plan.

Price Tag Promotion

White Papers need to be promoted and sold as items of strong value. Giving them away for free lowers customer perception of the actual worth of the White Paper.

This doesn’t mean you need to charge customers. Rather, they should be promoted and “sold” as if they had a price tag. To that effect:

• Put an icon on the front page indicating the newly available White Paper
• Build a separate landing page devoted to the White Paper
• Use compelling sales copy on the landing page
• Use contact information as the “sales price” for the White Paper download and start that first step of having your White Paper get customers in the sales funnel

E-Promotion

Companies that have an electronic presence besides their website should certainly use that to get the message out about their new White Paper:

• Add descriptive content and a link to the landing page in the company e-newsletter or ezine
• Send promotional copy with a sign-up link to the opt-in e-mail list
• Announce the White Paper with a more personal discussion style in company blogs

Print Hand Out Promotion

In addition to the typical PDF production style, companies should print physical copies of the White Paper. Remember to keep it professional looking, but not too slick – White Papers work because they are not brochures – they go beneath the “hype radar.” That means not being too stylized, not having the company logo everywhere, etc.

Once available in a physical version:

• Distribute as a highly effective “leave behind” tool for salespeople
• Use at trade shows for marketing material that will truly stand out from the thousands of brochures that get “circular filed”

Repurpose

White Paper content can be easily repurposed. This will get their message out in other media, while at the same time, give an opportunity to deliver the actual White Paper as a supplement.

• Convert the White Paper content to PowerPoint slides. Present the slides as part of an Executive Lecture, or a similar sales presentation. Make the actual White Paper available as a hand-out following the presentation
• Submit a magazine-style article based on the White Paper content to business publications. Add a link to the White Paper sign-up form.

Lead Generation – Direct Mail Piece

Direct Mail campaigns for White Paper signup have been known to have dramatic response rates of 3%, 5%, even 7%, depending on the strength of the material.

Prepare a simple, one page Direct Mail piece to appropriate mailing list prospects. Use your ezine list, opt-in list, or perhaps a purchased list for your mailing list.

• Add an icon sized picture of the White Paper
• Use promotional copy for the White Paper
• Keep it straightforward, short, and direct

Press Release

Press Releases can be another valuable methodology for gaining readers of your White Paper. This is particularly so if the product is really new, unique and different.

• Structure it well – make it “Newsy”
• Either attach the actual White Paper (if you know the editor) or attach a note saying contact us, we’ll send you a copy

Additional Marketing Plan Possibilities

Steve Slaunwhite describes the above marketing plan suggestions as best practices. They are particularly effective in terms of their simplicity – they do not require tremendous budgets, or intense levels of preparations to reach maximum impact.

But they are by no means the only possible components of an effective White Paper marketing plan.

Michael Stelzner presents a number of additional suggestions:

Syndication

Companies frequently promote their White Papers via syndication networks. In this scenario, companies pay a service provider who places the White Paper across a network of targeted websites based on ideal leads.

Public Relations

Companies often hire public relations firms to promote their White Papers, as well as the new technology or service it describes.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Google Adwords and similar tools are frequently effective methods of drawing attention to White Papers. They are particularly targeted, as only those who are looking for the solution you offer click the relevant advertisement.

Stephan Tornquist, research director of MarketingSherpa.com provides some further suggestions:

Search Engine Optimization

Make sure to use the latest Search Engine Optimization techniques, particularly in Press Releases describing the White Paper. This will enable a great deal of exposure in business press, in blogs, and at times in the mainstream press as well.

Podcasts

While rather new, Podcasting can likewise have a positive effect in getting the word out about your White Paper. Make sure to use someone with a passionate voice (both literally and figuratively) to announce and describe your product or service. Podcast in a series, rather than just in an isolated one-shot scenario.

Putting it All Together

White Papers are extremely valuable tools for getting leads, closing sales, and becoming known as industry leaders.

But White Papers must be seen to get your message heard.

Posting your White Paper to your website and waiting is a recipe for failure and disappointment.

Use the ingredients in this report to build a Marketing Plan to promote your White Paper. Make sure it gets seen. Make sure it gets read. Only then will response you intended for it be strongly heard.

References:

Steve Slaunwhite, interviewed by Sheldon Gladstein, GladsteinConsulting, February 16, 2007

Stelzner, Michael A. Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged. WhitePaperSource Publishing, Poway, CA 2007

For a list of syndication resources, refer to Appendix III of Michael Stelzner’s “ Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.”

As interviewed by Nettie Hartstock for WhitePaperSource, http://whitepapersource.com/marketing/tornquist-interview.html

Sheldon Gladstein
http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/weve-posted-our-white-paper-on-the-net-but-no-one-is-clicking-or-calling-108298.html

Hi,

I have been in advertising sale for 10 years but i have just joined a SEO agency who have never had a sales team (they are a new business). I was wondering whether someone could help me, as I am currently cold call to find new business but feel as though i am hitting a brick wall!!!! Who are the best industries to target? Other than cold calling and searching online for prospective clients – what can i do? I’m just looking for the right direction – is the SEO world really this competitive?

Well to achieve more and more leads you need to take care on both sides of the site

What i exactly mean is do the proper On Page & Off Page

On-Page
1. Select proper keywords
2. Check for the Titles, Description and the Heading Tags

On Off-Page(this needs to be taken more care of once the on-page of the site is done and the site is launched). All Off Page Techniques like Blog Posting(Ping the blogs and Submit blogs afterwards), Articles Posting, Forum Posting, Social Bookmarking, etc. This all Techniques need to be done in number of 500 to 700 per month with a fresh content on posting side, because content is the king in SEO. As any search engine will always prefer the fresh and new content while crawling and avoid duplications and spamming of links.

After this much practice per month…your site will definitely will achieve good rank in any search engine(but backlinks from the off-page should be relevant and meaningful)….and then will get good number of visitors which will lead into good sales.

Ask a business owner what he or she is doing about the economic crisis and they will tell you they are busy making big changes…reducing waste, re-engineering processes, revamping their sales efforts, cutting expenses, selling off inventories and the list goes on and on. Whenever a business is in the midst of making big moves and changes this is high season for sales lead generators. Whether you are selling in an up or down market, sales leads are always created as a result of some sort of cause and effect relationship that is based on a problem, challenge or pain. Change is a lead generator’s “best friend” because pain creates new sales “openings” that were not previously available.

Here are 5 examples of how to leverage slow times for new business development:

1. Realign Your Sales Message: The bottom line for most decision makers is that they still have lofty goals to reach despite having lost many key people. Their internal systems and processes are thus in a state of turmoil.  In this context you need to reassess your lead generation pitch or messaging. If it costs a company $5,000 to make a widget they have to find a way to now make that widget for $4,000. You should be re-engineering your message so that your solution can help your prospect achieve this via saving money or dramatic process improvements. Often these selling points are sitting in the middle or back end of your sales pitch and moving these key selling points to your opening will provide key “showcasing”.    

2. Look For Obvious Moves & Changes: Recently we developed a sales lead at a company that most sales people would elect to initially stay away from. The company was breathing its last breath but suddenly was acquired by a larger regional firm because of failing operations due to the soft construction and housing market. The news of this deal was all over the media so it wasn’t hard to find. Once the deal was inked the company had a new name and thus this “change” created a sales lead. The opportunity was comprised of: 200 sets of business cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Mailing Labels, 5,000 each of 36 Different Color Sell Sheets, 20,000 presentation folders, 20,000 Direct Mailers and the list goes on and on. The total value of this sales lead totaled $59,000.

3. Look For Companies Who Are Downsizing: Staff reductions may mean a greater reliance on outsourcing services. Typically companies try to spread their workload across their remaining staff and often this just doesn’t work. Serve up your services as a solution to getting the work done on a project basis. Sell strong on the benefits of outsourcing. You have a way for your potential clients to get basic workload done for much less than hiring a full time employee. You can also relieve the pressure on their small and over worked existing team. 

4. Grow Revenues Via Cross Sell & Upsell: Pitching cost reduction is only half the story in a down market. It’s easy to forget that prospects of B2B companies are also struggling to increase revenues. Re-engineer your messaging to determine how your prospects can sell more of their products and services. For example, if you are a website designer this may be a good time to team up with a search engine optimization company and serve up this new service to all of your existing clients. More hits to a website means more sales leads. Look at logical cross sell and up sell opportunities that require little or no investment on your part. This fresh pitch gets you in front of your new and existing clients and that means you are building new pipeline and creating sales opportunities. 

5. Adjust Your Target Market: Not all markets are sensitive to the economy in the same way. The housing market, for example, experiences the economic cycle sooner than other markets (and the raw materials that make houses experience the economic cycle even sooner than that!). Economists call these “leading indicators” because they are an economic cycle ahead of the average. There are lagging industries as well. The point is, not everyone is experiencing the same economy you are. Determine who is doing well and match your product or service to their needs. The goal is to micro-target vertical markets that are weathering the economic slow down better than others.

 

Over the past 50 years, the average recession has lasted 11 months. This is shorter than most people realize and if you keep this in mind it makes the storm easier to weather. Certainly there are economic realities to face, but smart prospectors will adjust their strategies and keep their sales pipelines healthy.

Al Davidson
http://www.articlesbase.com/sales-articles/generating-sales-leads-in-a-down-market-737225.html

I am trying to buy some energy drink leads, so i can send out samples of my products to different, anyone have any suggestions how to advertise or buy sales leads for a deccent price, or if some one has a link or website i can go and purchase the proper products.

I have a software that I have been using can send email to 2,9 million recipients per day in just one click. This software has nothing to do with SPAM. the developer of the software is wellknown in online marketing business and he does not jeopardize his milion dollars business in spamming.

here is the link:
https://paydotcom.com/r/2079/murdocholiday/1896592/

Ali