Comments on: I Just started a new business involving direct sales, can anyone give me suggestions in finding leads?

By: Tom Komar

Tom Komar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:33:47 +0000

a great site to get quality consumer, business, or investor leads is http://www.fnin.com/. they offer many other services to help your business but lead generation is their specialty. now its not going to be free but they are really affordable and you can buy as many as you like so check them out first.

By: Nancy Sutherland

Nancy Sutherland — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:04:16 +0000

Start with your circle of influence, that is, friends, family, neighbors and people from church, sports or other activities. Decide what your ideal customer looks like. Find places where you can interact with your ideal customer. Most importantly, ask for referrals. Although the local Chamber of Commerce may be helpful for meeting other business people, a structured business networking group will give you a much higher return on your investment. I belong to BNI and highly recommend it for relationship building and qualified referrals.

By: Hayseedless

Hayseedless — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 08:34:50 +0000

ALL VERY GOOD ANSWERS HERE.

BTW, that marketing company that sells lists is http://www.infousa.com. They're up to 90% accurate, which is the best you'll get.
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By: Susie

Susie — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:44:40 +0000

You can order 100 postcards in full color on both sides with all the info you can cram on it to get out to your potential customers really cheap at http://www.printsmadeeasy.com
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By: LIMA D

LIMA D — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:15:04 +0000

you have to identify your market ( who would use your product) and decide how you can reach the most people for the least cost, if your product can be used by the general public you would have more success putting flyers on cars than cold calling door to door/telemarketing…..there is no secret to marketing REPEAT,REPEAT,REPEAT…..there is nothing wrong with finding out what your competition is doing and do it if its working for them….why reinvent the wheel
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entrepreneur 25 years

By: The Man

The Man — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:33:40 +0000

Solicit References from any satisfied customers
Tell everyone what you do… your barber might know the perfect prospect
Join a networking club (BLI, LeTip, etc.)
Get active in the community, join the chamber of commerce, Toastmasters, Rotary, anything you can think of.
Try Direct Mail you can reach 100 prospects for $24.00 with post cards. If you get a 1% to call and can close 25% of those it'd cost you $100 to make a sale.
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By: D S

D S — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:52:13 +0000

I had my own business, and I went to the telephone company and asked them for an old 800 toll free telephone book. They charge $300 for it new, and I got it for free. Some of the numbers were disconnected, and some another person had the number. But I was determent to make money, and I would tell myself 'I have more time than money' , keep calling numbers.

I started calling companies and I asked for samples to add on to my inventory. If they could not use my products, I asked them to give me three reference so I could follow up with them.

I could relate to the movie Pursuit of Happyness, he did not let anything stop him from being successful in business.

Only in a dictionary will you find success before work!
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By: She

She — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:45:19 +0000

Take some self addressed stamped envelopes to your local utility company and they'll provide you with a list of people moving in and out. There is also marketing companies which will sell you leads, or you can go to your local area chamber of commerce.
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By: Queequeg is a wierd name

Queequeg is a wierd name — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:44:37 +0000

Focus on customer satisfaction and then ask cutomers to recomend their friends and family. It feels bad when your selling a shit product, but if you believe and you sell your cstomers, part of the sale has got to be getting them on-board to help make the world a [your product name here]-world.
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By: John's Secret Identity

John's Secret Identity — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:44:09 +0000

Get money to spend on marketing. This should have been in your business plan.
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