Leads
By Butch Hamilton
A comprehensive study of the keyword leads will lead to some interesting insight into building a successful home based business. Most people consider leads as something that needs to be bought. The higher the price, obviously the more chance of success that you have in your online business. The leads brokerage game is risky at best, as most people who fill out a lead capture page on the net, really do not even realize what they have done. Making a phone call to this type of lead is most often met with a certain distaste. Hence the buying of leads needs to be closely scrutinized to be sure that people are interested in a particular product or service. Leads can be quite costly. How much would you consider buying a customer for? How much money would you invest to put that person in your business? I am thinking you should be prepared to spend from $150 for this process. Is your program valid enough to justify this amount of money. Be prepared to do the math here to ensure your ROI is going to be enough.
In my internet career I have bought leads on a regular basis. I have purchased telephone surveyed leads, home business leads, real time leads and have also used genealogy leads in the pursuit of my home business career. In my personal experience with buying leads, the success rate has been relatively low. A successful networker once said "a lead is a lead is a lead." I tend to believe that she was exactly right. Another friend and highly regarded internet marketing legend once said "I could literally build my online business by calling people from the white pages of a phone book and have just as much success than I could by purchasing high ticket leads." In looking at my particular situation, and the type of businesses I have pursued online, I tend to agree with that statement wholeheartedly.
I like to consider a lead as some person that I have not yet met. That person can be actually looking for some online project and perhaps they are interested in taking a look at what I am using to better my financial situation. I also look at leads as a friend I have not yet met. It has been experience online that most people are very interesting to talk with and share views about this amazing process called internet marketing. I have also found that calling people about opportunities is really nothing to fear. Most people are willing to be approached if you use the right techniques and strategies.
I do not believe in trying to sell that lead anything. As a matter of fact, I like to view selling in a negative context. If you are simply trying to sell something, and you consider this marketing plan as nothing more than a numbers game, you will be somewhat disappointed in your results. The bottom line in marketing is that relationship building takes precedence over selling. In using the techniques found in relationship marketing, you form some type of bond with the person over a period of time. You exchange ideas and thoughts about particular products and services online. Quite possibly, at some point in time, that person will want to know exactly what you are doing to achieve online success. Then, the path is clear on exactly how to approach the person with the opportunity you have.
I also believe in not setting time frames with leads. By saying that, I think its best to let the chips fall where they may. I have been witness to leads not being at all interested when I first contact them, but there is a possibility that I caught them at an inopportune moment. Knowing the internet the way that I do, people seem not to have a tremendous amount of focus initially. However, if you let them develop at their own pace and find you, your chances of making a sale to that lead are increased exponentially. I have been indeed fortunate in this area. I actually have people calling me quite frequently to discuss certain projects I may have going online at the present time. Most people who have suffered rejection on a regular basis by calling leads who are rude and totally not open to the opportunity they are selling find this an amazing story. If are simply attempting to sell that lead the new latest and greatest widget, you may find that your efforts can be multiplied greatly by using the art of relationship marketing.
I feel that people are weary from being sold anything. All you have to do is watch a few moments of television to understand this. We are literally inundated 24/7 by sales people trying to get us to try that new diet, pill, weight loss remedy and a billion other things. They vie for our attention both physically and subliminally in an effort to make that prized sale. In effect, we are all leads for someone. When you consider that, the art of using leads effectively takes on an entirely new venue. Making sales is of course important to network marketers, but using relationship techniques when speaking with leads will improve that sales closing art immeasurably.
In closing, I will leave you with the great mystery of the internet marketing universe. Do you buy leads or do you produce your own leads? The question is left to the gods of Google to be answered. In my opinion, relationship marketing takes precedence over selling any day to the prospects known as leads. You need to learn about leads and the way leads generating systems work. You can become much more effective for a fraction of the price.
Butch Hamilton-SEO Specialist-Advanced SEO Trainer for Veretekk-Head Master Distributor for Vereconference-Marketing Director for Mentors on a Mission, Predator and Jaguar Marketing
butch@butchhamilton.com
http://butchhamiltons-search-engine-optimization-services.com
http://leadsomatic.com
http://butchhamilton.linkscout.com
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