how can i improve my marketing prospects and leads?
610122
I have found that joining a business networking group has greatly increased my exposure.  You can do a google or yahoo search and find a group in you area.
349869
Use your connections and ask people if they want to serve.  That failing, see if your community has any incubators.  That failing, call your local chamber of commerce and ask them if they can put you in touch with anyone in the same industry who is not a competitor.
246651
Find your niche market.  Once you've figured out what kind of clientele you want to target, promote yourself within that market.  Go to Small Business Association and Chamber of Commerce meetings and network!  Go to their bulletin boards and answer web related questions.  Always include a signature when posting to bulletin boards / answering questions online / sending out emails.  Make sure to include the URL to your portfolio in your tagline.  I'll put mine in the tagline to show what I mean (I usually don't sign my answers on this site).  \n\nadded note: get business cards!  hand them out everywhere.  \n\nGood luck!
129644
Use beareau of statistics information [usually free to get] to determine the demographic makeup of the market and where they live..eg first mortgaes second etc.\n\nThen find out as much as you can about where your competitors sourse leads and clients.\n\nIf the advertising budget is lean, try print media in geographical locations identified by your research  eg housing estates or neighbourhood identified with good property turn over, land sales, or whatever is desirable to that setor of the demographic pie chart.\n\nWhen choosing local print media, research which paper or magazine within the demography is most trusted..this can be more important that circulation.\n\nAlso consider free magazines for your target group that are handed out a train stations or bus stops as these are often read by people to pass the time...remember find mags for people whose public transport leads them to the appropriate location..either a suburb that turns over propert sales..or to the suburb from which most people want to move.
81599
I've always gone for the sincere approach (rather than pushy)when trying to build on-going business and with bigger ticket items.  For sincere, put yourself in the other person's place: they may want to talk, but are busy, ask; good manners pay.  Start by offering them something of interest, something that will help them (a little known/interesting fact about their industry).  Ask if they are the right person, perhaps they'd rather you talk to a subordinate who's in charge of the group that would be interested in your service.  There's a very old book that is still very applicable for reps by Dale Carnagie, "How to Win Friends and Influence People".  (He means business friends, but it works elsewhere).
797280
Check out ( http://www.salesandmarketinghelp.com ) they have a page on all the steps needed for a good marketing plan.
1100305
you can just walk around in your area with a notebook in hand to write down the names of local companies; then you visit their websites and pretty sure there will be a ground for improvement at least in few of them; make a short proposal on what you can do to improve their sites and just knock on their door. ... btw, you can put a link to some of your projects - it looks better and is more attractive to customers
472989
Try doing a presentation and a demo. Also talk in-depth about the product or service your selling be prepared to answer any question. Do tons of research first
618004
The best way I've found to get new clients is to make your existing clients happy, and make them aware that you love referrals.  Additionally, keep an eye out for businesses in your area that might not be doing advertising, and either call or (even better) stop by to talk to the owner/manager.  You can also try websites like guru.com.  \n\nFreelancing is tough and requires a lot of legwork, but it's rewarding working for yourself.
117272
If you have money to invest you can advertise yourself (in a local radio or newspaper). But you can have yourself recognized using public relations and networking (if you use it right you can have great results) as well.\n\nMoreover, there are companies that can organize local outdoor campaigns (face to face direct marketing) and they get paid only for the customers that they bring you.\n\nOther ideas are: Be sponsor of a local event, distribute flyers and brochures, get some clients write testimonials about your service and products and let word-of-mouth work for you.\n\nFor more proposals you need to be more specific and include more details about your field and your company…
17326
The best way to move into new markets to find markets that are adjacent to the market you are already in. Don't try to stretch to completely new markets - it is too expensive. \n\nFind customers within your existing business who fit in both your current and adjacent markets and ask them how they learn about new products/services in their other market (what they read, what sites to they visit, what keywords to they use on Google, etc).  All this will help you find sources of media that best target these buyers.\n\nThen I would try to get PR before advertising. It is often less expensive and more effective.  If you have never used PR (Public relations) before, I have a suggestion. My friend opened up a business in a new market. To get local newspaper coverage, he went to the newspaper and asked which local PR specialists the newspaper liked to work with. Then he hired their recommendation to get him ink in the local paper. It worked like a charm.
541968
There are many types of marketing promotions that you can do and here are some of them:\n\n1. Direct mail. Prepare a well-crafted brochure and send it to your target markets in Sunnyvale. Find a vendor in your area renting mailing lists of business establishments or take the time and go over the yellow pages and get their contact information. You can read more of how to use direct marketing strategies here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/direct.htm\n\n2. Publicity. Publicity can oftentimes be more effective than advertising. Not only is it cost-effective (oftentimes you are paying for nothing), but also people are apt to remember an article about your business rather than advertising. People find a write-up or special feature about a business more credible and objective than a paid advertising. Publicity also reaches a wider audience: if you are lucky, the national media might even pick up your story. Contact an editor of your local newspaper and pitch your story. Read the article "Leverage the Power of Publicity for Your Small Business" \nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol27/leverage.htm\n\n3. Press releases. Send out press releases through your local newspapers about your business. Whether it is about your story or about a sale you are offering, press releases can be very good exposure for you. You can read more about how to harness press releases for your business here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/public%20relations.htm\n\n4. Use the Internet. The Web can be your online brochure. You can use it to refer your potential clients for more information about your business; and it could also generate clients for you directly. Some of your potential clients may be looking to the Web for a floral designer, and you need to have a strong presence there as well.\n\n5. Network. Join and be active in your local business organizations, chamber of commerce, etc. Increase your visibility in the community. You can find more information on networking here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/networking.htm\n\n6. Word of mouth. This is the best form of advertising for your business - afterall, it is free. Read "Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol154/wordofmouth.htm
634200
if ur product is ready then introduce it to the general public thru ads.\ncheers
116221
First, let me congratulate you on taking this bold step.\nThere are sites where potential opportunities are posted such as craigslist.org, linkedin.com etc. \n\nThere are fora such as TIE, SVCWireless, VC Taskforce and others where you can network.\n\nWhen you start a business it is very important to get your message out and address the right audience & market segment. \n\nIt also depends on where you are located and what verticals you have worked in, in the past.\n\nGood luck!
395512
Sales is hard enough without the comments and backseat driving of someone not being supportive.  You need to let your friends and family off the hook, though-- you need to expand your market beyond them so they don't dodge you out of fear of a sales pitch.\n\nTry doing some simple posters about the product line, or feature one product like a good sunscreen or wrinkle cream and make a cheapo flyer, hang it up at apartment complexes (bulletin boards often by the mailboxes or in the laundry rooms), daycare centers, coffee shops, laundry mats, etc.  you get the idea.    Good luck, building a clientele takes time and effort, it doesn't happen overnight.
43208
Short and sweet. Answer them before they arise.\nThe way to do that is to stop trying to sell your customer and start helping them do what they already are doing -- better. The best way to do that is by haveing a discussion with them first. Understanding what they have done in the past, what they are doing and what they want to be doing in the future. You achieve this by asking good questions.\nWhen it makes sense to both of you, then you will move to the next step...all with no objections.\nRemember one thing. All the leads you call are not prospects and not all your prospect will become your customer.\nA point to head you in the right direction:\nFocus on the person on the other end of the phone --if you are focused on anything else, you are more than likely headed for objections.
510943
I would suggest visiting the American Marketing Association website (www.ama.com), or your local marketing group. Usually all cities have marketing groups, you can attend one of their meeting and get referrals. Good luck!