Are these really the 3 best ways to generate FREE leads for your business?

[LM STAMPER]

Hey All,

I’ve been doing some extensive research on the best techniques to generate free leads for anyone’s network marketing business and I’ve come up with the top three. They are (no particular order):

1) Article Marketing
2) Video Marketing
3) Forum Marketing

Would everyone agree that these are the three best, and does anyone have suggestions for a fourth?

Thanks!

[Linda Hinkle]

How about blogging?

[Paul.B]

Originally Posted by L Hinkle

How about blogging?

I agree blogging is a good one. Also things called link wheels using free to sign up to web 2.0 properties.

[Yuliya Mironova]

I think they're great for internet marketing, but poor for network marketing. None of them is a free lead generation method that many people use in my business (though many have tried them for a few months), because they're all methods that attract online-only, very low probability prospects. (When I say "low probability", I don't mean that they're difficult to sponsor - they're actually pretty easy to sponsor, but also equally easy for others to re-sponsor after you, so their retention-rate is appalling. They're low probability still to be with you 2 years' later - this is the problem).

Our best free lead generation method, which the big and successful business-builders in my company have been using throughout Europe with great consistency over the last 15 years, is using drop-cards. (Some people call them "sizzle-cards"). These are available free from VistaPrint (you do have to pay for the postage cost, but that hardly breaks the bank!).

It's "low glamour", of course, compared with spending time online, but when applied consistently, it leads to stable, duplicating businesses. Highly recommended. And even more highly these days, as it's a method that's actually improving, since most of the "competition" are playing around online instead, leaving the path much clearer for those of us building businesses in the real world instead of the virtual one.

[nadine1221]

Those 3 are a good start, Also blogging as someone mentioned.
There are a few more things that you want to do .
Yuliya has a good point about bringing people into your business, those 3 (plus a few more I am going to share) are great for affiliate programs or selling products, but not so much for growing distributors / partners / Consultants (Whatever your MLM calls them)

For Leads for Affiliates you want to integrate and interlink the following: (Inter-linking gets you better search results)
1. Forums
2. Articles
3. Videos (HUGE these put a face to the name)
4. Blogs, Mix business with pleasure and good keywords in your blog titles
5. Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace are the big 3) Syndicate your blogs with these for a higher number of viewers / quality back-links (This is Google Gold)
6. Lead Capture Pages (Little enter your e-mail boxes)
With the LCP you want to make sure you are giving value back to the subscriber the instant the click the submit button. (Examples of Free e-books, Free video detailing how to do something. You know how to join a forum and add a signature, you could show how to do that).

If you want to attract business partners you need to position yourself as a leader in the niche, and show that you have insight and value to give (Using all the above listed) . You need to market yourself more than your business if you are looking to recruit people. People are looking to join YOU not your business.

Don't be shy about any value you have to offer, if you do an auto-responder send out a tip once a week. In your blog, focus on tips for developing business, and soon organically people will be interested in what you have to offer because you can teach and mentor them along the journey.

[DianneM]

Extremely good information all. The training I am doing now covers all of these and the more I can add to it the better. I don't know about drop cards. Where do the leads come from for these? I do have twitter, facebook and linked in accounts and need to learn how to use them more. All in good time I guess.
Dianne

[kesharn2]

The previous posts have for the most part covered everything, so at this point the only advice I have is PICK A NICHE...and focus on it. Whether you do online or offline marketing, it's best to focus on 1 lead generation source (maybe 2) and get good at before you move on to the next.

[LA Grouch]

Agreed... Blog your business.

It is the best viral markrting there is.

Write good content and socially bookmark it.

[AmyKay]

Yes, it's good to have a blog. People will always want to know about YOU, even more than your business or opportunity. Let them get to know you from you blog.

Send leads to the blog.

[LauraMP65]

I concur with those methods and that you should concentrate on one and get proficient at it before moving on but your ultimate goal should be to diversify.

I also agree that you should also incorporate offline methods otherwise you're missing out on 50% of the population. Direct mail, sizzle cards, etc. are great.

While I do believe internet marketing (in the various forms) is good for "network" marketing (you CAN build relationships online) in addition to "internet" marketing; however, one of the downfalls IS you'll find a lot of "jumpers" - individuals that think it's the company that determines their success (and the grass is always greener) when, in fact, unless the company is "BAD", it doesn't really matter - it all boils down to YOU and developing/perfecting the skills necessary for success.