Target customers are what every business with an online presence needs to increase traffic and sales. Lead generation is the method of collecting names, addresses, phone numbers, and / or email addresses for potential leads. In some cases companies will throw out a marketing email to anyone with an email address, but this can cause future emails from the business to be marked as spam. When a business is spammed, the bad news can travel quickly and that business may end up like 98% of all Internet businesses – in failure.

Targeted Lead Generation Means Targeted Traffic

Targeted leads are much more effective for email marketing and direct marketing plans. Targeted traffic only includes people who have shown interest in a specific product or service. Online paid surveys, for instance, can be used to create targeted lead generation lists. After users complete the survey, lists are divided up between business clients and the targeted information is delivered for marketing use.

Another means of lead generation is through online newsletter subscriptions. Outside companies are not needed for newsletter lead generation. The idea is to offer something free to users who are reading an article or web content online if they visit the business website and sign up for the company newsletter. Newsletter forms should include name and email address. Once verification of sign up is completed, the business can use that name and email address with email marketing campaigns for increased sales.

Improper Lead Generation Tactics – Black Hat

Businesses need to check out the methods of lead generation before signing up for service. Black hat techniques can be linked back to the business far faster than the lead generation company. One means of black hat lead generation is response to an online advertisement. The email reads that someone is interested the ad, but it is actually just a lead generation company trying to collect names and email addresses to sell.

There is money to be made selling leads and not every lead generation company collects leads in an honest manner. Though it may cost a bit more, businesses should only choose trusted and proven lead generation companies for email marketing and direct marketing leads. If a company is not willing to offer how leads were collected, skip that company and move on.