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Some business owners think they can advertise a little and customers will come running. It takes more than that. No matter what type of business you have, you need to learn how to turn leads into prospects. Whether you have an Internet business or store, a physical retail shop, a phone sales company, or even just an informational website, read on for tips to convert leads!

Know your target. You need to understand your customer base. Who is buying and what are they buying? Focusing your marketing dollars on that type of customer will instantly result in a higher lead conversion rate!

Ask them questions. You cannot give a customer what they want unless you know what that is. You will need to try and find out why a lead did not buy from you. You can try surveys, newsletter mailings asking for opinions, even phone calls! What you are trying to do is get leads to tell you exactly what you will need to do to get them to purchase from you. Also, asking them questions makes them feel like you care, and it will give you an opportunity for some direct marketing of your product or service.

Offer options. Some leads will be financially strained or cautious. If you have services and products in a wide range, everyone will be able to sample what you have to offer at a level that is comfortable for them. Give them a chance to sign up for your newsletter or joining your social networking fan page. Do whatever you can to keep the lead connected to your business!

Change things up. A sale, new promotion, or even a special event can keep your business fresh. The thinking is that if they are really leads they are interested in what you have to offer on some level. If you have some thing exciting to contact them about, it may be just the thing to convert them to prospects. It will keep your current customers coming back, too!

Follow up. People are bombarded by emails, phone calls, commercials, junk mail, and all other sorts of media. There is a constant demand for their attention and money. Contact them while your business is still fresh in their minds and before other opportunities arise. For Internet businesses newsletters are a good way to stay visible (even if they do not open it, your business name appears as the sender). Send postcards or keep advertising. It can take up to five hits on a lead before they decide to buy your product or service.

Keep records. Keep track of everything you do in terms of marketing. Keep all marketing materials you send out in a folder, along with sales records for that same time period. You can get your click through and open rates from your email marketing company (the company that sends out email newsletters). What this does is help you identify what is working and what you need to do to convert more leads.

Yes, it is hard work. But so is running a business. Take the extra time and you are sure to see your leads turn into prospects.

Learn more about online entrepreneurs. Stop by Dawna Miller’s site where you can find out all about a lucrative online business model and what it can do for you.