Generally, when a company is trying to generate sales leads, using only one tactic is not going to work. You need to mix it up – use traditional techniques like direct mailers along with electronic tactics like sending out e-newsletters.
Here are a few tips to get those sales leads you need:

1. Buy competent leads.

This is the easiest tactic – rent a reliable prospect list. You can get a mailing list from a variety of sources, including professional organizations, trade groups, and list brokers or alumni associations. These lists give you highly qualified leads (you get to pick most of the qualifications) that you can either mail or email your marketing materials to.
2. Become an expert.

Join online forums to answer questions or give your expert advice to people in your industry. You can join Web sites that review products or that is just for opinions to up your expert credibility. You can also write articles free for industry Web sites and include a link to your Web site in your byline to drive traffic to your online store. Try to contribute to organizations, Web sites and industry journals so that you can point back to those when customers ask why they should buy from you.
3. Partner up.

By collaborating with a complementary business, you can share contacts and also share resources. This can lower your marketing costs, such as for color printing for brochures, which gives you even more flexibility to reach a bigger target market.
4. Advertise in e-newsletters.

Using electronic media is a great way to generate leads if you have a Web site. It is easy for people to read your ad, and then click on your link to check out your Web site.
5. Read the local newspaper.

By keeping up with the news, you can pinpoint businesses or individuals who might need your services. For instance, if you read a story about one of your competitors closing its doors, you know this is a great time to send out direct mail pieces on how you will fill the gap left by your competitor.
6. Attend a trade show.

Try to find a local trade show and pay to set up a booth. Trade shows are a great way to generate leads and to talk with complementary businesses about partnering, which can also increase your leads. Consumers who attend trade shows are there to find information, and you are just the person to give it to them!

Hello
# Buy competent leads.
This is the easiest tactic – rent a reliable prospect list. You can get a mailing list from a variety of sources, including professional organizations, trade groups, and list brokers or alumni associations. These lists give you highly qualified leads that you can either mail or email your marketing materials to.

# Become an expert.
Join online forums to answer questions or give your expert advice to people in your industry. You can join Web sites that review products or that is just for opinions to up your expert credibility. You can also write articles free for industry Web sites and include a link to your Web site in your byline to drive traffic to your online store.

# Partner up.
By collaborating with a complementary business, you can share contacts and also share resources. This can lower your marketing costs, such as for color printing for brochures, which gives you even more flexibility to reach a bigger target market.

Hi,

I don't know this could be useful for you as a triner but as you wrote this is for bank people, i think why i hate their service would help you, how to attract new customers.

1. No proper reply for transaction after sending fax for deposits(Especially SBI), (No customer care!!!!!!)

2. No reception at all, as if they are in their king palace, (No greetings!!!!!!)

3. First they should talk local language in case of regional bank, many farmers, other low qualified people afraid to enter, (No empathy!!!!!!)

4. Also, they should not speak English with any of the customers unless the customer opens his converstaion. ( No respect!!!!!!!!!)

5. There should be at least one recepionist standing at the gate of all banks ( WITH cumpulsory SMILE, otherwise no salary), enquiring customers " May i help you sir?. with uniform " Help " batch on his/ her dress. (Improve Helping!!!!!!!!)

6.All bank employees should come with suits and coat, neat dress showing the customers they are neat in service too. ( Careless attitute!!!!!)

7. They should keep model application form (DD, deposits, withdrawals)filled with XXX name with figures how to fill the application form with guidance both in English and local languages" ( Follow rude rules !!!!!!!!)

8. No customer should wait in their bank more than 10 min. ( Who care's you!!!!!!!)

9. There should not be any cabin for any employee, all sit together, hence one can do only job. ( Enjoy office time!!!!)

10. Bank manager need not to sign but only chat with customers and prove that he is earning money for his bank, otherwise his salary would be 10 % cut on annual basis. ( My salary safe, why should i care you, manager attitute!!!!!)

If they change their attitute or avoid the age old procedures, hope they will get new customers. This is applicable only for bank employees in India not for other countries.

1. Reduce your customers risk. Give them 100% satisfaction guaranteed, because do you really deserve to keep their money if your product or services hasn't delivered what you promised?

2. Give them free samples, free 10 day trials, free, no risk 'pay me when you are satisifed' periods.

3. Give a FREE Seminar, but remember to give it plenty of advertising via postcard invitations, radio maybe, and don't forget that cable TV advertising can be very reasonably priced for local events.

4. Invite your existing base to give you referrals or introductions.

5. CROSS PROMOTIONS / Cross Endorsements: Find another product or service you believe in, and offer to endorse them, in exchange for them endorsing your product.

6. Charity: On a regular basis give something away to a deserving charity, and do a press release about it.

7. Throw a party, brat/hamburger/hot dogs or something of a picnic, where you invite others to tour your operation and learn more about you, while getting free food/refreshments.

Attracting new customers might seem difficult, but I have found that direct mail has normally been successful.