It's Tuesday and I've had a very slow start to the day.  It's destroying my reputation as an early riser.

I've fielded many questions recently from brokers in the team, asking for specifics of how I generate leads or actually get my appointments for new business and so I'm doing a quick rehash of my list of 20 activities to get started in your business.  If your business is quiet, this is a list of things which you can do to generate activity.  At one point or another, I have used every one of these methods.  If you have others to add to the list, login to the website and add them in the Forum under Lead Generation. 

1. Write to friends, family and past colleagues updating them about the progress of your business and asking them to consider putting their business with you.
2. Advertise in your local newspaper.
3. Conduct letterbox drops yourself, introduce yourself to people you meet along the way.
4. Visit local referrers.
5. Put leaflets under peoples windscreen wipers.
6. Advertise in local forums (sporting events, school newsletters etc.)
7. Join your local chamber of commerce.
8. Start up or join business networking lunches.  It's like speed-dating for businesses.
9. Join local community groups.  You'll meet new people and they'll learn about what you do.
10. Attend community business events.
11. Start searching through online forums and communities, there are plenty out there.
12. Advertise in the yellow pages.
13. Advertise through online business search tools, HotFrog, True-Local etc.
14. Organise investment seminars, find finance professionals who will present for or with you.
15. Get a group of friends together to discuss ways to make your business grow.  This one really works.
16. Visit church and other community groups and offer a referral fee as a donation to their organisation if any of their members refer or use your services.
17. Put notices on local noticeboards at shopping centres, universities etc.
18. Contact a marketing agency.
19. Set up a stall at your local markets.
20. Use marketing or lead generation services.  Don't be afraid to buy leads.  Some leads are better than no leads!