When you are starting out with lead generation for you home based business there are all types of things you need to learn which I’m sure you are well aware. And if you learn all these "things" but you don’t know how to fit the pieces together you may end in a place worse than you started… You don’t want that do you?

So Lets get the big picture here so you don’t get lost among the details.

Here are the basic pieces you will need to succeed with lead generation:

A website

But, not just any website! You need one that is…

• Hosted on your own server
• You control ALL of the design elements
• You can easily add and modify the layout/content YOURSELF

A Theme

This is the primary topic of your website. Like my theme on www.GetPaidToProspectOnline.com is automated lead generation for network marketers/direct sales distributors and Independent sales representative using the Internet.

But beware of choosing a theme that doesn’t reflect your passion and or field of expertise. (I’ll tell you how you can learn more about how to chose a website theme later.)

I have another: MyTelecomConsultant.com because that’s what I’ve been for 10 years and another under construction called: OnlineTravelAgentCareers.com because that’s what I am passionate about as well. I’ll let you guess what the theme of those sites are which brings us to the next element of success…

A Domain Name

But, Not just any domain name! Your domain name should be…

• All about YOU and/or what you bring to the table in your given field of expertise
• Give a clear message about your website theme
• Easily remembered
• Catchy

For example If you were teaching wood burning techniques to beginners on your website: www.woodburningfordummies.com or www.woodburning101.com may apply. It your site was about outsourcing, www.outsourseit.com or www.easyoutsoursing.com would work.

A Lead Capture/ Subscribe Box

Often confused with a "contact us" box, which are only for quick onetime inquires, lead capture boxes allow you to build a relationship with your site visitors on an on going basis. Your lead capture box is the tool through which you build a prospect list and continually "sell-ucate" you prospects on doing business with you.

This is best accomplished by giving your site visitor additional value for subscribing. Usually in the form of a free report, an ezine/newsletter or the promise of future benefits like exclusive offers, coupons and discounts on products/services just for your the lucky people on the list!

Which brings us to the next topic…

An Ezine/Newsletter

If you are afraid of creating your own ezine/newsletter, I suggest you get over it quickly. Businesses of all sizes are clamoring for the attention of existing and potential clients.

If you already have the trust (hey, they granted you space in their email box, right?) you have their attention cornered when it comes to your industry and niche. You are already head and shoulders above the crowd!

If you don’t have an ezine of your own get started with on right away. If you already have articles you’ve written about your niche/theme just use those in your new ezine.

You can also use your ezine to promote industry related news, announce new pages added to your website, or point them to third party resources you know will be of interest like other people articles and videos.

And speaking of content…

CONTENT!!

…And Lots of it! Content includes any thing you create in the form of words (also called copy or copywriting), audio or video related to your site theme/business. Content is the engine of your entire Internet marketing, traffic generating, lead attracting, prospect qualifying, sale asking and deal closing!

Content is what attracts website visitors through the search engine (FREE! FREE!!). It’s also what pre-sells (sell-ucates) your prospects about what value you have to offer them from hanging around for a while once they are there. It’s what you use to entice browsers to become subscribers and how you invite subscribers to become customers through your ezine/newsletter.

Content is what you put in your ebooks you will create, courses, boot camps, blog post, forum posts etc.

If you are passionate about your business and you love nothing more than a well educated, ready-to-buy prospect then create content that proves it! If you want more sales and more money, you will dedicate yourself and discipline your mind to create content like a well oiled machine.

Content creation and content marketing management are the most important things when it comes to building a massive web presence. How else will you be viewed as a leader in your niche and your corresponding website, an authority in your field?

Whether you make it yourself, borrow it from contributor, have a community add it for you, or outsource it to employees and ghostwriters… you’ve gotta have it and lots of it! Get used to it, learn to LOVE it.

Personally I like to create all my content myself and the good thing is you don’t have to depending on your business model and niche and your budget.

Sales Funnel

Believe it of not, your website is NOT your actual sales funnel just a part of it. You ezine/newsletter, website and it’s content is there to invite your website browser to enter your sales funnel.

When on your website, which is the outer rim of your sales funnel, the content there gives your prospects value in joining your list which is further down the sales funnel. While a subscriber they are invited to click through to your sales pages or further pre-selling content…. then a sales page.

That invitation comes in the form of a "call to action" which you give on each and every piece of content you create. It could be, "visit this site…", "keep reading…", "click here", "to learn more…", "subscribe now!" etc. The call to action can of buttons, banner ads, click-able links, and other forms of media.

And all this  it needs already be in place and ready for business before you start even worrying about driving traffic to your website.

If you’d like more detailed information on getting started on the right foot in lead generation on the Internet join me in the savvy business mom forum.

Here, you don’t have to pretend to be a know it all to impress your peers and you don’t have to worry about being spammed, recruited or over hyped. For your private invitation send me an email and tell me, "How Would Your Business Improve If You Knew How to Read Your Prospects Minds? " (only the first hundred best responses get free one year membership -81 spots left).

Your partner in success,

Malika Duke