If you are not coordinating your marketing effort into a focused campaign, you are wasting time and money. Let me give you an example of a very effective method of getting new business using door-to-door canvassing, telemarketing and the internet. This triple punch will not only impress your prospects and leads, but it will also make your marketing more effective.

Many business owners or salespeople use door-to-door contact in a business setting to get contacts/appointments and sales. Usually, on a small portion of decision makers are available at the business to speak with you, at that point most salespeople simply leave a card and flyer or brochure and go on to the next prospect. While a small portion of those decision makers may call you, why not try this.

If the decision maker is not available during your canvassing, instead of just leaving your information and going to the next prospect, get the card of the person you are looking to meet. Ask "does that person have a card I could get", most of the time they will have a card with a wealth of information we can use to our advantage. Also, write the name of the person you talked to on the card, and find out the best time to reach that person. More on this later. Normally, in today's economy, most companies have a web site, email contact with phone and sometimes a cell phone number on the card.

Next, after you leave YOUR information at the business, put these business cards in a safe place for later use. Now, after a day's worth of door-to-door canvassing, you will have a bunch of cards. Enter the contact information into your contact list (ie. outlook, act or other contact management software). These are simply prospects so keep them in a separate file. Now, send an email to everyone you stopped to visit. Send the email and reference the fact you talked to the receptionist or office manager you wrote on the card. Mention a few key benefits of your company and the fact you'd like to set up a time to meet the person. Also include the fact you will call them in the next few days if you don't hear back from them.

Now, you MIGHT get a return email. This is a big maybe. Most will not even give you a courtesy reply. That's okay. That is just how it goes. You will now need to call the business and the decision maker, and since you now know the best time to reach that person, just give them a call with a follow-up call. Simply say, "I just wanted to see if you got the information I dropped off, and if you might have a few minutes to meet at (given time)"

The information you dropped off will help you tremendously with credibility since you have something to talk to them about, and if they got your email, that will reinforce the fact you are not just someone doing quick canvassing.

Repeat this process and you will supercharge your marketing without any added expense and you will get a very high ROI.