Lisa Cramer, LeadLife Solutions

Get a plan. One e-mail blast will not generate quality leads or drive customer loyalty. Draft a plan to continuously engage prospects and customers not just with e-mail but e-mail newsletters and personalized postcards containing personalized URLs. Send to prospects and follow up within three to four weeks with those who did not respond to your first message.

Because the Internet has changed buying behavior forever, companies must enhance sales and marketing processes to be first in mind with prospects and customers. Being first in mind means engaging prospects before the actual selling process begins, when they are just looking you over. Perhaps they'll need what you offer later, as they grow their business. If so, you'll need to remain first in mind until they are ready to buy.