3 Small Business Tools for Finding Local Leads

Posted by: Neil Callanan

In the ongoing battle between SMB's and the "big guys" small businesses have a number advantages that can help even the odds a bit; not the least of which is their local market. While many are using the social web to create new connections, many are missing the opportunity to create powerful relationships with those within their local community. There are a slew of sites and tools that can help. A few that I find most helpful:

• TwellowHood - A twitter search tool that allows users to see the most influential twitter users within their city or town. This is a great starting place for businesses who are new to twitter. 
• Meetup - A listing tool for local group meet ups, Meet Up allows users to see which groups are meeting locally. You'll likely be surprised with the number of activities that are happening within your local area that provide relevant learning and networking opportunities. 
• PlaceBlogger - Similarly to TwellowHood, PlaceBlogger searches for local bloggers within a particular area. 

In many cases, a shared local tie with a prospect breaks down many of the barriers that can arise when attempting to connect with new leads on the web. When leveraged properly these tools can be used to enhance your network both on and offline. For a more comprehensive list, check out this post from John Jantsch (@ducttape) on the Open Forum.