Easy Ways to Find More Leads Today and Build Your Database

So you have a database--but do you have enough contacts to meet your conversion goals? If your prospect pool is looking a little shallow, don't fret. We've got best practices for filling your database right to the brim.

You Have More Contacts Than You Think

Fortunately, you can start filling your database with new contacts right now, no aggressive prospecting required. The trick is in knowing where to look for those contacts. While you may have your CRM set up to automatically add new, incoming leads from your website or search portals like realtor.com®, tons of existing contacts are probably hiding in the tools you already use.

Here are three common hiding spots, and actions you can take to add those existing contacts to your database:

• Import or sync your email and phone contacts - You may not know it, but there are probably dozens of contacts in your smartphone and email program that haven't been added to your database. Many CRMs allow you to easily import these contacts. To ensure that no future contacts fall through the cracks, set up your CRM to sync with your phone and mail program. Contact your solution's customer support or help resources if you're not sure how to do this.
• Export contacts from social media - Did you know that some social networks let you export your contacts? It's true and, fortunately, simple. You can export your LinkedIn contacts here. For Facebook, go to Settings > Download a copy of your Facebook data.
• Import .CSV from other programs - There may be other programs where contacts are hiding, so take a moment to identify what those may be--maybe an email marketing tool, or even your eSignature solution. Many of these programs will allow you to export data as a .CSV file, which is essentially a text-based spreadsheet file. Once you have the .CSV file, nearly every CRM will allow you to upload it to their system to import contact data.