There are many ways to generate electronics and semiconductor sales leads. You can find sales leads for the electronic industry on the Internet, through directories, by telemarketing, and at international conferences. Despite the recent worldwide economic slowdown, sales of semiconductors are growing at a robust pace.

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, sales reached $20.3 billion in 2007 and jumped to $21.8 billion in 2008. This upward trend will most likely continue as sales are being driven by emerging markets around the world. To find sales leads for semiconductors:

1. Search the global market for increased electronics sales leads. You can’t simply focus on local territory.
2. As technology changes rapidly, stay current on semiconductor science and advancement to effectively generate semiconductor equipment sales leads.
3. Utilize the Internet efficiently to find semiconductor leads sites and directories.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search the Internet for electronics sales leads sites

Online lead generation websites offer services for finding hundreds of chip companies. Choose from fabs, foundries, fabless manufacturers, and semiconductor design companies. Semiconductor lead sites offer such services as the ability to create and update semiconductor sales leads profiles online.

I recommend: Semi-Directory is a sales lead service for the semiconductor industry that provides a reference and buyers guide that brings customers and suppliers together. Perfect Display lists integrated circuit companies alphabetically. Industrial 101 is an industrial equipment resource.

Conduct electronics sales lead generation in emerging industrial markets

Electronics sales have soared in emerging industrial powerhouses such as China, India, and Latin America. For example, worldwide sales of cell phones, personal computers, and automobiles (which have microchips) are skyrocketing. IC manufacturing facilities and wafer fabs are springing up all over the globe to answer demand. Invest in hiring a multilingual sales force that can tap into these overseas markets.

I recommend: The Nikkei Electronics Asia magazine provides information on the electronics market in Asia. IEEE Xplore offers access to technical journals around the world.

Attend semiconductor conferences and tradeshows to foster semiconductor industry sales leads

The huge Semicon West tradeshow in San Francisco each year attracts 14,000 attendees -- an excellent place to find sales leads for semiconductors. The conference features 1,200 exhibitors, offers educational seminars on semiconductor design and manufacturing, and introduces cutting-edge products for the semiconductor industry. To get the most out of this conference, invest in a booth or exhibit space to showcase your semiconductor products. Or just walk the halls, meet industry colleagues, and arrange for face-to-face sales meetings.

I recommend: Semicon West is the largest semiconductor conference in the U.S. Also try the huge International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Network with colleagues and clients in similar industries to generate electronics and semiconductor sales leads. The electronics category is large and encompasses many peripheral products and services.
• •  Broaden your search for leads into related semiconductor production equipment, such as cleanrooms, wafer manufacturing metrology, lithography, chemical vapor deposition, wafer inspection, and vacuum pumps.
• •  Don't forget the reliable strategy of purchasing mailing lists and hiring telemarketers. They provide a targeted search when generating sales leads for electronic companies.