Do you own a boat company, a passenger transportation company, or a materials transportation company and need maritime transport sales leads? If so, then you realize that these leads are difficult to come by. Instead of searching for ocean transport leads to contact, consider trying a different approach.

Yes, sales leads for ocean transport are available through a handful of sales lead companies. These are good options, but joining associations and advertising are also good options. In the long run, these may save you money and provide more solid, long-term sales.

Here are a few reasons to consider advertising or joining an association:

1. There is usually only a one-time or yearly fee to join an association or advertise on a website. Maritime sales lead companies charge by the number of leads provided, or they charge a monthly fee.

2. Advertising allows potential clients interested in your company to contact you. When you buy ocean transport leads from sales lead companies, there is no guarantee that these leads will help your business.

3. Associations and advertising allow you to network with other maritime companies. Buying maritime sales lead lists from companies does not offer this benefit.

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

Find general sales leads for maritime transport and ocean transport

The transportation industry is quite large. In order to find maritime sales leads in this industry, use a general sales leads company.

I recommend: Zepol Corporation offers a free trial of their product, TradeIQ. This company even provides competitor information. Sales Spider provides maritime transport sales lead lists; however, you need to register to view this information. Registration is free, but they charge a fee to upgrade service.

Consider letting maritime transport sales leads contact you

If buying lists of possible ocean and maritime transport sales leads does not interest you, consider advertising on websites specifically geared toward this industry.

I recommend: If you own a boating company, a maritime business, or a nautical shipping company, advertise on one of the following websites: Dominion Enterprises, BoatingBay.com, or BoatHelpers.com. Advertising generates maritime and ocean transport leads that really pay off because only interested customers contact you.

Join an association to network and find ocean transport sales leads

If you need sales leads for ocean transport, joining an association helps. These associations offer many benefits, including networking and possible sales leads.

I recommend: The American Institute for Shippers' Associations (AISA) is an organization for businesses that offers two different types of membership: trade members and shippers' association. Trade members usually provide services or products to a shipping company. Shippers' association members ship cargo at volume rates. The United Shippers Alliance (USA) offers the benefit of helping shippers negotiate agreements for their transportation services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you decide to use a sales leads company to purchase ocean transport sales lead lists, find one that offers a free trial period or a set number of free leads. This is a great way to find out if the leads you purchase benefit your business.