Fed up with cut backs and downsizing messing with your plans for a great year? If you're looking for new ideas to get more customers, don't let little things like no money and no staff get in your way of giving effective presentations.

Scratch that. Phenomenal presentations.

Seriously.

More and more small businesses are looking for new ways to grow effective presentation skills. It's the fastest and smartest investment you can make. If you are serious about increasing the number of leads, and attracting prospects to become customers.

But if you just try to work harder you could end up stressed out. Consider the downside: you will work yourself to the bone but not achieve your goals. Sound familiar?

If you are feeling overworked, without a family life and fed up with your presentation skills, there is a quick and easy solution.

What's the smart way to get fresh ideas for winning more customers?

Leverage!

Here's 4 ways to creatively leverage your sales efforts - and attract more of what you truly want.

1. Redefine

Change the way you define a lead. In many small businesses, a lead is anyone and everyone. Every business card, every contact and every trade show attendee is considered a lead.

But this is not truly the case.

Far too many people are in your contact bucket. The people who toss their business card in a fishbowl at a trade show are not really qualified leads. They just wanted your trade show freebie. They have not actually stood up and waved their arms, saying: "I want to do business with you!"

Make a simple shift. Redefine whom you consider a qualified lead.

One of the fastest ways to make this shift is to set up a series of steps involving interaction. Give prospects specific things to do: such as downloading a whitepaper, taking a video tutorial or registering for a webinar.

By tracking your prospect's behaviors, you can redefine interest level and what is often called: 'warmth.' This raises your standards and can help you focus on the people who are most likely to become customers.

2. Expand

Expand your comfort zone of presenting. If you're used to presenting face-to-face, get training and coaching for other medias. For instance, learn how to be effective virtually and on camera.

A small amount of targeted training creates a huge result. When you feel at ease in a new media, you will naturally start to use it more. And this is extremely valuable to boost your exposure to more leads.

3. Experiment

Experiment and try new things. Check out new creative approaches such as video for youtube, a mini-series of webinars or a sequence of informative videos.

Pick new activities using a simple check system. Does the new media appeal to your target market? Is it cost-effective to create? Is it something you can do in a limited amount of time?

Try out different places to post your new videos and webinars. For instance, put new videos on your website. Experiment with creating a new microsite to host your videos. Then, promote this with emails, social media and press releases.

By experimenting with new media, you can radically increase exposure to your target market.

4. Test Vigorously!

Test your ideas. And then, keep testing. Not everything you try will work like a charm the first time. Keep testing so that you can see which kinds of presentations work best for your marketing efforts.

Many business owners and entrepreneurs are reluctant to try out new lead generation activities - because they don't know how to give charismatic and effective presentations.

But not you! The challenge is to use leverage. Power up your sales presentations to achieve maximum impact.