Which lead-generation strategies actually help creatives find clients—and which ones waste time, money, or energy?

In Part 2 of their lead-generation ranking, Steph and Ben blindly score another round of strategies from one to five. This time, they tackle cold email outreach, public speaking, physical mailers, YouTube, Instagram, online communities, RFPs, paid advertising, and more.

They also reveal the only strategy they both ranked a five: the Power 150, Steph’s system for developing and nurturing a value network. Because finding clients isn’t only about meeting more people—it’s about staying meaningfully connected to the people you already know.

Along the way, Steph and Ben share real examples of creatives landing five-figure retainers, publishing deals, branding projects, and other opportunities. They also explain why the effectiveness of any strategy depends on your craft, personality, strengths, budget, and the clients you want to reach.

In this episode:

• How physical mail can help your work stand out

• Why public speaking creates a captive audience

• How to make a cold email feel warm

• Which creative services are best suited to cold outreach

• Why cold emailing is difficult for brand designers

• The Power 150 and the value of staying top of mind

• How your existing relationships can create new opportunities

• The benefits—and risks—of inviting local prospects to lunch

• Why YouTube requires more than a talking-head video

• When responding to RFPs may be worthwhile

• Using online groups to generate leads without pitching

• Instagram versus YouTube for building relationships

• Why Steph and Ben strongly discourage paid ads for most creative service providers

• Which strategies they plan to use for their own new studio

There is no single perfect lead-generation strategy for every creative. The goal is to understand which methods fit your work, identify your natural advantages, and consistently take action instead of waiting for clients to appear.

Explore Maker Division and learn how to build a lead-generation system for your creative business:

https://www.makerdivision.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Ranking more ways to generate leads

01:49 Snail-mail outreach

12:43 Public speaking

20:42 Cold email outreach

25:11 Which creative services benefit from cold email?

28:54 Why cold outreach is difficult for branding

31:49 The Power 150

35:53 Start with the people who already know you

40:01 Inviting local prospects to lunch

47:32 YouTube

56:03 RFPs and requests for proposals

1:02:43 Press and podcast appearances

1:04:30 Online groups and communities

1:06:40 Instagram

1:09:22 Paid advertising

1:11:55 Which strategies will Steph and Ben actually use?

Which lead-generation strategies have worked for you—and which one will you try next? Let us know in the comments.

#LeadGeneration #CreativeBusiness #FindClients