Kenneth Cameron you crack me up.... get ready to get your ass kicked again, kiddo!!!  take a deep breath and it won't hurt much.... but I'll bet you're getting use to it!!!

Kenneth, you are acting like a smart ass.

My favorite ice cream is Breyers raspberry with chocolate chunks.

You do not understand the power of SEO & blogging when people answer AR. Now you are insinuating that it's some form of kool-aid we ingest as soon as we sign on.

But Active Rain IS my favourite flavor of Ice Cream!!!  Sorry, couldn't resist.

For me volunteering has pulled in a lot of business for me.  Meetups have been another source of meeting people and getting my name out there casually.  Just need to play that one cool so you don't become "that guy" always pimping your services.

Rentals...People who rent always think what it would be like to own

When I began, my leads came from simply living my life.  The people I met in my day to day activities.  Fast forward, all my leads are either repeat business or referrals.

Referrals from clients and colleagues.

We do a lot of networking, formal and informal, and it's our greatest source of leads. Second biggest source of leads is our sphere of influence, but that's getting bigger and bigger the longer we're in business. 

Kenneth Cameron Networking and beating the bushes.

I would think that the best source would depend on the type of business you run and how you go about prospecting.

My best source of leads, other than referrals from previous clients, family and friends, is from my website.

Good old fashioned person to person communication. Remember that? Doesn't matter whether on the golf course, at a charity function, or playing poker. The more people you (personally) meet, the more business you will do. Plain and simple!

Best lead source is Repeat Customers.

2nd best are referrals from great partners (which would include "good" past customers, agents that are great at referrals, complementary partners that are good referral makers (for me, that is some painters, some decorators, some window treatment people, some GC's).  But, some of them also give weak referrals - depends more on the person and how much the person respects them than anything else.

Friends, past clients, Internet leads which are NOT paid for ... organic leads from ones own website.

A variety of places;  while now 60% of my business is referral from previous clients, most of it now comes from people who know I sell real estate.  In other words, life.  I don't approach people with a business card in my hand - if the topic comes up, I volunteer what I do, but I don't ever try to "sell" someone I have just met. Rather, I am active in the community, and other people who know and like me, who consider me a competent human being, are the ones passing the word. I picked up a listing this week from the neighbor of someone I work out with at the Y;  it was a phone call from out of the blue. So, my answer is, life. (Although approximately once or twice a year, I do get a listing from someone who reads my blog here). 

Past clients, SOI, networking.

Oh, we have closed a ton of business right from our AR blog. So we can say that. I wrote about it on my post about my 9 year anniversary post. We got at least 4 listings a week in the last quarter of 2007 and then again in 2008 and 2009. As over 10,000 agents left the business in our MLS in the real estate bust, we were the top 1% of closed transactions, 100% coming from blogging on Activerain - short sale sellers, referrals from agents here, referrals from attorneys who found our blog.  I quite BNI after being an member for over 20 years when I got more business from typing on my computer at home in my pjs. 
Things have changed a bit around here but we got a fabulous referral from an agent on ActiveRain  in Orlando for a professional Baseball team relocation for spring training. We will be facilitating their needs. 

Facebook is amazing for referrals though, it is tops. I get great business from Facebook. Love FB. 

75% of my business comes to me from my past clients who refer to me and are also repeat clients. A little bit touchy today are we? Did your mother not teach you that you get more flies with honey than vinegar? By the way, mocha chip is my favorit flavour.

My best source has been blogs, web sites, postcards and my database.

Getting involved in community events and programs. Repeated face-to-face connections bring the best results.

Work your Sphere  to start with then start a small farm (That will pay off down the road)

We can say Active Rain - both consumers coming directly to us - and other AR members referring business to us.

BTW - Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey for me.... 

A good way to get buyer leads is to have listings. You can also have seller leads this way .

Face to face contacts.

Kenneth Cameron - working by referrals. Hands down, a winner.

When I was new, most of my early clients were previous colleagues, friends, and neighbors from my condo.  I also had good luck doing Open Houses.  

And now I have to find some Breyer's rasberry with chocolate chunks!

Past clients and their friends

OK I won't Kennith, how about blogging and writing about the area you want to get the leads?

yourself and your sphere 

Direct mail postcards.

I will say it, the largest source of business after referrals is my Active Rain Blog. BUT when it comes to meeting people, every where i go, my eyes are open and ear listening for a chance to meet someone, hand out a card and most often, that is at the local Dunkins or lunch spot. 

Your sphere of influence is the best but you have to not be a secret agent and continually ask for the business.

Being out and about and meeting people and volunteering are great sources of leads for me. 

Kenneth Cameron It depends, network referrals are the best.

When Istarted out it was my Dad.  Then it turned into people I knew

Having listings are the best lead generating source. I do not know any better. 

When I list a new property for sale and get an offer on it ... my sign says PENDING and then once I close it says SOLD!  That's one of my BEST Lead sources and become CLIENTS.  The other majority of my leads come from referrals of past clients, repeat business, and my day-to-day activity on social media sites.  I'm still working on the blogging idea and so I can't say that has been a source of revenue for me yet.

Put ditto marks under a few comment here Kenneth Cameron 

Kenneth,

I think they are the ones you generate yourself by being seen in the right places where your market is.  One of the agents we know holds an annual garage sale with proceeds going to charity in the neighborhood she lives in and sells in. She treats all with a bagel breakfast that morning...Either she gets a couple of listings or a few referrals...A

Ok I won't answre - just because - very childish of you to ask the commuity NOT to answer!

It depends upon the particular niche.