eLance, SEO Pros and other lead generation places

Anyone using them - anyone recommend them?

I signed up for a free account with eLance ages ago, and just recently looked at it again - the free account does zero - can't bid on anything, nothing. Of course, they only tell you that AFTER you try to submit a bid - then they hit you up for $100 a year. Might be worth it if you could get a couple contracts, but...

I'm also considering joining SEOPros - any thoughts on them?

If no one is using services like these to generate leads, how are you doing so...?

The best way is to optimize your site and generate leads from there itself.

I know people who recommend using those types of sites to hire programmers and others. I have not personally had a need to pay for clients as PPC is growing so fast they contact me.

Generally they find me in these ways (listed in order of importance):

1. Referrals from existing clients
2. Met me at an Internet related seminar or meeting
3. Read my posts here and PMed, emailed, or phoned
4. Found my Web pages about Keyword Advertising and PPC either through the search engines or links from other sites
5. Saw a Google Ad about PPC