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In the book Pure Effect by Derren Brown, he talks about the "process" of mind reading and how just turning around a notepad with the prediction on just does not do it for him. I know there are alot of variations for example the "stare into my eyes", body language, NLP and psychological bullying and these are dependant on the character.
What do you think is the best way to show you are obtaining info from the spectactor?

You seem to be asking two questions here.
The underlying one being how best to reveal the prediction. I prefer to write it down, and give the billet to the spectator to open. This sets up a thought process that will be remembered as " I had the paper in my hand all the time"
The other methods you mention, are more tools to get to that point.
Which tools you use, and how you use them are strictly down to the individual performer. I prefer a lighter style, others, David Berglass for example, play it straight with no laughs.
If you intend to pursue mentalism more fully, it is, I believe, Vital to understand how you think, before you start to second guess what others may think, and how they react to differing stimuli, and situations.

D.

There is no 'right' answer to this question.

Dale's advice is absolutely spot on, in my opinion. In the Delphic manner, you need to know yourself.

Your question seems to presuppose that you are rejecting 'psychic' type explanations. If you want to stick to psychological explanations, then this will vary from effect to effect.

For example, if the prediction is made in advance, clearly you must have influenced the spectator, you couldn't have 'read' his movements in advance.

Yeah your question touches on information gathering and the reveal. I'd say there was no right or wrong answer it very much depends on the style of the performer and the particular effect.

For a card reveal I like "Just in case" http://www.jbtv.co.uk/cat_search.asp?effect=Just+In+Case

Or slide vision. However you do it I think the reveal is well worth some serious thought as it can make a huge difference to the power of the effect.

i might not of phrased what i said very well.... i meant to ask as to gain opinions, not suggestions. I have my way of doing it what is unique to myself. It was just to open a discussion to see how different we are. Sorry for any confusion =)

Personally I like to start off by giving the impression that everything I do can be explained with "lesser known psychological techniques" such as body language or suggestion - by the time I finish I will be doing something that can't be explained away quite so easily.

This seems to work both in a close-up environment and a stage/parlour one.