For extra lift in the 204B, reduce the RPM to 98%. For a 500D, change the lateral angle of the rotor disc.
Another tip for using less power when lifting (for N American rotation, anyway) is to place the nose 45° to the left with the wind on the right, and move forward, to straighten into wind with the right pedal. This uses a little less torque and allows you to take a little more fuel or be easier on the machine.
A load should "spring" slightly into the air, or at least come off cleanly (experience will tell you the difference). If it just about makes it, or is a strain even to get it to move, don't do it. Once off, the machine will feel quite sluggish, as if it's tied to the ground.
Move forward slowly, giving due regard to the load's inertia, without alternately slowing down and speeding up, or you will confuse it. Rather, move forward and keep going to allow the load to follow, which sometimes takes a bit of courage, to see how it flies. Make all control movements smoothly and evenly, keeping the downwash inside the rotor disk – if you have to, take out your aggression on the collective (see also Longlining, below). Try not to allow the load to sink, as, if it hits the ground or gets tied up in a tree it will trip you (there is a natural tendency to sink as you go forward anyway). The torque used at this point will give you a good idea of what is needed for landing, so be careful if you are going to a higher altitude (it reduces at about 2-3% per 1000 feet in a 206).
One technique used in New Zealand, when you are near all-up weight and lifting the load into the hover would be difficult, is to stretch the longline out behind, attach it to the helicopter and, keeping it taut, build up some speed in a parabola-like manoeuvre before lifting the load (it's called the slingshot and I’m told it requires some practice). However, if a log lifted this way starts spinning, it will undo the rope, so another way is to get a 300-foot line, get into the hover as far back as possible with a taut line and take off straight ahead to get some translational lift. This tends to crack the blades, though.