Action Plan 1
DUS Action Plan (1 of 7)
The first thing you will need to do is build a list of prospects.
In starting your business, the best first step is to identify your potential prospects. It has been proven that the best way to do this is to build a list. This will focus your efforts, make the best use of your time and also create a good initial strategy.
Your list should ideally consist of -
- Friends and family members that run businesses.
- Business owners that you know.
- Businesses that you use, i.e. take-aways, hairdressers.
- Businesses that you are in regular contact with through business
- Businesses of a similar trade or occupation to yourself
- Businesses that you share common interest with {ie golf courses, churches etc)
- Any businesses within a 5 mile radius of where you live. (Google maps)
- Businesses within a 5 mile radius of where you work. (Google maps)
My List
Firstly download and print off the form at the bottom of this page, sit down with a cup of tea in a quiet place and allocate an hour of your time. Have the form and a pen and let your mind think of businesses to approach. Here are some handy areas to try. Where do our clients come FROM, FROM being four areas denoted below.
Friends:
Who in your immediate circle of friends do you know who owns a business? What places can you connect with these people (golf club, BNI group, church etc)
Relatives:
Who in your family owns a business, is high up in their business or is a connector to other businesses through their job (a self-employed business that services businesses perhaps).
Occupation: In your current business or job, which businesses do you connect to on a regular basis? Obviously if you are not the boss you will have to be sensitive. The best way is if you have saved your employer money, ask if you can approach clients and suppliers as a value added service. Also if you are a butcher, who best to advise a butcher on how to save money? List people of a similar profession to yourself.
Money:
One of the most effective areas is looking at your bank statement and see where you spend money. If you spend money with a business, why would it be unreasonable for them to give you business and save money? The least they can do is listen to what you have to say. It sounds harsh, but if they are not willing to listen to you, take your business to somewhere that will. (restaurants and take-away's in particular).
