“How many times in your life have you said you were going to do something, and then not done it because nobody else would know the difference? Just the simple act of telling your plan to another person raises the stakes.” - Coaches Training Institute
As mentioned in my earlier post, one of the key facets of a successful client building strategy is a monthly plan. On the Get Clients Now! website, there is a page where you can download free versions of C.J. Hayden’s activity plan and monthly progress tracker. In the spirit of keeping my business development activities transparent, I will post a new plan every month.
Big Generator Get Clients Now! Action Worksheet Plan Timeline: March 7 - April 7, 2010
What Strategies will you use?
- Direct Contact and Follow-up
- Networking and Referral Building
- Public Speaking
- Writing and Publicity
- Promotional Events
- Advertising
Where are you stuck or what needs the most work?
- Filling the pipeline
- Following up
- Getting presentations
- Closing sales (Elance)
How much business do you have now? 1 client How much business do you really want? 5 clients What would that get you? It would allow me to gauge the time commitment required for each client and recalibrate from there What is your program goal? At least two new clients by the end of the program What will be your reward? A post on Incubator and Twitter indicating success
Success Ingredients: (specifically to “Fill the Pipeline”)
- Target market definition
- 10-second introduction
- Business cards
- Letter to the editor (to become part of a future article showcasing part-time business owners)
Daily Actions:
- Appetizer: Spend at least 1 hour each day on my success ingredient project.
- Appetizer: Complete 1 item on my success ingredient project list each week.
- Appetizer: Collect 1 new fact per day.
- Main Course: Document vision.
- Main Course: Research one competitor each week.
- Main Course: Send item of interest to 1 colleague per week.
- Main Course: Give at least two referrals.
- Main Course: Have lunch or coffee with a colleague once per week.
- Main Course: Post 1 on-line bulletin board notice weekly.
- Main Course: Send out business announcement to neighborhood contacts.
- Main Course: Revisit Elance proposal strategy.
- Dessert: Exercise 3 times per week.
Special Permission: I give myself permission to focus on other things other than work. [Note: Posts that begin with the letters “BG” focus on business-development concepts that tie directly to my design firm, which is called Big Generator.]