There are endless amounts of tips and tricks, tools, software, processes, literature, and seminars to aid with the tall task of finding new business for your company. Companies like SalesForce, HubSpot, SharpSpring, and PitchBook are all software platforms that pitch off the “making new business development easy and turn-key” model.
Learning a new software system to incorporate into your workday is not always fun, but sometimes it’s necessary (and hopefully useful, since they’re not cheap)! Does this sound familiar: Drop anywhere from $200 to $2000 a month for an unfamiliar software program. Drop yet another $1000 for the one-time charge for a 24-7 virtual rep that you can online chat with at any time. If that seems like a commitment you’re not quite ready for, you are not alone!
So what’s a new-business seeker to do? Although having a system create a CRM database and do most of the work for you is certainly helpful and pretty cool, what we really want to focus on is our end result – new biz!
Being personally tasked with new business development, I know the highs and lows that come with unanswered emails, the awkwardness of cold-calls, and trying to connect with someone without sounding too pitched. It requires (to name just a few) persistence, constancy, aggressiveness, knowledge, confidence, being likeable, and a tremendous amount of patience and endurance.
Some of the best advice I’ve been given that gets me through the many challenges that come up is really simple – “Don’t be Discouraged,” as timed as that expression may seem. Unanswered emails and phone calls are part of the process, so keep at it. Stay focused by setting constant reminders! Remember that you truly can only gain from reaching out to prospects – you have absolutely nothing to lose! Don’t be afraid to do something different! And mostly, celebrate the successes! They’re right around the bend.
