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Looking for Resources for New Client Acquisition

 

We are in the process of compiling a resource list for our clients and other business owners. This week we are looking for resources on New client acquisition strategy. Please share with us what is working for you regarding your new client acquisition.

 

We are looking for:

Sofware
Books
Articles
Vendors
Workshops/ Seminars/Training
All recommendations will be considered thank you in advance for your help. Please note we are looking for strategies that have proven fruitful for you. Provide as much detail as you can.

Choosing the members of your Peer Advisory Board

Last Week we announced that we would share with you the step by step guide to creating your own Peer Advisory Group.  This week we will discuss how to choose the members of your board.

To recap:

What is a peer advisory board?

A carefully selected team of like-minded peers that will provide for you

• Accountability
• Brainstorm ideas, introduce new concepts
• Guidance
• Work through business challenges

In a secure, confidential environment

How to choose the members of your group?

Just because you like someone, doesn’t mean they are qualified to sit on your Peer Advisory Board.  Be Choosy!

Things to consider when inviting someone to sit on your board.

Do they:

• Have Similar goals?
• Have a Similar level of experience?
• Have the same commitment to their business?
• Bring expertise to the table?
  • Bringing together an eclectic group of industry and talent will provide you a well-rounded board.
  • One tool we use to create our boards is to have clients take our Business Assessment Survey.  Please feel free to utilize this tool for yourself.  We bring people together based on the strengths they can share with the others. 

For Example:  If creating a business plan is a goal and weakness, I would want to sit on a board with someone who has successfully created & followed their business plan.

Choose people you respect and have chemistry with, but be careful not to choose people that think and act like you.  Diversity is very important; you are looking to challenge yourself, and work smarter in your business.

Group size?

There are different schools of thought on this topic.  Some say 8 – 12, others say 6.  We have found 5 – 8 is the ideal.

All participants must be equal

Our natural tendency would be to invite others that are much further along in their business than we are.  Trust me on this one, Nobody benefits when all parties are not equal.

You cannot be the one who always gives or has the answers, and can’t be the one who always takes or always asks the questions.  Everyone must be capable in contributing in some way. 

Example:   Kindergartener and the Fifth Grader

Next week we will discuss group commitment.

Time Management Workshop

Join Us July 28 Time & Activity Management

Event Details: What: WorkshopCost: $20.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door (dinner will be provided) Who Should attend: This workshop is designed for individuals who want to understand what occupies the majority of their time and how to manage their time better in the future. Presented by Rich Russo (The Quantum Group)     Upcoming Events Our Mission: The Entrepreneur Circle is dedicated to the growth and development of the entrepreneur by helping them reach their maximum potential in a safe, confidential environment through roundtable groups, education, collaboration, and access to expert resources. Register Registration is a first come first serve basis, maximum capacity for the room is 25 people. Objectives · Determining what controls your time and the three tests of time · Understanding the time wasters · Analyze your day for effective time utilization · Using criteria to set priorities · Implement time management techniques, long term and short term action and planning aids Where: The Entrepreneur Circle 500 Winding Brook Drive 2nd Floor, Glastonbury, CT When: Tuesday July 28 Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Lunch & Learn: How to Gain Corporate Contracts

Join Us July 23 Gaining Corporate Contracts

Event Details: What:  Lunch & Learn You will Learn how to: Obtain the Business Manage your Sales Funnel Work with their Purchasing Department Gain a deeper understanding of the process    Where:  The Entrepreneur Circle 500 Winding Brook Drive 2nd Floor, Glastonbury, CT    When:  Thursday July 23    Time:  12:00 – 1:30    Who Should attend:  Business Owners that would like to learn how to gain Corporate Contracts. Presented by Ted Hsu (Horizon Services Company)   Register Registration is a first come first serve basis, maximum capacity for the room is 25 people.   Please Note:  Lunch will not be provided, this is a brown bag lunch event. Our Mission: The Entrepreneur Circle is dedicated to the growth and development of the entrepreneur by helping them reach their maximum potential in a safe, confidential environment through roundtable groups, education, collaboration, and access to expert resources.

Business Assessment Report

The Entrepreneur Circle has created a Business Assessment Report.   This tool is intended to help you clarify areas in your business where you are the strongest.

The purpose of this assessment is to take a clear look at your current production levels as well as to identify your desired production goal. 

We use this tool as a starting point when working with clients, by knowing this information we are better able to guide  and aid our clients  in developing and implementing a sound business strategy.

Take our Business Assessment Report

The test is our gift to you.

Congratulations HBJ eTechnology Summit Finalists

The Entrepreneur Circle is pleased to announce that 3 of our members are finalists in the HBJ’s eTechnology Summit. 

Congratulations to:

Kathleen & Bryan Swahn Swahn Engraving & Imaging, LLC :  Easiest Website to buy products and services from

David Wood Gateway Financial Group: Best use of Social Network

Diana Bartolotta B-Law, LLC: Best use of Social Network

On April 24, the winners will be announced.  For more information

Help Me Understand

 

 I thought the idea behind Linkedin was to make connections with folks you already know, and ask for introductions to people you don’t. 

In the past week I have received 5 LinkedIn requests from people I do not know.  This is not a problem; I view the request as an opportunity to meet someone new.  If I attended a business event, I would welcome a strangers request to introduce themselves.   When I receive such a request, I will communicate with that person via phone or email.  I prefer phone that way I can start to get to know the person behind the computer.  Half of the time I get a response, the other half I don’t.  This is what I need help understanding.  Why would a business person want to connect with someone they don’t know, and then not want to actually communicate with that person?  Have I missed something?  What is the point of having 500+ contacts if you don’t actually know any of them? 

If I don’t know you, I am not going to accept your connection request, I will not refer business to you, and I certainly will not introduce you to my other contacts.   

The computer and technology are excellent resources, they allow us to have the world at our fingertips, but it cannot replace human contact.   Or has it?  

Love to hear your perspective on this.

Social Networking it’s for the public to see

Last week I happened to watch an interesting story on the Today Show.  Using etiquette on line.  I’m not sure why we have to continue to remind everyone of this, but I will hop onto my soap box for just one minute.  Everything posted to a public forum is for the world to see.  Just because you are in the privacy of your home or office when you make a post, once it is out there, it cannot be taken away.  If you wouldn’t do it or say it in front of your grandmother, children, or best client, don’t do it or say it on line.

I have found items on the internet that I removed years ago.

Watch video Social Netiquette

To save or to spend?

If you turn on the television or read a newspaper, all we hear about today is the state of the economy.  Foreclosures, bankruptcies, unemployment, businesses closing etc…   We cannot go one day without hearing about the state of our economy. 

The strange thing is that the conversations are so extreme.  A few months back I had a conversation with a business owner whose solution for surviving the recession is to stop all marketing, fire his sales people, and use the substandard version of his current product.  Another business owner told me that he was taking advantage of every marketing opportunity that came his way, (advertising, trade shows, promotional products, etc…).  When I asked both how their approach was working out, they both told me, “extremely well”.  So we have 2 extremes, one is to save all the resources for survival, the other is to spend the resources for growth.   My question is which approach will get you through this recession?  Is it that extreme, or is there a happy medium?