#143: The Elements of a Great Business Development Plan
It’s another week, and I’m diving headfirst into an empowering episode of “AEC Marketing Strategies”. If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head over how to tailor Business Development (BD) planning specifically for the architecture/engineering/construction world, this episode is for you. 🌟
🛠️ The Problem with Generic BD Templates
Generic plans? They’re like those one-size-fits-all outfits—sometimes they just don’t fit right. Especially in our AEC niche. Let’s chat about why generic BD templates might not be the golden ticket for our industry and what to do about it.
🚀 Connecting the Dots: Strategic, BD, and Marketing Plans
There’s magic in alignment. Imagine your Strategic Plan as your Google Maps destination—a vision of where you want your AEC firm to be in the next 3-5 years. Now, that BD Plan? It’s your turn-by-turn, detailed directions on how to get there. And the Marketing Plan? Think of it as those recommended pit stops and points of interest along the way. I’m connecting these three to give you a holistic roadmap.
💼 Must-Haves in Your BD Plan
From a well-defined SWOT Analysis to precise sales projections, I’m breaking down the elements that will transform your BD Plan from average to stellar.
Golden Nugget Alert! 🎉
If you remember one thing from this episode, let it be this: Your strategic plan is your long-term vision. Your BD Plan? It’s the precise, actionable steps to realize that vision. No fluff. Just actionable insights.
🎁 Snag Your Freebie
Because we love providing value (and who doesn’t love a good freebie?), make sure to grab the BD Plan outline using the link below. Hungry for more? Deep dive with our BD Planning Mini-Workshop available by clicking the image below.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
Wrapping up, remember: In the AEC world, generic doesn’t always cut it. Crafting a BD Plan that’s tailored to your firm’s unique goals and challenges is key. Here are just some of the key takeaways from this week’s episode.
Beware of Generic Templates: While general BD templates can offer a starting point, they might not cater to the unique dynamics and intricacies of the AEC industry. It’s crucial to adapt them to your AEC firm’s specific needs.
Alignment is Essential: There’s a vital connection between Strategic, BD, and Marketing Plans. Visualize the Strategic Plan as your long-term vision, the BD Plan as the actionable steps to achieve that vision, and the Marketing Plan as the opportunities to amplify the journey.
Crafting an Effective BD Plan: A well-rounded BD Plan should encompass elements like a comprehensive SWOT Analysis, sales projections, and detailed action steps tailored for AEC firms.
The Power of Specialized Strategy: In the AEC realm, a specialized approach is more effective than a generic one. Tailoring your BD Plan to your firm’s unique challenges and objectives ensures more efficient and successful execution.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Grab your FREE Business Development Plan Outline.
Take your learning further in the Business Development Planning Mini-Workshop.In this mini-workshop, I teach you my proven approach to writing a business development plan, including how to develop the right mix of strategy meetings and research. Then I walk you through how to execute the plan, so it doesn’t just get written and sit on the shelf. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and tools to lead the business development planning for your firm.
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8 thoughts on “The Elements of a Great Business Development Plan”
Absolutely loved this article, thanks.
You are very welcome 🙂
This is an excellent podcast! Very helpful and clear in laying out the steps for planning bd and marketing efforts and connecting them to the strategic plan! I am interested in the BD Planning Mini-Workshop, but my I haven’t been able to check it out. Every browser I use tells me the page is not secure. I’m hoping its something you can fix! Thanks.
Hi Pat,
Thanks for listening and the great feedback. I updated some of my backend servers over the summer and forget to update the link on this post. Below is a direct link to find the training.
https://training.marketerstakeflight.com/pl/147260
It should be on a secure network. Please let me know if you get the same error.
Lindsay
The link for the “Freebie” doesn’t seem to work.
Hi Cynthia,
I just tried it using a Chrome browser and it worked. Although the email that sends you the BD Plan template went to my spam folder. I’ll look into that on my end, but please check your spam/junk folders or ask your IT to check their email quarantine if you have one.
I’m not able to click on a link at all on Chrome or Edge. I was looking at the text for: “Grab your FREE Business Development Plan Outline” and the text is blue but there was no hyperlink with it. All the other links on the page go to the mini workshop. Would it be possible to post the link to the BD Plan Outline in the comments?
Great podcast by the way! That’s why I wanted to test out the template while following along and listening to the podcast again.
Unfortunately, the link doesn’t go to another page but it pops up a form to enter your name and email to send it. Maybe your pop-ups are blocked? If you want to email me at [email protected], I’ll send it to you.