Why do you need an account plan?
When you first decide to approach a company through an introduction, networking event, or from your daily routine, you will need to put together and account plan. This account plan will be part of your power page and it will contain information about your own personal approach to winning the account and a plan on when to follow-up. An account plan is like setting goals. You have the ultimate target and the steps to get where you want to be. One thing about the account plan is that sometimes it takes a long time to get from where you are now to where you want to be, in regards the company you are approaching; sometimes we never get there!
I put an account plan together and my target was a large corporation which shall remain nameless for now. The time between beginning the plan and actually fulfilling the plan was three years. I had to jump through a lot of hoops in order to get to the right people. The timing was also crucial, I had to gauge the best time of year (budget year) to approach the company, and also make sure I had the right knowledge to get in the door. In another case, I put a plan together for another large corporation, found a contact that I already knew from fundraising events, and picked up the contract in fourteen days. I basically knew where I wanted to go with the account and followed through.
Planning and goal setting can be onerous for most of us. It is especially difficult to set company and personal goals but it is extremely important to do them without fail. The only time I have really succeeded in gaining accounts is when I planned the process.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.blueprintbooks.com
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Business checks are available in many styles and varieties. They... Read More
What is the best time to expand a mobile car... Read More
Perhaps you are building a new home office or you... Read More
As long as you eat and breathe you will stay... Read More
A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More
How to identify future solutions and opportunities?Your power page, if... Read More
After over thirty years advising small business it still comes... Read More
What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More
A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More
How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions... Read More
Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do... Read More
In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle... Read More
Unfortunately for all buyers, each selling organization and their individual... Read More
You make the decision to go into business and for... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I went a... Read More
"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More
1. Look Over Your Shoulder ? Of course, Punxsutawney Phil... Read More
There is a continual trend we are seeing which I... Read More
Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More
How to do itPeople skim through newspapers and magazines and... Read More
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk,... Read More
Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More
Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More
If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..There will come a time in your business where you... Read More
One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts... Read More
Are you a home or small business owner and you're... Read More
In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle... Read More
-- Building Credibility Through Success Stories --Successful solo entrepreneurs spend... Read More
It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel... Read More
Washing the exterior of a truck. Sounds easy right? Well,... Read More
Every home business has the same problem of how to... Read More
Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More
A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that... Read More
Opening a carpet cleaning business is a great way to... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
If you intend to franchise your company you will need... Read More
"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More
All legitimate home business entrepreneurs insist and announce loud and... Read More
A Mattress Cleaning Business might be just for you if... Read More
As I am preparing for my attendance to the CoachVille's... Read More
As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems... Read More
In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More
When pressure washing heavy equipment each piece of equipment has... Read More
Treat your business as a serious, full-time business and be... Read More
Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
Small Business |