Home
>
Small Business
>
How to Create an Information Plan

How to Create an Information Plan

What is in an information plan?

Before you even meet with a potential customer, you should have an action plan in place. The action plan should consist of 5 areas. Each area will deal with certain aspects of any potential deal and information that will need to be gathered. Let's look at each of the areas and see what you need to learn about the client. First, the contact information for the decision maker and the personality type (we will deal with personality types later in the book). You will also need information on two other levels within the company. Who is the influencer in the situation, their name, title, and to whom they report to, plus their personality type? You will also want to know about anyone else that will be able to sway the decision for hiring your company or purchasing your products. You now have the first step in the process.

Second, information about sales volume should be gathered. This information is readily available if they are a publicly traded organization. If they are a privately held company, you may need to find other sources for getting the information. The information is not hard to get as most companies like to boast about their sales record.

Third, you will want to know what type of problems they are encountering. In other words, what is their business pain? You will need to make note of some solutions that you can provide that may help, but make sure that this is not cast in stone until after the meeting with the client.

Fourth, you will need to know something about their customers: are they happy, what do they see as the strengths and weaknesses? Once again you may have to ask for some leads or wait until you do an analysis of their perceived value.

The fifth and last thing to record is birthdates, anniversaries, special interests, and hobbies for each of the contacts. This last piece will help cement the bond. You will have created a place for a touch point with the client that is outside the scope of the contract. It will put you in a place where they will think of you when a similar project comes along.

You have now filled in your information plan. You should have enough background data to be able to make comments when in a meeting with the client. You will want the client to do most of the talking and you most of the listening. It is extremely important that you are taking mental notes while listening. Record your notes on your power page after you leave the meeting but do reiterate the major points that you heard before moving on.

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

one time home cleaning Highland Park ..

In The News:

The Berkeley Humanoid Light (BHL) is a lightweight, open source humanoid robot that anyone can build using 3D-printed parts and off-the-shelf components.

Meta’s new AI chatbot is getting personal, and it might be sharing more than you realize.

A new threat targets both Android and iPhone users: SparkKitty, a powerful mobile malware strain that scans private photos to steal cryptocurrency recovery phrases and other sensitive data.

Thanks to a team at the University of California, Davis, there's a new brain-computer interface (BCI) system that's opening up real-time, natural conversation for people who can't speak.

Privacy risks are hiding in plain sight, as your personal data is likely being collected, tracked, and sold without your knowledge.

VenHub, a fully autonomous, AI-powered smart store just opened at the LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles.

A woman's Facebook account takeover reveals dangerous social engineering tactics and provides lessons on recovery, avoiding scams and enacting stronger security measures.

Shanghai engineers are using 432 walking robots to relocate a complex, preserving Shikumen architecture while creating space for a modern underground hub and cultural center.

Major healthcare data analytics firm Episource had a cybersecurity incident exposing 5 million patients' medical records and personal information in recent breach.

A new sophisticated PayPal scam sends legitimate-looking emails from official PayPal addresses, using phone numbers instead of links to convince victims to download remote access tools.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

The innovative Kara Pod device extracts moisture from air to create mineral-rich water and brew coffee, featuring UV sterilization and compatibility with Nespresso pods.

Gov. Hochul unveiled New York's nuclear power plant project to power a million homes, which faces permit challenges while promising jobs and a cleaner energy future.

SAFE introduces Aerie, an underground luxury bunker combining high-end living with advanced security, wellness amenities and interactive walls simulating panoramic views.

A Facebook scammer posing as Elon Musk tricked a victim with promises of a Tesla and $250,000, requesting gift cards that become untraceable once the codes are shared.

Experience hands-free golfing with the Robera Neo smart caddie that uses AI to follow you, navigate obstacles and carry your clubs with GPS course mapping.

Cybersecurity alert: 16 billion passwords exposed in massive credential database affecting major platforms. Protect your accounts with password managers

The innovative BeBot robot uses electric power to remove pollution from shorelines, covering 20-30 times more area than manual collection while preserving wildlife.

A new ClickFix campaign targets macOS users with fake Spectrum support sites, tricking victims with CAPTCHA failures to paste commands that install information-stealing malware.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Plus Automation are being tested across the U.S., Europe and Asia to solve logistics challenges while facing regulatory hurdles and labor concerns.

Your health information might feel private and secure with your doctor, but the reality is far more complicated. Data brokers collect a wide range of sensitive health data, from diagnoses and prescription details to personal identifiers, and sell this data to marketers, insurers, and other third parties.

Kepler Robotics has officially introduced its Forerunner K2 "Bumblebee" humanoid robot at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai, marking a significant moment in the real-world deployment of advanced robotics.

Scammers never seem to be running out of new ways to try and get their hands on your money – and lately, they've been getting sophisticated.

Thirty people were injured and killed, though the exact number remains currently unknown, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Damascus church.

Unexpected password reset alerts signal potential hacking attempts or phishing scams. Learn how to respond and establish stronger security measures for your accounts.

How to Create an Information Plan

Small Business