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Online service providers – Coaches, Consultants, VAs, HR & Finance professionals – this is for you!

Are you regularly working on your own business development?

Are you moving the needle in your own business?

Are you setting and reaching your own business goals?

If the answer to any or all of these questions was “no” or “not enough,” then your business is probably operating in a reactive mode, with tasks completed as they come up. You need this business development checklist because you are not actively working on your own business.

What you will need

✅Your calendar

✅A copy of your goals

✅Uninterrupted time to focus

The Business Development Checklist

• Daily task review & update

Firstly I would like to analyse how you are spending your days. Are there tasks that could easily be automated or delegated to a team member? Are you being as productive as you can be? I prefer to work by blocking similar tasks together, this saves you switching back and forth all day and is proved to be more productive.

• Weekly lead management & follow-ups

Set aside time each week for lead management. Do you make use of a lead tracker? Do any warm leads require further action on your part? Do you consistently produce leads for your business? Make sure you’re following up with leads that never converted- they could be ready to now. Take a look at where you get the majority of your leads and concentrate your marketing efforts there. Extra points for contacting previous clients and asking if they have any business pals who could use your services.

• Fortnightly market research

Continuous market research is essential. You need to stay on top of the trends since they are constantly changing in the online world. This could be as simple as regularly asking questions on your social media or less frequent but more in-depth by asking people who you identify as ideal clients to jump on a call with you- you can always offer something in exchange for their time.

• Monthly goals check & adjustments

Time to dust off those goals you set at the start of the year and revisit them. Are the goals still appropriate? How close are you to reaching those goals? Do those goals still light you up? Make adjustments where necessary and leave a copy of those goals where you can see them every day.

• Monthly competitor review

Understanding why your customers may choose you over your competitors is important. Carrying out regular competitor reviews will help you gain valuable insights into their services, their marketing strategy, and prices. But also, where there are gaps and how your business can step up. Don’t focus too much of your precious time on them- but an awareness of your competitors can often give you an edge.

• Monthly cash flow analysis

Set a money date with yourself – the first rule of business is to keep on top of your numbers and to know the difference between cash flow, profit, and sales. If it feels like too much to learn for yourself, invest in support from a good accountant or bookkeeper who can give you the headlines- you’ll make much better business decisions based on facts.

• Quarterly service & price analysis

Another date for your diary – set quarterly dates to review your prices and your services, what needs to be changed? What needs to be removed? What needs updating? Review your feedback forms and make changes that will improve your services and delight your clients. Sometimes a tiny tweak makes a world of difference.

• Quarterly PR & marketing planning

Relying on social media alone for your marketing is not a good strategy. In 2022, you need to be visible and always looking for opportunities. Such as being a podcast guest, collaborating, and networking events. PR is a long game but the return on investment can be enormous!

• Quarterly client services review & amendments

Set a date in your diary to check on the packages you have with your clients, does anything need to change? Do you need to review your rates? Is there a client that you may need to let go of? These aren’t easy decisions but are necessary as a business owner. I regularly review retainer hours to make sure that clients are on the most beneficial package. This helps my capacity planning when I know that my timings are correct.

• Bi-annual systems audit & improvements

As a systems expert, I am unwavering in my belief that scaling requires efficient systems. This is a must before considering outsourcing. Spend time examining your business systems to see if they are still effective. Automate tasks where possible. A project management tool is essential – I highly recommend ClickUp as a versatile tool that will grow with your business.

• Annual growth planning

When making plans for the upcoming year, I advise my clients to schedule a day in the middle of the fourth quarter. Set your goals and growth strategies sooner rather than later, this will help you be prepared for January, which is known for being a time when businesses introduce new courses and services.

Lastly, remember that any goal you set or strategy that you implement can grow and evolve over the year. It’s not fixed and you have permission to change your mind if it no longer serves you or feels right.

It’s your business, there are no rules.

In my experiecne, ClickUp is the best task management platform. If you’re ready to get organised, don’t forget to grab your ClickUp Quick Start Guide for free here