Cooper, I: Financial Times Guide to Business Development

Contents List Introduction Chapter 1 - The 21 Common Sense Business Development Truths 1. Focus On Converting Leads, Not Just Generating Leads 2. Exceed Customer Expectations 3. Speak To Potential Customers And Clients ... And Speak To Them Nicely 4. Be Open For Business 5. Don't Let Your Administration Get In The Way 6. There's No Job More Important Than Helping Customers or Clients Part With Their Cash 7. Don't Let Technology Get In The Way 8. Quality And Word Of Mouth Counts For Everything 9. Actively Strive For Consistency 10. Recruitment Is Part Of Business Development 11. Keep In Touch With Your Existing Customers And Clients 12. Master Social Online Media 13. Test Your Ideas, Concepts And Prices 14. Plan, But Keep Things Simple 15. Take Complaints Seriously 16. Make Your Customer Or Client Environment Appropriate 17. Train Your People To Spot Opportunities 18. Get Out Of Your Office Or Premises And Mix And Mingle 19. Find A Niche And Specialise 20. Model What Works Best 21. Be Squeaky Clean Chapter 2 - Asking The Right Business Questions: A Toolkit For Business Development The 5 Impact Questions The 100 Business Development Questions Chapter 3 - The 20 Business Development Pricing Tools, Truths And Techniques 1. Winning Business Is Not The Most Important Thing -- Being Profitable Is. 2. Price Is A Communications Issue, Not A Financial Or Accounting One. 3. Focus On Value And Service And Not Just Price. 4. Bundle In And Include As Much As You Can. 5. Unbundle And Charge Things Separately. 6. Don't Fall Into The Price Trap. 7. Consider Increasing Your Prices. 8. Use Division And Comparison. 9. Get Others To Justify Your Prices. 10. Price With Guarantees. 11. Price For Specialisation. 12. Price For Profile And Experience. 13. Price Based On Feedback And Testing. 14. Price For Prestige. 15. Price For Know-How. 16. Price With The Competition In Mind. 17. If You Must Have A Loss Leader, Make It Count. 18. Consider Special Deals, Promotions, Sales And Discounts. 19.

Ian Cooper is one of Europe's most experienced business development consultants, presenters and skills trainers. He is also one of the world's leading advisors specialising in business development within the professional services sector. He has advised and helped over 800 organisations of all sizes over 27 years to attract and win huge amounts of business. Ian is also a successful entrepreneur in his own right having started, developed and run several business ventures. An experienced author, Ian has written and contributed to over 10 books, on a range of topics. http://www.financialtimesguidetobusinessdevelopmentblog.com/

"The Financial Times Guide to Business Development is inspirational. It is easy to read, hard to put down and there are absolute gems on every page. Read it and getfired up." Jonathan Straight, Chief Executive, STRAIGHT plc, former winner of Entrepreneur of the Year Award "This is a game changer for any business wishing to grow and develop. Ian Cooper has a phenomenal understanding of the importance of delivering world class service to your clients and customers. I will encourage all members of the 360 legal group to purchase and treat this as their mantra!" Viv Williams, CEO 360 Legal Group "We have used Ian Cooper's considerable skills on many occasions and he has shown us how to increase our conversion rate of enquiries to business from 30% to 75%. His new book, The Financial Times Guide To Business Development is almost a pocket book guide to his training, providing a real focus on how to get results. It not only explains what to do, but why, in an entertaining, pragmatic and anecdotal style". Martyn Morgan, Managing Partner, QualitySolicitors Talbots "This simple no nonsense approach to business development and practical advice regarding customer service provides a recipe for success for any business regardless of size." Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director, Viking River Cruises UK Limited "It is worth getting this book for the 21 common sense business development truths alone. Painfully brutal in places, these truths should serve as a much needed wake up call, and I have never met a business that wouldn't benefit from applying them honestly to their situation. Ian Cooper has done UK Ltd a great service by spelling them out with such clarity, simplicity and power." Steve Pipe FCA, author of "The UK's best accountancy practices" and "Stress proof your business and your life" and former UK Entrepreneur of the Year "I thought I knew business development inside out. Then I read this witty, informative and practical book, and realised how much I didn't know. If you