How can you develop a business plan that stands out from the competition?

Over the years, I have seen the time you spend in research, and knowing your audience leads to the outcome you seek. Every prospect (I call them future customers) is different and understanding them involves diving deep into their needs, preferences, pain points, and behaviors. Often we are too quick to pitch. However, knowing your audience enables you to tailor your offerings that can resonate with them. Know your audience, before that pitch/presentation.

At the very core, knowing what our customers want is the best sales tool. Position yourself around their wants and needs, and pursue innovation.

I was in Melbourne, Australia (Dec 5-9) attending the Cisco Live where we were the sponsor. One of the things I cautiously focussed on was telling a story that resonates well with the local market. I can't and won't share the success stories from the US with my audience in Australia. However, the moment I share Aussie Organizations who see value in our offerings, I have numerous personas listening to me. Always use anecdotes and examples when you are sharing a story about the way you have solved a particular problem. Don't Sell. Serve.

I was in Tokyo, JP recently for work meetings, and appreciating Japanese habits and the culture, the only way to have a successful outcome was disciplined business planning. Few things to focus on: - Keep it what matters - Avoid complex language (no one gives a daam) - Simplify complex things for the audience. - Plan SMART. - Relevancy matters. Just because you have a fancy slide, doesn't mean you present it. - Start with a compelling story - Continue to refine your plans/presentation. - Be clear about your expectations. Be disciplined. Remember, it's a Give and take. All the best! (I'm still crafting my skills)

Presenting testimonials and references can be a game changer (certainly with a good product offering). It can strengthen your business prop. Few things that has helped me:- - Gather testimonials and share direct quotes from satisfied clients. - Work on case studies that showcase real examples of how your offerings helped solve the customer's business challenge. - Be Data-driven and show results. - Show before-and-after examples that will showcase tangible results. Work hard. Nothing comes easy!

Be authentic! An original, true voice is extremely valuable, particularly in a world of conformity based AI. Do not lose your character.

Business Plans can be used for many things. Typically they are required when seeking capital. I would argue that even if you think you don't need a business plan, you should write one eventually. I found it much easier to write mine, several years after I got my footing. Now it's a living, breathing document, that helps me stay focused on my business goals, revenue streams, competitors, audience. It also serves as a historical record of my business' growth, changes, successes and failures. I can't believe I'm actually writing that I look forward to updating mine at the end of every year!