You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of

Once you have decided on your business, legally established it, set it up and launched it…then the real work begins. Even though you have a well-developed marketing plan and have already consulted with your trusted professional advisors, you’re still not really sure just where to start. The good news is that there is a logical place to start; in fact, it is the place at which many successful businesses start. You will start getting the word out by utilizing your most valuable marketing resources: everybody you know.

That’s right, these valuable resources are none other than those people who are already around you. Your friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors, and even your co-workers are a wonderfully productive place to start your marketing campaign. I’m always amazed at how many new businesses don’t take advantage of such valuable word-of-mouth assets because they are afraid of imposing on the people in their lives. These people like you, hopefully, and most likely want to help you succeed. But you have to tell them how they can help you.

To get started, sit down and make a list of all your family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, and anybody else that you have ever crossed paths with. It is best to keep this list in your computer’s contact program or just a simple spreadsheet. On this list include their important contact information such as mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Also include other useful information you may know such as birthdays, family, hobbies and anything that might help you relate to them. You won’t be using all of this information now, but it will all become handy at some point. Do this list now and add to it as you think of more people.

This list and how you use it will most likely be the most important thing you will ever do to build your business. Even though you know these people, avoid the temptation to be too “loose” in how you approach them. Your approach will vary based on your relationship with each person but you must always be professional, even if it is you mother or best friend.

Please make a very careful decision about how you wish to contact each of the people on your list for the first time. It takes time to prepare, but the time is well worth it. You should consider creating an individual plan for each person. The plan will be different than a typical marketing or advertising plan because of the personal nature. You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of

y around you. Your friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors, and even your co-workers are a wonderfully productive place to start your marketing campaign. I’m always amazed at how many new businesses don’t take advantage of such valuable word-of-mouth assets because they are afraid of imposing on the people in their lives. These people like you, hopefully, and most likely want to help you succeed. But you have to tell them how they can help you.

To get started, sit down and make a list of all your family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, and anybody else that you have ever crossed paths with. It is best to keep this list in your computer’s contact program or just a simple spreadsheet. On this list include their important contact information such as mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Also include other useful information you may know such as birthdays, family, hobbies and anything that might help you relate to them. You won’t be using all of this information now, but it will all become handy at some point. Do this list now and add to it as you think of more people.

This list and how you use it will most likely be the most important thing you will ever do to build your business. Even though you know these people, avoid the temptation to be too “loose” in how you approach them. Your approach will vary based on your relationship with each person but you must always be professional, even if it is you mother or best friend.

Please make a very careful decision about how you wish to contact each of the people on your list for the first time. It takes time to prepare, but the time is well worth it. You should consider creating an individual plan for each person. The plan will be different than a typical marketing or advertising plan because of the personal nature. You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of

ed paths with. It is best to keep this list in your computer’s contact program or just a simple spreadsheet. On this list include their important contact information such as mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Also include other useful information you may know such as birthdays, family, hobbies and anything that might help you relate to them. You won’t be using all of this information now, but it will all become handy at some point. Do this list now and add to it as you think of more people.

This list and how you use it will most likely be the most important thing you will ever do to build your business. Even though you know these people, avoid the temptation to be too “loose” in how you approach them. Your approach will vary based on your relationship with each person but you must always be professional, even if it is you mother or best friend.

Please make a very careful decision about how you wish to contact each of the people on your list for the first time. It takes time to prepare, but the time is well worth it. You should consider creating an individual plan for each person. The plan will be different than a typical marketing or advertising plan because of the personal nature. You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of

uild your business. Even though you know these people, avoid the temptation to be too “loose” in how you approach them. Your approach will vary based on your relationship with each person but you must always be professional, even if it is you mother or best friend.

Please make a very careful decision about how you wish to contact each of the people on your list for the first time. It takes time to prepare, but the time is well worth it. You should consider creating an individual plan for each person. The plan will be different than a typical marketing or advertising plan because of the personal nature. You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of

You should write down notes regarding how you will approach them and what you will say. You will utilize all of the information you have on your list about them to guide you and personalize the message.

Take however long you need to prepare this plan, remember that this is most likely the most important thing you will ever do in your new business. Here are the items you should write down on each individual’s marketing plan:

Reason - What is the reason for your contact with this particular person? What do you want them to do? This will depend on the person and what you know about them. Of course, you hope they become paying customers too!

For example, if it is your best friend or other close person, you may just want to inform them of your business and what your plans are so they can share the news with everyone that they know. If the person is a formal business contact who may be an investor down the road, you will probably want to lay the groundwork by giving them more details about your business and get them excited about the future possibilities.

Initial Contact Details - Describe exactly what you will do with each person. How will you contact them? Maybe it will be email, phone, a letter or in person. What time of day will you contact them? What will you tell them? This initial contact is generally not face-to-face but it often sets the stage for such a meeting.

For example, you may simply start by emailing all of the people for whom you have an email address. You may decide to call some others. Write down a general idea of what your message will be for each and remember to personalize it if you know something about them that relates to your business. You may want to mention the basketballs that your website sells to the sports enthusiast or explain your travel agency’s second honeymoon packages to the married people.

Follow Up Details – Describe what your follow up will be with each person. Initial contact is generally a short introduction, so follow up is needed. Again, do not feel like you are intruding. As long as you are professional and concise the people you know should be receptive to hearing from you.

If you emailed or wrote a letter during the initial contact, then your next step may be a phone call to provide more details and to answer their questions. You should also personalize it as much as you can to help them relate to your business plans. For example, if they have children you can tell them you are starting your own home business so you spend more with your children. But most of all, you want to let them know how excited you are about your business and why it will be special. Basically, give them the words they can tell other people about your business and then ask them to please tell others.

If you are calling to arrange a face-to-face meeting, be sure to plant a few interesting facts about your business during the phone call to get them excited and thinking about it. It helps them form questions for the meeting and makes it more