PathfindersBR

At a networking meeting a potential client or alliance asks you where your business will be in a year, and you don't have an answer. You asks your partners or management team and they either don't know or the answers you receive are alarming different.

You have thoughts on how you want to grow your company but you have no idea how to make it happen.

When potential clients read your literature, website, and brochures they don't understand the content. They are not receiving your intended message.

Your company won't make the amount of money you need this year. You may know what the problem is you just don't know how to fix it.

When you give your potential clients your sales pitch you tell different reasons about how you provide value.

You are ignoring your competitors. You don't know who your biggest competitor is or what they are doing, who their clients are, what products they offer, their pricing or key message points. Or if your potential client asks you to explain why your company is different, you don't have a good answer.

Everything on your to-do list is a priority. You are not sure where your time is best spent.

Friends and colleagues can't refer you because they are not sure of the value of your product or service.

You can't communicate what your company does best.

You don't know why your customers buy from you. You've never asked.

Your customers buy products from other companys even though you offer the same products.

You don't do market research or ask for customer feedback because you feel you know your customers' needs and wants.

Your business development consists largely of attending networking events. You rely solely on word-mouth for new customers.

credit: Erica Olsen