Published: 21 Sep 2022
There are many things you should bear in mind when it comes to business development within surveying. Like any profession, there are certain areas that you should pay attention to, with varying degrees of frequency and intensity. From good client service, to reaching out to prospective new contacts, here we offer some top tips on how business development can help your surveying practice move forward and become more successful.
Making connections
One of the easiest and most accessible ways you can develop your company is to look at the way you network. The dreaded term ‘Networking’ doesn’t necessarily mean attending in-person events, where you introduce yourselves to various business individuals and representatives. It can now include online networking, which can be done via specific events, or via platforms such as LinkedIn. It can also mean attending seminars, and surveying, construction and design-related events, including a host of events run by TSA. This can either be as an attendee, or in the case of a larger-scale event, an exhibitor or presenter. This is a great way to put yourself and your practice on the map, and also share surveying developments, knowledge and experience with like-minded individuals. In innovating the way you network, can contributes to business development.
Online engagement
Other ways of engaging and developing your company include looking at your presence online. Do you have a website and do you engage with social media? If you answer no to either of these, then you need to address this. By far the easiest way to engage with new and existing clients is to have a website that details your capabilities and your expertise in surveying. This can include case studies and news stories about projects you have worked on, which can show prospective clients how you have risen to challenges and successfully delivered projects. It also shows great customer service. It can also demonstrate the types of surveys that are your proficiencies.
This will provide you with an accessible shop window, that can be accessed from anywhere in the world, on any device. Social media and networking opportunities can also be useful for business development. They can generate new leads, but also cement and build relationships. By advertising and marketing yourself as a reliable, professional partner, you will naturally generate new business.
Invest in your future
It’s also worth investing in your business itself and your surveyors. Ensure there is an ongoing dialogue regarding personal development and the improvement of skills. This might include staff actively engaging with surveying qualifications, new sector thinking and technological developments. They can also join professional bodies and attend events organised by, for example, our own affiliate the Survey School. By encouraging your employees to expand and refine their skills, it will be beneficial to both them and you. It will also improve the integrity of the profession as a whole. Such investment of time and knowledge will encourage and nurture talent, and also develop the business into something stronger and with a more competitive edge.
