Where do I Start? (Part 2)

Where do I Start? (a.k.a. zeroing in on your prospects) PART 2

In yesterday’s post, I asked you the question, "Who ELSE out there wants to reach the people I have?" Your "homework assignment" was to start making a list of who or what other product/service suppliers out that are also targeting your "herd?"

For instance, let's say, you put on a monthly meeting for avid golfers. These golfers are young, old, tall, short, Caucasian, African American, men, women, college educated, PhD certified, -you name it. But one thing we know they all have in common is that they play golf and need clubs, balls, gloves, proper clothing, latest technology, sunglasses, sun screen, etc.

Think there is any golf shops or sporting good stores in your community whose store owners wouldn't mind having a "direct pipeline" into your group? How about the local public courses in your community? And what about some of the local teaching pros in your area?

With your list in hand, now's the time to ask yourself the second question:

"Who ELSE stands to benefit from my success?"

The first question (Who ELSE out there wants to reach the people I have?) doesn't usually catch my clients by surprise ... but this one does. This is a tricky one; however, once you get where I'm going here - you usually start to smile.

As your group continues to grow, as your meetings and your mailing lists begin to increase in size... there are bound to be companies out there that will also profit from your success.

Let's go back to our golf group example. You probably put these monthly meetings ON somewhere every month, right? (I'm guessing you probably don't meet in your living room?) Maybe back in the early days you might've started out in your living room, but as you grew larger, you needed to expand your meeting space to get everyone in.

So you left the homestead and rented a meeting room. After that, the larger your group got, the larger the meeting room you needed to rent. And each time you moved into a larger meeting room - the more money you spent every month. (Ahh... the price of success....)

But wait a second.... don't you think the meeting center or the hotel you're booking your meetings with every month has a "vested interest" in your success? Sure they do! The bigger the room, the more money they put in their pocket.

So why shouldn't they HELP you to grow larger?

How?

By sponsoring you!

You can use that money to promote/advertiser your group and grow it even larger! (You grow the group; they get more money. It's a beautiful thing.)

So let them help you help them by sponsoring you!

And what about the catering company that brings in all the food and drink your members scarf down at every meeting? Think they wouldn't mind having you spend more money with them every month? (And what about them having the additional benefit of promoting their services to your members?)

And the printer that prints your monthly newsletter! Think he/she wouldn't mind seeing you bump up the number of newsletters you put out every month? And what about the local golf course where you put on your tournaments - they get paid for every member of yours that tee's off, right? If you put on a tournament that pulls in 24 members ... they'll get "X". But if they can help you to grow your tournaments...and you pull in 48 players, they'll get "2X". The golf course helps you with a little ... you reward them with a LOT! That's just good business...

So while this is still fresh in your mind, pull out your checkbook (time for today's homework assignment...). Go through your check register and start jotting down all of the product/service providers that you write out checks to as a part of your business execution. You support these fine folks and now you're going to give them a chance to return the favor.

Once you start looking at your suppliers as possible sponsorship/advertising candidates, you'll see a whole world of potential dollars opening up for your organization here.

And it all starts with two little questions...

"Who Wants Access to What I've Got...?"

-And-

"Who stands to BENEFIT from my success?"

Now you're on your way!