Written by: Platinum Advisor Strategies
It’s easy to think that good intentions and sheer determination are enough to take you to the next level in your business, but this isn’t the case. Without a comprehensive plan in place, your best intentions can get thrown off track in a heartbeat.
Many advisors struggle with managing time, prospecting, and handling day-to-day business issues, while others get to enjoy the ownership of a thriving practice.
So, what’s the difference?
We all have the same number of hours in a day, so why the disparity in performance from one advisor to the next?
It’s not about just taking action.
It’s not about just having a plan.
It’s about taking the right action based off of the right plan.
Want to thrive in 2015? Pay attention to these areas.
6 CORE ACTION AREAS
There isn’t ONE thing you can do that will make everything else fall into place. Here are 6 core areas you need to pay attention to if you intend on making 2015 the best year possible.
For quick reference, click on any of the numbered items below to go straight to that section.
1. BRANDING & MESSAGING
Here is the formula for invisibility: LOOK and SOUND just like everybody else. If you’re going to go through the work of marketing and announcing your existence to prospects, make sure they don’t have a chance to lump you in with everybody else. What does your logo, website, and regular communications etc. say about you? Is your brand consistent enough for clients to “get it” and be able to clearly explain to others why they should choose you? Setting this foundation will help the following core areas fall into place.
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2. SERVING A NICHE
You’ve heard it before: “If you try to target everyone, you target no one.” Is it possible that you may be ignoring a specific group of people who (a) would love to work with you and (b) would choose you over anybody else? There are profitable niches out there, and it’s important to create a plan for identifying, reaching, and serving them.
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3. CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE MEETINGS
What do you have in place to get the most out of any meeting? Think about all of the potential interactions you have: Reviews over the phone, first appointments, clients reviews etc. What you say and do matters. Why leave any of that to chance? It’s important to have a concrete way of running these interactions. Approach this with a careless attitude and you could be leaving a lot of money on the table.
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4. COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING
Want to stay top of mind? Want clients to know that you care about them and provide a valuable service? Communicate with your clients often. Top-performing advisors stay in front of their clients year round. There are many different ways to communicate (e.g. mail, email, social media, phone) and your clients will have their preferences. Make sure you accommodate and plan for how you will communicate. Warning: if you approach this with no plan in place, it may frustrate you and wear you out.
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5. DIGITAL STRATEGY
No modern marketing plan would be complete without incorporating the Internet. But, what is the best plan of attack? You have a lot to choose from including: your website, video, social media, email, online advertising and lead-gen program. Make sure your plan incorporates your digital strategy.
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6. EVENT MARKETING
Have you tried events without success? Don’t throw in the towel just yet! Events can be profitable, but you need to try the best approach that works for you and your market. Plus, there isn’t just one type of event either. Think: client events, public events, intimate social events, and even charity events.
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THE RIGHT PLAN
Planning takes work. It affects the amount of energy you put into making your efforts pay off. You’ll know what to do next, rather than wonder what to do next.
Take the time to plan your next steps. It can make the difference between thriving and stagnating.