Article by Veselina Dzhingarova
Starting a business can be an exciting adventure. Some aspects of business might appear deceptively simple, while other aspects of it will seem overwhelming. If you’re seriously ready to turn your long-standing dream into a reality, take the time to develop a business plan that can be the foundation for garnering the interest of potential investors. Stepping back and thinking through the individual aspects of your new company will help you avoid common pitfalls in the planning and execution of initiating a business lunch. Regardless of what new business proposal ideas you capture in writing, you will want to get the word out and market your brand, so check out the suggestions listed below for doing just that!
What are the individual facets of a Business Plan?
Your Executive Summary provides a synopsis of your vision for the company. In it, you articulate your outline your vision for the company. Your executive summary is a big-picture framework that you will use to proceed with the details.
TheGeneral Company Description is where you explore an overview of your proposed business. Write about the product or services it provides to it consumers. This section might also contain a comparative analysis of similar businesses or demographics to let investors know you are aware of your competition.
In the Products and Services section, you will detail your product or service and emphasize the way your product or service is unique. Establish what sets you apart from your competitors and how you fill a void in the market. Investors will be particularly interested in this section.
Your Marketing Plan provides an opportunity to think about how you will get the word out. It informs the manner in which you will deliver your product or service to consumers. You will want to explain how you will grow your business and how the service, product, or even the advertising campaigns are a social good.
The Operational Plan is more like a flowchart that delineates how your business will operate daily. Think about employees you will hire, what work they will complete, and the processes needed to get things done. This is a detailed piece that requires you to work through how you will meet your company’s goals and objectives.
The Management and Organization part embraces the structure of your organization and the philosophy that governs it. This section may include a specific mission or vision statement and explains how your management style and structural plan.
At the heart of your business plan are the Financials. Develop a model for finances and explain your need from investors. You will discuss their contribution, illustrate how you will separate personal and business finances, and cover what investors can expect on returns and when they can withdraw from the deal.
A well-written business plan is one of many ways to attract investors for your small business.
How do I gain the attention of investors to pitch them my business plan?
It would be great if you could select and capture investors the way you can easily obtain a free Instagram followers trial, but you’re going to have to work a little harder than that to get the attention of potential investors. But we do have a few suggestions to push you in the right direction!
Target investors’ social media pages and personal blogs and ask questions. Follow people on their social media pages or their personal investor blogs, seeking ways to engage in conversation. Do NOT pitch to them, but find a common interest or area of expertise and allow a dialogue to evolve. Getting an investor’s attention is easier when you have something in common.
Ramp up your own social media pages and start your own business blog. Getting the word out starts with a professional and sophisticated social media presence. Broadcast your ideas across as many social media channels as you can handle. Make it hard for investors to miss you and your ideas. If you’re not already blogging, get writing. And be sure to use content curation tools within the context of your blog to connect you to other bloggers and investors who share your interest. It’s a natural way to develop your connections and widen your network.
Have a professional business website. Social media can get you started, but investors will want to see more and don’t want to make phone calls or write emails to get it. Develop a professional site where potential investors can go to learn more about your ideas, see a copy of your white paper, and understand who you are. Your site should be classy, clean, responsive, and functional.
Use hashtags to help investors find you. Creating a hashtag will make it easier for investors to find you and your brand. Include that hashtag on all your social media sites, your professional website, business cards, and even on your blog. Make sure your hashtag is a natural fit for your industry or business name.
What details did you include in your business plan or suggestions do you have for attracting the attention of investors? Share your experience in the comments.