Let Your Survey Write Your Business Plan

Most entrepreneurs first write their business plan and then develop their
services or products. This causes them to generate and fulfill a marketing plan
that requires them to swim upstream using the backstroke. To save the stress,
consider placing the business plan on hold until first completing a few customer
surveys. Okay, some of you are saying, "Catherine, how can you do a survey
before you know who your market is?" Yes, this is one challenging double edge
sword, that is, if you're mindset is set there.

Over the years, I've found that everyone I've worked with generally knew what
he or she wanted to sell. I don't believe you are any different. This is the
perfect place to start. You have a clean slate to write on. You might be at a
place of seeing it in nonspecific terms with measurable doubts as well. That is
okay, doubts will always be there, thus, allow them to be your friend instead of
a foe. It’s easy to start with a gender preference -- choosing either women or
men as having a higher purchasing balance for what you are selling. If you don't
have a majority gender in mind, choose the one you feel most comfortable talking
with or asking questions to.

Let’s dive in a little deeper, its time to start thinking about your surveys
and what to ask. Okay, don't fade out on me now. Generally, when people think of
surveys, they visualize or experience the sensations of long drawn out processes
that cost more money then they can afford or time that they don't have the
patience for. Boy, do I remember those days of thinking.

Let’s play together on this concept of taking surveys before writing your
business plan. At least, allow the old perceptions to sit outside your door
until you've finished reading this article and learning of a new possible
alternative perspective. The perspective that surveys come first and don't need
to be time-consuming, money-hungry, must be done by professionals, mongrels.

Take the area you want to focus on, combine with your gender preference, and
begin there. For instance, if your area is life coaching and you feel more
comfortable with working with women you have a starting point. This doesn't mean
you will never coach men, set those thoughts aside; they will block your
progress and keep you stuck.

From knowing just this basic information, you can now create a few simple
surveys in no time at all that don't require any money. Even if you know more
specifics about your buyers, you might want to back it up to this point if you
are stuck in generating questions. To generate this survey plan you don't need
to know whether your focus is for a product or service, or even if its for
electronic, telephone, or in-person delivery, at this time.

The first question you want to generate and ask is what your gender wants to
buy next. If asked in narrow terms, they will answer. If asked too broadly, they
will respond with "don't know." If the latter, rewrite the question more
specifically, then ask again. Whenever I start, I sometimes have to revamp my
questions five or six times. Just an FYI, to help you understand that even the
experts refine as they go. Surveying is an evolutionary process.

A second survey question is for people who have purchased from you in the
past. What are looking for next? What do they want to accomplish in the next few
months or whatever future terms they desire to talk about?

If you don't have any customer history, then substitute. Open the scope to
what is the gender buying? What is the cross between what you offer and what
they want? What do they want to do next (short-term) that falls within your
scope?

Continuing with the life coach illustration, what type of women, what age
areas, what type of self-development or improvement topics are they purchasing
now? What is the regular step past this? What "new" hot topics in the
marketplace that meshes with your area? If you attend a workshop, conference or
seminar, examine the topic, and take notes on the type of women attending.
Record or ask their age group. Ask a few to complete a survey while they are
there.

Ask one way, then another, and create a list of no more than six multiple
choice, yes or no, questions to ask. Then continue to ask with whomever you
meet, wherever you go. Talk with the workshop leader or conference marketing
people and find out who they were targeting and why. If the event is a match for
you, collect copies of all their marketing materials for language learning.

Ask friends, family members, or colleagues. Even if they don't think these
groups fit within your current focus. Just remember not to stay off focus when
doing so. If you attend a coaching school, ask other coaches that do what you
want to do. What are their clients into, what are they selling them or what
ideas have their clients told them that they are looking for?

Your survey method you use is up to you. To ease into it, you will want to
ask in the form most comfortable for you at the time. However, caution, most
everyone chooses written form first in order to avoid any negative responses. In
a B2B survey, negative responses never occur. Everyone knows why a survey is
important. In B2C (business to consumers) be careful not to cross the line of
interrogation or too personal. Ask politely, with respect, and share why you
want to know.

The number one rule of getting survey responses -- is KISSing the questions
-- "keep them short, simple and as specific as you can at the time." Special
note: Don't use the contraction and in your sentences. The contraction "and"
creates a multiple question, stacks questions, which confuses readers and
listeners on what you really asking.

As you go through the experience of completing your surveys, new clarity will
flower. The gender equation gets more specific, the age group narrows, and the
rest unfold. One industry category might begin to show you where there is
greater revenue generation. Allow the data to drive you towards the right
direction. Don't try to control or drive it yourself. That struggle will cost
you dearly.

If you're survey request is in the form of writing, you can offer something
in return for an exchange of their time. Usually saved for longer surveys, you
can create a reward for short surveys too. It’s its too early in your survey
process to know what prospects want, offer something generic. Match the gift
with the amount of time it takes them to complete the survey. If this is the
case, offer something generic. Offer a $5 gift certificate from Amazon.com. If
local, ask you're favorite restaurant if you can offer a discount coupon that
they will honor. There is some fr*ee portion to the amount donated on the
restaurant’s part because it increases their clientele list.

It’s time to survey. Allow patience, time, and you will want to schedule this
as a regular routine in your business. Next, plan your services and products to
meet those needs and then generate your business plan around them.

Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in
product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training.
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