“Businesses that grow by development and improvement do not die.” So said captain of industry and business magnate Henry Ford. And he was right. A great business development manager (BDM) is crucial to the health and success of any business. Without one, you risk stagnation and, eventually, irrelevance.
A great BDM is the life-blood of any organisation. They are responsible for finding and developing new business opportunities. A BDM worth their salt will have a deep understanding of your industry, your target market, and your competitors. They will also be able to identify new areas for growth and development. Different from sales managers, BDMs are not simply focused on undertaking a sales or marketing role. Instead, they are focused on developing long-term relationships with potential customers.
The BDM is a key player in any business, and their role is only becoming more important. In today’s ever-changing business landscape, it is more important than ever to have a business development manager who can help you adapt and change with the times.
When it comes to business success, having the right people in place is key. This is especially true when it comes to your business development department. If you are looking to take your business to the next level, then you need to make sure that you have a great business development manager on board.
What does a business development manager do?
As the name suggests, a business development manager takes on an active business development role. Their job is to develop and grow your business. This includes identifying new markets and opportunities, as well as devising strategies to increase income and grow the organisation. In many cases, business development managers will also be responsible for building relationships with clients and customers, as well as developing partnerships with other organisations. Ultimately, the goal of a business development manager is to ensure the long-term success of an organisation by driving growth and expansion.
Business development managers offer more than just increased revenue
If you want to simply sell a product, get a salesperson. If you want somebody who is going to help you grow your business, then you need a business development manager. Business development managers offer so much more than just an increase in sales or revenue.
They are responsible for developing new products, markets, and strategies, and for fine-tuning existing offerings to ensure they are fit for purpose. They also provide customer service and support and act as the eyes and ears on the ground for their businesses, liaising with customers to understand their needs and wants. In short, business development managers provide a vital link between businesses and their customers and are essential for driving business growth. Whilst salespeople may be able to sell, it is business development managers that can develop long-term relationships with customers, ensuring they remain loyal and continue to do business with your company. If you want somebody that can help you sell, manage accounts, help develop the right new products, develop new markets, and provide customer service and success, then a business development manager is what you need. Not just profits but profits plus much more.
Four reasons why recruiting the best business development manager is important for your company
- Develop a sales pipeline: This involves identifying potential customers and then nurturing those relationships until they are ready to buy from you.
- Plan and help execute growth strategies: This includes things like market research, target market analysis, and competitor analysis.
- Develop new products and services: By understanding your target market and what they want, a BDM can help you to develop new products or services that meet their needs. This helps to differentiate your USP from your competitors and ensures that you are always one step ahead.
- Build and nurture key customer accounts: By developing strong relationships with clients, a business development manager can help to ensure that they remain loyal and continue doing business with you.
The bottom line is this: if you want your business to succeed, then you need to have a growth strategy in place and be actively pursuing it. Recruiting the best business development manager you can find is essential to ensuring your success.
Key things to look for when recruiting a new business development manager
Firstly, they should have a proven track record in managing and retaining relationships with existing clients, as well as increasing the client base. They need to have an in-depth knowledge of business products and the value proposition in order to be able to write effective business proposals. Furthermore, they need to be able to negotiate with stakeholders, identify and map business strengths and customer needs, and research business opportunities and viable income streams. In order to be successful in this role, business development managers need to be excellent communicators, have strong organisational skills, and be able to think strategically.
How to recruit the best BDM for your company
If you’re like most firms, you don’t have the time or resources to devote to a drawn-out and costly hiring procedure. Working with a specialist BDM recruitment agency can be quite beneficial in this situation.
Finding the right BDM can be a challenge, but working with a great recruitment agency can make the process much easier. The best agencies will take the time to get to know the specific needs of your business so they can identify and attract the most qualified candidates. Say, for instance, you are operating in the areas of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. In this case, you would want to work with an agency that has a good understanding of the local business scene and can identify the top BDM talent in the area.
The best BDM recruitment agencies will operate on a search and selection basis, proactively hunting for top talent rather than relying on a database of pre-screened professionals.
Steps to finding the right recruitment firm
Research recruitment firms: Not all recruitment firms are created equal. It’s important to do your research and find a firm with a good reputation that specialises in BDM recruitment.
Get referrals: Ask other businesses in your industry who they use for recruitment and get referrals.
Check out the firm’s website: Take a look at the recruitment firm’s website and see if they have any testimonials or case studies from satisfied clients.
Scour their reviews: Read online reviews of recruitment firms to get an idea of what others have experienced.
Finding the best business development manager will help your company scale and working with the best recruitment agency will make doing so as seamless as possible.
The process of recruiting a BDM doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With the help of a specialist BDM recruitment agency, you can find the right candidate quickly and efficiently.
Final thoughts
A business that fails to grow reconciles itself to stagnation and eventual decline.
The recruitment of a business development manager is essential to the success of any business. By taking the time to find the best BDM for your company, you can ensure that your business is not only well-positioned for growth, but also for long-term success.
At Zero Surplus, we understand the real value successful business development managers bring to the table. Not only do they help to increase revenue and grow the business, but they also play an important role in retaining existing clients.
We are a BDM recruitment agency with a difference. We work closely with our clients to ensure that we find the perfect match for their specific needs. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.
We don’t believe in simply posting job ads and waiting around. We go out and find your ideal employees using the latest technology. And with a consultative approach that allows us to understand your specific needs, we develop a personalised solution that will ensure you get the right brand development manager to help grow your business.
Zero Surplus is proud to serve the East of England with sales, business development and account management recruitment. We have worked with clients in Cambridge, Essex, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Milton Keynes, and beyond.
We understand that businesses in the East of England have unique challenges and needs. With our deep understanding of the local business scene, we are able to identify top BDM talent in the area.
If you are looking for a BDM recruitment firm that will go above and beyond to find the best candidates for your business, look no further than Zero Surplus.
