The development of your business requires a solid and profitable strategy, but that’s not all. To guarantee success and increase your business, you must also activate the right levers, at the right timeBusiness Plan, catalog of products and services, stocks, KPIs…

Their impact, which extends over the long term, is based on method, organization and introspection at the heart of your business. We are talking in particular about digitalization, the development of human capital, or even financing. We take stock of the path to follow to develop your business in an optimal way.

Temporize the development of your business

If the age of your business is counted in months or years and you invest all your time, your money, your know-how and even your person, it may be time to evolve.

You will be able to launch the first phase of your business development by synthesizing as much of this information as possible. If your summary seems clear to you, it will also be so for your clients, your investors and any other actor you will solicit for your project.

The ideal tool to guide you  : Need to order your ideas to see more clearly and be concise when you present your project to third parties? Consider using the Business Model Canvas , an intuitive, easy-to-fill and essential matrix for business creators and managers!

Your scope of action varies depending on the source and impact of the change. In the case of an internal or external change, you keep control as a manager of the action to be taken to keep your business afloat (recruitment, prospecting for new customers, change of suppliers, internalization of a service, etc.) .). On the other hand, when the cause is beyond your control and your strategy, adaptation is the best solution.

Be that as it may, developing your business is an essential step for any entrepreneur, if only to adapt to the – rapid – evolution of the market and the development of competition. The feeling of uncertainty is therefore the same and it is legitimate: your company will move from an acquired mode of operation to a new model that is somewhat tentative and needs to be adjusted.

To succeed in the development of your business , you will need to put in place a well-crafted strategy. Don’t worry, very effective marketing tools have been designed to help you. They will allow you to project yourself , anticipate and circumvent potential obstacles .

To move forward without digressing in your business development project, the use of the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound) is particularly recommended.

It helps you to define objectives with precision (contours, impact, deadline, etc.) and, by extension, to designate without difficulty the configuration of the team, the process and the resources necessary to achieve them. All this while anticipating obstacles, timing and budget, in a serene atmosphere.

Focus on SWOT analysis

The SWOT analysis (for Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) – or MOFF in French – allows you to take stock of your strengths, your weaknesses, your risk factors and your opportunities. It takes into account internal data (your tools, your resources, etc.) and external data (your competitors, your market, etc.) for a triple objective:

To lay the foundation for your business development , you can use Ansoff’s matrix. A complementary tool based on two variables: supply and the market. Depending on the situation of one and the other,

But beware, the Ansoff matrix only serves to guide you in your decision-making: you must specify the contours of your action plan.

The different business development strategies

Whether focused on marketing, purchasing or the commercial branch, your business development strategy must be seen as a guiding thread that progresses from your resources to your scope of activity. All this to serve well-defined objectives against the backdrop of a competitive challenge.

Once your strategy has been defined, choose the modus operandi for its implementation. Rather internal growth or external growth? The difference is in your resources. They can be available within your company (staff, equipment, value, know-how, finance), or conversely, you can call on third parties for the same needs.