Business Development Executive Job
Summary
The Business Development Executive will focus on customer acquisition, lead generation, and
prospect management, as this role will garner and meet with potential clients.
The Business Development Executive will research client business referrals, network, and web
leads; provide prospective customers/clients with all services offered and additional presentations
as needed; and work with clients to create solutions for their needs and consult throughout the
sales process. Must be energetic, well-spoken, and eager to close sales and increase revenue.
Business Development Executive Duties and
Responsibilities
Identifying, qualifying, and securing business opportunities; coordinating
business generation activities; developing customized targeted sales strategies
Building business relationships with current and potential clients
Understanding client needs and offering solutions and support; answering
potential client questions and follow-up call questions; responding to client
requests for proposals (RFPs)
Collaborating with sales and leadership to secure, retain, and grow accounts
Creating informative presentations; presenting and delivering information to
potential clients at client meetings, industry exhibits, trade shows, and
conferences
Creating and maintaining a list/database of prospect clients; maintaining
database (Salesforce, CRM, Excel, etc.) of prospective client information
Cold calling; making multiple outbound calls to potential clients; closing sales
and working with client through closing process
Meeting all quotas for cold, active, inactive calls, appointments, and interviews;
meeting or exceeding annual sales goals.
Maintaining a pipeline of all sales administration using CRM software
Collaborating with management on sales goals, planning, and forecasting;
maintaining short- and long-term business development plans
Business Development Executive Requirements and
Qualifications
Experience with lead generation and prospect management
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; the ability to call, connect,
and interact with potential customers
Persuasive and goal-oriented
Possesses an energetic, outgoing, and friendly demeanor
Able to professionally and confidently communicate with C-Level Executives
High school degree or equivalent
Four years of cold calling experience; previous experience in outbound call
center, inside sales experience, or related sales experience; knowledge of sales
process from initiation to close
Excellent analytical and time-management skills
Demonstrated and proven sales results
Ability to work independently or as an active member of a team
Nice to Have
Bachelor’s degree preferred
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint,
Outlook, and Excel) and CRM/Salesforce experience preferred
Business Development Responsibilities
A business development professional has three primary responsibilities:
1. Identifying new sales leads
2. Pitching products and/or services
3. Maintaining fruitful relationships with existing customers
When it comes to generating leads, day-to-day duties typically include:
Researching organisations and individuals online (especially on social media) to
identify new leads and potential new markets
Researching the needs of other companies and learning who makes decisions
about purchasing
Contacting potential clients via email or phone to establish rapport and set up
meetings
Planning and overseeing new marketing initiatives
Attending conferences, meetings, and industry events
When it comes to the challenge of actually selling, other typical duties include:
Preparing PowerPoint presentations and sales displays
Contacting clients to inform them about new developments in the company’s
products
Developing quotes and proposals
Negotiating and renegotiating by phone, email, and in person
Developing sales goals for the team and ensuring they are met
Training personnel and helping team members develop their skills
To keep healthy relationships with clients, this mostly requires socialisation. So from
simple chats on the phone to lunches and events or conferences business development
managers must be sure to keep their customers happy. Of course, as with all office jobs,
documentation is also a big part of the work. Business development professionals are
also obligated to write reports and provide feedback to upper management about what is
and is not working.
Business Development Executive Skills
To be an effective business development executive, an individual must be:
Socially adept
Good with numbers
Able to provide quality leadership to a large team of sales people
The skills you need to excel in this position include:
Strong communication and IT fluency
Creative talents and the ability to solve tough problems
In-depth knowledge of the industry and its current events
The ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines
Skill in prioritizing and triaging obligations
Attention to detail
Excellent time management and organisation
Business Development Challenges
Business development executives face a number of challenges in their work. These
includes:
Managing underperforming team members
Suffering from downturns in the industry and/or economy
Losing clients to superior competitors
Responding to negative press about the company and/or products
Dealing with customers unsatisfied with the quality of the product or service
