At Advocate International we understand that most agencies and SMEs are too busy running their business keeping clients well serviced and happy to do the one thing that will ensure their survival; selling. Ironically, many people hate doing the vital ‘sales’ bit and many who profess to love it still need assistance.
The fact that we are living in a blizzard of messages as agencies, SMEs, consumers, clients and big brands means we are all time poor but still looking for competitor advantage in terms of innovation and creativity. The challenge of winning anyone’s attention, let alone an influential client’s, requires more skill than ever before.
Advocate International are trusted advisors. We take away these problems and provide a unique service from initial client contact, through the pitch process. Allowing you to deliver a brilliant product or service – we know how to win you business.
Think of us as an agile clip-on resource instead of the costly process of hiring a new business person. You can use Advocate International as a best-in-class solution that delivers better results faster for a fraction of the cost or risk.
Give us your dream list and we will do all the background research needed to make sure we know as much as possible about the prospects and companies you are selling to. This will ensure we know exactly how to match what you do with the needs of the client.
Most people in the business of communications seem unable to write or talk about their own company or offering with the conviction or credibility that will get a client’s attention or interest.
We use the nine slide rule to craft your case studies and your central positioning statement to make it compelling and powerful.
We review your emails to clients and make sure they are well researched and not too long. We can also advise on the best ‘stunts’ you might use as well as giving you the courage to use them.
Engaging with a prospect in the correct way, especially after that initial contact, is all about judgment and timing. We can help you navigate the potential minefield of what to send and when so you have the best chance of getting a face-to-face meeting with your dream prospect.
Getting a meeting with a busy prospect is only the beginning, what you do in that golden forty-five minutes to one hour is the real key and testament to both your skill and the services of your agency. The process of ‘filling up the diary’ is not what we are about – it’s far better to have quality over quantity. People love meetings and they love to talk, but how much real business is done – aside from meeting new people – unless there is a transactional reason for the meeting? The outcome must lead to a brief or forthcoming pitch.
The biggest obstacle to real success for an agency or SME is lack of follow-up. We will make sure that you have a clear and concise set of notes from the meeting sent to the prospect along with some action-oriented ideas and next steps to get you closer to winning new business.
We also provide a business proposal service allowing your client to see some initial ideas and suggestions to pique their interest into taking things further.
If you have a dream client list or group of sectors you need contacts for we can rigorously research these and provide you with bespoke data to either chase on your behalf or pass directly to your sales teams.
When you are busy running your business sometimes you need impartial advice, a sounding board, or someone to help make a difficult decision easier. We aim to provide our best-in–class network of agencies with strategic business advice that will, in the long run, make them more successful. We also have a network of world-class business people who can also be on hand if needed.
The best way to showcase your agency to a room full of influential budget-holding and interested prospects is to host a new business event – this is a crafted showcase and networking opportunity for your key staff to meet and get to know your dream list of prospects.
Finally, we make sure that on the day you are the best you can be so you are able to blow the client away with the vision of what you do and how you can help them.
This is a mindset and something more and more agencies and SMEs are relying on as the best way to win new business. Filling out countless RFIs is time–consuming and no guarantee of work. It’s far better to have the audacity and cleverness as well as the drive to approach prospects cold and surprise and delight them with your ideas in a proactive fashion.
‘I have the pleasure of working closely with David on a new business drive at BrandFuel which focused upon developing C- level opportunities in specific industry sectors. In addition to being fun to work with, he is resourceful, creative and an overall problem-solver. He is able to draw on his varied operating and sales experience, strong people skills and instinctive understanding of his customers’ needs to enable us to successfully drive our business forward in a very short period of time.’
Jon Ross
Managing Director, Brand Fuel
‘David has been an invaluable member of the One Young World organisation leading an international sales team, generating significant partnerships with some of the biggest and most influential brands in the world. His tenacity and determination are first class, and he would be an asset to any business needing to expand its sales activities. I would highly recommend his services.’
David Jones
CEO & Founder, You & Mr Jones
‘I really enjoy working with David. He is very supportive, responsive and keen on finding win-win solutions by leveraging his team and internal networks. He has sold the program successfully at a global level.’
Markus Strangmüller
Siemens AG Corporate Development
‘David is a highly skilled, professional and engaging leader. I don’t think of him as a salesman as even though I’m buying a product and service from him, he makes it very personal and builds relationship on mutual benefit. He is one of the most tenacious people I’ve met and teams positivity with impeccable old fashioned manners beautifully. A pleasure to do business with.’
Helen Parker
Telefonica
‘I sent one of our sales managers to David’s session and he came back full of enthusiasm, having learned some new ideas and having refreshed his technique. He was reminded about the fundamentals of selling, and the importance of live communication by being and staying on the phone! – I would recommend the course to anyone seeking to teach, or remind, their sales people the key techniques of selling.’
Charlie Wijeratna
Consultant
‘David’s contacts have been invaluable for the growth of our business. He understood our requirements perfectly and is a real go getter in generating leads for us.’
Ross Cathcart
Director, First Word
‘Advocate International have unearthed several opportunities for live briefs in a relatively short space of time. We have also been introduced to some very senior decision-makers who we would otherwise not have got on the radar of, insuring a strong future pipeline of meetings and introductions.’
Andy Weir
Co-Founder, WEIR+WONG
‘David and the team have put us in touch with some excellent senior level contacts and has helped refer us to several partners over the years. His approach to business development is refreshing and very effective.
I would recommend the services of Advocate International as a best-in-class solution.’
Chris Minas
Founder & CEO, Nimbletank
Before you undertake a sales and New Business campaign, you need to ask yourself some basic questions and be really honest. At Advocate International, we can help you do some of this initial thinking by offering you a basic, free audit of what you are currently doing to win work. Like the cobbler with holes in his shoes, most SME’s and agencies are unable to see themselves for what they are and therefore cannot articulate their proposition succinctly or accurately. Often thinking themselves better than they are, or not as good as they actually are. Either way, being able to make an honest appraisal of your strengths in a crowded marketplace is key to winning the trust, confidence and ultimately the business of a new client.
Advocate International can provide a report, again for free, that offers suggestions on how you might win new work. All we need is an hour of your time to ask a few basic questions about your current approach. In a nutshell, let us do the thinking for you in order to make your New Business and sales activity as effective as possible.
Advocate International have established a network of global brands, corporations, senior decision-makers, best-in-class agencies, suppliers, creatives, economists, public speakers and journalists.
With this we network (in the best sense of the word), introduce (in the right way), sell (when needed) and make valuable connections for our clients and associates.
This shared value is a compelling and enjoyable way to transact business and broker ideas, relationships and create value both financial and cultural.
This collaborative model, as well as enriching the pool of ideas around innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, provides access to talented people, creates platforms, virtual and agile networks and the fluidity to be both strategically and technologically relevant and ahead.
For further information and for an initial consultation, please get in touch.
David Alexander
Managing Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +44 (0)7392 163 704