Prospect 20 local businesses and qualify 5

Goal

Find 20 real local businesses that could need one of our four services, research each one, and choose the 5 that are the best fit, with your reasons.

Steps

1. Choose one or two categories of business, and an area to focus on.
2. Find 20 businesses using map listings, directories, social media, your own area or your network.
3. For each business, fill in every column of the prospect list from the lesson "Building a prospect list".
4. Give each business a fit score from 1 to 3.
5. Choose your 5 strongest prospects. For each, write the specific sign of need you noticed, the service you would suggest, and why.
6. Write a tailored first-contact message for each of the 5, following the lesson "First contact that gets a reply".
7. Write a short reflection of 150 to 300 words.

Rules

• Use public business contact details only. No personal phone numbers or home addresses.
• Every business must be real and currently trading.
• Don't contact the businesses until your team lead has approved your messages.

How to submit

Put everything in one shared spreadsheet or document, give Skillhancer Labs staff view access, and submit the link below with any notes for the reviewer.

What reviewers look for

• Details are accurate and public
• Signs of need are specific, not generic
• Suggested services match the problem
• Messages are short, specific, honest and easy to reply to