6 tips to start a successful career in business development

Business development is the art of initiating and developing profitable business relationships. It's vital for any type of company to develop new customers and grow their business. A career in this field is all about building a network of connections with people who can help you grow your business and while it is a critical function in any organization, it is an especially important role in startups as they look to establish their first customers.

What do business development professionals do?

Business development professionals are often responsible for identifying potential markets or customers, evaluating potential opportunities and risks, developing sales plans and proposals, negotiating contracts, and overseeing the fulfillment of contracts. The skills that are needed in business development are not just technical skills but also soft skills such as communication, negotiation, persuasion, and leadership.

While business development is a very broad term that can encompass many different jobs, it can also be called sales, marketing, or account management. Regardless of the title, business development professionals are responsible for building relationships with clients and prospects in order to find new business opportunities. They may also be responsible for managing existing clients, developing new products or services, or negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers.

How to start a career in business development

Business development is a complex, exciting, and multi-faceted role. It’s the interface between business and technology, the salesperson, the marketer, the strategist, and more. In order to succeed in this role you need to be an expert in many skill sets. 

But what skills are most important? How do you know if you are ready to start a career in business development? The first step is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Are you knowledgeable about business strategy? Are you skilled at negotiating contracts? Do you have an eye for design or marketing trends? What about your soft skills - are they strong enough for this position? You should also think about your personality type. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, but what’s most important here is that we match up our strengths to the right opportunities.

If you are interested in this field but don’t know where to start, here are some tips that can help you succeed in business development: 

1. Develop your people skills: Business development is all about people. You need to be able to work well with others and build strong relationships with them. 

2. Be good at networking: It's important for you to be able to network effectively and build relationships with potential clients or partners that could result in mutually beneficial business deals down the line. Building a deep network of relationships is considered a source of wealth and an added value for professionals working in business development.

3. Learn how to negotiate: Negotiation skills are essential for this job because it's what will allow you to get the best deal possible from either a client or a supplier when negotiating

4. Expand your organizational skills: Organizational skills are key to success in any industry, but they're especially important for business development experts. Project management is all about staying organized. In order to run a project successfully, you have to have the right knowledge and skills to stay on top of due dates, changes, client interaction, and more. 

5. Be able to work independently: Working in a team is great, but on many occasions you will need to work on your own. Business development is an inherently independent role because it requires a lot of self-motivation and resourcefulness to succeed.

6. Work under pressure: Business development is a competitive field and it’s important to be able to work under pressure. The ability to think quickly, communicate well, and come up with solutions on the spot will allow you to thrive in the business environment.

The first step to landing a business development job is to know what type of position you want and what skills you have. There are many different types of business development jobs, for example, you can get a job in sales, marketing, or business development for an existing company or a startup. You can also get a job in consulting or finance and work with companies on how to grow their businesses. Whatever field you choose, it’s important to keep these tips in mind to start a successful career in business development.