The hiring of a marketing or business development specialist for a Professional Services firm can help to draw focus across the organisation by reviewing existing activity, understanding the service offering and advising on how to best promote this to clients and targets.

These are just some of the main functions (and benefits) to be expected upon the hire of such a person:

• Review of current marketing, communication and business development activities, focussing operations and removing inefficiencies and duplication of effort
• Meet with partners, associates and members of the firm to discuss strengths, weaknesses and objectives
• Development of effective systems for managing business information; CRM, credentials, experience, deal lists (provision of shared access to information via laptops, blackberry, PDA) 
• Establish business development/marketing activities as an integral element of the firm’s personal development, appraisal and review processes
• Develop firm-wide, practice area/sector specific and individual BD/marketing plans
• Raise the firm’s industry profile and develop close relationship with press and industry contacts
• Strengthen the firm’s brand and reputation amongst clients and targets
• Regular reporting to partnership/BD committee or Board on progress and upcoming activities
• Review of firm/department/individual performance against objectives
• Analyse and segment the firm’s client base, reviewing billings and assessing opportunities to identify ‘key clients’
• Implement a key client management programme with realistic action plan and objectives for client retention
• Provide strategic planning/guidance on developing new business in new sectors/ geographic regions in line with the firm’s vision and ambitions

Should you wish to discuss this in greater detail contact the Dutch Consulting team on 0845 602 5615 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it