Looking for a competitive edge for your small business? Working with the Valley SBDC offers small business owners not only the opportunity to tap into the extensive experience and knowledge of the Valley SBDC’s business advisors, but also provides exclusive access to planning and decision-making tools appropriate for all stages of start-up and growth.  One such tool is Vertical IQ. Vertical IQ is a business intelligence platform that features advanced sales statistics and guides to help small businesses better understand their target markets, develop more effective sales strategies, and ultimately drive growth. With a comprehensive database of industry-specific information, Vertical IQ offers a wealth of insights and analysis that can help businesses make better decisions, identify new opportunities, and stay ahead of the competition.

For small businesses just starting out or for established businesses looking to expand, the challenge of identifying and successfully reaching target markets can be daunting. Utilizing Vertical IQ data allows businesses owners to zero in on the right customers, understand their needs and preferences, and develop efficient sales methods. Armed with the current and targeted industry-specific data that Vertical IQ provides, business owners are equipped to understand behavior and problems potential customers have and then effectively communicate what their products and services can do for that ideal customer. From market size and growth rates to key trends and drivers, Vertical IQ helps businesses better understand the dynamics of their industry and stay ahead of the curve.

In addition to market analysis, Vertical IQ also offers a variety of sales tools that can help businesses drill down to best practices for their industry. One of the most powerful of these tools is the company’s extensive library of sales call prep sheets. These prep sheets provide detailed information on each industry, including key trends, challenges, and opportunities, as well as potential objections that salespeople might encounter. By using these prep sheets to prepare for sales encounters, businesses can ensure that their salesforce is well-informed and better positioned to close deals.

Another key feature of Vertical IQ is its library of industry-specific financial benchmarks. These benchmarks provide valuable insights into the financial performance of businesses within each industry, including revenue growth rates, profit margins, and other key metrics. By comparing their own financial performance to these benchmarks, businesses can identify areas for improvement and develop more effective strategies to drive growth.

For businesses that are looking to expand into new markets or industries, Vertical IQ can also be an invaluable resource. The platform provides detailed industry profiles for a wide range of industries, including information on market size and growth rates, key players and competitors, and emerging trends and opportunities. By using these profiles to identify new markets and opportunities, businesses can make more informed decisions about where to focus their resources and investment.

The Valley SBDC is excited to share tools like Vertical IQ with business advising clients to help them better understand their target markets, develop more effective sales strategies, and ultimately drive growth. Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand your business, the SBDC and Vertical IQ can provide the insights and analysis you need to make better decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

Read more about the various tools the SV SBDC has to offer clients in these articles:

GrowthWheel
RestaurantOwner.com
IBISWorld
SEO Toolbox