Business Developer
HOW TO BECOME A BUSINESS DEVELOPER
Business developer is an up and coming job... A vital but little-well known role for any business, the business developer role has been steadily growing in importance over the years and is carving its way into the strict universe of sports.
What is a business developer?
Business developers, also known as “development managers”, are in charge of developing a company’s business through new ideas.
Developing new sports products, services, partnerships, customer bases… A business developer’s role is essential for companies and is rapidly growing, particularly in web companies and start-ups..
Business Developers must do their utmost to contribute to the growth in sales of the sports company that employs them. To this end, they contribute new ideas, new sports-related projects, or solutions to potential issues within the organization, as well to customer prospecting.
To succeed in their role, business developers must be familiar with the sports industry and most of all, analyze the market to identify sales targets.
Using their skills in economic development, sales, marketing and organizational management, business developers devise new strategies to improve the development of a company’s business.
They work in close contact with the sales, marketing, financial and legal teams to design the company’s new development plan.
To succeed in their role, business developers should possess a substantial address book, and one that is likely to grow over the years.
What are the duties of a business developer?
Business developer is a highly versatile role involved in several aspects of a company’s business development. Some of the duties involve:
- Adapting a product to consumers
- Increasing sales by contributing new ideas
- Contributing to the company’s sales development
- Being able to improve marketing approach
- Monitoring the market to attract new customers and grow the customer base
- Building trust with customers: customer loyalty
- Developing the company’s business activities
- Implementing a strategy previously developed with the company’s other departments
- Spotting new opportunities and implementing new levers for growth
- Overseeing various actions and measuring results
- Participating in the conception and implementation of a sales strategy
- Finding areas for improvement regarding all of the company’s initiatives
Key qualities and skills of a Business Developer
To excel in their role and know how to bring their company to a refreshing change, Business Developers should demonstrate a broad range of qualities and skills. A good Business Developer is someone with:
- A strategic vision
- Good interpersonal skills: they must demonstrate excellent communication and listening skills to optimize customer relations
- A flair for business: Business Developers are constantly in contact with potential customers
- Good negotiation skills: Business developers need to be persuasive
- An analytical and synthetic mind
- Team spirit
- Perfect knowledge of the company that employs them and of the sports industry in particular
- A creative mind
- Determination and strategic skills
- Selling and proactive skills
- Versatility
- Diligence and organization skills
- Fluent English
- Good command of the technical aspects of the business sector.
Salary range and career prospects
A business developer’s compensation will vary depending on the employer’s size (large corporation, SMB, start-up, etc.) and years of experience. Entry-level business developers may earn up to €35K gross per annum.
In mid-career, this figure could reach between €70K and €90K per annum. A significant salary, but one that rewards a great amount of willpower and determination.
In addition, a business developer’s salary can be increased through performance-related commissions, which form the variable part of their compensation.
After several years of experience, business developers may move on to positions such as business development manager and even general manager of a company depending on their level of ambition.
What qualifications are required to become a business developer?
To become a business developer, you need to have a high school diploma. To become a business developer, you need at least a 5-year degree, ideally specializing in finance, marketing or management.
A Master’s degree in sports business development is recommended if you want to work in a position of responsibility and deepen your knowledge of sports business development.
Training to become a business developer can be undertaken in business schools, marketing schools or schools specializing in sport.
Students wishing to become business developers one day can opt for a International Sport Management Program (bac+5), for example.
Business development is currently a highly sought-after profession. Business developer skills are in high demand in all sectors, which is why it makes good sense to embark on this professional career. However, positions are highly selective and require a great deal of perseverance!
Business developers, also known as “development managers”, are in charge of developing a company’s business through new ideas.
Developing new sports products, services, partnerships, customer bases… A business developer’s role is essential for companies and is rapidly growing, particularly in web companies and start-ups..
Business Developers must do their utmost to contribute to the growth in sales of the sports company that employs them. To this end, they contribute new ideas, new sports-related projects, or solutions to potential issues within the organization, as well to customer prospecting.
To succeed in their role, business developers must be familiar with the sports industry and most of all, analyze the market to identify sales targets.
Using their skills in economic development, sales, marketing and organizational management, business developers devise new strategies to improve the development of a company’s business.
They work in close contact with the sales, marketing, financial and legal teams to design the company’s new development plan.
To succeed in their role, business developers should possess a substantial address book, and one that is likely to grow over the years.
Business developer is a highly versatile role involved in several aspects of a company’s business development. Some of the duties involve:
- Adapting a product to consumers
- Increasing sales by contributing new ideas
- Contributing to the company’s sales development
- Being able to improve marketing approach
- Monitoring the market to attract new customers and grow the customer base
- Building trust with customers: customer loyalty
- Developing the company’s business activities
- Implementing a strategy previously developed with the company’s other departments
- Spotting new opportunities and implementing new levers for growth
- Overseeing various actions and measuring results
- Participating in the conception and implementation of a sales strategy
- Finding areas for improvement regarding all of the company’s initiatives
To excel in their role and know how to bring their company to a refreshing change, Business Developers should demonstrate a broad range of qualities and skills. A good Business Developer is someone with:
- A strategic vision
- Good interpersonal skills: they must demonstrate excellent communication and listening skills to optimize customer relations
- A flair for business: Business Developers are constantly in contact with potential customers
- Good negotiation skills: Business developers need to be persuasive
- An analytical and synthetic mind
- Team spirit
- Perfect knowledge of the company that employs them and of the sports industry in particular
- A creative mind
- Determination and strategic skills
- Selling and proactive skills
- Versatility
- Diligence and organization skills
- Fluent English
- Good command of the technical aspects of the business sector.
A business developer’s compensation will vary depending on the employer’s size (large corporation, SMB, start-up, etc.) and years of experience. Entry-level business developers may earn up to €35K gross per annum.
In mid-career, this figure could reach between €70K and €90K per annum. A significant salary, but one that rewards a great amount of willpower and determination.
In addition, a business developer’s salary can be increased through performance-related commissions, which form the variable part of their compensation.
After several years of experience, business developers may move on to positions such as business development manager and even general manager of a company depending on their level of ambition.
To become a business developer, you need to have a high school diploma. To become a business developer, you need at least a 5-year degree, ideally specializing in finance, marketing or management.
A Master’s degree in sports business development is recommended if you want to work in a position of responsibility and deepen your knowledge of sports business development.
Training to become a business developer can be undertaken in business schools, marketing schools or schools specializing in sport.
Students wishing to become business developers one day can opt for a International Sport Management Program (bac+5), for example.
Business development is currently a highly sought-after profession. Business developer skills are in high demand in all sectors, which is why it makes good sense to embark on this professional career. However, positions are highly selective and require a great deal of perseverance!
