what is a business development representative?

A business development representative is a person within a sales team who uses cold email, cold calls and networking to bring new business opportunities to the company. Business development usually drives strategic opportunities for an organisation by building partnerships and growth. It leverages the sales teams for lead generation and creates new business opportunities.

As a business development representative, you are invaluable in creating inbound opportunities. You ensure every channel is optimised to provide the sales team with a constant flow of leads. While a business development representative generates leads, they don't convert them. That's why they work with the sales teams to support them by providing strong leads that are easy to convert.

what does a business development representative do? 

The role of a business development representative is to spark interest in products and services. You can work for small start-ups that want to expand fast or large companies that need a constant supply of new leads to optimise revenue. Most business development representatives engage with prospects or generate leads through digital marketing. However, if the organisation needs more leads, a BDR engages with potential buyers directly. Unlike your partners in the sale, you don't get the satisfaction of closing a deal or completing a sale, but you still contribute to a company's growth.

Would working as a business development representative suit your creativity and adaptability? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a business development representative role.

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average salary of a business development representative

According to ONS, the average salary of a business development representative is £25,871 per year. You can take home a base salary of £20,000 annually at entry-level positions, while business development representatives with over four years of experience earn over £34,000 annually.

Aside from salaries, employers pay allowances and provide benefits to business development representatives. You can receive medical, house and transport allowances, bonuses and commissions for successful leads. You also enjoy paid sick leave and holidays.

how to increase your salary as a business development representative

When you are a business development representative, you can boost your compensation package by working for a promising business sector with higher commissions. For instance, generating leads for financial services and insurance companies pays more than generating opportunities for retail businesses. The company size also influences the base salary and the commissions you earn from the role. For instance, large companies deal with big clients and generating the leads earns you higher commissions. Their resources also make it easier for them to pay higher base salaries.

Your experience and personal attributes contribute to your success in the role and determine your pay structure. Additional qualifications improve your salary prospects, while your qualities can make you invaluable to a company.

 

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female and male talking
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types of business development representatives

Some of the types of business development representatives include:

  • b2b business development representatives: as a business development representative, you find clients for your company. You cold-call prospective businesses and do social selling to improve the chances of landing a major client for your business.
  • b2c business development representatives: as a b2c business development representative, you look for clients and prospective business from consumers instead of other businesses. You generate leads from the traffic to the company's website and identify potential buyers.
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working as a business development representative

Working as a business development representative requires creativity and people skills to generate leads. Discover the day-to-day duties, work environment and schedule for the role.

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education and skills

Some of the academic qualifications of a BDR include:

  • university degree: to become a business development representative, you should complete a bachelor's degree in communication, business management or marketing. You can also land a job with an undergraduate degree in a related field.
  • work experience: to become a business development representative, you need prior work experience in sales or marketing. You can try an entry-level job in marketing or become a sales representative to acquire skills in cold calling and emailing.

business development representative skills and competencies

Some of the skills needed in business development roles:

  • interpersonal skills: to be a successful business development representative, you need exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. You have to communicate clearly with potential leads and marketing team members. You also need confidence to cold-call prospects.
  • creativity: as a BDR, you need to be creative to come up with original ideas on ways to reach the target audience. Once you contact a potential customer, you need to keep them interested in the company's services and products. You also need to respond creatively to rejections.
  • persistence: you need to be persistent since it takes more than a single cold call or email to get someone interested. Persistence keeps you going in the face of rejection and helps you understand that business development is a long-term proposition.
  • business acumen: as a business development representative, you need expert knowledge of the company and its products. It is also important to understand the competition. When you have business understanding, you will have the tools for making your company stand out from the competition.

 

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smiling male
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FAQs

FAQs about working as a business development representative

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