About US
Intelligence Led New Business
Whatever your new business needs, Manifest can help you.
If you already know exactly who you want to work with and just need a highly professional new business go-getter to hunt them down and book meetings, we’re here for you.
But many of our clients don’t; they need a more nuanced approach, using our tech stack that provides us with intent and tech used data so we can track down companies who are actively in market for your product or service.
Others need even more and for these we provide a fully integrated digital and analogue new business lead generation service utilising all of the above plus LinkedIn and email custom messaging, follow-up sequences and hyper-personalisation including image insertion and icebreakers.
an Experienced Team
Our team have been with us for an average of eight years and have all previously worked in an agency, technology or other professional service business. They are simply the best you will find. Anywhere.
knowing who to target ...
We use Bombora b2b intent data to actively 'in market accounts'; tech-used data, marketing spend and countless other firmographic filters to find perfect fit clients on the cusp of buying what you provide.
... HOW TO REACH THEM ...
We have direct lines, mobile numbers and email addresses for the vast majority and can combine a traditional analogue approach with LinkedIn and email sequencing and messaging.
... and how to convert them.
With market intel telling us the topics of interest and reasons to reach out and intent signals telling us WHEN to reach out, it is no surprise we have a 25% conversion rate to meeting with 25% of meetings turning to pitches.
Our focus
We specialise in helping PR, advertising, marketing, consulting, digital and technology businesses to GROW.
Email Sequencing
We will identify your ICP and buying committee and overlay intent data to find market-ready accounts; we will then write an email (and LinkedIn on the Silver package) sequence of, typically, four to six messages to be sent out over a six week period. We will add 100 prospects into the sequence each week with icebreakers and hyper-personalisation.
On the Silver package emails are sent out in your name and we include LinkedIn messages, on the Gold package emails are sent from your Manifest Business Development Lead white labeled as a member of your team.
Calls and Messaging
On the Gold package you are assigned one of our highly experienced Business Development Leads, who, with an average age of 40 and tenure at Manifest of eight years, are widely regarded as the most experienced in the industry. They will call your ideal customers, qualify them and book meetings for you so you can convert them into new clients.
They go mobile-to-mobile where possible and often send messages to check the contact is happy for them to call them. All numbers are checked against country DNC lists and all data is GDPR and CCPA compliant.
LinkedIn Content
We will become your personal LinkedIn executive assistant; using your profile we will send out 100 connection requests per week, write two pieces of engaging content per week for you or your company’s page and interact and engage with your new connections and those who like and/or comment on the posts we create for you.
When used in conjunction with the Gold package we will include DM outreach to help book meetings. This service is currently an add-on feature to our Silver and Gold packages and is not available separately.
Our Business
We are have two teams; the Business Development Representation team undertake the research, email sequencing, icebreaker and LinkedIn messaging and content creation and are led by Lucy Barcoo, our CSD. The Business Development Lead team undertake one-to-one emails, telephone and messaging outreach and are led by Adam Whittaker, our Founder and Strategic Lead.
Adam Whittaker
Adam has over 30 years agency new business experience and was new business director at Communicator and Bowes Darby.
Sam Reardon Smith
Sam no longer works full-time at Manifest and can be found managing an Oxfam bookshop or reviewing books online.
Lucy Barcoo
Lucy manages the Business Development Rep team and makes everything happen.
hot off the press
News and Thought Pieces
Demand Generation and Lead Generation
Is your sales funnel working for you, or are you stuck in a constant battle between demand generation and lead generation strategies? As marketers, we often find ourselves torn between these two essential functions. While both are crucial for the success of any business, it’s important to understand the differences and how they complement each[…]
How to Set up a Successful New Business System
In this post we look at the basics of how to set up a successful new business system because, believe it or not, some agencies are still floundering about with spreadsheets, email inboxes or worse still, nothing but their memory! There are two sides to agency new business, prospecting (which is what Manifest does) and[…]
The Problem With New Business …
I read a post on LinkedIn today about the problem with new business for agency founders; it went something like this. I spend weeks sitting down with my business coaches and deciding which companies and brands we want to work with. I then spend weeks brainstorming compelling propositions that are absolutely spot on for these[…]
ACCESS AND CONVERSION RATES
As a follow on to the post we put up at the start of the pandemic (we’ve been a bit busy hence the lack of posts since!) we thought you might be interested in seeing our access and conversion rates over the past year so you can see for yourself the impact (or rather lack[…]
New Business Prospecting KPIs
Knowing your new business prospecting KPIs will make you a more successful and efficient marketer.The number of leads generated per week, month or year is an important measure to know when it comes time for presenting prospects with opportunities they might find interesting; but also useful in judging how well one’s own efforts are going![…]
The Agency New Business Strategy
The agency new business strategy is essential to get right from the start. Who is the best person to approach first within a prospect company? CEO? MD? Marketing Director? Comms Director? Marketing Manager? Now, you may THINK you know the answer to this one. Most agency heads are of the opinion that it is best[…]
Rate Card Snap
I was talking with the head of one of our branding and design consultancy clients the other day and he was telling me of one of the issues he is increasingly facing with his rate card. Buyers are starting to view the services he provides (possibly due to the agency proposition but that’s a different[…]
The Agency Client Relationship
The agency client relationship typically lasts about eighteen months, that’s from initial romancing through to the inevitable breakup. The stages and approximate lengths of time are shown on the graphic wheel below. From an agency new business person’s perspective it is essential to understand these phases and the opportunities (or lack of them) that they[…]
Stalling Agency Growth
The Problem Stalling agency growth and agency new business is an issue many of us encounter and can, if you are scaling for sale, become a very real concern and cause of much hand wringing. “Why is it …” we were asked the other day by a new client “that so many agencies of our[…]
Building Trust for Business Development
Building trust for business development is essential since a lack of trust can prevent you from warming up your leads. A potentially fatal consequence that will likely lead to a deterioration of the business relationship, hindering it from progressing positively which is why building trust is so important for agency new business. Fortunately, there are[…]