StepbyStep Guide to Conducting a Business Retention

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Step-by-Step Guide to Conductinga Business
Retention Expansion Survey

• Michael Darger
• Program Leader
• darger_at_umn.edu
• 612-625-6246
• http//www.extension.umn.edu/bre

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Step-by-Step Guide to BRE

• Form BRE Task Force
• Schedule Hold Task Force Meeting
• Announce Program
• Distribute Surveys
• Conduct Business Visits
• Enter Tabulate Response Data
• Identify Address Red Flags
• Analyze Report Response Data
• Communicate Results
• Rinse Repeat

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Step-by-Step BRE Guide
1. Form BRE Task Force Task Force Recruitment
Letter

• 2. Hold Task Force Meeting
• Present plan questionnaire
• Discuss roles, responsibilities
• Address concerns, questions
• Discuss business visits
• Introduce timeline
• Task Force Invitation Letter
• Task Force Roster
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Introductory BRE Video
• Questionnaire

3. Announce Program Sample press release
Press release guide
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Step-by-Step BRE Guide

• 4. Distribute Questionnaires
• Select businesses to visit
• Guidelines for Business Visits
• Install software, import questionnaire, create
  test web form
• SurveyGold
• Installation instructions
• Questionnaire import file (XML)
• Send advance notice letter or make advance calls
• Sample letter
• Advance call guide

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Step-by-Step BRE Guide

• 4. Distribute Questionnaires (Continued)
• E-mail link/mail hard copies
• Sample cover letter
• Questionnaire
• E-mail/mail reminder postcard or make reminder
  calls Thank Yous
• Sample letter
• Reminder call guide
• Thank you letter

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Step-by-Step BRE Guide

• 5. Conduct Business Visits
• Train business visitors
• Instructional BRE Video
• Assign Task Force members
• Assignment worksheet
• Post visit worksheet

• 6. Enter Tabulate Response Data
• Basic Data Analysis
• Basic Data Analysis Meeting
• Enter response data from hard copy
  questionnaires into software

• 7. Identify Address Warning Flags
• Review questionnaires as they come in
• Engage Task Force members if needed

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Step-by-Step BRE Guide

• 9. Communicate Results
• Identify audiences
• Develop key messages
• Create/hold appropriate media/events
• Communications Plan Worksheet
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Fact Sheet

• 8. Analyze Report Response Data
• Review response data with Task Force
• Task Force Working Report
• Identify Track Action Items
• Plan for Action Worksheet

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What Is Your Role As Coordinator?

• Coordinate manage all BRE activities
• Establish BRE procedures policy
• Manage administration of survey
• Conduct business visits
• Collect, tabulate, analyze data
• Translate data into actionable items
• House manage database
• Conduct Warning Flag follow-up
• Coordinate community communications