Here's the thing with deal flow: You either need to create a machine or attach yourself to an existing machine. One of the greatest problems in getting a deal done is becoming focused on a single opportunity - and odds are it isn't going to pan out - and letting your dealflow machine die.

That means starting all over every time a business disappoints you. We look at a lot of businesses and 90% aren't going to work out. If you start - stop - start every time, it's going to be very painful and take a lot of time.

If you send out the same template "Your business stood out in our search" letter (e-mail or physical) as everyone else, you're going to miss a lot of opportunities. These days, we don't talk to an owner who hasn't received these letters and - usually due to the experience when they called the first one back - they just throw them away now.

As with any marketing / advertising effort, you've got to be able to stand out from the crowd in order to get the owners' attention. I know this sounds like I'm leading up to a lead gen service I'm selling, but I'm not. I'm just saying that you've got to figure out how to make you and your search notable to people who get peppered with the same dreck every day.

Find a hook. Find an angle. Find a differentiator. It's the same thing you'll have to do after you buy a business, so you might as well get started thinking that way now.

On redacted we have a 140+ business owners that we have expressed interest in meeting searchers and others looking to buy businesses. Would love for you to check it out and happy to connect if you want to learn more about what we're doing - feel free to DM.