In archaeology, prospecting consists of analyzing a terrain in search of sites or objects of interest.
Prospection is a notion that has its etymological root in prospectio , a Latin word. The term is used to name the study of a terrain to know its characteristics and analyze the possible presence of underground resources, such as oil, minerals or others.
Activities that are carried out with the intention of finding sites or knowing certain data about the past are known as archaeological prospecting . This prospecting is carried out following a certain methodology and planning so that the possibilities of finding what you are looking for are greater.
Characteristics of archaeological prospecting
Archaeological prospecting takes place in different stages. Surface prospecting consists of studying what is visible, while subsurface prospecting involves carrying out work to access what is below the ground .
These surveys, in short, represent a record of the land . According to the results of the investigation, it is decided whether it is worth carrying out an excavation. Sometimes, archaeological prospecting makes it possible to anticipate that there are no things of value on the land in question and that, therefore, carrying out an excavation (with the costs that this implies) is not justified.
Aerial photographs, the use of metal detectors, the study of magnetic fields and wave analysis are some of the tools contemplated by archaeological prospecting.
It should be noted that the idea of prospecting is also used to refer to the study of certain signs to anticipate possible future scenarios . For example: “The boss asked me to update sales prospecting.”
Commercial prospecting is carried out to find new clients.
The term in trade
The organized search that is based on the use of techniques specially designed to find potential clients for a specific business is known as commercial prospecting . This is a fundamental point to maximize the success of a company and attract new investors.
Although commercial prospecting can considerably increase the performance of a company and take it from an acceptable activity to occupying an important position in the market, many entrepreneurs ignore this step or simplify it, thus losing countless golden business opportunities. make your products and services the most sought after.
That said, those companies that do dedicate a large part of their energies to searching for potential clients stand out significantly compared to others, since their success is multiplied by the refusal of others to take advantage of this invaluable resource.
Commercial prospecting techniques
Currently there are various means by which it is possible to search and identify potential clients for our products and services; Although the Internet is the most used, the most traditional ones are still useful, such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines. It is worth mentioning that commercial prospecting is not exactly synonymous with advertising, although it can and is usually combined with this other tool to attract the public's attention.
One of the most important points when dealing with potential clients is the degree of information that the businessman has about them, and that is why it is essential to pay special attention to every detail of their activity, their interests and any information that may be Provide us with clues that allow you to guide them towards one or another product or service , depending on the perception you have of their interest .
The most valuable tool for commercial prospecting is the customer portfolio , a database that includes all those people and companies that have already become buyers, as well as those that could be interested in consuming in the future. To maximize the chances of success, it is necessary to keep this list always updated, something that is obtained through frequent and determined communication.