Mastering the World of Selling: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Sales

Chapter 70. How to Write a Winning Proposal

Dr. Tom Sant

The Sant Corporation

In today's economy, salespeople have to write more proposals, and better proposals, than ever before. As the industry has become more competitive and complex, customers have become both more confused and more demanding. As a result, they are likely to listen to a presentation, nod their heads, and mutter those dreaded words, "Sounds good! Why don't you put that in writing for me?"

WHY DO CUSTOMERS WANT PROPOSALS?

Writing proposals is about as much fun as having your teeth drilled. And reading them isn't a whole lot better. So why do customers ask for them?

One motivation is that the customer wants to compare offers from various vendors to make sure they buy the highest value solution based on your differentiators and value proposition. At a simpler level, they may simply want to compare prices, clarify complex information, and gather information so that the "decision team" can review it. And let's face it, sometimes they just want to slow down the sales process and they figure that asking for a proposal will keep the sales rep busy for a few weeks.

Whatever the customer's motivation, the fact is that proposal writing has become a common requirement for closing business throughout the entire business world. Today, people who sell everything from garbage collection services to complex information technology installation have to create client-centered, persuasive proposals.

WHAT GOES INTO A WINNING PROPOSAL?

Your ...