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The Best Way to Start Your Proposal

June 3, 2020 by Jim Rogers

The strongest way to begin your cover letter or executive summary is by answering the question “Why now?”

Think about this question from your client’s perspective. Why are they undertaking this project now and not later … or never?

In other words, why is this a higher priority than other endeavors on which they could be spending their money and time?

Examples of answers to the question “Why now?” include these:

  • Strengthen the community
  • Streamline processes to save money
  • Improve public safety
  • Get (and stay) in compliance
  • Make work easier
  • Heal people
  • Economic development
  • Create classrooms where kids can learn and grow
  • Make customers happy
  • Win new business
  • Take control of your professional destiny
  • Be a better leader
  • Grow market share
  • Provide affordable housing
  • Create healthy, safe workplaces.

Clients aren’t ready to listen to you talk about yourself until you’ve demonstrated that you understand something about them and their problem.

In other words, that you “get” them.

Answer the question “Why now?” early in your cover letter, executive summary, or approach section (or all three) and you will be on your way to winning more work.

There’s more about this topic in my book Win More Work: How to Write Winning AEC Proposals.

If you have an important proposal, reach out to me at Jim@SellerDoerAcademy.com. We’re here to help in whatever way we can to help you win.

Best,

Jim

Filed Under: Business Development, Interview Presentations, Professional Services Marketing, Proposal Writing, Sales, Seller-Doer

It’s Always a Good Time to Grow Market Share . . . Writing Superior Proposals Can Help

June 1, 2020 by Jim Rogers

Whether your business has been positively or negatively affected by the changing economy, there is still an opportunity to strengthen your firm. That’s because there’s one unalterable truth in business — regardless of whether there’s contraction or expansion in your industry, there’s always an opportunity to grow your market share.

That is, your chance to outsell your competitors never goes away.

In the unfortunate event that your markets shrink, there’s still the chance to take work away from your competitors and emerge in a stronger financial position than they will.

You’ll be able to retain the best talent because they won’t lack for work.

And you’ll cement your relationships with your most profitable clients at the expense of your competitors, which will pay off handsomely down the road.

On the other hand, if you’re fortunate enough to be in an expanding industry, as always, you can grow at a faster rate than your market does as a whole. After all, why be content with your usual share?

So what’s the best way to outsell your competitors?

Right now, uncertainty in some industries means that projects and contracts have been delayed or canceled, therefore it’s important to close on immediate opportunities that have been funded and will proceed. Spend extra time and care on these proposals.

If you’re the front-runner for the project, it’s not the time to assume that the work is yours to lose, but rather it’s time to slam the door shut and remove all doubt that you deserve the work. Ratchet up your proposals a notch.

If you’re neck and neck or within striking distance, it’s time to distinguish your proposals and separate yourself from the pack. Pull out all the stops.

Have Discipline in Your Go/No-Go Process

Be honest about whether you’re in striking distance or if you’re a long shot.

If you’re a long-shot, now may be the time to no-go those opportunities and instead put more care and attention into your higher probability pursuits.

Desperate consultants will pursue everything they’re qualified for in the hopes of hitting the elusive jackpot. Unfortunately, because those rare events do happen from time to time, principals and project managers will point back to them as justification for long-shot pursuits.

I may be wrong, but for your clients in vulnerable industries, unless they perceive you as a lower cost option, your chances of winning a long-shot drops to near zero. Clients in vulnerable sectors will likely consolidate their work around their top go-to consultants. If you’re not in their elite pool, you are probably a long-shot in the short term.

In all cases, your best bet is to write superior, not routine, proposals.

Strategies for Preparing Superior Proposals

In my next series of posts, I’ll share my best tips to help you separate your proposals from those of your competitors, including these:

  1. The most powerful way to begin your proposal
  2. How to put the focus on the client rather than on yourself
  3. Win themes that sell
  4. How to strip your proposals of marketing blather that clutters your best ideas
  5. How to describe your strengths in a way that differentiates you from your competitors
  6. Graphic design choices that make your best ideas shine through
  7. Twenty proposal mistakes that can sink your proposal.

Much of the advice I share is also captured in my book Win More Work: How to Write Winning A/E/C Proposals. Since writing it, I’ve built examples that I’ll be sharing with you that didn’t make it into the book, but the book is the best place to start.

My first article in the series will help you kick off your proposals in a way that makes an immediate positive impact on the decision maker.

If you have a high-stakes proposal in the works and can’t wait for all these tips, email me at Jim@SellerDoerAcademy.com. I may not be able to help, but I usually can. Jim

Filed Under: Accounting, Architecture, Business Development, Construction, Engineering, Management Consulting, Professional Services Marketing, Proposal Writing, Sales, Seller-Doer

How to Market Your Firm During the Coronavirus Crisis . . . Without Shame

March 22, 2020 by Jim Rogers

Hundred Dollar Bill with Benjamin Franklin in Coronavirus Protective Mask

Right now, as you try to find your footing in the time of the Covid19 pandemic, you may consider marketing and sales to be insensitive or distasteful—but it doesn’t have to be.

It’s vital that you shore up your business—now—before your competitors do a better job of it. This is a justifiable time to protect your client relationships and to position yourself in the market without feeling guilt or shame. To actively do so isn’t opportunistic—it’s simply good client service and good business.

On the other hand, hoarding 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and trying to gouge consumers is shameful and criminal.

Marketing during a crisis is about maintaining and deepening relationships with clients. Yet that effort requires a delicate touch.

The key to delicate touch is just to:

  1. Show that you care
  2. Share knowledge that helps clients work better, faster, and cheaper during the crisis.

To read specific suggestions for how to market your firm, confidently and without shame, click here for the PDF.

Then click here to send me an email and tell me what you thought of it.

Be well and be safe. Jim

Report cover How to Market Your Firm During Coronavirus Crisis without Shame

Marketing Professional Services Without Shame During a Crisis (by Jim Rogers) revised

Filed Under: Accounting, Business Development, Communication, Construction, Generate Leads, Keep Clients, Professional Services Marketing, Sales, Seller-Doer

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Seller-Doer Academy is a
Service of Unbridled Revenue, Inc.
(859) 321-7547
Jim@UnbridledRevenue.com

Testimonials

“I thought the private call was well worth the time. The small group allowed people to provide input, ask questions, and review a real life example.” – Bill B.
“I liked the section regarding different types of clients and how to handle them. I had noticed that before with clients, but it was good to hear a different take.” — Richard B.
“I felt the program was terrific. I like that it was interactive.” – Javier R.
“The examples of opening a presentation were beneficial and I also agree rehearsal or practice is important, overall I thought it was a good overview and good pointers when preparing to present.” — John S.
“Great reminders of why it is crucial to understand how to listen to be an effective communicator.” – Michael K.
“I actually caught myself interrupting a client on the phone call that preceded this webinar. Your tips of pausing before speaking would have helped. Great communication tips.” – Kevin
“Well done. I never realized how many ways I could improve upon when preparing for a networking event.” – Tom H.
“I thought the presentation was great. I have trouble w/ public speaking at this time and I really learned a lot of good tools to use in my next engagements.” — Brian B.
“Appreciate the tips on how to ask for referrals— great info!”—Jennifer C.
I want to thank you and let you know how valuable the on-site workshop was to reinforce the skills that you presented via webinar over the last year.  I got nothing but positive comments for the in-person training and client interview and presentation simulation.  You have shown us an easy to execute a system that I will use moving forward for pursuing new clients and projects.  William T.

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