How to pitch a business proposal

[cleaner1]

Help?

How do you approach a company/business with a business proposal?

Thank you in advance.

 

[fisicx]

Pick up the phone and arrange a meeting

 

[Mark T Jones]

Find the right person to speak to

Establish what problem you are solving / what the benefit to them is

Pick up the phone

 

[Mr D]

May be worth some time figuring out if the business proposal you have solves a problem of theirs.
If not, why would they be interested?

 

[cleaner1]

May be worth some time figuring out if the business proposal you have solves a problem of theirs.
If not, why would they be interested?

I believe the proposal does point out what they need solving.

What I want to know is how do I approach them e.g do I post it to them or do I request to speak to them?

 

[Nochexman]

I would send an email to the person I wanted to talk to in the first instance, and, if I was feeling really keen, I'd tell them that I was going to call at a particular time and then call them.

Do you know if the person you are targeting is particularly interested in the solution you have to offer?

If you they are then I might ask them how they think I should approach their company in order to get your solution considered.

 

[fisicx]

I believe the proposal does point out what they need solving.

How much money is it going to save them? Or how much more business will it generate?

It’s all about the money.

You pick up the phone and you talk to them. Or embark on a marketing plan that introduces them to the product, shows them the savings and then you pick up the phone.

Until you give us a bit of a clue as to what you are selling all advice given here is just guessing.

 

[Paul Norman]

Two of the people responding said this key thing.

Pick up the phone.

It still wins. Just pick up the phone and talk to people. You can send them the proposal in advance, but you still need to pick up the phone, and get a conversation going.

 

[intheTRADE]

As mentioned pick up the phone.

However, depending on the size of the companies you are targeting, you may be met with numerous gatekeepers who are reluctant to pass you through - This is where I find LinkedIn extremely useful. Connecting with the decision maker in question on there and dropping them an introduction message asking for a chat.

 

[STDFR33]

People don't like to be told where they or their business is going wrong.

You'll need to speak to the right person. That in itself is a huge barrier.

After getting the right person, you'll have to flatter them and impress them.

Be prepared, know your stuff and be likable.

 

[Mr D]

I believe the proposal does point out what they need solving.

What I want to know is how do I approach them e.g do I post it to them or do I request to speak to them?

If someone contacts with a proposal what I want to know is how much money its going to make my business or how much time and effort its going to save.
And bearing in mind you could be number 20 odd this week offering a solution to the same issue. And the 500th contacting the company trying to sell them something.

Had a pleasant chap on the phone trying to sell me on upgrading my mobile. Didn't get anywhere as his solution to a problem just costs me money, no benefit to me. I don't have the problem he's trying to solve with his offer of a new phone.

 

[fisicx]

If someone contacts with a proposal what I want to know is how much money its going to make my business or how much time and effort its going to save.

And those savings need to be made without any pain. For example: If you use fluid A instead of Fluid B in your machines you will save £25,000 per year without having to drain or purge the machines.

But if you tell me I can save £25K per year if you stop production for 3 days while we install the new widget for Fluid B and then drain Fluid A into a tanker ready for disposal at £15K then I'm not going to be interested.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I think some posts are over- complicating / over-thinking

If you have the right person, the guts to pick up the phone and a compelling reason for them to speak/ meet with you, you then you are up and running.

 

[Socio South West]

And when you have found the right contact within the company.... AND you pick the phone up to speak to them.... PLEASE have a better ice breaker than 'How are you today?'

If anything gets my hackles up and puts me on the defensive, it's that line as the first shot of the rally, so as to speak! If I could find the business trainer that started suggesting that line, I would gladly beat him to death with a length of pipe lagging.

 

[Mark T Jones]

And when you have found the right contact within the company.... AND you pick the phone up to speak to them.... PLEASE have a better ice breaker than 'How are you today?'

If anything gets my hackles up and puts me on the defensive, it's that line as the first shot of the rally, so as to speak! If I could find the business trainer that started suggesting that line, I would gladly beat him to death with a length of pipe lagging.

Extreme. But valid, nonetheless

 

[fisicx]

Had someone call me yesterday. Apparently I’d been chosen for a special offer. We went through the: how are you, are you busy, what the weather like and a whole bunch of inane questions which we both knew were pointless. And then she tried to sell me a photocopier contract. 5 minutes of waffle and 10 seconds to say no.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Unfortunately this is often taught behaviour. I’m generally amenable to professional sales calls. My personal bete noir is taught lines that are supposed to trap or lure you into the ‘right’ answer

Just the other day someone rang to sell me advertising. I politely informed them that I’ve decided not to spend on advertising this year. Their response (delivered in a polished manner) was ‘can I ask why you’ve chosen not to promote your business?’

Rather than being rude, I took the opportunity to explain why those slippery lines are more likely to antagonise than to help

I’m pretty certain they weren’t thanking me under their breath.

 

[MBE2017]

Everyone has their own style of doing things, and no single way works 100% of the time.

I see sales very simply as offering a client something of value at a price they can afford, THEY have to see the value in what you are offering, and THEY have to feel it is worth buying at your price.

Where so many people go wrong, as in the phone example above is simply state an offer at a price, it might be a good deal for some, awful for others. Without knowing what your customers problems are you are always going to be struggling to sell anything.

I approached a guy yesterday, the owner of the business looking to sell a product I thought he would want, within a minute he had asked about a coolant product, which since he is into racing cars was of interest to him. He bought two cases without even asking the price on the spot, and is happy to talk about other products when I deliver his order.

Always look to solve a problem for your client.

 

[Mr D]

Always look to solve a problem for your client.

Good advice in sales.
Sadly plenty are out simply to sell the product they have regardless of need and aren't willing to find out if the customer has a problem the product can resolve.

 

[TopSpek]

Mark T Jones wrote:

If you have ... the guts to pick up the phone ...

Aah, so that tough-looking exterior is just a facade! You're really just a sensitive little pussycat - like me!

I used to knock on doors. When I was approaching a low water mark in terms of the amount of work I had on, and with no money to spare for leaflets, I would be thinking more and more about going door-to-door. During the day before a door-knocking run, I'd think about it all day non-stop - absolutely dreading it.

Next morning, I would arrive on the corner of the first street of the industrial estate that I'd planned to attack. I would sit in my car for the first half hour trying to pluck up the "guts" to start knocking on those doors. Then, after drinking half a bucket-full of coffee, and smoking about two hundred fags, and snorting about 5 kilograms of coke, I would be ready. I'd jump out of my car, do a bit of shadow boxing, then, with chest puffed out and shoulders pulled back, I would stride up to the first factory unit looking like a man with a mission, but all the time expecting someone to shout at me to stop begging whilst being on the wrong end of a good stiff toe-end up my arse!

As you've probably gathered, it didn't turn out to be anything like I imagined (and I am of course joking about the snorting)! Apart from the odd grumpy receptionist, I would say well over 95% of the people I met were just lovely! I made a few friends. I got invited to BBQs. One thing is for sure, it beats the hell out of any of those fancy networking events! You can get immediate orders, and sometimes even cash deposits, by simply turning up on the doorsteps of industrial factory units or commercial offices and shops with a smile and a business card.

I never once came back from a door-knocking run without at least a couple of thousand dollar's worth of work under my belt. Typical duration of a door-to-door run - anything between 1 to 6 hours. But it wasn't only the work I scored immediately on the doorsteps, it was the spin-off work which followed in the weeks after - it would load me up for at least 6 weeks, and often for months.

Hope this provides some inspiration.

David

 

[Mitch3473]

Q

And when you have found the right contact within the company.... AND you pick the phone up to speak to them.... PLEASE have a better ice breaker than 'How are you today?'

If anything gets my hackles up and puts me on the defensive, it's that line as the first shot of the rally, so as to speak! If I could find the business trainer that started suggesting that line, I would gladly beat him to death with a length of pipe lagging.

Quite agree....however, it is all about asking the right questions, the above is definately not one of them. If you ask the right questions, easier said than done......you'll open the guy or woman up and you'll get a much clearer picture. Take the questions on board, get the answers and call them back. You'll be like old friends....maybe

 

[dwight10]

Hello, in terms of how to pitch a business proposal . It is useful to learn ways and solutions for small businesses even faster growth, development and expansion.

Learning the right advice and lessons from the right effective great Business Leaders, is always helpful to help small businesses to grow even faster now.

Sharing the pitch a business proposal to the right targeted people. Can help that business to launch even faster now or run even more effectively now.

Enjoy businesses progress and Success
Dwight Harrison
Entrepreneur

 

[MBE2017]

I used to knock on doors. When I was approaching a low water mark in terms of the amount of work I had on, and with no money to spare for leaflets, I would be thinking more and more about going door-to-door. During the day before a door-knocking run, I'd think about it all day non-stop - absolutely dreading it.

Next morning, I would arrive on the corner of the first street of the industrial estate that I'd planned to attack. I would sit in my car for the first half hour trying to pluck up the "guts" to start knocking on those doors. Then, after drinking half a bucket-full of coffee, and smoking about two hundred fags, and snorting about 5 kilograms of coke, I would be ready. I'd jump out of my car, do a bit of shadow boxing, then, with chest puffed out and shoulders pulled back, I would stride up to the first factory unit looking like a man with a mission, but all the time expecting someone to shout at me to stop begging whilst being on the wrong end of a good stiff toe-end up my arse!

As you've probably gathered, it didn't turn out to be anything like I imagined (and I am of course joking about the snorting)! Apart from the odd grumpy receptionist, I would say well over 95% of the people I met were just lovely!
I never once came back from a door-knocking run without at least a couple of thousand dollar's worth of work under my belt.

Door knocking often gets asked about, few have done it, nice to see another knocker confirming what a few of us have said over the years, it is a great way to get instant orders.

In the last week I have knocked a few industrial estates, targeting repair garages. Out of forty five visits, spoken too thirty seven owners, have twelve demonstrations done along with another five this week, and seven physical orders. Each client will be worth circa £1-3k pa commission, so last week was not too bad.

Nothing beats knocking IMO.

 

[Opinion87]

Hello, in terms of how to pitch a business proposal . It is useful to learn ways and solutions for small businesses even faster growth, development and expansion.

Learning the right advice and lessons from the right effective great Business Leaders, is always helpful to help small businesses to grow even faster now.

Sharing the pitch a business proposal to the right targeted people. Can help that business to launch even faster now or run even more effectively now.

Enjoy businesses progress and Success
Dwight Harrison
Entrepreneur

Your posts do make me chuckle. In that they make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

[Nochexman]

Help? How do you approach a company/business with a business proposal? Thank you in advance.

What did you think of the replies you received?

 

[Noah]

Their response (delivered in a polished manner) was ‘can I ask why you’ve chosen not to promote your business?’

I usually manage "No, you can't ask." If they persist beyond that, I feel free to let them have the full benefit of my esteemed opinion.