captureplanning.com Learn about proposal writing and business development



How to get the most out of our web site:
CapturePlanning.com is a huge resource for learning about business development and how to win proposals.

Fill in the box below so we can keep you up-to-date with the latest best practices for winning more business.

Enter Your Email Address:


We get a lot of inspiration from the CapturePlanning.com Group on LinkedIn. You can to if you join us there. It's free!


Who sets the standards for proposals?

The customer.

There is no universal standard for layout or composition of proposals. If you think about it, it makes sense. A “proposal” is intended to persuade someone. What is required to do that is up to the person being persuaded.

If you want your proposal to succeed, you must know your customer. If your customer wants:

  • If your customer wants details, give it to them. If they don’t want to do a lot of reading, give them a short proposal.
  • If your customer wants references, give it to them. Otherwise, don’t.
  • If your customer wants pricing, give it to them. If they’re not ready for pricing, don’t give it to them.
  • If your customer wants contractual details, give it to them. If they’re not ready to discuss contractual details, don’t force them.
  • If your customer wants to know who will be doing the work, tell them. If they don’t care, don’t tell them.
  • If your customer wants things presented chronologically, organize your proposal that way.
  • If your customer wants information organized functionally, organize your proposal that way.

If you don’t know the answers, find them out.

If the customer doesn’t know what they want or need, give them criteria to help them figure it out.

Never load the customer up with a bunch of paper just because they might want something. Give them what they want. No more, no less.



Return the Favor! Show the author of this article some love and appreciation by posting a link to it, tweeting it, or emailing a friend and telling them about it. Thanks!



PropLIBRARY is our professional-grade tool for accelerating, inspiring, guiding, and improving your proposals

The PropLIBRARY Knowledgebase provides step-by-step guidance to help you:

  • Get ready to win before the RFP is even released
  • Develop win strategies
  • Plan, write, and produce a winning proposal
  • Base proposal quality on what it takes to win
  • Comes with online training!

>> Click here to learn more about the features and benefits of using PropLIBRARY






The hundreds of articles in our free library are derived from The CapturePlanning.com MustWin Process and the documents that we sell. The articles discuss the theory and foundations of the techniques we have developed. But if you want our templates, forms, and process documentation that turn theory into documents and tools ready to be put to work, you should consider our premium content.


Premium Content:
PropLIBRARY: Our Tool For Winning Business Leads

How to Write an Executive Summary
How to Write a Management Plan
Proposal Format and Samples Package
Business Proposal Sample Makeover: Before and After
509 Questions to Answer in Your Proposals
Quick and Dirty Guide for Writing a Last Minute Proposal
Business Development for Project Managers & Engineers
How to Survive Your First Business Proposal

Save by getting our Discount Package!

More Free Articles:
Proposal Writing
How to Write a Business Proposal
How to Write an Executive Summary
Proposal Writing for Professional Services
Proposal Management
Win Strategies and Themes
Red Teams & Proposal Quality Validation
How to Create a Proposal Compliance Matrix
Proposal Process & Procedures
Process Implementation & Acceptance
Proposal Storyboards
Proposal Training
Proposal Software
Proposal Tips
Proposal Graphics
Oral Proposals and Presentations
Marketing and Business Development
Relationship Marketing and Customer Contacts
RFP Readiness and Lead Qualification
Sales Letters & Copy Writing
Bid/No-Bid Decisions
Government Contracting
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Development & Startup


Miscellaneous
Home
About Us
Privacy Policy
Site Terms of Usage
Contact/Send Us Feedback

Copyright © 2011. Please review the Terms of Use prior to copying or distributing.