In business, there is a question that no sane person wants to 
hear: "Could you write me a proposal?"

Proposals are traps, ways to build up and break down dreams. 
Sound dramatic? It's not.  In many cases, writing a proposal is a 
waste of your time and effort. According to Tom Ranseen, of 
NoSpin Marketing, there are three reasons why proposals are known 
as traps:

1. They waste precious time that could be used looking for other 
prospects or providing other productive work to current clients.

2. They give pricing/packaging information to mere tire-kickers 
and then to the competition.  You just become a number standing 
in line without a dance partner.

3. They give you a false sense of security that you're doing 
something positive and productive in your sales process-that 
you're busy and making progress-and maybe that's worst of all.


Does this mean that all proposal requests are useless?  No—what 
it does mean is that you have to be able to choose which are 
worth your time and which aren't.  Below are tips to help you 
make that choice:

1. If a potential client wants a proposal but has not given you a 
clear idea of what they want/need and do not seem able to make up 
their minds, the best advice is to pass.

2. Is the potential client shopping around, or looking into other 
prospects?  A part of you will want to create proposal just to 
solidify your abilities ; however , be careful: a client who is 
unable to choose companies may not be worth the effort it takes.

3. Did your potential client demand a proposal right away?  In 
most cases, the quicker a proposal is demanded, the more likely 
the client is to back away.  Watch for impulsiveness.

4. Is the client unwilling to talk to your directly to review the 
project and /or proposal?  This typically boils down to 
indecision or wavering interest.  It is best to pull out while 
you can and not waste time.

5. Ask the important questions before accepting the offer to 
write a proposal. Make sure that the client is qualified to carry 
through with their plans.  Are they committed?  Are they 
financially secured?  The worst thing you can do is have a client 
who loves your ideas but simply can't afford them or commit to 
them.

6. Use common sense.  Take all things into consideration before 
writing a proposal; it will save you time and allow you to devote 
your abilities to other projects.


The proposal trap is a common one in business; many hours have 
been wasted and many dreams shattered after falling into it. 
Take the time to review these suggestions and learn when to write 
a proposal and when to walk away. 

Robert Moment is a successful business and success strategist and 
author of "It Only Takes a Moment to Score", which is currently 
available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Robert help 
entrepreneurs avoid becoming a statistic and turn their ideas 
into wealth and have FUN !  Grab a copy of his Free Special 
Report, "17 Profitable Ways to Turn Your Content into Money". 
Visit: http://www.sellintegrity.com