Proposal Close-Out Process #110:
Steal My 2-Step Proposal Close-Out Process
Spring is in the air, and with it comes the urge to clean and declutter. While you may be thinking about organizing your closet or deep cleaning your kitchen, don’t forget to take a look at your proposal management process as well!
In this episode of the Marketers Take Flight podcast, I’m sharing my 2-step proposal close-out process to help you improve your proposal management and make your life as an AEC marketing professional a little easier.
So, what exactly is a proposal close-out process? Simply put, it’s the specific actions and file clean-up you do after you’ve submitted a proposal. It may be tempting to move on to the next deadline as soon as you hit “submit,” but taking a few extra minutes to complete this process will ultimately save you time, frustration, and stress down the line.
Here are a few episode highlights:
Why a proposal close-out process is crucial for improving your proposal management process: Submitting a proposal doesn’t mean your proposal management process is over. By having a proposal close-out process, you can ensure that all the final documents are organized, new information is captured, and everyone on your team is updated.
Organizing your files and folders saves you time and stress: Having a systematic approach to organizing your files and folders can save you and your team countless hours of searching for information for future proposals.
Capturing new information is essential for improving your proposal management process: During the proposal process, you get updated information regarding your firm’s resumes, projects, new write-ups, or boilerplate. Make sure to capture this information and store it in a way that you can easily access it in the future.
Grab the Proposal Close-Out Checklist: Click the image below on this page for a helpful Proposal Close-Out Checklist to guide you through the proposal close-out process.
By consistently completing these steps, you’ll have better-organized files and folders that will save you countless hours and unmeasurable frustration when working on future proposals. Plus, you’ll be establishing your personal brand as a marketer who continuously improves their proposal management process.
If you’re ready to implement a proposal close-out process for your team, I’ve got you covered! On this page below, you can find a Proposal Close-Out Checklist to help you get started. Take the time to listen to this episode and block off 30 minutes on your calendar to organize your proposal files and capture new information from your last proposal. Your future self will thank you!
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2 thoughts on “Steal My 2-Step Proposal Close-Out Process”
I regularly listen to your podcasts while driving to other cities for client meetings. This was a great listen and your tips for regular practice are something I am going to implement with my new employee. We have traditionally done this annually and it has become overwhelming for marketing staff. I look forward to sharing your checklist with others. Thank you for sharing your insights and ideas with the AEC community!
Hi Courtney,
Thanks so much for listening and applying the concepts! I agree it can be overwhelming if you wait to do it just once a year. Even breaking it up once per month might be more doable.
~Cheers, Lindsay