Use the outline below as a template. If it helps, think of it as fill in the blank. Remove any instructions from the outline. If you aren't familiar with writing a full sentence outline refer to the help in the Assignment Instructions, Writing Expectations, and Grading Guidelines Module.

This is a draft outline of your proposal. Be sure to address each of the sections. If you don't have the information, can't get the information, or it doesn't apply to your situation, then indicate that so I know you aren't just skipping or ignoring the information requested.

We've covered these topics in the textbook readings and gathered most of the information in Sales Team Project Assignments #$1-3.$ Refer to the text if you need more details about each section. You can also research online for specifics about the industry or product type to help you develop the information needed for the outline. You are now compiling and organizing what you've done so far into an outline.

Introduction:

Company name and product name and logo $($if you have one$)$ and date of proposal.

Company Philosophy

A short paragraph or two about what your Sales Team$/$Company stands for $($what$$s important to you, why and how you develop products or services$)$ and how it operates, with a focus on your selling philosophy.

Product or Service Overview

Name of your product or service and a brief description of it

Brief description of the primary target market for your product or service. Be specific

Situation Analysis$$The details and insights about your product or service.

Industry

Market size and current trends

Product or Service

What: Detailed description of the product or service. $($Pictures or sketches are encouraged in this section.$)$

Where: How$/$where can the target customer purchase the product or service?

Which place $($or point of distribution$)$ is preferred by the customer? Support with rationale and specifics.

When: What is the seasonality of your product or service $$what are the natural times of the year that consumers purchase this product?

What times of the year are sales strong, when are sales weak?

Other: Any other important facts or insights as to why this product or service is important to the target customer

Competition:

Who are the $3$ main competitors?

In other words, when the target customer is deciding to buy the product or service, what other products$/$services might he$/$she consider?

What makes your product or service unique?

What is your company$$s value proposition?

Consumer $-($client or customer $-$ the person or business you are selling to$)$

Who is the target market$($s$)?$ Be specific and identify at least one specific target segment.

What do consumers think is important when they make a purchase decision to buy this product or service? What is it specifically that would make their mind up for them?

What is a statement that a customer would make when considering a purchase in this product category?

How does the target market get information?

Be sure to cite specific facts, especially about social media usage by platform.

Create a persona of $($you developed this in an earlier assignment $-$ you may want to revise it some$)$ to represent the target market.

SWOT Analysis and Strategic Direction

SWOT $-$ Summarize the Situation Analysis

Strategic Direction $$ Will your proposal focus on a strength, weakness, opportunity,or threat? Explain your reasoning. Use references to support your strategy.

Prospect Discovery $-$ Identify potential prospects you will approach to sell your product or service to

Name of the person or company $($If it's a business you are selling to$)$

Name, title, and contact information of your prospect $($the decision maker$)$

Two things you learned about your prospect contact $($e$.$g$.,$ via LinkedIn, Google searches, press releases, other sources$)$

Business Overview $($If it is a business you are selling to include this information$)$

Annual sales of the company

Number of stores$/$locations$/$facilities

Does the prospect have an E$-$commerce site?

Does the prospect$$s company currently use$/$sell your type of product?

If so$,$ how many similar products are carried? Which brands? What prices?

Pain Point

What is your prospect$$s pain point or problem?

In other words, how can your product help solve this problem and relieve the pain point of your prospect?

Why should your prospect buy$/$carry your product or service?

Recommendations

What are you recommending to your prospect to help address his$/$her pain point?

Be specific about details and include your rationale.

Objective$($s$)$

At least one SMART objective that this proposal will address. In other words, what should your prospect expect if he$/$she accepts your proposal? Keep in mind the following:

How many of your products $($or services$)$ will be sold?

How much will your company generate in sales?

By when?

How will you bring this product or service to market?

Selling and Distributing Your Product or Service

Where will customers be able to purchase your product or ser