RFPs Suck! How to Master the RFP System Once and for All to Win Big Business - Softcover

Searcy, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982473966 ISBN 13: 9780982473962

Publisher: Channel V Books, 2009

Synopsis

It used to be that you could ignore RFPs. Only a small portion of the market used them in their buying process and you could work around those companies. Today, governance rules dictated by boards and administered by finance have made RFPs and RFQs a dominating component of the large-deal world. Not only can you no longer ignore them, but you need to know that companies use RFPs-and increasingly purchasing and procurement-for many reasons that have little to do with the opportunity offered in the official document. The result? We all have no choice but to go through the expensive and time-consuming process. And though you might like to believe the system is fair, if your company is pitching a disproportionately larger client, you're at a disadvantage from the moment you begin the process. WHY? Because the RFP system is not built for you. It's built for big companies and government institutions that benefit from RFPs. But no matter how hard you try to avoid them, there will inevitably come a day when that irresistible RFP lands on your desk. It's almost like it was written for you. This book is your best guide on what to know, to question and to do when faced with that RFP. It will also help you develop the confidence and understanding to know when to quit the process before it even starts or when to stay in it and win big.

About this title

About the Author:

Tom Searcy, author or "RFPs Suck!" and co-author of "Whale Hunting," is a national speaker, trusted authority on large account sales and founder of Hunt Big Sales, a fast growth sales consultancy and thought leadership organization. Searcy's primary expertise is working directly with companies and sales teams throughout their big sales "hunts," helping them to compete and win disproportionately large sales in highly competitive markets. His philosophy and process have resulted in over $3 billion in new sales for his company and its clients.

Before entering the national stage, Searcy headed four corporations, each of which he was able to take from annual revenues of less than $15 million to over $100 million--all before the age of 40. Since then, Searcy has helped more than 100 companies grow exponentially with his proven process for fast growth and company-wide transformation.

In his newest book RFPs Suck!, Searcy shares his rich understanding of the RFP process with companies across the board to help them conquer the RFP system once and for all to win corporate and government contracts.

Searcy's first book with co-author Barbara Weaver Smith, "Whale Hunting: How to Land Big Deals and Transform Your Company," was published by Wiley in 2008. Searcy's second book, "RFPs Suck! How to Master the RFP System Once and for All to Win Big Business" was published by Channel V Books in 2009.

Review:

"This is the first book I've seen on this grossly overlooked topic and it's definitely a winner. Smaller firms hoping to land large corporate customers will find the most value, but even sellers from big companies will learn new tricks.

In short, you'll discover how to qualify, divide and conquer RFPs that make the most sense for your company." --Jill Konrath, Author, "Selling to Big Companies" Founder, SellingtoBigCompanies.com

"Tom Searcy provides excellent help to navigate the RFP process. In fact, I used some of his advice in an RFP, and am now in the running for the contract. So his stuff works.

Tom Searcy is one smart guy, folks. If you want to get access to big contracts and clients, you must read this book." --Ian Lurie, Author, "Conversation Marketing: Internet Marketing Strategies"

"If you've had to respond to RFPs--even just one--you know that RFPs do, in fact, suck. Lots of books have titles that don't work well, are misleading or weak, but 'RFPs Suck!' is a title that speaks to the soul of anyone who has fought--and probably lost far more often than won--the RFP system.

'RFPs Suck!' is a short, direct, to-the-point book that wastes little space. Searcy concentrates on laying out, in concise chapters, the guidance you need to become an RFP expert." --Paul McCord, Author, "Creating a Million-Dollar-a-Year Sales Income: Sales Success Through Client Referrals"

"This book is a serious keeper. No fluff. No B.S. It's stuffed (as in every pixel on every page) with pointers, recommendations, checklists and whatever else you may need to logically and objectively decide whether to respond to an RFP and, more importantly, how to respond to it.

If you receive only a single, unsolicited RFP in your career, you need this book to guide you in deciding how to respond to it." --Dave Stein, CEO & Founder, ES Research Group, Inc.

Tom very simply lays out the framework to compete and win the biggest deals of your lifetime. His step-by-step methodology is a must-read for every company Sales VP and should be required reading for every advanced Marketing Degree. It's easy to read, extremely practical, and...actually works.

What adds extra value to this book are the last 5-6 chapters that spell out how a winning RPF scenario works. You get samples. You get scenarios. You get analysis. You get 1-on-1 coaching from the author himself. --Dan Waldschmidt, former technology CEO, partner in private equity technology firm, author of the motivational selling blog "The DEW View"!

About this edition

• Publisher: Channel V Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0982473966
• ISBN 13: 9780982473962
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 166