Key Takeaways

  • Research and understand the company thoroughly before reaching out.
  • Tailor your proposal to the company’s needs and decision-making process.
  • Identify the right person to contact, whether at the C-suite, managerial level, or other key departments.
  • Utilize varied contact methods such as email, LinkedIn, phone calls, or contact forms, and adjust based on industry and company preferences.
  • Follow up thoughtfully and consistently without being intrusive.
  • Use clear subject lines and personalized messaging to increase response rates.
  • Consider multiple points of contact and leverage your network for introductions.
  • Be prepared with a concise pitch that highlights value and solutions.

How to contact companies for business? Find out more about the company you are planning to approach, understand its requirements, design your proposal to match the company's interests, make sure the proposal reaches the decision maker, and follow up regularly.

Approaching Corporations With a Business Proposal

Presenting a business idea to a corporation is a kind of negotiation. The tone, information, prices, and the method of presentation are all essential elements of your proposal. In order to ensure a successful proposal, you must put in more efforts than just sending across a generic brochure.

You should consider the following aspects while approaching a corporation with your business proposal:

Investigate

Know the company you are planning to approach. If it's a public company, go through its annual reports. Visit the company's website to know more about it. Understand the product line and business model of the company, and how it brands itself. Call the company and find out the right person to discuss your proposal with. The CEO's administrative assistant can serve as a good source of information.

Understand

Find out what you should include in your proposal to make it interesting and useful for the company you are targeting. It's a good idea to forge a relationship with the head of the department your proposal will be relevant to. Try to understand what kind of proposals the company usually accepts, and form a realistic picture of how the company would evaluate your proposal. Finally, write your proposal keeping in mind the company's way of evaluation.

Choosing the Right Contact Method

Selecting the best way to reach out to a company is crucial for making a strong first impression. The right communication method often depends on the industry, company size, and the individual you are trying to reach. Consider the following options:

  • Email: Preferred for formal proposals and initial outreach. Ensure your subject line is clear and engaging.
  • Phone Call: Effective for direct engagement but should be preceded by an email or LinkedIn connection where possible.
  • LinkedIn Messaging: Useful for connecting with professionals, especially when no direct email is available.
  • Contact Forms: Common on corporate websites but may not always reach decision-makers directly.
  • In-person Meetings or Networking Events: Provide valuable face time, particularly in industries where relationship-building is key.
  • Social Media Messaging: Best for informal outreach or creative industries, but use cautiously for formal proposals.

Adapting your approach based on the company's preferred contact method can significantly improve your chances of getting a response.

Approach

You should approach in a manner that your proposal reaches the actual decision maker. If you have developed a good relationship with the concerned department head, send your business proposal to him. Alternatively, you may want to send the proposal directly to the CEO, so that at least his administrative assistant takes a look at it and decides whether it's important enough to forward to the CEO.

People often use express delivery to invite more attention, but this practice has become quite common nowadays and may not produce the desired results. If you are confident enough, you may want to fix up a face-to-face meeting and give a presentation yourself.

How to Identify the Right Person to Contact

Finding the correct person to contact at a company can make or break your outreach strategy. Here are steps to ensure your message reaches the right decision-maker:

  1. Define Your Goal: Are you looking to partner, sell a product, or propose a service? This will determine who you should contact—such as the CEO, department head, procurement manager, or marketing director.
  2. Leverage LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn’s search features to locate individuals by job title, department, or company name.
  3. Explore Company Websites: Check the “About Us,” “Team,” or “Leadership” pages for names and roles.
  4. Utilize Email Lookup Tools: Consider platforms like Hunter.io or Apollo.io to find professional email addresses.
  5. Ask for Referrals: Tap into your professional network or mutual connections to secure an introduction.
  6. Engage Gatekeepers: If necessary, build rapport with executive assistants or front-desk staff who often control access to decision-makers.

Being deliberate about who you contact reduces wasted effort and increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Follow-Up

Follow up on your proposal regularly. This however, does not mean that you should call up every day. Call a day after your proposal reaches the company to find out when you should check back. Call again, maybe a week later, to get an update, and ask again whether you should continue to check back. Never demand to put you through to the decision maker. Try to leave a good impression. Sometimes, you may get a call several months later informing that your proposal has been accepted.

Crafting Effective Outreach Messages

The success of your outreach often hinges on how well your message resonates. Follow these best practices to improve your chances of engagement:

  • Personalize Your Message: Reference the recipient's role, recent company initiatives, or shared connections.
  • Be Clear and Concise: Get to the point quickly. Explain who you are, why you are reaching out, and how your proposal benefits them.
  • Use an Engaging Subject Line: Pique interest with a subject line that highlights value (e.g., “Helping [Company Name] Reduce Costs by 15%”).
  • Include a Clear Call to Action: Specify what you’re asking for—whether it’s a meeting, a call, or a product demo.
  • Proofread Carefully: Typos or vague language can reduce credibility. Keep the tone professional but approachable.

Pitching Your Products to Large Companies

Inviting attention and winning trust of large corporations to your products and services is not so easy. However, there are certain steps that can increase your chances of becoming successful in pitching your products.

  • First of all, you must have a proof of concept. If you have some existing customers using your product, it can be a good way to show that your product is likely to be accepted in the market.
  • Prepare a list of big brands that are likely to accept your product. Then look through your professional network to find a connecting link to these brands.
  • After getting an opportunity to talk to the company, prepare yourself to explain the product features, price, and benefits. Supporting your presentation with numbers will make your case stronger. Be prepared to answer some difficult questions like whether your product can be misused by children, how to mitigate that risk, etc.
  • Consider hiring a professional or partnering up with someone with experience in selling products to big brands.

Angelique Rewers's Five Tips for Selling to Corporate Clients

Angelique Rewers, CEO of The Corporate Agent, recommends using the following tips for selling to corporate clients:

  • Take the road less traveled or think of an uncommon approach.
  • Time your sales pitch to match up with the thinking process of the decision makers.
  • Build your image of a problem-solver rather than that of a pushy salesman.
  • Ask questions to your prospective clients to understand their needs, and identify areas where you can add value.
  • Rather than becoming a shy and bashful mind reader, roll up your sleeves, and discuss the deal in precise terms. Having a deal with clear terms will bring fewer surprises down the line.

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Contacting Companies

To improve your success rate when contacting companies for business, avoid these common errors:

  • Generic Messaging: Avoid sending the same template to multiple companies without customization.
  • Reaching Out to the Wrong Contact: Don’t assume the CEO is always the best point of contact. Target the person most relevant to your pitch.
  • Failing to Research: Lack of understanding about the company’s needs or current initiatives shows poor preparation.
  • Being Too Aggressive in Follow-Ups: Persistent outreach is important, but overly frequent or pushy follow-ups can backfire.
  • Neglecting to Provide Value: Focus on how your product or service solves a problem for the company—not just on your features.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the best way to contact companies for business?
    The best method depends on the industry and target audience but often includes email, LinkedIn messaging, phone calls, or networking introductions. Tailor your approach to the company's preferred communication channel.
  2. How do I find the right person to contact at a company?
    Research the company’s leadership on LinkedIn, company websites, or professional networks. Look for job titles related to your proposal and consider using email lookup tools or warm introductions through mutual connections.
  3. How often should I follow up after sending a business proposal?
    Follow up once a week unless instructed otherwise. After the initial outreach, confirm when the recipient would prefer your next check-in.
  4. Should I use LinkedIn to contact companies for business?
    Yes, LinkedIn is a valuable tool for professional outreach, especially when direct emails aren’t available. It also helps establish credibility through shared connections and industry presence.
  5. What should I include in my initial outreach message?
    Include a personalized introduction, a brief description of your proposal, a clear value proposition, and a direct call to action. Keep the message concise and engaging.

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