AI for Business Development: From Prospect to Proposal to Close

Participants will be provided with practical tools and techniques to use AI across the business development process—from researching the market and identifying suitable prospects to preparing proposals, following up and managing sales opportunities.

The course is delivered through one practical and interactive 3-hour session.

Overview

This is a practical, hands-on programme for SME owner-managers, business development teams and sales professionals who want to use AI to support more effective and consistent sales activity.

AI can assist at almost every stage of the business development process. It can help businesses understand their market, review competitors, identify suitable prospects, prepare for meetings, analyse sales notes and develop clearer proposals and follow-up communications.

During this workshop, participants will use a structured prompting framework to produce clearer and more useful AI outputs. The focus will be on practical application, helping attendees use AI to support stronger sales thinking and everyday business development activity.

The course will also cover the responsible use of AI in a sales and customer context, including data protection, anonymising customer information, checking AI-generated claims and ensuring that AI supports rather than replaces human judgement.

Participants will leave with practical prompts, a simple sales-tracking process and a 30-day action plan they can apply immediately within their business.

Who Should Attend?

SME owner-managers who want practical ways to use AI to support sales and business growth.

Business development and sales professionals responsible for prospecting, meetings, proposals and customer follow-up.

Marketing professionals involved in lead generation, market research or customer communications.

Sole traders and micro-business owners who manage their own sales and business development activity.

Service-based businesses that regularly prepare proposals, respond to enquiries or manage potential client opportunities.

Business owners and employees who want to use AI more effectively and responsibly throughout the sales process.

Learning Outcomes

This practical course will help learners understand how AI can support the complete sales and business development process, from initial market research and prospect identification through to proposals, follow-up and opportunity tracking.

Participants will learn how to apply a structured prompting framework to create clearer, more relevant and more useful sales-related AI outputs. They will explore how AI can assist with competitor analysis, identifying potential market gaps and strengthening how their business is positioned.

Learners will consider how prospective customers may view their organisation’s online profiles and wider digital presence. They will also learn how to develop an ideal customer profile and use it to identify better-fit leads and business opportunities.

The course will demonstrate how AI can support meeting preparation, sales-note analysis and the development of proposal structures. Participants will also explore practical ways to create follow-up communications and maintain a simple, consistent sales-tracking process.

Participants will develop an awareness of responsible AI use in a sales and customer environment, including protecting sensitive information, anonymising customer data and checking the accuracy of AI-generated content.

By the end of the session, participants will have practical prompts, a simple sales tracker and a focused 30-day action plan to help them apply what they have learned within their business.

Delivery Method

Online Live Interactive Webinar

Course Duration

The duration of this programme is 3 hours with a 10 minute break after each hour.