|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Tips for Creating a Winning Proposal ? Part 1
If you want your business to grow and attract new clients, you'll have to start creating meaningful proposals. The goal of a proposal is obviously to be awarded new work. It accomplishes this goal by providing answers to the questions of who, what, where, why, how and when.
But many small or home-based business owners have neither the time, knowledge or resources necessary to create proposals that properly relay the pertinent information about the company and its ability to provide the requested services.
If the mere thought of having to create a proposal is keeping you from bidding on jobs you know your business can handle, stop worrying! There are several proposal-building software products available that will help with this task.
Many are template-driven. All you have to do is select the templates that are appropriate to include in the proposal, use your word processor to add text that is specific to your type of business, then sit back and watch a professional-looking proposal emerge from your printer.
Read the following tips for an idea of the components that will help your proposals get the attention they need.
Tip #1 ? Identify the Problem
A proposal must show that the person or company submitting it clearly understands the problem that the prospective client is attempting to remedy. If the proposal cannot show right away, in the Executive Summary section, that you have a clear understanding of the problem, those reviewing it won't feel confident that your company will be capable of properly and effectively dealing with it. They'll see no reason to read beyond the Executive Summary section.
Tip #2 ? Identify the Proposed Solution
The proposal must also clearly outline the manner in which the bidder will address this problem. Include here the personnel you will assign to the project and their resumes. Mention here the estimated timeline for completing the work outlined in the bid. Also show the anticipated costs and how they will be allocated. Don't provide too much information about the proposed solution. You don't want to give the proposed solution away for free!
Tip #3 ? Make the Proposal Easy to Read
If the proposal itself is difficult to comprehend, contains grammar or spelling mistakes or is carelessly prepared, the chance of it being selected are greatly diminished. It will be difficult to convince the reviewers that the proposed work will get done properly if the proposal itself appears thrown together. Remember, the proposal is oftentimes the only chance a business has of making a first impression. Don't waste this valuable opportunity.
Tip #4 ? Prove You Understand the Market
The proposed solution must not be generic. It must take into consideration the nature of the company requesting the proposal. It's important to show in the proposal that you have analyzed the market, the competition, the opportunities that the business is missing by not implementing your proposed solution and the current trends in that market.
Tip #5 - Prove Your Company is The Best Choice
This is really what a proposal is all about. Before you can expect the clients to award the job to your company, they need to be convinced that your company is the best choice. Here you have the opportunity to boast about your company. Briefly describe the company's history including the number of years in business. Explain past projects where you applied similar methods of getting the job done and your results. Include resumes, certificates and other credentials of those who will handle the job.
Read on for five more valuable tips for creating winning proposals!
Copyright © 2004 Cavyl Stewart. Get more software tips, strategies and recommendations to help you create winning proposals by signing up for my Exclusive 100% free, 100% original content ecourse: "The Secrets To Unlocking The Power In Your Proposals"! To sign up please visit: http://www.find-small-busin ess-software.com/proposal-ecourse.html
Advertisement: Honest Riches - Click Here!
Advertisement: Lost AdWords - Click Here!
Advertisement: Get $1 Million A Month In Google Pay-Per-Click Ads Free! - Click Here!
Advertisement: Who Loves Money? - Click Here!
Advertisement: SEO Elite, the GrandDaddy of SEO Software - Click Here!
CNNMoney.com - 15 hours ago
Ace Marketing & Promotions Inc. (OTCBB: AMKT) announces that IMAX Theaters is piloting Proximity Marketing at its Palisades theater location in NY, ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 11 hours ago
Database marketing firm Merkle Inc. has signed up the Limited as a new client in a three-year contract. The Columbia firm will analyze customer data to help ...
Merkle Selected by The Limited to Support Integrated Customer ... MarketWatch (press release)
all 17 news articles
Boston Globe
Bizjournals.com, NC - 16 hours ago
United Parcel Service Inc. rival FedEx Corp. will cut its marketing budget by more than 25 percent for 2009, the company recently disclosed on its blog. ...
FedEx cuts marketing spend by more than 25 percent Reuters
FedEx to reduce marketing budgets by 25% Brand Republic
all 43 news articles
Bizjournals.com, NC - 16 hours ago
Downtown Greensboro marketing firm Bouvier Kelly has won three awards from the Carolina Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society for its work with ...
CNNMoney.com - 6 hours ago
TMI's marketing plan includes a program where LTC facilities can lease the equipment necessary to perform skin assessments and store the necessary data ...
Wellstar/TMI Announces Estimated Three-Year Revenue Projections MSNBC
all 9 news articles
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 13 hours ago
By Sarah Talalay | South Florida Sun-Sentinel University of Florida fan Michelle Jackson has her outfit for college football's national championship game ...
BCS National Championship notebook Dallas Morning News
BCS is a political football in 2009 CNN
all 3,607 news articles
CNNMoney.com - 16 hours ago
Proton will start by marketing a variety of enhanced water products that provide health benefits for people and the planet as well as the commercial product ...
MSNBC - 2 hours ago
The initial stages of marketing the properties for sale have already begun, and the Company will expand those efforts now that the properties are completely ...
Indianapolis Star, United States - 12 hours ago
With a team of 25 brokers and additional market research, marketing, and client support staff, Summit Realty Group specializes in office, industrial, ...
MediaPost Publications, New York - 1 hour ago
by Erik Sass, 7 hours ago Katz Media Group is launching a new national marketing unit that will focus on creating custom solutions for advertisers that take ...
Katz Launches Katz Marketing Solutions Streaming Magazine
Katz Media Group Reorgs to Trim Costs MEDIAWEEK
Katz Media Group Launches National Marketing Unit to Exploit the ... Earthtimes (press release)
Radio Business Report - AdAge.comall 24 news articles
Business Marketing For Consultants, Coaches, Speakers, and Trainers: How To Be Noticed and Trusted
Business marketing is essential for professional services, such as consultants, coaches, speakers and trainers.Creating trust with prospects and clients is essential. How do you do that?A Reader's... Read More
Top 10 Tips To Market & Build Your Professional Practice
In building and running a professional practice (or any small business or a home-based business), there are many items that must be monitored closely. As a small... Read More
Do You Really Know Your Prospect?
I'd like to introduce you to someone. I don't actually know his name, but I'm hoping you do. I'm hoping you know quite a bit about him.He's... Read More
Are You Guilty Of Interruption Marketing?
You muted the commercials on the TV last night because you were fed up with interruption marketing. Ditto if you went through your mail to find most... Read More
Modern Marketing With Postcards
Postcards may be one of the best kept secrets of modern marketing. They produce even better results now than in the past. That's probably because postcards deliver... Read More
Trade Show Marketing ? Getting Prepared for the Big Event
With the increase in number of tradeshows being held across the world, it has become imperative to check the trade shows' credentials before you commit participation. Here... Read More
Specialized Mailing Lists Make All the Difference
If there is one thing I can't say enough it is that the most important part of your mailing campaign is your mailing list. It is vital... Read More
Keeping Marketing Simple / Ten Simple Steps
1. Business CardsIt is very important to market yourself via business cards. You should be making a conscious effort to hand out ten per day at the... Read More
An Example of Understanding Consumer Thinking
A church in my community provided me with one of the best examples of understanding the consumer, which I've ever experienced.Once a month a church in my... Read More
10 Awesome Ways To Attract More Orders
1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topic at your web site. People will visit your web site to read the free ebooks and may... Read More
Direct Mail Response Rate Boosters (12 tips and ideas)
1. Mail to a different list Your list is the most important part of your direct mail campaign. Who you mail to is more important than what... Read More
Communicating Our Attitude
The goal of successful marketing is to create long lasting relationships with your prospects by marketing your business with passion. When you're not excited about what you're... Read More
Direct Mail Strategy - Brand Identity Guru
1. Know your purpose: What do you want your direct mailer to accomplish? Do you want to be remembered? Do you want to educate prospects about benefits?... Read More
Identify The Ideal Target Audience With These 5 Tips
Narrowing your focus to one primary group of people is often difficult for small business owners. They want to help everyone - and very often their product... Read More
An Internet Marketing Strategy that Works
You can't put up a beautiful (or any) web site and hope that people will just arrive. You have to let them know, IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY,... Read More
Mobile Marketing a New Age Strategy
More and more companies seem to be looking for new and innovative ways to market their products. Overlooking most of the traditional marketing techniques, more companies are... Read More
Trade Show Promotional Products ? Boosting Booth Traffic
I was about seven or eight years old when I learned the value of promotional items at trade shows. I just didn't know it yet. I was... Read More
Be a Smarter Marketer - Learn the L-A-W for Trade Shows
People attend trade shows because they are in a specific industry and want to learn more. They want to know what's new and how you will help... Read More
Burnout
Today I want to share a question from a reader who writes:How do I keep from being burned out while cold calling? My job is to call... Read More
Maximizing Your Yellow Page Investment
Yellow Page users are the hottest of all prospects ? someone who has made the decision to buy, and now is looking for a place to do... Read More
Integrity and Marketing - Finding the Right Balance
When marketing themselves to leads and prospects there are five common mistakes people make, all which can be easily avoided by finding the right balance to maintain... Read More
Top 5 Design Tips to Create Eye-Catching Marketing Materials
Great graphic design looks effortless, but it requires lots of attention to details. Think back to an eye-catching advertisement, publication, or flyer you saw recently. Do you... Read More
Boost Profits: Market to the Gay Community
Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth cultivating, no matter what your product or service. Despite the cultural changes during the past fifty years... Read More
Make Your E-Mail Signature File WORK for You!
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files - they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every... Read More
Always On Stage - 3 Quick Tips for Trade Show Exhibitors
Do you feel uncomfortable when you're in the trade show booth? Like folks are looking at you? Like you're on stage? Got as little stage fright?Well, folks... Read More
Writing Marketing Copy That Sells
When your prospects see your marketing materials, your brochure, your web site or your ads you want them to read them. You want prospects to read not... Read More
Getting the Maximum Marketing Mileage Out of Your Nametag
As a small business owner, you must always explore creative ways to promote your products or services. One of the most effective yet underappreciated tools you can... Read More
A Look at Color Brochure Printing
Brochures have become vital in today's workplace, serving a wide variety of purposes. Some are quite complex and others are simpler; color brochure printing is one of... Read More
Why Referral Business Is So Valuable
With so much money invested on innefective advertising, it's time to look at some good old fashioned ways of generating new business. One tried and tested way... Read More
Calling All Carbon-Based Lifeforms
Many businesses want to market to all carbon-based life forms. They won't take the time to really understand their audiences from geographic, demographic and psychographic perspectives.Marketers waste... Read More
Sowing and Growing Your Network
The N-word! We all know the value of networking and we feel we should be doing more of it. Unfortunately, for too many of us the very... Read More
Postcards ? Picture Perfect Promotion
There is a simple but almost mystical law which governs promotion and marketing and their relationship to the amount of business generated: business will come in to... Read More
How Do You Get Past The Gatekeeper?
The best joint ventures are with people in your own network ? those that already know, like and trust you. However, there's nothing to stop you from... Read More
Flesh Eating Spiders And Other Marketing Horrors
After a friend was bitten by a spider, I decided to do some research to find out more about the spider.I came across a website that decided... Read More
Customers Are Like Vampires
No, customers aren't bloodsuckers (well, maybe a few are!) and they don't come out only at night. According to legend, vampires don't come in until they are... Read More
Five Tips to Make Your Marketing More Creative
Same old same old just doesn't sell anymore. To make your marketing stand out, you need to get creative. Below are five tips designed to get... Read More
To Swag or Not to Swag: Tip to Brand Your Tchotchkes on a Shoestring
It's interesting to see how resourceful people become when starting their own business. Especially when budget is tight, creative juices go into high gear. I recall my... Read More
Good Marketing is Like a Bad Habit
You know those bad habits we get. Like raiding the chocolate biscuits during late night TV shows. Or slouching we when we sit. Or biting our fingernails.... Read More
How To Recover Your Almost Customers
You'll always need to find new prospects for your business. But don't overlook the prospects you already attracted. Many are close to buying. Use these four simple... Read More
How Simple, Small Changes Can Add Real Money To Your Pocket
I want to share with you a story. This story happens everywhere and everyday in America . If you grasp the simple lesson from it, you can... Read More
The 10 Cornerstone Principles of Marketing
There are four parts to a marketing system and they rest on ten cornerstones. Marketing results are only as powerful as your marketing systems. To build your... Read More
Is Your Marketing Working...
That is the question, you should be asking yourself. Many feel that it is I'm sure. But is it really!Which scenario is better or best for your... Read More
Specialized Mailing Lists Make All the Difference
If there is one thing I can't say enough it is that the most important part of your mailing campaign is your mailing list. It is vital... Read More
Three Alternative Methods On Getting Quality Testimonials with Bonus
Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or their quality. Create an online diary or blog, use an auto responder method, set up a form... Read More
Color Part 1: Accuracy
Color is one of the most difficult parts of a design to show accurately to a client.Color perception can be affected by many factors, including:Human perception:The way... Read More
The YOU Factor
I don't mean you, I mean the YOU that is your client.Let's examine memorable tag lines in advertising.You deserve a break today. - McDonaldsDo you eat the... Read More
In Sickness And In Health
I recently drove by a business that had a sign out front that read "Closed due to illness". This meant that the cash flow would stop until... Read More
Laws of Marketing ? The 10 Immutable
Most marketers believe that anything is achievable if you are energetic, creative or determined enough. But laws of marketing follow laws of business, and if you violate... Read More
9 Highly Effective Marketing Tips
Here are 9 low-cost but highly effective marketing tips to help you boost your sales and profits fast.Tip 1: Look for some low-cost ways you can enhance... Read More
How to Turn Your Marketing Into a Money-Making Machine - Setting The Stage For Successful Marketing
Powerful Marketing has become elusive to many companies seeking strong sales results and overall growth. The sad truth is that Marketing comes across as a rather frustrating... Read More
Your Headlines Are Key To Your Success Or Failure. Do You Know What To Write?
Most professional copywriters would say that headlines account for 80% percent of more of the effectiveness of an ad or sales letter.After all, it's the headline that... Read More
How to Connect Features and Values
"Buy this magazine or we'll shoot the dog," went a memorable cover for the satire magazine National Lampoon many years ago. On the cover, along with the... Read More