You either love it or hate – I think the latter. However, it is a necessity for many companies so if you have to do it, do it right.
To help you along the way, here are some tips to (hopefully) make your proposal the winning one.
Instructions: If the Request for Proposal gives instructions on the format, follow it exactly. Don’t make readers work to find what they are looking for. This also shows that you are organized.
Write at their level: Make your proposal easy to understand. Industry lingo and acronyms can confuse some people. Keep it simple and easy to read.
Eliminate the fluff: There is no need to send a ten-page proposal when it could easily be six or seven pages. In short – cut the crap. Nobody likes to read anything that is not relevant or redundant.
Proofreading: Read it, read it again, then give it to someone else to read. Make your edits and read it again. Do your formatting and read it again. You get my gist. Typos and bad grammar can be proposal killers.
Be professional: First impressions are critical. If your proposal looks haphazard, so does your company. Take the time to format your proposal and give it a professional appearance. Adding some colour in a nice presentation folder goes a long way.
Proposal writing is not a task many business people like to do, but if you have to do it, give it your all. Don’t leave anything to chance.