Business Proposal: Tips For Creating a Business Proposal

A business proposal, if well-written and designed, can be an excellent tool for selling your product or service. The proposal will serve two purposes: first, of course, it makes your case to your prospect, laying out all the information needed to persuade them to buy.Second, the act of putting a proposal together enables you and your team to think through who the client is, what their needs are, and why your product is the right choice for them. During the bidding process-if there is a formal one-or just during the time your prospect is evaluating the proposal, you will be well-prepared to answer questions and re-emphasize the reasons for choosing your services over the competition's.Here are six tips to ensure a well-written and persuasive proposal:Tip #1: As soon as you know a proposal is due, identify the due date and get it on the calendar. It's critical to meet this date, not only because sometimes overdue proposals are rejected, but also because when your proposal is on time you indicate your ability to manage a process well-something you want your prospect to know about.Tip #2: Find out where the proposal is due, how it will be delivered, and whether it can be sent on line or must be provided in hard copy. If on line, do you have the necessary software and links? Do you understand the uploading process? If hard copy, how will you deliver? FedEx or a courier? How many copies? It's never too soon to find the answers to these questions-in fact, if you do so at the start, you'll have eliminated a potential source of stress at the end.Tip #3: Put together a proposal team. Unless you alone are doing everything, it's important to be in touch with everyone involved in writing and producing the proposal. Are there senior managers who will need to sign off? Be sure to involve underwriting, if you are an insurance company. Hold a meeting, even if it's only a brief one, to identify problem areas and challenges. In this meeting review the key points you want to make in the proposal, the tone you want to set, and anything about the client that's important to keep in mind.Tip #4: Start building a schedule for writing, designing and producing your proposal. Work back from the deadline, with plenty of time for completion of each task.Tip #5: If you are responding to an RFP, carefully follow the outline given, if there is one. If not, produce your own outline, e.g. cover letter, key points, a section on why you are the best choice for this particular project, product description, and pricing.Always focus on the prospect's needs and how you will meet them. For example, if your company has been around for many years, state this as a proof of your substantial experience, rather than just saying you've been in business for fifty years. If you are a solo practitioner, emphasize your ability to respond quickly to client needs.If you've been asked to provide attachments, include a list of them. A table of contents is helpful in any proposal over two or three pages.Tip #6: Hold a "post-mortem" once the proposal is delivered, unless you are expecting a decision in couple of days. Review how things went in getting the proposal out the door: what went well, what could have gone better, what to look out for next time.Copyright (c) 2010 Jane Sherwin. You may reprint this entire article and you must include the copyright info and the following statement: "Jane Sherwin is a writer who helps hospitals and other healthcare facilities communicate their strengths and connect with their readers." [EXTRACT] A business proposal, if well written and designed, can be an excellent tool to sell your product or service. The proposal has two objectives: first, of course, makes his case to his view, displaying all the information necessary to convince them that buy.Second, the act of putting a proposal together allows you and your team to think that the client, what their needs are, and why your product is the right choice for them. During the bidding process, whether formal or only during the time your prospect is evaluating the proposal, you will be well prepared to answer questions and insist on the reasons for choosing your services over the competition. Here are six tips to ensure a well-written and persuasive proposal: Tip # 1: As soon as you know of a proposal should identify and obtain the expiration date on the calendar. It is vital to meet this date, not only because sometimes the pending proposals are rejected, but also because when your proposal is the time indicated by their ability to manage a well something you want your prospect to know about. Tip # 2: Find out when the proposal is due, how it will be delivered, and if it can be submitted online or be provided in printed form. If the line, you have the necessary software and links? Do you understand the charging? If hard copy, how can he deliver? FedEx or a courier service? How many copies? It is never too early to find the answers to these questions, in fact, if it does at the beginning, you have eliminated a potential source of stress in the end.Tip # 3: Prepare a proposal team. Unless you are just doing everything, it is important to keep in touch with everyone involved in the writing and production of the proposal. Are there senior officials who have to sign? Be sure to involve your subscription, if you are an insurance company. A meeting, even if only briefly, to identify problem areas and challenges. In this review meeting key points you want to do in the proposal, the tone you set, and nothing about the customer that is important to mind.Tip # 4: Start to build a program to write, design and produce their proposal. Work based on the closing date, with plenty of time for completion of each task.Tip # 5: If you are responding to an RFP, carefully follow the scheme presented, if it exists. Otherwise, produce their own scheme, cover letter, for example, key points, a section on what are the best choice for this particular project, product description, and pricing.Always focus on potential customer needs and how they will comply. For example, if your company has been present for many years, the state as proof of his great experience, instead of saying you've been in business for fifty years. If you are a solo practitioner, emphasize your ability to respond quickly to customers needs.If been asked to provide attachments, including a list of them. A table of contents is useful for any proposal of more than two or three pages.Tip # 6: Make a "post-mortem", once the proposal is delivered, unless you are expecting a decision in a couple of days . Review of how things were to get the proposal from the door: what went right, what could have gone better, what to look out for next time.Copyright (c) 2010 Jane Sherwin. You may reprint this article in its entirety and must include the copyright information and the following statement: ". Jane Sherwin is a writer who helps hospitals and other healthcare facilities communicate their strengths and connect with their readers "