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While we share tons of free information on our blog and YouTube channel, sometimes you need a bit more detail to help put some ideas into practice. Whether you’re brand new to proposals or looking to expand your existing skillset, there are plenty of trainings out there to help you grow.
Below is a compilation of a few different types of training that are perfect for proposal writers.
Read MoreJuggling RFP deadlines, stakeholder feedback, and customer questions can make it difficult (if not impossible) to reflect on your proposal approach and ways you can improve. To help you on this journey, we’ve compiled a few of the most common proposal challenges and steps you can take to solve them.
One of the most recognized proposal processes is the Shipley Proposal Process. The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) recognizes Shipley as a top process and offers certification on it.
While it is an excellent process used by many major organizations, for some smaller teams, Shipley can be overkill. If your team consists of only a handful of people (or maybe even just you) and you respond to fairly simple RFPs, then the full process may cause more pain than benefit.
That’s why we follow a simplified version to reap the benefits without having to fill out a robust team with more meetings than are needed.
Read MoreWe talk a lot about proposal techniques and strategies, but today I’m sharing a little behind-the-scenes to show you how some of this can look in practice.
Today we’ll be covering a $400 million proposal that I led and won. This can give you some insight into what to expect as you pursue larger and more competitive RFPs.
Read MoreWhen a customer asks you to send a proposal–whether it’s for an RFP or not–it’s easy to jump ahead to pricing and slap together a basic overview for your proposal.
But taking a moment to pause and think through your strategy can be the difference between winning the contract…or not.
That’s where the Strategy Meeting comes in.
Read MoreA couple years into consulting, I had a client approach me who was concerned about a very aggressive competitor who was pursuing a contract that my client had held for ten years. The contract was a huge part of their business, and the competitor had been doing all of the right things to win over the customer–holding frequent meetings, conducting demos, meeting with all types of stakeholders, etc.
My client knew that if they didn’t create an outstanding proposal, they might lose the contract and have to rework their business.
Read More“How do I show buyers why we’re a better choice than our top competitor?”
When it comes to proposals, this question is asked again and again.
You may have done everything right. Checked off all of the boxes from the RFP. Met with the customer. Created engaging graphics. Developed a sound pricing strategy.
But for some reason, they continue to win while you continue to…not.
In these cases, there is often one main reason why your competitors are winning over you.
Read MoreThe sales process is fraught with challenges.
From securing a meeting with an ideal client to determining the best pricing to creating a winning proposal, there always seems to be just one more step to be completed before contracts are signed.
But when it comes to sales, there is one secret that nearly every successful company uses:
Read MoreWith the start of a new year, many of us are hard at work planning out where to focus our energy for the next twelve months. Below is a list of a few popular proposal goals to inspire your planning, with steps you can take to actually achieve them!
Over the past decade I have met countless proposal professionals. Most have a love/hate relationship with proposals – a love of putting together a winning proposal and a hatred of the constant deadlines, red tape, and stress that comes with working on projects with so much money on the line.
Many people stick with it though because once you get the hang of it, proposal writing can actually become fun.
If you’re waiting for that day to happen, or you’re hoping to hire a proposal writer who sticks around, below are a list of the most common traits I’ve encountered in successful proposal writers, and tips on how to develop these traits on your own.
Read MoreWith huge revenue potential, RFPs can be a very appealing option for many businesses. You search for the perfect RFPs, save the due dates, and add them to your to-do list to get started.
And before you know it, the due date passes with no proposal submitted.
If this has happened to you, don’t worry. RFPs can be overwhelming and challenging to complete. While they sound great in theory, in practice it takes a lot of energy to actually respond to the RFP (and even more to win!).
Below are some of the most common challenges companies face that make getting started with RFPs difficult.
Read MoreWinning a new government contract can dramatically boost revenue for many small businesses. In order to win those contracts, however, you often have to go through the government procurement process, which means responding to RFPs. If you are struggling to determine if you’re ready to start responding to government RFPs, read on for a few key questions to ask to determine your next step.
Read MoreResponding to RFPs takes a lot of time. Most large companies have teams of at least twenty people dedicated solely to responding to RFPs. Small businesses don’t have the luxury of these resources, and that means it’s important to vet out RFPs to ensure they are worth the time before you invest in creating the proposal.
Read MoreAs one of the final steps in the sales process, improving proposal win rates can have a direct impact on your business. While there are many steps you can take to improving your win rates, there is one that stands out from the rest.
Read MoreIf you have never responded to an RFP before, your first question might be “How do I actually win an RFP?”. In today’s post, we’re going to look at the tried and true process that nearly every company follows to win their first RFP.
Read MoreCreating winning proposals is hard, especially if it’s in response to an RFP. In the world of proposals, many companies have low win rates, and while win rates vary for many reasons, there are a few common causes of lost projects. Read on to learn why many proposals lose and how you can improve yours.
Read MoreWith a little preparation and detailed note taking, you can use your sales calls to create tailored and compelling proposals for even the most skeptical clients. Maximize your meeting times with these tips for your next sales meeting.
Read MoreThe top question for many companies when creating proposals is how to increase the win rate. Read this post to understand RFP win rates and how you can improve your chances at winning.
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