Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) can be an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be. Winning an RFP is no easy feat, as many organizations are vying for the same contract. But with some preparation, attention to detail and understanding of your target audience, you can give yourself the best chance possible of success.
Having a set of tools like qUniform at your disposal is an enormous differentiator. It will help you to identify and offer features that others cannot!
The first step in preparing your proposal is to make sure you understand the request. Make sure that you read through the document carefully, that you identify all components of the RFP including key due dates and requirements, and that any questions you have are answered before submitting your final draft. Once you are comfortable with what is required, take time to develop a comprehensive outline of your RFP strategy and ensure that your team is on board with it before moving forward.
The next step is to really understand who is reviewing the proposal and what they need from it in order to make their decision. Researching the organization or individual in question can help inform how you should structure a response so that it clearly outlines what makes your organization a good fit for their needs. Consider creating a persona who represents the target audience – this can help create effective messaging and establish credibility from the outset.
When it comes down to actually writing the proposal, remember to stay focused on responding directly to each component of the RFP as much as possible and avoid rambling, fluffy language or jargon at all cost. If there’s anything additional information which may seem helpful but isn’t part of what was requested, consider adding this at the end as an appendix rather than dwelling on it within the main body of text – those reading proposals will likely appreciate this approach!
Finally, don’t forget about presentation: formatting documents properly gives them legitimacy and helps readers focus on key points easily so they’re more likely to digest them correctly – accordingly taking time over creating neat layouts with consistent fonts will pay off in spades when someone reads proposals back-to-back over multiple days/weeks! A plain white background accompanied by either black font or color themes throughout should do nicely when presented via PDF format – whichever works best for your brand’s guidelines is fine too!
Winning an RFP may not be easy but if done right, it can reward organizations greatly with new contracts and business opportunities – if nothing else don’t forget: research thoroughly beforehand; get specific; use formatting wisely; and keep everything professional until submission deadline day arrives! Good luck!
Here’s an excellent webinar at NAUMD : Uniform Sales: How To Win RFPs And Program Contracts By Facilitating Employee Allotments – NAUMD, Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors, a global network
