Most people write business proposals in a way that does nothing to persuade the buyer to take action. They just fill the business proposal template with “boilerplate” facts about the company that doesn’t urge action. “Here’s a bunch of stuff—you should find something in there that makes you decide to accept our bid” is the attitude we portray to our customers.
The best business proposal templates use something called a “persuasive paradigm”. This is a 4-part series that urge people to take action and don’t just give the customer random facts and figures and hope he/she’ll make the sale. Here are the four parts:
In conclusion, if you’re using a business proposal template, you really should use this persuasion template for writing a proposal. Even the top proposal writer misses out on when they don’t use the proper proposal format for writing a persuasive argument.
If you’re looking a top-rated business proposal template that will help your business proposal writing then click here to discover a template you can use in Microsoft Word. Business Proposal Template.
Staring at a blinking cursor wondering what to write next for a business proposal can be a horrible experience. Trust me, I’ve been there. Until I discovered a neat technique that allows you to brainstorm in a “non-linear” fashion.
I describe it in this video:
Botttom line: it makes it a lot easier to think of critical points to put in a business proposal. Watch and enjoy…and I hope it was helpful to you.
Hi there. This is an important video that shows you how to increase the desire for your firm–to the point that your chances of winning the bid will go up exponentially. It’s something very few proposal writers realize when writing a proposal, but missing out can ruin your chances of winning.
Enjoy!
Steve
Writing a business proposal can be daunting. This is true even if you’re using a business proposal template. But what most people get wrong is how to present a value proposition to the client.
Most proposal writers will concentrate on being the “cheapest guy in town”. They will mistakenly assume the customer wants to cut costs (which might be true) but what he/she is REALLY looking for is how to gain as much value from your proposal as much as possible.
Here’s an example: let’s say you are a website designer and you’re trying to win a bid from a major IT firm. You create your business proposal from a business proposal template you got online and tell the customer you’re going to not only design the website but you’re going to get a friend of his, who happens to be a copywriter, to add text to the website.
This boosted the value of the proposal for the person you’re writing to because he no longer has to hunt for a copywriter to complete his site. He knows a decent copywriter can run in the tens of thousands of dollars. However, the price you quoted is much less than that…even though it is more than other designers are quoting in their proposal.
In a nutshell, even though most business proposals are centered around presenting the cheapest solution possible, it is better to position your proposal as giving the customer the most value for their buck. That way, you can charge more.
If you are writing a business proposal but are stuck on the correct format, here is a great business proposal template you can use to win more customers, clients and contracts: Business Proposal Template
Business proposal writing can be a daunting task—even if you’re using a business proposal template. Mind-mapping can help you organize your thoughts and brainstorm ideas. It’s a technique that most people don’t know about, but can really add to your creativity when writing a business proposal.
Mindmapping (also called Cognitive Webbing) allows you to brainstorm ideas in a non-linear fashion. Usually, you’ll start with your end result (e.g. lower banking costs) and branch out with ideas on how to do this on a piece of paper. At the end of the brainstorming session, you’ll have a huge “web” of ideas on your paper you can then use to form the basis for your business proposal.
Whereas with an outline, you’re brainstorming in a linear fashion which can stifle creativity. Your stuck thinking about the topic you have staring at you on the piece of paper. You don’t have the freedom to think of ideas outside the box because you’re just trying tot hink of ideas in that single header. Unfortunately, most business proposal writers limit themselves with simple “outlines” they’ve been taught in school to use.
You can also use mind-mapping software to generate ideas. You’ll be able to generate ideas on the computer without limitations of space. Top mind-mapping software includes Mindjet and Mindgenius. They can be pretty pricey, but considering they’re important tools for writing business proposals—even if you’re using a business proposal template—the price you’ll pay is insignificant.
If you’re looking for a good business proposal template you can use to just “cut and paste” your sections into without worrying about formatting with Microsoft Word, then click here to discover a simple business proposal template you can download immediately: Business Proposal Template
When people use a business proposal template to try to get customers, clients and contracts—they often forget one essential element: forgetting about what the customer does know and doesn’t know. In other words, what jargon and acronyms the client understands and how you can make sure the client knows what you’re talking about in your proposal.
When writing a business proposal using a business proposal template, it is easy to assume clients know what you’re talking about. You’re around your business all the time and you know everything inside out. However, you cannot assume the customer follows your understanding.
How do you solve this? By pretending your customer is sitting across from you and pretending your talking to him/her face-to-face. Don’t assume the customer knows what you’re talking about. Frequently, they don’t want to ask questions or are too embarrassed to do so. Or in the context of a government bid, they might be prevented by doing so by rules of procurement from asking for clarification.
By doing this:, you’re staying consciously aware you’re writing to your client, and not to yourself. And when you start writing to yourself, you leave out important information that would be helpful for the client to determine whether or not you’re the right fit for the job. This can scuttle your chances of winning the bid…even if you do have a winning business proposal template.
That said, it is helpful to get a decent business proposal template to get started: The following template is a Microsoft Word template that’s been used by a US Web Design firm who wanted to bid for a web design contract in excess of several million dollars. To take a look, click here: Business Proposal Template.
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