You’ve received yet another rejection letter, but you felt did everything right. You analysed the marking criteria; you researched the company and you planned everything perfectly. Yet, your bid did not score highly, and it was overlooked.
How can you stop that from happening next time? What could you improve on to make sure your bid is noticed?
Here are four things you could do to improve your chances of standing out from the bid competition crowd and win the contract.
Graphic Design – Illustrate your way to success
One of the first things you can do is inject some design flair into the bid documents you are producing. It is not a matter of ‘judging a book by its cover,’ but more a case of looking professional and understanding how to utilize the space allowed by the end client. A picture really can say 1000 words. When you have a word limit and you have a lot to say, you can drop an infographic in to the document to reduce the word count.
This allows your team to be more concise and pick the most relevant information that will score you higher. You could use an infographic to provide the information that the client has requested in an in interesting and useful way. It makes the whole document aesthetically pleasing and makes your proposal more memorable.
Professionally branded documents are not just for larger companies. SMEs and small businesses can also benefit from graphically designing their bids. There are cost-effective options out there, so it is worth researching them further.
Provide Evidence of Your Skills – This is no time to be bashful!
You can’t be modest when it comes to bids and tenders. You need to describe your strengths, and back them up with solid evidence. The best way to do this is with testimonials and a portfolio. By being able to demonstrate your experience, you will show the client that you have the confidence to excel at the contract on offer.
By showing off your experience, you are more likely to secure the contract and build the relationship with the client, which could lead on to more work in the future. You want to persuade the client that you are the best contractor for the job. Case studies and testimonials will act as endorsements for your proposal.
Tailor the bid – Hold a mirror up to the client
To show the client that you are the best option, you need to learn as much about them as possible. This will help you score higher points from the marker and allows you to tailor the tender to their needs. By doing your research, you will be able to specifically show the client that you can fulfil their requirements, and more. It is all about the added value that you will give to the client.
To tailor the bid, desk research on the company and contract is the best thing you can do. By doing this, you are in a better place to make sure that your proposal will match up with the client’s expectations. Having more background on the company and sector will allow you to look at the bigger picture, rather than just the specific requirements. It is important to think about the end-user; how is this project going to benefit the intended users?
Research may take some time (which we all know bid writers do not have a lot of), but it is worth doing. It will make writing the bid easier in the long run.
Clients can always tell when parts of a bid document have been copied and pasted. They want a bespoke solution, not a generic proposal. They need to see that you will fix their specific problems, and not the generic issues that all clients face.
Another trick to tailoring the bid to the client, is by utilizing their specific terminology. Each company has their own acronyms and keywords, but when writing the bid, it is a good idea to mirror their own language back to them. Make a list of the words that appear in the questions and stick to those keywords. As an example of this, if they use the word ‘pupil’ rather than ‘student’ in their documents, then use their specific keyword. When proofreading, take extra care to change the words if they don’t match the original question.
Demonstrate Value – in every nook and cranny
The best customer service a company can provide to their client is added value. This is vital. The client must feel like they are getting their money’s worth, and more, by taking you on. If you can demonstrate this, it will make you the more popular choice amongst your competitors.
Explain why your solution is the best, and not just how you will complete the contract. You are not only bidding for work, but also for a working relationship with a new client. It is a good idea to keep in mind the long-term goal of securing work and continuing a solid working relationship for future work.
Conclusion – your next steps
So, there you go; four sure-fire ways to make your next tender stand out from the rest.
Struggling with the resource to go the extra mile with bids? Have you thought about outsourcing your bids?
What about the graphic design element? Well, the good news is that we can offer you graphic design services on any of your bids. Our experienced graphic team have over 15 years’ experience in construction bids and will work with you to make your tenders stand out.
Want to find out more about how we can help your bids stand out? Then get in touch on 01462 440077 or email info@www.propeller-studios.co.uk.
