5 Tips for Crafting Great Proposals That Win You More Jobs

If you’re like many professional engineers, you find the bid and proposal process one of the biggest challenges to growing your business. Some projects may end up being awarded based solely on price. However, creating a proposal that effectively highlights your expertise and the value you’ll bring to a project is a surefire way to help send your win rate soaring.

Here are 5 top tips for crafting compelling proposals that will help increase your chances of winning more jobs:

1. Be succinct.

When it comes to writing proposals, the saying “less is more” holds true. Keep your sentences and paragraphs short and to the point. In addition, use bulleted and numbered lists. These are great ways to help make the information presented in your proposals scannable and quick and easy to read.

2. Be sure your proposal clearly responds to the specifications in the RFP.

Use the prospective client’s specifications to organize your proposal and make it easy for them to understand how your solution will best solve their problem. In addition, address your client’s style and preferences, ensuring that they are also reflected in your proposal. Although it’s important to include information about you and your business, be sure to keep the focus of your proposal on your prospective client and how you and your skills will best meet their engineering needs.

3. Keep it conversational.

Your proposals should have a professional tone, but written in a style that is similar to the way you speak. This includes using an active voice versus a passive one. For example, saying “we advise” rather than “it is advised” sounds much more natural. Consistently using a friendly, conversational tone ensures that your proposal is easy to read, as well as helps to keep readers interested.

4. Add color and graphic touches to help your proposal stand out among the rest.

This could be as simple as including your company’s logo and using your brand colors on the title page, colored borders on subsequent pages, and special bullet points and fonts. Also think about leveraging white space to help make sections of copy pop. By using color and design features to emphasize your brand throughout your proposals, you’ll help grab a prospective client’s attention, as well as add an element of professionalism. In addition, incorporating well-designed, informational graphics can help you convey complex messages and reach broader audiences.

5. Proofread your proposal for clarity, spelling, and grammar.

Although this may seem obvious, be sure to proofread your proposals before hitting send. And if possible, have someone else proofread your proposals to avoid mistakes and typos that look unprofessional and careless. You want to create a positive impression with prospective clients and delivering a clean, error-free proposal is the best way to do that right from the start.

Need some assistance with writing and designing great engineering proposals that will help you win more business? P.E. For Hire can help. Not only does P.E. For Hire connect you directly with the type of clients and RFPs you want, but also our professional editors and graphic designers can help you craft effective proposals that seal the deal. Whether it’s through our platform or not, P.E. For Hire is at your service.

For more information, contact Francisco@PEforHire.com or call 415-533-5275 today!