Tender Writing For Winning Bids
This frequently involves tender writing, bid writing or putting together proposals.
There are however costs and risks associated with tendering or bidding for work. Any tenderer needs to consider:
- The time cost of delivering tenders.
- The opportunity cost of not working on business-as-usual deliverables.
- The opportunities/work you aren’t pursuing when focussing on tender writing.
- Other tender related expenses.
- The position you are in if you lose the tender.
Whether winning work via tenders or bids is central to your organisation’s income stream or is just something you do occasionally, the goal remains the same: to achieve the best possible outcome from the investment of your time and resources.
How do you write winning tenders?
Through planning, managing, and writing tenders, Synthesis has helped clients win contracts valued from $10,000 to hundreds of millions.
We have also helped clients put together request for proposals (RFP) documents on the other side of the tendering process.
Step 1. Pre-prepare
If your business regularly does tender writing and bid writing, then having a library of commonly used content makes the process lots easier. Up-to-date staff bios, capability statements, a portfolio of previous work, and testimonials and reviews from satisfied customers or clients are all good to have to hand when writing tenders and bids.
Step 2. Plan
Planning is key to successful tender writing. Understanding your win themes, assessing competitors, and planning your tender in advance can significantly improve your position. We believe that early planning is crucial, as high win rates are not simply the result of luck.
Step 3. Structure your content
Writing persuasive business proposals requires clear, ordered content that builds on your strengths and proactively addresses potential weaknesses. Well structured tenders build a cohesive picture of your business and products or services, and present a compelling argument for choosing you over your competitors.
Step 4. Factor in page limits, active voice and balance various elements
Successful tender writing or bid writing requires balancing various elements, especially considering the page limits typically imposed. Knowing your audience and presenting information in the most compelling way can greatly enhance your submission’s chances. Using an active voice, highlighting important information, and understanding font size limitations and meeting required formats are all strategies we employ to create high-scoring and robust proposal content.
Tender writing for winning bids
How Synthesis can help
Pre-tender workshops and capture planning sessions
Based on our experience, conducting tender capture planning sessions early and holding structured pre-tender workshops significantly increases your chances of success.
Our workshops are designed to explore your team’s understanding of the client, the project, and competitors. We identify critical activities for your proposal and outline your next steps. Our goal is to ensure these valuable insights seamlessly translate into compelling tender submissions.
Creating proposal strategies
Client requests for proposals or tenders often come with specific requirements for information and sections to be included. Despite the methodical and structured nature of tender evaluation, different organisations, teams, and individuals may prioritise aspects differently.
We specialise in planning tenders and developing proposal strategies that highlight your winning themes. Our approach ensures compliance with tender writing requirements while allowing you to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.
Tender writing
Crafting impactful and persuasive business proposals demands well-structured and organised content. It emphasises your perceived strengths, especially in areas crucial to the client, while proactively addressing any potential weaknesses.
Our team excels in creating engaging and informative content tailored to meet the evaluators’ expectations, ensuring your proposal stands out.
Design suggestions and proposal layouts
We offer design recommendations that will differentiate your business proposals from those of your competitors. From the presentation of charts, tables, and graphs to the use of images, dividers, and cover pages, our suggestions will enhance the visual appeal of your proposals.
Whether you require designs that align with existing brand guidelines or something entirely new, we have the expertise and experience to help you out.
“Go – No Go” decision making
At times, the most strategic choice in a tender process is not to proceed.
As you learn more about a particular tender, this decision could stem from a desire to prioritise more significant clients or focus on tenders with higher chances of success. It can also mark the beginning of a more meaningful dialogue with a client regarding projects that align better with your expertise.
A well-structured multi-stage go-no go decision-making process enhances your understanding of where to allocate your efforts effectively.
Presentation coaching and winning tenders
Congratulations on making the shortlist! The next and final step involves presenting to the client, followed by a Q&A session. After the tens or even hundreds of hours spent on the submission, your team’s performance in these few hours can determine the outcome.
Our presentation coaching helps give you the preparation and creativity that can turn potential presentation disasters into successful tender wins.
At Synthesis, we understand the critical importance of writing winning tenders. With over 20 years of experience, we are passionate about helping clients meet their business goals and achieve sustainable growth.
Whether you’re exploring new markets, launching products, or seeking funding, we have the skills, processes, and tools to help make it happen.
Mastering the art of crafting winning business proposals can significantly enhance your organisation’s success. By partnering with us, you can tap into our expertise and experience to elevate your proposals and win more work. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed.
