Tuesday 17 May 2016

Tips For Excellent Proposal Writing

By Kathleen Watson


Proposals aim at convincing thrifty, busy and skeptic minds that your idea is worth funding or considering. The closest it gets is persuasive writing. Proposal writing should also consider the competitiveness of selection processes. Only the best proposals are funded. If you have to spend time preparing the bid, make it a winning one.

The world is dissuaded from judging books by their covers. However, there are situations where this adage is rendered irrelevant. When a selection panel is faced with thousands of papers to peruse, they begin skimming through the proposals. This is the trend during initial stages. To be on their path, provide an executive summary. It should highlight the points that make your bid attractive.

An executive summary should be a single page that highlights all your strongest points. Give the reader a reason to peruse beyond the front page. Convince the panel that you are the best selection. It will give a winning first impression that enables your paper to pass the initial stage where attention is not on details. Make it easy for a reader to understand your idea and buy it.

Readers are bored and bogged down by details and information that is not relevant. To win among numerous proposals, provide the reader with what he or she wants. Avoid buzzwords, information and shop talk that is meaningless. Such a bid is punishing to read and will easily lead to disqualification. Do not say in five paragraphs what can be said in one. The principle of less is more works perfectly.

Panelists are looking for answers to particular questions. They need to visualize the success of a project through the eyes of a bidder. The instructions provided give a hint of the answers they seek. A good pitch must demonstrate knowledge of instructions issued which signals attention to details and good listening skills. The right answer will also show that you can diligently search for a solution.

Sponsors rely on past performances to make a decision on the future of a project, plan or implementer. There is a lot of weight placed on evidence of projects successfully completed in the past. Such evidence confirms that you can follow instructions and deliver according to set expectations. This evidence is your referee that you can deliver. The best projects to highlight are those that bear similarity to the one you are biding for. Such evidence beats a litany of narrated yet untested technical ability.

Funds are not necessarily directed to the lowest bidder. The challenge of funding such a proposal is that it raises doubts about your ability or quality of delivery. A sponsor is looking for a differentiating factor beyond the price. This is an element in you that makes you standout. By reading through your pitch, the sponsor must declare that, This is the person we have been looking for!

The inclusion of facts instead of opinions will make your attempt successful. Paint a realistic picture of the outcome of your endeavor. The bid should be meticulously written with proper editing and design. An attractive and engaging presentation will win the confidence of any sponsor.




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