Every proposal writer faces the same challenge: creating an offer that not only gets read but also wins the deal.
Your proposal or technical proposal is one of the most critical parts of your company’s sales process. It will be reviewed by multiple decision-makers and stakeholders, so your goal should be to guide them smoothly through your proposal and clearly communicate your value.
Do you believe that 100% of the proposals your company sends truly reflect your expertise and increase your chances of winning?
While a high-quality proposal doesn’t guarantee success, a poorly written one almost guarantees failure.
Here are seven steps to streamline your proposal writing process and increase your chances of success.
Working on complex, high-priority proposals requires multiple contributors and many moving parts. Gathering the right information at the right time can be a frustrating and time-consuming task.
Solution: Create standardized templates and a shared content library.
By working smarter, you enhance efficiency and present a cohesive brand image in every proposal.
Most business proposals contain recurring sections with similar messaging. But searching for the latest, most accurate version of that content can be tedious.
A centralized content library that is regularly updated ensures that you:
This eliminates errors and improves overall proposal quality.
You put in hard work to craft a compelling proposal—don’t let poor formatting undermine your efforts.
Common formatting issues include:
Poorly formatted proposals are frustrating to read, and reviewers may move on to the next submission.
Solution: Use a proposal tool with automated, brand-aligned formatting.
Proposal writing is a collaborative process, often involving multiple teams. However, traditional office tools make it hard to track changes and merge content from different contributors.
Solution: Use a real-time collaborative tool with a shared database.
This streamlined workflow eliminates last-minute stress and ensures a polished, well-structured proposal.
Is your proposal focused on your company’s strengths—or your client’s challenges?
A winning proposal isn’t about you. It’s about your client and how your solution impacts their business.
To shift the focus:
Your proposal should speak directly to the client—not just list your capabilities.
When it comes to writing proposals that close deals, clarity is king.
A study analyzing 605 rejected proposals from the National Institute of Health found that 29% were rejected because their descriptions were too vague or unclear.
To stand out from competitors, make sure your proposal:
Pro tip: Evaluators review dozens of proposals. Long, wordy, or unclear documents get skipped.
Ready to hit "Send"? Wait!
Have you and your team thoroughly reviewed the proposal for errors, inconsistencies, or outdated content?
Your proposal is a reflection of the quality and attention to detail your company offers. Even a single typo can leave a bad impression and cost you the deal.
Solution: Use a proposal tool with built-in quality control to:
A well-reviewed proposal shows professionalism, instills confidence, and increases your chances of winning.
The key to crafting the perfect proposal is to continuously improve your process.
By balancing short-term efficiency gains with a long-term strategy, you can refine your proposal management workflow.
Adopting proposal software with a built-in content library will significantly enhance efficiency and quality—helping you win more contracts with less effort.