How to Stand Out in a Business Proposal

You can use a business proposal to prove to a potential supplier why you’re worth the business. Online reviews and referrals can prove your value, but for more complex jobs, a business proposal will help show that you’re able to meet the job’s needs. Here are some tips to help you make your proposal stand out.

Outline the major sections of a business proposal

In a business proposal, there are several important sections that need to be addressed. The first is the executive summary. The purpose of the executive summary is to introduce your company and management to potential investors. It should be short and to the point; it should not be more than five minutes long.

The next section outlines the legal structure of the business. This should include the organizational chart and profiles of the executive team. It should also include the company’s target audience and describe the company’s strengths.

Include visual content to enhance a business proposal

One of the best ways to make your business proposal stand out is to include visual content. People process visuals much faster than text. That means that you may spend less time explaining a visual because your readers already understand it. Visuals are also powerful because they convey a message in an engaging way.

Visual content can be used to highlight important points and convey information about a project. It is especially useful in longer documents. It makes it easy for readers to find the information they need. Most word processors have a built-in feature that creates a table of contents automatically based on the headings. You can also include a clickable table of contents if you’re presenting an electronic proposal.

Create urgency in a business proposal

One way to make your team buy in to your proposal is to create urgency. Personalized efforts are important to raise morale and get buy-in. In addition, you can use these efforts to develop strategies that are unique to your team. Here are a few strategies to create urgency in your proposal.

First, create a compelling timeframe. Using a clock or countdown to the end of a period can create an incredibly powerful sense of urgency in your audience. For example, if you offer a limited time offer, it is crucial to include an expiration date. However, if you offer standard pricing, make sure that there is no expiration date. Even this small detail can make all the difference, psychologically.