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How to Write a Winning RFP Response


Some time ago a potential client provided me with some general details of the copywriting work she wanted me to do for her company. Then he asked me to send him a proposal. Proposal?! I panicked as I tried to confirm what he meant by that, as I had never done one before, at least not as a freelancer.


I shouldn't have wanted to take this opportunity, as I didn't bother to research or follow up with the company after submitting a contract instead of a proposal. A bit of time passed, I came across an article on how to write the RFP response. Doorbell! The lightbulb went on. This guy verbally gave me his RFP and I wanted a written RFP response.


When a company needs a contractor or outside source to complete a project, they write an RFP. This is a formal document that describes the project, how contracting companies should respond, how proposals will be reviewed, and contact information. Shipping guidelines are often documented by the company to make it easier for them to compare responses. There are no specific standards or guidelines for creating the RFP, but government agencies generally follow strict standards when conducting the proposal process.


Outside companies read the RFP response and write a proposal (an offer) that explains how they can best meet and satisfy those needs. When writing the proposal, the company should closely follow the guidelines set forth in the RFP to avoid being excluded from the consideration of the potential project.


My situation was an informal version of all this. The client gave me a high-level overview of what I could do for him. If I knew then what I know now, I would have written a description of the client's needs and how I would complete the job to meet those needs.


Small businesses are likely to make a compromise between the one I received and the complex ones required by the government. Most small businesses will be asked to write a proposal when they approach a customer. The client may ask you to submit a proposal that describes what you can do for them. In this case, write a proposal that includes the elements of a typical proposal and keep it short and direct, especially if the client is not a large company.


There are sample RFP responses scattered all over the web, but which one you can learn from depends on the type of work involved. A proposal can be two pages or the size of a book. Trust your favorite search engine and do your research to create an unbeatable proposal.

Topics: rfp response
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