While every proposal is different, most follow a similar structure and flow. You may have to structure a proposal from scratch the first time, but once you develop a process, you can reuse some of the content and the proposal format to create proposals faster and still deliver a persuasive pitch. Sign up Free. Structure of a proposal 1. Proposal cover 2. Proposal executive summary 3. Project deliverables 5.
Project milestones 6. Proposal executive summary. The challenge The focus here is on the prospect and their challenge, not your team. The solution This is where you highlight the solution your team has designed to overcome the prospect's business challenges. Case studies: social proof in proposals. The challenge Why did the client come to you? The result Explain the results your solution delivered to the client, ideally with hard numbers, but otherwise anecdotally.
Conclusion Beyond your proposal format, design is a major factor that can influence the outcome of your proposal. January 05, Proposals. May 25, Proposals. Wanna take the guesswork out of closing deals in ? Millions of proposals. Design matters. Even if your proposal is well written, offers a cost-effective creative solution and adds a ton of value, if your cover page looks like this:.
All that really matters is the cost, right?. Like it or not, looks matter and you will be judged on them. A great design speaks volumes about your business and if done correctly, interactive proposals can make a fantastic impression. It also extends to the layout of your document. Poorly formatted proposals can be unappealing, confusing or hard to read.
For an attractive proposal, you want to make sure that the document has a nice look and an appealing easy-to-digest layout:. The goal is to clearly present your ideas and make it easy to read. As a general rule, you want to break up your text as much as possible. So, use plenty of headings, bullet point or numbered lists and images or graphs where appropriate.
Short paragraphs and sentences work better because they are easier to scan. In fact, simple designs usually work better for business proposals. There are lots of companies that help you do this, such as Canva , Adobe spark , and Poster my Wall to name but a few.
For those of you without creative bones, there are hundreds of free templates available for you to make your own. A word to the wise. Whether you include your introduction in the main body of your report or send it separately as a covering letter is up to you. Proposify — Architecture proposal template.
Introduce yourself and your company in a couple of sentences. You may want to explain your background briefly. Most people believe that this is where you present the project in a nutshell. Which is sort of right, but not quite. While you do want to summarise your proposal, the main goal of the executive summary is not to provide a basic overview of the whole project, but rather to highlight why your proposed solution is the right one.
A good executive summary needs to be persuasive and benefit focussed. Focus on persuasion over description, use clear and straightforward language to make your points, and try to keep it short, less than 1 page is a good length. This might be the first page your prospect ever reads, so make it count! Start with something that grabs their attention and makes them want to keep reading. Next, show that you have a clear understanding of the problem.
Figuring out how much detail to include here is tricky. A table showing the page number where each section can be found will help the reader navigate your proposal more easily. If your proposal includes industry-specific terms, you may also want to include a table that explains these.
You need to go through your entire process, detailing exactly how you intend to approach the problem and what results the client can expect. You will need to demonstrate that you are aware of any potential challenges and ensure that your solution is customised to your potential client as much as possible.
But changing a few details, making the proposal feel more tailored, adds a personal touch that goes a long way to improving your results.
Click To Tweet. This gives the client a good idea of how the project is likely to progress. Outline the key events and deliverables involved with each stage.
Give a realistic time frame for each part of the project, and say who is responsible for each deliverable. The more specific and clear you can be about your pricing the better.
An informally solicited project proposal can be understood as a proposal request that is lacking specifics. Unsolicited project proposals can be compared to a cold call — no one asked for or expected to receive one, but if the audience can relate to the proposal, it can prove extremely valuable. Many times, these proposals require the most research and the most finesse, as the audience is unaware that the proposal is even coming their way.
Continuation project proposals are essentially an update or reminder for ongoing and already approved projects. This type of proposal is the simplest to construct, as it is a continuation of already existing documentation. A continuation proposal can be thought of as a check-in with the audience to ensure the correct funds are provided for the next phase, as well as discussing progress and accounting for any changes before moving forward.
A renewal project proposal is required when an ongoing project has been terminated or the resources and support behind such project can no longer be used. This proposal is more about proving that the return on investment is greater than the money being spent on resources so that the project can begin again. A supplemental project proposal is required when more resources are required to complete a project than were originally proposed.
The main goal of a supplemental proposal is to prove the value of adding resources and update the audience with a timeline based on this new plan. Many times, a supplemental proposal is required when the original project scope has grown beyond initial expectations. It can be seen as a continuation of the original proposal document. A project proposal is not a contract. Clients or sponsors merely sign the project proposal to approve its contents.
After signing and approving the project proposal, a business starts drafting a contract in addition to items such as a project charter and a project plan. After considering what type of proposal is the best fit for you and your project, it is time to start planning your document.
This section intends to provide a high-level picture of the project as well as convey the most critical project details. The goal of this section is to present the reasons for doing this project as well as stating all of the objectives. In this section in particular, it is very important to write concisely and clearly. Some project professionals even suggest writing the project summary last.
The project methodology section of a proposal is where you detail the plan for how the objectives mentioned in the previous section will be achieved. This is the first section of the proposal that details the course of action to remedy the problem and is meant to prove that adequate research has been done for this decision. To start, outline the methodology being used, the population being addressed, and establish the process for reaching your objectives.
This section is dedicated to managing change during project execution. Clients know that a proposal rarely covers everything that is required to achieve the given project, so change management techniques are required.
Establish how you will monitor project success throughout its entire life cycle to show clients that when and if change occurs, the project will not go haywire. This section is dedicated to estimating the overall cost of the proposed project. Easily save this file to your computer or print it using the link below. You will also receive an email with your download.
Before you sit down and begin writing your project proposal outline, there are some things you must consider, including:. Each stakeholder will have their own goals and preferences. Multiple versions of the proposal may have to be written depending on your audience. For example, if the proposal is for the head of the technology department, jargon and technical language are likely expected.
You want key people to support your project. You need decision-makers on your side to turn a vision into reality.
You want the proposal to speak to them, and then motivate them to take the next step, which is to greenlight the project. Why is it a problem? Why is it worth solving? Make your audience see the problem the way you see it.
How will your project solve the problem? Why is your solution the better option over other similar solutions? This section provides a picture of the functions and attributes of the deliverable, plus how to know if the project is successful. It also explains how problems will be managed. End your proposal with a conclusion that briefly summarizes the problem, solution, and benefits.
Emphasize the significant parts, and make your proposal stand out by restating ideas or facts you want your audience to remember. Rewrite your proposal as necessary to make it interesting, helpful, clear, and persuasive. Ask for feedback, and ensure the proposal is organized and visually appealing. A project proposal is, in itself, a project and, therefore, can benefit from project management software.
Software is an essential piece of modern project management basics , with benefits that include:. Here is a shared folder in the project management software Wrike. Source: Wrike software. Whether your project sees the light of day depends on how effective and convincing your proposal is.
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