Writing Business Bids and Proposals for Dummies - (For Dummies) by Neil Cobb & Charlie Divine (Paperback)

About the Book

Congratulations! You have in your hands the collected knowledge and skills of the professional proposal writer -- without having to be one! Inside, you'll find out how to unlock what these professionals know and apply it to your own business to improve the way you capture new customers and communicate with existing ones! --Publisher

Book Synopsis

Acquire the necessary skills to win business through proposals, bids, tenders, and presentations--this hands-on guide is your partner for success

You have in your hands the collected knowledge and skills of the professional proposal writer. Proposal writing is a profession -- a growing and increasingly important one and an essential part of a broader group of business development professionals who plan and execute strategies for businesses who want to obtain new customers. Proposal writers have a professional organization -- the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) -- and their best practices are the foundation for this book.

Proposal writing is a skill you can learn, practice, and master; you can even go through a professional certification process to prove your mastery. Writing Business Bids & Proposals For Dummies is your no-nonsense guide to finding out what professional proposal writers know and for applying it to your own business.

If you're a small- to medium-size business owner, a first-time proposal writer in a medium-size company, or a sales representative, you know that a written proposal (printed or electronic) is still a common, personal, and effective way to win business. Written in plain English, Writing Business Bids & Proposals For Dummies will help you to:

• Know the difference between reactive proposals (the RFP or request for proposal) and proactive proposals
• Focus on the customer by going beyond their requirements to address their true needs
• Know your competition through research and analysis
• Write persuasively to develop a winning business proposal
• Plan and use a repeatable proposal process
• Incorporate a lessons learned aspect to your proposal process
• Use tools and templates to accelerate your proposals
• Motivate and lead your proposal team to ensure they're on the same page
• Use graphics to enhance your proposals
• Learn ways to automate your proposal development process
• And a whole lot more

Additionally, you'll gain access to ten templates for building a proposal, find out ten common misconceptions about bids and proposals, and add a compiled list of online resources to your toolset. Grab a copy of Writing Business Bids & Proposals For Dummies to start sharpening your proposal writing skillset.

From the Back Cover

Develop a winning business proposal

Plan and use a repeatable proposal process

Use tools and templates to accelerate your proposals

Get the intel on bids and proposals

Congratulations! You have in your hands the collected knowledge and skills of the professional proposal writer - without having to be one! Inside, you'll find out how to unlock what these professionals know and apply it to your own business to improve the way you capture new customers and communicate with existing ones!

Inside...

• Develop a great proposal
• Focus on the customer
• Know your competition
• Plan your approach
• Use tools and templates
• Write persuasively
• Overcome misconceptions
• Expand your skills
• Avoid proposal killers

About the Author

Association of Proposal Management Professionals promotes the professional growth of its members by advancing the arts, sciences, and technologies of winning business. APMP is the worldwide authority for professionals dedicated to the process of winning business through proposals, bids, tenders, and presentations.