1     Decide whether or not to write a bid

What is the potential negative impact of wining?

Consider the risk of mission drift;

The likelihood of winning against the investment required to submit a bid.

 

2     Read the question

Read it and read it again and then again.

What are they looking for?  What does a model answer look like?

 

3     Make it personal

Engineer a conversation to make yourself stand out.

Get a better understanding of what is being looked for.

 

4     Think before you write

Clarity of thought precedes clarity of expression.

Get someone to review the skeleton pitch before you start to flesh it out.

 

5     Develop a thorough budget

Detail gives confidence.

 

6     Good grammar costs nothing

Use short, succinct sentences. No jargon, no waffle.

Never be afraid to repeat key points, but wherever possible try to use different wording to say the same thing.

Have someone else proof read.

 

7     Presentation matters

A picture tells a thousand words.

Good presentation implies professionalism.  Think about the different ways that people learn, such as pictures, information etc.

 

8     Manage the process

Preparation prevents probable poor performance.  Create a realistic timetable – make it SMART.

Allow enough time to get your thinking clear before you start writing.

 

9     Believe

You can do it.

Someone has to get the money.

But don’t assume people will automatically champion your cause.

 

10   Persevere

Take `no’ as the basis for a new question.  Why is it they are saying no?

Learn from the opportunities of rejections received – ask for feedback.

Go for it.