How To Write A Proposal And Submit To Companies For Service Rendering Or Supply In Nigeria
How To Write A Proposal And Submit To Companies For Service Rendering Or Supply In Nigeria
In rendering a service or delivering a product, either as an individual or as a company, there is always a need to prove your worth and build your client’s confidence as the best fit for the job. Several factors contribute to building this confidence. Some of these factors are your composure, appearance, and recommendations based on your previous jobs. In a situation where it’s an online interaction between the client and the supplier, your social media presence is paramount, as well as your behaviour.
Your behaviour on the social media space may influence the level of trust your clients have in you. Still, your client may want to examine your prowess and legitimacy through your LinkedIn profile on the social media space.
In essence, it is important to be cautious and have a good record of operations in order to pave the way for future opportunities. Also, it is very important to note that the quality of one’s proposal is also contributory to being offered the opportunity to deliver a good or service.
Hence, this article is built to assist the reader in submitting quality proposals that cannot be turned down. In this article, a step-by-step approach is utilized in explaining the processes involved in writing acceptable proposals. I will also attach a template for reference purposes.
What Is A Proposal?
A proposal is the expression of the will to do a particular thing. It is used in various contexts. Proposals usage spans through academia, in the context of engagements and marriages, as well as in business. For this article, a business proposal is a written document that expresses the intention of an individual or company to deliver a product or service to another individual or company, being a client. A business proposal is sometimes referred to as a sales pitch.
There are various kinds and forms of business proposals, including;
- Grant Proposals
These proposals portray the necessity or how substantially an individual needs a grant from an organization or company.
- Project Proposals (internal)
This type of proposal is similar to the other forms of a proposal when it happens externally (outside the company) But, in a case where it occurs internally, it differs in some ways.
An individual usually writes an internal project proposal to the company they are working for. It is mostly written to address an issue militating against its productivity. In such a proposal, you’re also required to give a positive impact assessment of your proposal (If executed) on the company’s income.
- Investment Proposal
Infant companies mostly use this to source funds to start their business. For this category of business proposal to be accepted by any dispersing financial institution, it must be detailed in terms of the nature of the business, how it intends to actualize maximum profit, and most importantly, how much would be paid back as interest. Another category of classifying business proposals is the formally solicited, informally solicited, and unsolicited proposals.
- Formally Solicited Proposals
In writing this type of proposal, the writer must be aware that this will serve as a response to either an RFP, RFQ, IVB, etc. A Request For Proposal clearly states what the client wants. It also covers how the proposal must be written to be accepted. In essence, RFPs are written when the client requires the execution of a particular standard that may differ from the conventional approach. Therefore, a formally solicited proposal is a response to this.
- Informally Solicited Proposals
These proposals are usually not too official. It involves informal interaction with the client to know the type of product to be supplied. It utilizes informal means such as physical conversations and social media interactions. Irrespective of the informality, clients still select the best for themselves.
- Unsolicited Proposals
This is just a trial for futuristic products. It’s usually not according to a particular client’s specifications.
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How To Write A Proposal And Submit To Companies For Service Rendering Or Supply In Nigeria
How to Write an Acceptable Proposal
The presentation of your proposal determines whether you receive an acceptance or rejection letter. Here in this section, I’ll guide you through the steps involved in writing an acceptable proposal. These steps include:
- Proper Introduction of yourself or company
In writing your proposal, an introduction is important because it determines whether or not your client proceeds to read your main work. As a proposal writer, you should know that your client will receive a series of proposals therefore there must be something unique, possibly in Grammar and coinage of words, that should separate yours from the rest. You could also state the type of proposal, whether it’s an RFP, or your relationship (in cases where you’ve supplied to them before).
- State your Proposal Objective
The idea of this is more like a mission statement. At this point, you’re required to explain the existing problem from a professional perspective and how you intend to solve them professionally. This part is meant to be clearly understood by your client. Hence, I strongly recommend that it must be kept simple. The proposal writer must do well to play down on excessive use of professional terms ( Jargons). If Jargon must be used, its meaning should be easy to decode based on context, or better still be defined as it’s being used.
- Sell Yourself
After you’ve clearly stated your objective, you can now sell yourself by stating where similar problems were encountered, as well as the approaches you took to alleviate them. Also, state the benefits of your supply; (i.e. the positive impact of your product and other testimonies of your product).
- Budgeting
This is also important since it gives the client an idea of the cost implication of the project. Based on your experience, your budget should be considerate (i.e. do not pad the budget, and do not also underestimate the budget to please the client). In your quotation, you may or may not list everything; but I strongly advise the writer to list even the tiniest product they’re to supply. This portrays you as a very meticulous and experienced dealer.
- State your Desire to Follow Up
This is an ending step. Clearly state in your proposal whether or not you’ll follow up, or you’ll just wait till whenever you’re contacted. Whatever your choice is, don’t fail to express your readiness to supply your product.
Conclusion
Conclude by thanking your client in anticipation of a positive response. Do well to also drop your contact details for enquiries.
TEMPLATE
{COMPANY’S ADDRESS IF A CUSTOMIZED LETTERHEAD IS NOT BEING USED}
DEAR SIR,
PROPOSAL FOR THE SUPPLY OF (Product name)
In response to your need (state the product you’re required to supply), I present to you “company name”, a long-standing dealer in all kinds of (state your products).
(By the already provided steps, each step should be in a paragraph except the actual price quotation, which could be attached on the new page)
Signature __________________________________
Date _______________________________________
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