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Why You Should NOT Ignore That RFP

Guest post by: Milly Sonneman

Article Overview: Should you bother responding to that RFP? Of course! Discover 3 awesome ways to determine the best RFPs to answer. Use this fast and easy system…see if it doesn’t save you tons of time.

Why You Should NOT Ignore That RFP

Should you bother responding to that RFP? Of course! Discover 3 awesome ways to determine the best RFPs to answer. Use this fast and easy system…see if it doesn’t save you tons of time.

In business, we comb a wide range of sources to share our products, services and expertise. Some companies have a robust process in place for responding to Requests for Proposals. Others, well…the process is more helter skelter.

Depending on your business and offering, responding to RFP’s can range from ‘seemingly impossible’ to ‘no problem.’ As you aim to locate potential clients, it is natural to simultaneously get better and better at responding to requests.

Naturally, it is important to evaluate a few core questions.

First: Are you uniquely positioned to deliver the work requested? If so, responding is not only important, it is essential.

Second: Are you prepared to deal with a “yes!” answer? In other words, is your proposal something that you are able to deliver on? Are you ready with staff, expertise, knowledge, and infrastructure? If so, you know what to do. Respond.

Third: Are you prepared to deliver the best products and services for a given problem or initiative? Are you best in a unique aspect of what you offer? This may be attention to detail, boutique or bespoke customization, or global reach. Whether your company is tiny or massive, there are unique qualities that enable you to deliver a ‘best in class’ response.

Having evaluated these questions, one thing should rise to the top. It is a certainty and clarity. You are the best company for the job. It has your name written all over it. It is overwhelmingly obvious that this job is specifically suited for you, your team, and your offering.

A curious thing happens when this confidence appears. Instead of the RFP seeming like an insurmountable task with tons of unnecessary details and painful forms, it transforms. It becomes an opportunity to articulate exactly why you are the very best choice.

This sensation of confidence only happens when you are authentic and genuine. Ask people who have filled out the forms. Ask friends and colleagues how they felt when they got awarded a contract that ‘had their name’ all over it.

What will they tell you?

More often than not, they will maintain that they knew it all along. There was no internal resistance to the project or proposal. It was in complete alignment with their internal values, strengths and abilities.

So the next time you are looking at an RFP, and tempted to ignore it due to time, effort and resources, ask a different set of questions.

Ask:

1. Does this sound like something we would be thrilled to do?

2. Does this fit our values, vision and mission?

3. Does this have our name written all over it?

When your answers to these questions are “You bet!” then you know what to do. Get to work responding. Fill in all the details. Present your analysis, design and information in a way that wins attention.

Many of the successful responses to RFP’s are successful because this intuitive certainty is backed up with solid evidence. Charts, diagrams, examples and maps show all the benefits of working with your firm.

When you evaluate each RFP for capabilities and fit, you will recognize the ones that you must respond to. With your clear proposal, compelling visuals, and imaginative contribution, you can expect that the right decisions will be made.

Interested in getting the presentation skills you need to win top results? That’s when you’ll feel the thrill. Imagine telling your friends: “Sure we got it. It had our name written all over it.”

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Re: Spellcheck? - [quote="TheAnonymousMan":2f894q6j]When discussing the majority of people I would definitely say that most people hit the "Change" or "Ignore" button without thinking too much about the correct spelling of a word. All bosses are concerned about is getting the report to the Directors meeting on time.[/quote:2f894q6j] That probably depends on what the "majority" are trying to accomplish. I have word set to alert me about misspellings and grammatical problems, so I fix most as I go. But I also add names etc to the dictionary because I get tired of seeing the red and green squiggles when I know the info is right. If you're only going to click "Change" or "Ignore" then why bother to take the time to use spell check????? Business people that I work for want the info compiled in a timely manner and they want it right - which is fine because that's the way I strive to do any project. Sending out a memo, letter, report etc with obvious spelling and grammatical mistakes makes the person and the company look bad as far as I'm concerned. Shri
Re: Spellcheck? - [quote="Nana":1fo9wjn7]I like spell check because sometimes I don't realize I am spelling a word wrong, so rather then continuously spelling that word wrong I'd like to know the correct spelling. Also, if I know that I can't spell a word I'll use spell check as a means to learn the correct spelling. One can improve their English using a spell check if they actually take the time to note the correct spelling of the word.[/quote:1fo9wjn7] When discussing the majority of people I would definitely say that most people hit the "Change" or "Ignore" button without thinking too much about the correct spelling of a word. All bosses are concerned about is getting the report to the Directors meeting on time.
Avoid Franchise Mistakes - I Came across these 7 tips for helping you avoid costly mistakes when buying a franchise & thought they would be helpful... It takes a lot of money to build a business, and you certainly don't want to waste any. Check this list of 7 costly mistakes to avoid. 1. Letting emotions rule. Falling in love with a franchise concept is a common mistake. Don't let your emotions guide your decisions. Use your head, do your due diligence and take the time to thoroughly investigate the franchisor's offering. 2. No professional team. Don't try to do your own financials, contract reviews, or negotiating. The cost of professional franchise attorneys, accountants, and advisors is money well spent. 3. Too little cash. Lack of capital is the number one reason franchisees fail. Item 7 in the UFOC will tell you how much money you'll need with a low and high range. Be smart-go with the high range. Then ask current franchisees if the numbers are high enough. 4. Penny wise and pound foolish. Choosing one franchise over another because the initial franchisee fees are lower is shortsighted. It assumes that all franchises are alike and nothing could be further from the truth. Choose the franchise with the proven concept and strongest track record. 5. Too much help. Payroll is the biggest part of overhead for most franchise businesses. New franchisees often hire too many people or pay too much in wages. A good franchisor will provide a good staffing plan. Stick to the plan. 6. No comparison. Never buy expensive equipment, supplies or inventory without shopping around first. Even if your franchisor offers group purchasing, do your own research, shop as many vendors as you can, consider aftermarket suppliers, and weigh different financing options (loans or leases). 7. Marketing blunders. As a new business owner, you're going to be targeted by every ad salesperson around. Ignore them. Follow your franchisor's marketing plan to the letter to avoid wasting thousands.
Re: Avoid Franchise Mistakes - [quote="BizLoanz4u":311o7qo8]I Came across these 7 tips for helping you avoid costly mistakes when buying a franchise & thought they would be helpful... It takes a lot of money to build a business, and you certainly don't want to waste any. Check this list of 7 costly mistakes to avoid. 1. Letting emotions rule. Falling in love with a franchise concept is a common mistake. Don't let your emotions guide your decisions. Use your head, do your due diligence and take the time to thoroughly investigate the franchisor's offering. 2. No professional team. Don't try to do your own financials, contract reviews, or negotiating. The cost of professional franchise attorneys, accountants, and advisors is money well spent. 3. Too little cash. Lack of capital is the number one reason franchisees fail. Item 7 in the UFOC will tell you how much money you'll need with a low and high range. Be smart-go with the high range. Then ask current franchisees if the numbers are high enough. 4. Penny wise and pound foolish. Choosing one franchise over another because the initial franchisee fees are lower is shortsighted. It assumes that all franchises are alike and nothing could be further from the truth. Choose the franchise with the proven concept and strongest track record. 5. Too much help. Payroll is the biggest part of overhead for most franchise businesses. New franchisees often hire too many people or pay too much in wages. A good franchisor will provide a good staffing plan. Stick to the plan. 6. No comparison. Never buy expensive equipment, supplies or inventory without shopping around first. Even if your franchisor offers group purchasing, do your own research, shop as many vendors as you can, consider aftermarket suppliers, and weigh different financing options (loans or leases). 7. Marketing blunders. As a new business owner, you're going to be targeted by every ad salesperson around. Ignore them. Follow your franchisor's marketing plan to the letter to avoid wasting thousands.[/quote:311o7qo8] Sometimes, or most often financial stability is the most core problem. That's why, in business capital, investments is truly important to save to in every risk that can be possibly avoided.


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