Category: Writing a Proposal

Writing a Successful Proposal

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Proposal is written with a purpose of improving services, developing new product and solving a certain problems.   It involves of describing a problem and proposing a solution to it. A successful proposal contains executive summary, statement of the problem, project description, financial analysis, organizational structure, conclusion and summary.

A successful proposal can be vital in winning a project. So it is important to writing your proposal in a right way.  Your executive summary should contain the reason for proposal as well as the summary of the proposal.  Decision-makers usually focus on the executive summary to know what the proposal is all about.

Also, state your goals and objectives of your proposal in the statement of the problem.  While in the project description, just describe your plans and details your project on how to achieve your goals and objectives.

Financial or budget analysis should also include in your proposal to know how your plan and project will be financed and explain operating expenses.

Organizational structure includes the people behind the project to be feasible such as hierarchy arrangement of personnel including their duties and responsibilities.  The last but not the least is the conclusion which provides the summary of your proposal.

Proposal for the Management

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If you are one person who is concern in your company, you might want to write a proposal address to the management to make suggestion for their improvements.  Some reason why to write a proposal to management is to improve their services, to have new safety measures, new business venture, money saving ideas and other income generation ventures.

When writing proposal to the management, you should first identify current situations along with the problems and other issues that needs attention.   Once problem and objective have been identified, it now your time to explain to management your proposed solution to the problem.  Some examples or reason of your proposed solution will be new implement new rules and procedures as well as new safety measures or methods to improve processes.   Also you can propose to have a new product as a new source of income.  You can outline the details of how you will implement the changes you want to make. Then, specify the steps required to perform the change. Always makes the list of steps so that it will be easy to understand.

After identifying the steps, you are now ready to emphasize the main benefits of your proposal.  Some examples of benefits of your proposal are to generate income, increase efficiency and employee competence.  Make sure to convince that your proposal is beneficial to the management as well as to the company.

Always be ready to prepare the document that will support your argument because of possible objection to the proposal. Make sure to conduct market analysis and financial analysis to be presented to the management.

The last but not the least, proofread the proposal to avoid any possible errors including spelling or grammar.  Also, you can ask your friends, classmate, expert and adviser to review your proposal and get their opinions and ideas.

Advertising Proposal

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An advertising proposal is usually written by agencies and advertising consultants for clients.  They proposed to have an advertising campaign so that the product or services make known to the general public or to the specific section of the public. People as consumers will have a choice available in the market. If a company or a client wants to sell a product, it is wisely to have an advertising campaign to sell the product to make the consumer interested.

Advertising proposal gives the client an outline as well the details, objectives, scope and goals of the advertising campaign. Also, it includes the marketing strategies to be used in order to have a successful advertising campaign. In addition, advertising proposal should have summarized of what to expect from it.  It should discuss the type of advertising campaign to be used whether it is print advertising, online advertising, or television.

Indicate the target market of the advertising campaign being recommended in the advertising proposal.  Explain the type of people trying to attract using the advertising campaign.  Include the spending and buying habits, age, interest, etc. as well as the materials used for example the questionnaires with analysis.

Specify also the budget and cost of the advertising campaign so that the client should decide whether the advertising budget is affordable and worth it.

Marketing Proposal

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Marketing proposal is written as guidance of a businessmen and a client to establish objectives and expectations. Also, it is written to improve the current marketing plan.

As first step to write a marketing proposal, you should analyze the current market such as company’s competitors.  Also, research the prospective client as well as their ages, locations, occupation, social status, and economic status.

List your proposed improvements and strategies to the current market.  Present new and specific ideas for each problem as you list down your proposed solutions.

After a thorough analysis, you can now write an executive summary that summarizes your proposed solutions as well as the market analysis and prospective clients.  You should discuss the advantages and benefits of using your marketing ideas.

Also, explain how your marketing proposal will be implemented. Provide step by step procedures how to achieve a successful marketing strategy.

In addition, you must provide a budget or financial fees that outline the cost of plan, implementation and maintenance.

Last but not the least; conclusion is also included in your marketing proposal.  Conclusion should mention why it is the right choice and explain the expected results that will favor in the company.

Formal and Informal Proposal

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Formal Proposal is usually respond to Request for Proposal (RFPs) from external source These RFPs is normally have specific guidelines and format for your proposal.  While in informal proposal is written as memos since it is a formal report within the organization or company.

The structure for informal proposal is much simple than informal proposal.  Informal proposal compose of purpose of your proposal and problem statement as well as background and scope. Scope is written to know the limitations of your proposal. Also, include the planned approach in order to solve the problem and how it will be implemented. Other components include personnel, facilities and equipment, budget and project timeline.  At the last part, you can write a conclusion which provides a summary of the entire proposal with the information of your contact details

Writing formal proposal is more difficult than informal proposal since the components if more complicated. In addition, external source will be given a format to be followed.  These components include cover letter, introduction, purpose of the proposal, methodology, project timetable, required facilities and equipment, resume, bibliography and appendices. Also you should include summary, table of contents and list of figures and tables.

Proposal is written to solve whether it is formal or informal proposal.  Examples of problems are outdated system, low volume of sales, slow processing of information, poor service, and many more.  These problems can be solved using methods that can be elaborate in your proposal through feasibility study and business plan.

Kinds and Classification of Proposal

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During my college days, it is hard to distinguish the difference between the kinds and classification of proposal that’s why I want to share this information. The following text was taken in “Technical Writing, Organization, Form and Content, revised edition by Corazon C. Obnamia, Mariano S Dela Cruz and Margaret S. Aquino.”

Kinds of Proposal

There are three (3) kinds of proposal

1.  The Technical Proposal solves a problem
2. The Management Proposal explains to the prospective client how the entire project will be managed, tells who will manage it, and suggests a time schedule for the completion of the project.
3. A Cost Proposal gives a detailed breakdown of the cost in terms of labor and materials.

Classification of Proposals

1.    A Solicited proposal is requested by a client or a customer.

A request for proposal (RFP) is a document sent out by organizations wanting to receive proposals for a product or service.  It guides an organization on 1) what a proposal should cover 2) when it should be submitted and 3) to whom it should be sent.

2.    An Unsolicited proposal is submitted without a request.

It is prepared by a company in the hope that the excellence of the idea or plan proposed will persuade the potential client of the need.

Effective Proposal Writing

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Of course, it will said to be effective proposal if it is accepted.  The question is how to write an effective proposal.  Proposal is effective if it prove to solve a problem and get approve by your reader or audience.

At the beginning of your proposal, state your purpose clearly. Also, mention your background information so that your audience or reader will understand your proposal. In addition, avoid technical terms and use language that everyone can understand.

In order to have an effective proposal, you should define the problem clearly and then specify your solution to solve the problem. Remember that the purpose of your proposal is to convince your reader or audience that your solution is the best.  As much as possible provide samples and information based on facts to be more convincing and meaningful.  Your opinion will not support by your audience.  Research more about your topic to have more concrete evidence that will support your proposal.

Include the analysis of your plan as well as the result of your solution.  Your audience should know that the solution is working to solve the problem.

The most concern of your audience if your proposal is financially feasible, that’s why it is important that your proposal is attainable and affordable by the company.  Think of company’s finances.  Explain to them that your proposal would be worth their money and time. You can provide cost benefit analysis.

Finally, overall appearance of your proposal should be perfect such as proper margin, grammar and spelling.

Proposal Writing Tips and Strategies

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Writing proposal can be tedious job but if you will know the steps of writing proposal, it can never be difficult.  The first step in writing a proposal is defining the project by establishing proposal title.  Also, it is need to identify the agency as well as find out guidelines and deadlines.  Write down preliminary material. In addition, perform literature search and also consider writing the first draft of full proposal.

Some parts to consider in writing proposal are introduction, problem statement, objectives, methodology, evaluation if necessary, dissemination, future funding, budget, appendices, abstract and curriculum vitae. Not all proposals require these parts but most of them are required by agency.

The following are some tips and strategies in writing proposal:

  • Make use of outline formats and records to break up narrative texts.
  • Do not use vague languages like might, could, ought, should, hope, will, may, it appears, consider.
  • Don’t think that the reader is familiar with the subject.
  • Prevent using unsupported arguments.
  • Avoid impossible promises.
  • Include illustrations or visuals to explain abstract concepts and relationships.
  • Proofread and review proposal over and over again and let someone to proofread it to see opinion of others.
  • Proposal should be organized, readable, grammar free and without missing page and also consider overall appearance such as cleanliness.

Proposal Checklist

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I hope these proposal checklist helps you in writing your proposal.

  • Obtain copy of RFP to make sure that your proposal adheres with the guidelines and rules.
  • State your idea clearly and concisely in writing.
  • Your proposal should be timely, significant, innovative and unique.
  • Cite alternative approaches and justified why your idea is the best.
  • Review literature carefully.
  • Identify your skills and partner’s skills.
  • Use graphs, tables, figures and visual materials.
  • Don’t forget to include the schedule of activities.
  • Include proposal costing
  • Get specialist or expert knowledge, if necessary.
  • Number the pages of your proposal.
  • Let someone proofread your proposal for further evaluation and correction.
  • Attach necessary supporting documents.

Writing a Proposal

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The technical proposal is our division’s primary sales tool. Our proposals can have a major effect on our performance in highly competitive… market, and it is imperative that they be as good as we can possibly make them. They must not only be technically sound, but they must also be logically and clearly presented.

What is proposal?

– A proposal is a written offer to solve as technical problem in a particular way, under a specified plan of management, for a specified sum of money.

– A proposal is a document designed to convince a “customer” that the company (or organization) presenting it is better qualified to supply a desired product or service than are all the other companies submitting proposals.

– Often a proposal is a very long report and instead of being prepared by a single author, a considerable number of people may collaborate in the writing.

– Some proposals are quite brief and are being prepared by a single author.

– Proposals must be factual, objective, logical.

Proposal Objective

1. Business Proposal
– to solve the perceived problem in the reader’s organization or government office
– to win an award of a contract
– benefits of the proposed services or products are offered for a quoted payment, usually money

2. Research Proposal
– researcher writes a proposal to the funding agency requesting for compensation – a grant

Proposal Condition

  1. A proposal prepared by a single author in an application to a government agency for funding a research project.
  2. A proposal written by a researcher which is research study. The researcher needs a grant before undertaking a costly project or study culminating in a long, formal report must write a research proposal to the funding agency. Again the writer requests compensation – a grant.