Writing Business Bids and Proposals For Dummies

Introduction 1
Part 1: Understanding Proposal Development 7
CHAPTER 1: Introducing Bids and Proposals 9
CHAPTER 2: Understanding Different Types of Proposals 25
Part 2: Focusing on Your Customer 53
CHAPTER 3: Building Customer Relationships 55
CHAPTER 4: Giving Your Customers What They Ask For (And More) 77
CHAPTER 5: Sizing Up Your Competition 103
Part 3: Planning Your Approach 123
CHAPTER 6: Developing Your Proposal Process 125
CHAPTER 7: Setting Yourself Apart From Your Competitors 155
CHAPTER 8: Keeping Your Proposal on Track 169
Part 4: Creating Your Proposal 193
CHAPTER 9: Developing Your Proposal 195
CHAPTER 10: Applying the Principles of Good Writing: Structuring Your Argument 221
CHAPTER 11: Making Your Proposals Look Good 251
CHAPTER 12: Getting Your Proposal Out the Door 275
Part 5: Taking Your Proposal to the Next Level 297
CHAPTER 13: Using Tools and Templates to Accelerate Your Proposals 299
CHAPTER 14: Leading Proposal Teams Effectively 323
CHAPTER 15: Making Each Proposal Better than the Last 345
Part 6: The Part of Tens 363
CHAPTER 16: Ten Templates for Building Your Proposal 365
CHAPTER 17: Ten Common Misconceptions about Bids and Proposals 371
Appendix: Online Resources 379
Index 383