If you have spent time writing a client proposal, you know it’s not easy. It’s downright tedious. You might start from an outline, collect prospect information, and include relevant graphs from various departments. I am here to tell you that there is an easier way.
Rather than manually writing each proposal or taking bits and pieces of Word documents of previously-crafted slide decks and creating new documents, leverage a proposal software tool.
Why Use a Proposal Software
In addition to the amount of data you can collect, such as metrics, pipeline views, interactive pricing tables, and more, here are ten additional benefits.
- Simplifies the sales process
- Speeds up negotiation and objection handling
- Seamlessly collaborates and tracks the process in a CRM
- Updates documents and proposals quickly
- Revives inactive deals
- Grows revenue
- Saves time with templates
- Increases your document hit rate
- Accepts secure and legally-binding electronic signatures
- Sets automatic reminders for clients and prospects
Tried-And-True Proposal Software Tools
HubSpot recently shared its list of favorite proposal software tools. None are free. Each has unique features.
- PandaDoc: easily create customized, on-brand proposals through collaboration tools, integrations with several CRMs, and a content library.
- RFPIO: using artificial intelligence, it suggests responses from your content library that best answers the RFP.
- FastSpring IQ: easily incorporates videos, customer testimonials, and other supporting assets, acting as a modern alternative for lengthy slide decks and PDFs.
- Proposify: easily add different sections to your document, customize a proposal with an InDesign-like editor, add text, images, and videos.
- Venngage: an extensive library of proposal templates with a drag-and-drop editor to create eye-catching proposals in minutes.
- Qwilr: embed interactive content, such as video, maps, interactive dashboards, and Google Sheets, while tracking what people view and click.
- Bidsketch: create proposals by combining sections or using the company’s sample proposal language; plus, indicate optional fees to take advantage of upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
- Loopio: pull from your content library to auto-populate a proposal and integrate it with tools, including Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Google Drive, OneDrive, Slack, and many more.
- Proposable: use drag-and-drop creation tools, email and SMS notifications, and analytics for a deeper understanding of your sales pipeline.
- RFP360: centralize requests for proposal (RFP) answers in a knowledge library, saving you time and effort by importing RFPs and using AI to suggest responses.
- Prospero: its drag-and-drop interface for images, videos, icons, backgrounds, and texts, plus an easy signature method.
Proposal Table of Contents
PandaDoc provides a sample proposal template that you can download for free. It includes the following sections.
- Cover letter
- Sender/Company Background
- Service(s)
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll
- Financial Analysis
- Tax Preparation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Financial Consulting
- Pricing
- Acceptance
Final Tips
Hinge Marketing offers these proposal tips for professional services firms:
- Use fewer words
- Organize content for easy skimming
- Never use words when a picture will do, e.g., graphs
- Propose a better way for the client to achieve their goals (versus what they asked for)
- Consider video to capture case studies, client evaluations, or testimonials
- Surprise them with industry research and backup assertions with data
- Offer something extra
When it comes to proposals, do you want to spend time writing them or signing the prospect? Now is the time to invest in a proposal tool that will take your firm to the next level and increase its efficiency.
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