The 7 Steps of Proposal Writing

Writing a proposal can be daunting, even if what you’re proposing is pretty straightforward. You want to present your ideas in the most efficient way possible to ensure that you’re getting through to your audience.

So whether you are planning a new budget or trying to make a sale, follow these 7 steps when writing your proposal.

1. Clarify your objectives.

Before you explain your reasoning, take time to clearly state the intended end result.

2. Analyze your audience.

It is essential that you figure out who you’re speaking to before you begin writing, so you can organize your ideas in a way that appeals to them.

3. Get your thoughts on paper.

It doesn’t have to be neat at this point, just write down any and all thoughts that come to your mind. Even the silly ones.

4. Group, label, and edit your thoughts.

Now is the time to look for patterns and similarities among your reasons.

5. Make an outline to sequence your ideas.

Organize all of your thoughts in a way that makes sense to the reader. What are you trying to convince them to do? Have you led them to the right conclusion?

6. Add the finishing touches.

Ensure that your proposal has a solid conclusion. Don’t present any new information here. Reiterate your previous reasons and finish strong.

7. Proofread and edit.

Go over your proposal 1-2 more times to ensure clarity or ask for feedback from colleagues.

To make proposal writing easier, programs like Excel and Word provide useful templates for a variety of proposals.

If you’d like to learn more about Microsoft templates and other great features, enroll in one of our end user training courses!

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