Fix Your Proposals in 5 Minutes: Making Clients Care From Page One
Imagine you're walking into a party. Instead of saying hello, you dive straight into your life story. You talk about where you grew up, what you’ve achieved, how great you are.
A good way to have everyone slowly back away and scramble to find someone else to talk to, right?
That’s exactly what happens when a proposal starts with the “About Us” section. Before you’ve even acknowledged the client’s needs, you’ve made the conversation all about yourself.
Your proposal isn't about you. It's about your client.
When a client opens your proposal, their number one question is: "Can these people fix my problem?"
Clients don’t read proposals hoping to be impressed by your story. They want reassurance that you get them. They want to know that you see their problem, that you have a plan to solve it, and that investing in your solution will be money well spent.
A real example
Say you're offering website design. Compare these:
Old way (all about you)
1. About us
We're the best web design company around with 10 years of experience. Here is a list of our design awards.
2. Our Services
We do website design, SEO optimization, content updates, and ongoing maintenance.
3. Your Project
Here's what we think you need.
4. Pricing
This is how much it will cost you.
New way (all about them)
1. Your Problem
Your website doesn't work well on phones, so you're losing customers.
2. Our Fix
We'll create a site that works on all devices. Your sales will go up by up to 30%.
3. Our Plan
Here's how we'll do it in 8 weeks.
4. About Us
By the way, we've been doing this for 10 years. According to our previous clients, we're pretty good at it.
5. Investment
Clear pricing breakdown in plain English.
Which one would you pick if you were the client?
At Better Proposals, we're seeing this work every day. The proposals that perform the best feel like a chat, not a speech.
The fix is simple
If there was ever a good time to put yourself last, it's when you're writing a business proposal. Put the client first, and you'll win more deals.
Save your "About Us" for the very end of the proposal. By the time the client gets there, they're already excited about your solution. Let your achievements and expertise become the final push they need to pick you.
