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Author: John Hudson

Incorporating Art And Design: Visual Elements For Winning Creative Bids

Posted on by John Hudson

In the competitive world of bidding, where countless proposals vie for attention, integrating strong visual elements into your creative bids can set you apart. Kathryn Johansen, Head of Creative at askabidwriter.com, shares her insights on how to effectively incorporate art and design to enhance your bids and capture the evaluators’ attention.

  1. Know Your Audience

Before diving into design, it’s crucial to understand who will be reading your bid. Tailor your visual elements to resonate with the target audience’s preferences and expectations. Research the client’s branding, style, and previous projects to ensure your visuals align with their vision.

  1. Establish a Strong Visual Identity

Consistency is key in creating a cohesive bid. Use a unified color palette, typography, and layout that reflects your brand identity and the project’s theme. This not only makes your bid visually appealing but also helps reinforce your agency’s identity in the mind of the evaluators.

  1. Utilize Infographics and Visual Data

Infographics can effectively convey complex information in a digestible format. Use charts, graphs, and diagrams to highlight key data points, statistics, or project timelines. This not only improves readability but also ensures that critical information stands out, making it easier for evaluators to grasp your message.

  1. Incorporate Engaging Imagery

High-quality images can make a significant impact on your bid. Use relevant visuals that support your narrative and showcase your previous work or concepts for the project. Whether it’s photographs, illustrations, or mockups, ensure that the imagery aligns with the bid’s overall message and enhances your storytelling.

  1. Highlight the User Experience

Consider the overall flow of your bid. Create a visually engaging layout that guides the reader through your proposal, making it easy to navigate. Use headings, bullet points, and ample white space to break up text and create a comfortable reading experience. This thoughtful approach demonstrates professionalism and consideration for the evaluators’ time.

  1. Tell a Story with Visuals

Your bid is not just about facts and figures; it’s a narrative. Use visuals to help tell your story. This could include mood boards that reflect the project’s tone, sketches that illustrate design concepts, or video clips that bring your ideas to life. Engaging storytelling through visuals can captivate your audience and make your bid memorable.

  1. Seek Feedback from Design Experts

If you have access to a team of designers, like Kathryn Johansen’s team at askabidwriter.com, collaborate with them to refine your visual elements. Their expertise can help ensure that your bid not only looks great but also effectively communicates your ideas. Utilize their skills to elevate your proposal’s design and overall impact.

 

Jill’s Tips for Standing Out in Competitive Exercises Without Designed Proposals

When it comes to competitive bidding exercises where designed proposals are not permitted, it’s essential to focus on content quality and strategic presentation. Here are Jill Hudson’s top tips for ensuring your proposal stands out above the competition:

  1. Focus on Clarity and Conciseness

Make your proposal as clear and concise as possible. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. Present your ideas logically, breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible sections. This clarity will help evaluators quickly grasp your key points and value proposition.

  1. Craft a Compelling Executive Summary

Your executive summary is often the first thing evaluators read, so make it count. Summarize your key offerings and unique selling points succinctly. Highlight the benefits to the client and outline why you are the best fit for the project. A strong executive summary sets the tone for the entire proposal and can capture the evaluators’ attention from the outset.

  1. Emphasize Your Unique Value Proposition

Clearly articulate what sets your organization apart from competitors. Highlight specific skills, experiences, or innovative solutions that you bring to the table. Make sure to connect your unique value to the client’s needs and objectives, demonstrating how your approach aligns with their goals.

  1. Use Testimonials and Case Studies

Incorporate testimonials from satisfied clients or relevant case studies that showcase your past successes. These real-world examples add credibility to your proposal and demonstrate your ability to deliver results. Highlighting successful outcomes reinforces your qualifications and builds trust with evaluators.

  1. Engage with a Strong Narrative

Even without design elements, you can still tell a compelling story. Weave a narrative throughout your proposal that outlines the challenges the client faces and how your solution addresses those challenges. Use persuasive language to engage the reader emotionally and rationally.

  1. Demonstrate Understanding of the Client’s Needs

Show that you’ve thoroughly researched the client’s requirements and objectives. Address specific pain points and articulate how your proposal aligns with their goals. This personalized approach demonstrates your commitment to understanding their needs and reinforces your suitability for the project.

  1. Provide Clear Action Plans and Timelines

Outline a detailed action plan that shows how you intend to execute the project. Include timelines, milestones, and responsibilities to provide a roadmap for the evaluators. This clarity helps instill confidence in your capabilities and assures the client that you have a structured approach to achieving results.

  1. Leverage Data and Evidence

Support your claims with relevant data, research findings, or metrics. Providing evidence of your past performance or industry insights can strengthen your proposal and make your case more compelling. Quantitative data lends credibility and demonstrates your analytical approach to problem-solving.

  1. Polish Your Writing

Ensure your proposal is free from errors, typos, or grammatical mistakes. A polished and professional document reflects attention to detail and commitment to quality. Consider having a colleague review your proposal for clarity and coherence before submission.

  1. Prepare for Follow-Up Questions

Anticipate potential questions or concerns that evaluators may have regarding your proposal. Prepare thoughtful responses that address these points proactively. Demonstrating your readiness to engage in discussion shows confidence and reinforces your commitment to the project.

 

Conclusion

Incorporating art and design into your creative bids can significantly enhance your chances of success. By following Kathryn Johansen’s advice and focusing on the audience, visual identity, and engaging storytelling, you can craft proposals that stand out from the competition. Remember, a well-designed bid is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a compelling narrative that resonates with evaluators and showcases your agency’s unique capabilities. Embrace the power of visuals and elevate your bids to new heights!

Crafting Creative Bids: Techniques To Make Your Proposal Stand Out

Posted on by John Hudson

In today’s competitive market, winning bids often comes down to more than just meeting the basic requirements. Creative agencies know that storytelling, design, and innovation can make a significant difference in making your proposal stand out from the crowd. At Creative RFPs, powered by askabidwriter.com, we’ve helped hundreds of creative businesses craft proposals that not only capture attention but also win contracts. Here’s how you can elevate your next bid and showcase your agency’s unique capabilities.

 

  1. Tell a Compelling Story

Every great bid starts with a great story. Your agency’s journey, values, and vision should shine through in your proposal. Craft a narrative that connects your experience with the needs of the client. Use case studies or past success stories to show how your creativity has led to measurable results for clients similar to the one you’re bidding for. Remember, storytelling isn’t just about listing achievements; it’s about creating an emotional connection that resonates with evaluators.

  1. Leverage Visual Design

A well-designed bid isn’t just pleasing to the eye; it’s easier to read and digest. Invest in a professional layout with strong typography, visuals, and infographics that highlight your key points. Use your agency’s design expertise to create a visual hierarchy that guides the evaluator’s eye to the most important sections. Visuals like project timelines, workflows, and data can often communicate complex ideas far better than words.

  1. Personalize Your Approach

Tailor every proposal to the specific client and project. Generic bids often fall flat, whereas personalized proposals demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to understand the client’s goals and challenges. Use the client’s branding, tone of voice, and industry-specific language where appropriate to make them feel that your agency is already aligned with their vision.

  1. Focus on Innovation

Clients want to see forward-thinking agencies that can offer new ideas. When crafting your proposal, highlight any innovative approaches, technologies, or methodologies your agency uses. Whether it’s a unique process for generating creative concepts or advanced digital tools for project management, positioning your agency as a thought leader can set you apart from the competition.

  1. Demonstrate Value Beyond the Scope

Don’t just show how you’ll complete the project; show how you’ll add value. Offer insights on how you can exceed expectations or provide long-term benefits. For example, if you’re bidding on a branding project, suggest how your work could impact future marketing campaigns or customer engagement. Demonstrating a holistic approach will make your bid more attractive and showcase your commitment to the client’s success.

  1. Engage with Interactive Elements

Consider incorporating interactive elements like video introductions, clickable case studies, or digital mock-ups to enhance your bid presentation. Engaging the client with multimedia can leave a lasting impression and make your bid more memorable. Digital tools like augmented reality or 3D visualizations can also showcase your creative work in dynamic and immersive ways.

  1. Use Clear, Concise Language

Even the most creative bid can fall short if it’s hard to follow. While creativity is important, clarity is essential. Make sure your proposal is easy to read and free of jargon that could confuse evaluators. Focus on clear, impactful language that communicates your message quickly and effectively.

  1. Highlight Collaborative Capabilities

Clients often value agencies that are collaborative, responsive, and easy to work with. In your bid, emphasize your team’s communication skills, project management capabilities, and how you approach collaboration with clients. Offer examples of past projects where close client-agency collaboration led to successful outcomes.

  1. Make Your Bid Stand Out with a Unique Concept

While maintaining professionalism, don’t be afraid to get creative with the overall concept of your bid. For example, you could structure your proposal like a magazine or an interactive digital experience that reflects your agency’s brand personality. The key is to make the client want to spend time reviewing your bid because it’s both engaging and informative.

  1. Proof and Polish

Finally, nothing diminishes a creative bid more than typos, formatting errors, or inconsistencies. Take the time to proofread every aspect of your proposal, ensuring everything aligns with the client’s brief. A polished, professional proposal is the final step to leave a lasting impression.

 

Jill’s Top 5 Reasons for Creative Agencies to Bid for Government Contracts in the UK

Bidding for government contracts can be an excellent opportunity for creative agencies looking to expand their horizons. Here are Jill’s top five reasons why creative agencies should consider pursuing these contracts:

  1. Steady Income

Government contracts often provide long-term projects with consistent payments, creating a reliable revenue stream. This stability allows creative agencies to plan their budgets effectively and invest in future growth without the worry of fluctuating income.

  1. Opportunity for Growth

Winning government contracts can significantly boost your agency’s portfolio. These projects often involve high visibility and substantial budgets, allowing agencies to take on larger-scale work and expand their capabilities. The experience gained from these projects can also position your agency for future, more lucrative opportunities.

  1. Enhanced Reputation

Successfully completing government projects can bolster your agency’s reputation in the industry. Working with government bodies can serve as a prestigious endorsement, showcasing your ability to deliver quality work under strict regulations and high standards. This enhanced credibility can attract new clients and partnerships.

  1. Access to Valuable Feedback

Government contracts typically involve rigorous evaluation processes, providing agencies with constructive feedback on their proposals and deliverables. This insight can be invaluable for improving your bid-writing strategies and service offerings, helping you refine your approach for future opportunities.

  1. Chance to Contribute to Public Good

Bidding for government contracts allows creative agencies to work on projects that positively impact society. Whether it’s promoting public health, enhancing education, or supporting community initiatives, agencies can take pride in contributing to the public good while showcasing their creativity and expertise.

By understanding these benefits, creative agencies can make informed decisions about pursuing government contracts and leverage the unique opportunities they present to elevate their business to new heights.

At Creative RFPs, powered by askabidwriter.com, we specialize in helping creative agencies bring their bids to life with innovative strategies and compelling designs. By incorporating these techniques into your next proposal, you’ll not only stand out but also increase your chances of winning the contracts that matter most. Let’s craft something extraordinary together!

 

FAQs:

1. What are the key elements of a creative bid proposal?
– Key elements include a compelling story, strong visual design, personalization, innovation, and clear language to differentiate your bid.

2. How can storytelling improve my bid proposals?
– Storytelling connects your agency’s values and successes with the client’s needs, creating an emotional bond that makes your proposal memorable.

3. Why is visual design important in bid proposals?
– Visual design enhances readability and highlights key points, making your proposal more attractive and easier for evaluators to navigate.

4. What role does personalization play in crafting a bid?
– Personalization shows understanding of the client’s goals, increasing the chances of your proposal resonating with evaluators and standing out.

5. How can I ensure my bid proposal is free of errors?
– Proofread thoroughly and consider peer reviews to eliminate mistakes, ensuring a polished and professional appearance in your proposal.

Incorporating Art and Design: Visual Elements for Winning Creative Bids

Posted on by John Hudson

Incorporating Art and Design: Visual Elements for Winning Creative Bids

In the competitive world of bidding, especially in the creative sector, it’s not just about what you say—it’s also about how you present it. A well-crafted proposal that is visually appealing can set your bid apart, capturing attention and leaving a lasting impression. Art and design elements are crucial to winning creative bids, as they showcase your ability to communicate ideas beautifully and effectively. In this blog, we explore how incorporating visual elements can transform your bids from standard submissions into standout presentations.

  1. First Impressions Matter: The Power of Aesthetic Appeal

The first thing evaluators notice about your bid is how it looks. Clean, professional design instantly conveys credibility and attention to detail, setting the stage for a positive evaluation. A visually appealing document not only holds attention longer but also reflects the creative prowess your business offers.

Tip: Use a polished layout with balanced whitespace, easy-to-read fonts, and a cohesive color scheme that aligns with your branding. Consistency across headings, subheadings, and sections makes your bid easier to follow and more professional.

  1. Infographics: Simplifying Complex Data

When dealing with data-heavy content, infographics can be a game-changer. Instead of overwhelming readers with blocks of text or spreadsheets, use visual representations like charts, graphs, or diagrams. Infographics allow evaluators to digest complex information quickly and in a more engaging way, while showcasing your ability to present ideas visually.

Tip: Incorporate custom-designed infographics that not only simplify the information but also reflect your unique brand style. Make sure they are clear, concise, and tied to the core message of your bids.

  1. Images and Case Studies: Show, Don’t Just Tell

Incorporating images, especially those that showcase your past work, adds credibility to your bid. Photographs, design mockups, or screenshots from previous projects help clients visualize your capabilities. When paired with compelling case studies, they provide tangible evidence of your success.

Tip: Select images that directly relate to the client’s needs or the industry you’re bidding for. High-quality visuals that demonstrate relevant experience and your creative process can make a powerful impact.

  1. Interactive and Digital Elements: Elevating Engagement

In an increasingly digital world, incorporating interactive or dynamic elements in your bids can give you an edge. Interactive PDFs, embedded videos, and hyperlinks to relevant work are excellent ways to engage the evaluator beyond traditional methods. A short video showcasing your team’s creative process, or a digital portfolio can make your proposal not only memorable but more immersive.

Tip: Ensure that interactive elements are purposeful and user-friendly. They should enhance the bid’s content, not overwhelm or distract from it. Keep load times and accessibility in mind to ensure smooth navigation.

  1. Branding Consistency: Reinforce Your Identity

Your brand is your identity, and every element of your bid should reinforce it. From the use of your logo to the color palette, typography, and even tone of voice, consistency in branding creates a cohesive experience for the evaluator. It also solidifies your professionalism and makes your bid more memorable.

Tip: Ensure that your visual branding aligns with the story and message you are trying to convey. Every detail—from the cover page to the closing statement—should reflect your brand’s values and creative style.

  1. Emphasize Innovation Through Design

For many clients, innovation is key. By incorporating cutting-edge design elements, you not only show your ability to deliver creative solutions but also demonstrate a forward-thinking approach. Custom illustrations, unique typography, or a sleek, modern layout can help position your bid as innovative and fresh.

Tip: While innovative design is a great way to stand out, balance it with readability and functionality. The design should enhance the bid’s message, not obscure it.

How Creative RFPs Can Help 

At Creative RFPs, we understand that art and design are essential to crafting winning bids. Our team of experts assists creative agencies in developing visually stunning proposals that effectively communicate their value. By providing support with design strategy, branding consistency, and incorporating interactive elements, we help our clients create bids that are as visually compelling as they are persuasive.

Conclusion

Incorporating art and design into your bid is not just an aesthetic choice—it’s a strategic one. A well-designed proposal can make a lasting impact, clearly communicate your message, and show evaluators your creative prowess before they even read a word. With the right visual elements, your bid will not only stand out but resonate with clients on a deeper level, increasing your chances of success in the highly competitive creative sector.

Crafting Creative Bids: Techniques to Make Your Proposal Stand Out & How Creative RFPs Can Assist

Posted on by John Hudson

Crafting Creative Bids: Techniques to Make Your Proposal Stand Out & How Creative RFPs Can Assist

In today’s competitive business landscape, standing out in the bidding process is essential to securing lucrative contracts. Crafting a compelling bid is not just about fulfilling the requirements but about telling a story that captivates evaluators.

Our Experience

Here at Creative RFPs, we have partnered with over 500 creative agencies, helping them craft compelling and winning bids across various sectors. From full-service agencies to video production companies, design agencies, and web developers, our team at Creative RFPs has supported these businesses by tailoring proposals that showcase their unique strengths and creative capabilities. By leveraging industry-specific insights and storytelling, Creative RFPs ensures that each agency’s value proposition stands out, driving success in highly competitive RFP environments.

Here, we explore techniques to make your bid stand out creatively and how a service like Creative RFPs can support you in the process.

 

  1. Tell a Story

 

One of the most effective ways to make your proposal memorable is by weaving storytelling into your bid. Instead of just presenting data and solutions, craft a narrative that highlights how your business has positively impacted similar clients. A well-told story can humanise your bid and resonate with decision-makers, making them feel more connected to your proposal.

Tip: Frame your solution as the hero of the story. Begin by outlining the problem (the villain), and then explain how your approach will overcome challenges and deliver success.

  1. Visual Appeal: Make It Pop

 

A visually appealing bid can set you apart. Incorporate graphics, charts, and infographics that not only break up blocks of text but also make complex data easier to understand. A professional design can enhance your credibility and demonstrate attention to detail, which is key in making a lasting impression.

Tip: Use a clean layout with consistent branding throughout the document. Bold headings, color schemes, and professional imagery can engage readers visually while ensuring key information is easy to locate.

  1. Focus on Innovation

 

Demonstrating how your business can innovate and add unique value to the client’s project is crucial. Showcase how your solutions go beyond the status quo, leveraging the latest technologies, techniques, or methodologies. Provide examples of how you’ve driven innovation in previous projects to highlight your forward-thinking approach.

Tip: Include case studies that focus on how you solved complex problems with creative solutions. These real-world examples will demonstrate your ability to think outside the box.

  1. Tailor to the Client’s Needs

A generic bid rarely wins. The most successful proposals are those that speak directly to the client’s specific needs, pain points, and goals. By showing that you understand their challenges and have customised your solution, you build trust and position yourself as a partner rather than just a vendor.

Tip: Include research or insights on the client’s industry, showing them you’ve gone the extra mile to understand their needs. Tailor your bid’s tone and approach to align with their organisational culture.

  1. Showcase Cultural and Social Responsibility

 In an age of increasing social consciousness, many clients now look for suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, diversity, and corporate responsibility. Integrating these aspects into your bid can help you stand out.

Tip: Explain how your business promotes ethical practices, sustainability, and diversity. Whether it’s through green energy initiatives or inclusive hiring practices, make sure to spotlight your company’s commitment to these important issues.

  1. Show Your Value Proposition

Defining your value proposition in a creative RFP is crucial to standing out from competitors and capturing the attention of evaluators. Your value proposition should clearly communicate the unique benefits your business offers, highlighting how your solution addresses the client’s specific needs better than anyone else. It’s about showcasing what makes your approach innovative, whether through creative expertise, efficiency, or exceptional customer service. In a creative RFP, a strong value proposition tells the client not only why they should choose you but how your unique strengths will deliver the results they seek in a compelling and memorable way.

Tip: A great tip for showing your value proposition in a creative RFP is to use clear, real-world examples or case studies that demonstrate the impact of your work. Highlight a past project where you solved a similar problem or delivered outstanding results, emphasizing the unique approach you took. This not only validates your claims but also helps the client visualize how your solution will directly benefit them. Tailoring these examples to the specific needs of the RFP ensures that your value proposition resonates and stands out.

How Creative RFPs Can Assist

Creative RFPs is your partner in developing a winning strategy for bids and RFPs. With their expertise in crafting creative proposals, they offer comprehensive support, including:

  • Storytelling Strategy: Experts help you structure your bid around a compelling narrative that will captivate evaluators, ensuring your business stands out from competitors.
  • Design Expertise: With their design services, Creative RFPs transforms your bid into a visually stunning document that reflects professionalism and attention to detail.
  • Tailored Solutions: The team at Creative RFPs works closely with you to tailor every aspect of your proposal, ensuring it directly addresses the client’s specific needs, goals, and challenges.
  • Bid Innovation Consultation: Creative RFPs helps businesses leverage innovative approaches and showcase their ability to drive success in new and creative ways.

By partnering with Creative RFPs, you ensure that every aspect of your bid, from the story you tell, to the design and delivery, is optimised for success.

How We Find Opportunities

Here at Creative RFPs, we utilize an extensive network, searching over 1,000 different websites to find suitable RFPs for our subscribers to bid on. By actively sourcing opportunities from a vast range of platforms, we ensure that creative agencies have access to the most relevant and promising contracts in their industry. In addition to this, our team at Creative RFPs collaborates with private buyers, helping them promote their opportunities on the platform. This dual approach connects businesses with the right RFPs while providing buyers with a targeted audience for their projects.

Conclusion

Winning bids in a crowded marketplace requires creativity, innovation, and a deep understanding of the client’s needs. By incorporating storytelling, focusing on visual appeal, showcasing innovation, and tailoring your bids, you can stand out from the competition. With Creative RFPs by your side, you’ll have the expert guidance needed to craft a winning proposal every time.

Now powered by askabidwriter.com

Posted on by John Hudson

Hudson Outsourcing are thrilled to announce that Creative RFPs is now powered by askabidwriter.com

Combining our cutting-edge consultancy technology with the efficient, time-saving features of Hudson Discover, Creative RFPs is a bidding portal like no other.

With askabidwriter.com, not only will you continue to have access to the incredible sector-specific opportunity tracking technology you’ve come to rely on, but you’ll also have a team of bidding experts at your disposal, available 24/7.

What’s included?

  • Ask our bidding experts any sector-specific bidding questions you have.
  • Access to our extensive learning library, full of helpful resources such as video and audio masterclasses, downloadable PDFs, and various templates to assist you in perfecting your bid submissions.
  • Quick search sector-specific bidding opportunities, making it simple for you to find available opportunities for your business.

With askabidwriter.com, our goal at Hudson is to revolutionise the bidding world and put the power of bidding success into your hands.

Media Monitoring RFPs

Posted on by John Hudson

Media Monitoring RFPs

 

What are Media Monitoring RFPs?

Do you wish to grow and develop your media monitoring business? Because RFPs offer you a potent means of gaining new contracts and connections with organisations. Many use RFP as a means of growing their business for this reason.

Different industries will usually have their own specifics when RFP, but the basic idea is always the same. RFP is a formal process where an organisation (the ‘buyer’) posts a contract that other companies (the ‘suppliers’) can bid for. Many public and private sector organisations recognise the value RFP brings as a fair and transparent procurement method. Buyers aim to acquire the most economically advantageous RFP, which you may have heard referred to as ‘MEAT’.

RFP presents many opportunities for contracts to bid for. However, this means that others seeking the same opportunities will give you intense competition. If a contract stands out to you, it will stand out to rival businesses! This is why producing an excellent bid is vital, as you need to show why your media monitoring business deserves the contract!

 

The RFP Process 

If you’re new to RFP process might seem long and overly complicated. For now, we’ll provide an overview of the basic facts you should know. Media monitoring is grouped with creative RFPs, so most of the time they are Requests for Proposals (RFPs). RFPs involve the buyer providing the supplier with a specification to produce a creative project from. For these RFPs the proposal format is typically free-form, imposing very few restrictions or limitations.

Remember: creative industries want to see the level of quality behind content you produce! Regardless of the exact service they are seeking, if a buyer sees an excellent quality bid they will be assured of your outstanding media monitoring services. In other words, this is a good opportunity to display your skills!

Of course, not all RFPs are RFPs and media monitoring may involve different approaches to the majority. Because of this, we can also look at the generally important steps of bid production:

  • Opportunity – The RFP opportunity listed by the buyer.
  • Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, or PQQ – If it’s a closed RFP, a PQQ is given for suppliers to complete. If you pass this stage, you move onto the…
  • Invitation to RFP, or ITT – Suppliers will begin the process here if it’s an open RFP.
  • Evaluation – After receiving all the RFP submissions they begin marking them against their specific criteria. Buyers consider which RFP best meets their needs, and generally which is the MEAT.
  • Contract – After evaluating all submissions and determining the MEAT, the buyer awards them the contract. Now the successful supplier can begin work!

 

Is RFP the correct choice for a Media Monitoring Business?

For any business, finding the perfect contract is vital in efficiently growing. With media monitoring, this is especially true. Media monitoring businesses fall into the creative sector, which makes up a significant amount of the UK workforce. Jobs in this sector are posted much more frequently compared to other sectors. Do consider though, even if there are countless jobs available not all will be for you. Perhaps more importantly, even relevant jobs might not be the best move for enhancing your business!

RFP is exactly what you need. Through searching RFP portals you can narrow down your options to find the exact contracts that your business wants to work on. Opportunities to work with even well-known companies and organisations will present themselves too. This is especially notable for suppliers that are smaller businesses (SMEs), as ordinarily you may be looked over in favour of a larger, more reputable business. RFP keeps the competition even! Your success will be determined by the quality of your bid compared to others, so rather than being ignored you get the chance to show off!

Do remember: RFP is not just a way to quickly gain a single new contract. By winning media monitoring RFPs you will massively expand your professional portfolio. Then, you will continue to be exposed to amazing new opportunities that you are more likely to secure thanks to your expanded experiences.

 

How to find Media Monitoring RFPs

We mentioned above that RFP portals are where you will usually find opportunities. At Hudson Outsourcing we endeavour to help all who wish to RFP. To this end, we have developed RFP portals for a variety of sectors. Hudson’s team of Opportunity Trackers search through thousands of sources every day to ensure every opportunity is tagged correctly — we can offer the most streamlined experience for suppliers when searching. Instead of wasting time filtering through irrelevant postings, you can directly find the best, most relevant RFPs for your business.

For media monitoring RFPs, our Creative RFPs Portal is where you’ll want to look.

 

Here are some examples of previous Media Monitoring RFPs sourced by Hudson:

 

  • EU Media Monitoring

Buyer: Office of Rail and Road

Location: London

Budget: £45,000

 

  • Election-Related Media and Social Media Monitoring in the Philippines

Buyer: Westminster Foundation for Democracy Ltd

Location: London

Budget: £45,000

 

  • Media and Social Media Monitoring

Buyer: Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament

Location: Wales

Budget: Undisclosed

 

If you would like to see even more media monitoring bids we worked on, feel free to visit our Creative RFPs Portal. You can also find previous bids from other branches of the marketing field, and various other creative RFPs to provide a broad view of our work.

 

How can we help?

A subscription to Creative RFPs provides you with:

  • Access to all new public and private sector digital marketing contracts across the UK.
  • A daily email bulletin is sent straight to your inbox when new marketing opportunities are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed (our bid writing division).
  • 20 minutes of free consultancy with one of our Bid Management Consultants each month.

Also, we source opportunities for sectors including:

 

Book a free live demo with Creative RFPs to see how we can help your business grow.

 

Need additional support?

You don’t always have the time or resources to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offers four levels of bid writing support.

They boast an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of bid writing experience.

The services on offer include:

  • A RFP Writing service
  • A RFP Ready programme
  • The RFP Improvement package
  • RFP Mentor.

 

How to get contract-winning bids

You can absolutely complete all your bid submissions from within your agency. However, this can pose an issue if the buyer requires an especially long or complicated bid, and that’s before considering how you might fit this into a schedule already filled by your normal contracted work.

We also offer free consultations if you would like to discuss what is the best approach for your PR agency. On top of offering our bid writing services, we can also advise you on your existing RFP strategies and provide guidance if you wish to produce a bid independently still! You can call us on 0203 051 2217 or email us at hi@tenderconsultants.co.uk.

Video Production RFP

Posted on by John Hudson

Video Production RFPs

 

What are Video Production RFPs?

Do you want to grow your business in video production? Because RFPs offer an effective means to secure contracts with new organisations. RFP is therefore a vital strategy that many use to empower their business.

While different industries will have their own RFP processes the general idea is the same. RFP is a formal process where an organisation (the ‘buyer’) posts an opportunity for a contract that others can ‘bid’ for. This makes your video production company the ‘supplier’ in this process. Both public and private sector organisations recognise the value of RFP as a fair and transparent procurement method. For the buyer, the goal is to secure the most economically advantageous RFP, which you may see referred to as ‘MEAT’.

Understandably, this means that RFP presents you with many opportunities to bid for. This also means many others are bidding for the same opportunities. It is important then to not just focus on how amazing these contracts are but to ensure you are producing amazing proposals that meet buyer specifications. Most importantly, you need to show why you are the best video production company for the job!

 

A look at the RFP Process

If you’ve never RFP before the process might look daunting. Here we will make it easier to digest by covering the more important parts. Video production RFPs are creative RFPs, meaning they will often be Requests for Proposals (RFPs). With RFPs the buyer provides a specification that you use to produce a creative project. The format is usually free form with few restrictions or word count limitations. Does this seem unusual? Consider that creative industries want to see the quality of your creativity! If you can grab their attention and show your talent off this early you are well on your way to winning the contract. If even your bid is amazingly presented, the buyer is assured that your video production skills are similarly skilful.

Generally, there are a few core aspects of RFP that creative industries are recommended to focus on. These are:

 

Design

  • As we briefly mentioned, having your bid be well-designed is crucial. This is a step where you should consider if you have the skills in-house, as video production and document design require different approaches.

 

Cultural Alignment

  • Your proposal needs to show that you understand the company you are appealing to. A buyer will prefer a supplier that shows they know their organisation well.

 

Case Studies

  • These are fundamental in displaying your video production experience. Case studies are your chance to show relevant experience and what you learned from it. Being able to provide several clear examples of similar works completed effectively will look good to any buyer.

 

Creativity

  • Similarly to the point on design, creative RFPs often give you the opportunity to be creative even at this stage. This means you should showcase your personal brand within your bid.

 

Delivery

  • Firstly, you need to consider how much detail the buyer wants from your delivery model. While more is usually better, some buyers will not need as much detail.
  • The aim here is to detail the delivery model for your video project. This might follow the approach of inception, production and post-production. Providing a timescale is also a good idea.

 

Is RFP the right approach for Video Production Companies?

Finding the perfect contract is essential for any business. The creative sector constitutes a surprising amount of the UK workforce, with new jobs posted at a faster rate than other sectors. With so many opportunities it is important to know how to efficiently narrow down your options. In the ever-growing pool of video production opportunities, how can you know which will be the absolute best for your company?

RFP can help. The process allows you to search RFP portals to find specific opportunities that appeal to your company. Additionally, opportunities to bid for work with major and well-respected organisations will arise. Not only will contracts like this be major earning opportunities but they will also improve your company image. Securing contracts will massively expand your professional portfolio, which in turn will help you secure more and more impressive contracts in the future! Overall, RFP does not simply provide a few chances to work, but an abundance of exposure to opportunities that will expand your video production company.

 

Finding Video Production RFPs

As we discussed earlier, RFP portals are typically where you can find your opportunities. Here at Hudson Outsourcing, we have developed RFP portals for a wide variety of sectors to ensure the most streamlined experience when searching. For video production, our Creative RFPs Portal is exactly what you need. Our procurement team searches through thousands of sources daily to tag every RFP appropriately.

This means that when you come to search less time is spent combing through irrelevant RFPs. Instead, you will find only the best RFPs for you!

 

Here are some examples of previous Video Production RFPs Hudson sourced:

 

  • Advertising Services Framework Agreement

Buyer: University of Huddersfield e-RFP

Location: Yorkshire

Budget: £3,000,000

 

  • Photochemical Film Laboratory Services

Buyer: BFI

Location: London

Budget: £250,000

 

  • University of East London – Digital Content

Buyer: London Universities Purchasing Consortium

Location: London

Budget: £99,000

 

  • EHRC 2021-20 Film and Video Production Services Framework

Buyer: Equality and Human Rights Commission

Location: North West

Budget: £180,000

 

  • Freelance Filmmaker, Blaze

Buyer: Arts Council England

Location: London

Budget: £3,000

 

If you would like to see even more video production bids we worked on, feel free to visit our Creative RFPs Portal.

 

Contract Winning Bids

After careful consideration, you might have decided that RFP is the right move for your video production business. However, you might run into issues with training someone in-house or finding time in a busy schedule to work on a quality bid.

As mentioned earlier, Hudson Outsourcing can assist you. Our Succeed Team is here to help when you lack the time or resources to produce your bids. Notably, our team holds an 87% success rate from bids produced from over 60 years of bid writing. Should you choose this path, we can guarantee quality.

Other services we can provide include advice on becoming RFP Ready, guidance for Improving your RFP and even RFP Mentoring! If any of these interest you, we offer free consultations where we can discuss the best approach for your video production tenders. You can call us at 0203 051 2217 or email us at hi@tenderconsultants.co.uk. You can also try a free trial of our Creative RFPs site!

PR Agency RFPs: Why RFP is Important to Public Relations

Posted on by John Hudson

PR Agency RFPs: Why RFP is Important to Public Relations

What is RFP?

RFP is a key strategy for growing your PR agency, as RFPs are an extremely effective way to gain contracts to expand your business by providing your services to new organisations.

Let’s quickly discuss what RFP is. While the exact RFP processes will be different depending on the industry, the basic idea remains the same. RFP involves formally presenting your business offer to an organisation (a ‘buyer’) in need of a specific service.  This is considered the fairest and most open procurement method for public sector organisations, and even private businesses have recognised the value of RFPs. Overall, the RFP process will secure the most economically advantageous RFP (‘MEAT’) for the organisation.

As you might expect, opportunities are always being published that anyone can bid for. Yet, because of this very fact, competition is fierce. Just as RFPs are vital in gaining new contracts, so is having an amazing proposal showing that you meet all the buyer’s requirements, and why you are the best PR agency for the job.

 

The RFP Process?

RFP can seem long and terribly complicated, so here we will break down the process for you. PR RFPs, as creative RFPs, will commonly be Requests for Proposals, or RFPs. RFP formats are almost always free format and involve the buyer providing a specification used to produce a creative project. Often RFPs won’t have any strict word count or notable restrictions. After all, buyers in the creative industry will want to see the quality of what you produce, meaning this proposal is basically your first chance to display your talent! Showing your ability to go beyond a plain template document and be remembered will assure buyers you can achieve the same working with them!

Your proposal does still need to include important information regarding the project, including a:

  • Statement of Work
  • Projected Timescale to Complete
  • Specific and Detailed Plan.

As not all PR agency are RFPs, we can also look at what the general stages of the RFP process are:

  • Opportunity – Referring of course to the opportunity listed by the buyer.
  • Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, or PQQ – For closed RFP, a PQQ is issued by the buyer to determine which suppliers are appropriate. If you pass this stage, you arrive at the…
  • Invitation to Tender, or ITT – For open tenders, the supplier starts the process here.
  • Evaluation – Once the buyer has all the RFP submissions they mark them against their specific criteria. At this stage, they determine which supplier is the best for their needs.
  • Contract – After deciding the best supplier, the buyer awards them the contract.

 

Should my PR agency RFP for work?

PR agency RFPs fall into the creative RFPs category, and creative jobs make up a substantial amount of the UK workforce. New creative jobs are generated at a faster rate than in other sectors. What this means is there is an abundance of opportunities to secure RFPs to grow your agency! Understandably, this only emphasises the importance of having an expert approach.

Searching for the perfect contract is key. Through your agency’s marketing, you may see some opportunities if businesses reach out directly, though not all may take this approach. Even if we include google searches or rely on word-of-mouth to discover opportunities, this is simply less reliable. Worse still, these results are likely not what you need to truly develop your agency!

Through RFP, your approach to gaining new contracts can be so much more efficient. You can find major PR RFP opportunities with a variety of businesses and organisations. This is particularly important for newer and/or smaller businesses (SMEs). For instance, the opportunity to secure work alongside a well-known company would not only be lucrative but will look amazing when approaching future RFP opportunities. After all, RFP isn’t just to help you secure a single contract, but to continue building your portfolio and expose you to new opportunities to help your PR agency grow!

 

Where to find RFP Opportunities for PR Agencies

At Hudson Outsourcing, we have developed our Creative RFPs platform to provide the best experience when seeking PR RFP opportunities. Rather than complicated codes or algorithms, our procurement team will categorise every RFP with industry-specific keywords to allow an easier time searching for the right opportunity. Even when there are thousands of RFP opportunities to manage, our team will ensure your agency’s time will only be spent looking at the most relevant.

 

Here’s a look at some previous PR agency RFPs we sourced:

 

  • Public Relations Agency – 2023 Cycling World Championships

Buyer: 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd

Location: Scotland

Budget: £165,000

 

  • Sefton Tourism PR Agency

Buyer: Sefton Council

Location: North West

Budget: £36,000

 

  • Freelance Media Relations and PR Consultant

Buyer: Coventry City of Culture Trust

Location: West Midlands

Budget: Undisclosed

 

  • PR campaign – Well-being of Future Generations Act

Buyer: Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Location: Wales

Budget: Undisclosed

 

If you would like to see more examples these can be found on our Creative RFPs Portal.

 

How can we help?

A subscription to Creative RFPs provides you with:

  • Access to all new public and private sector digital marketing contracts across the UK.
  • A daily email bulletin is sent straight to your inbox when new marketing opportunities are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed (our bid writing division).
  • 20 minutes of free consultancy with one of our Bid Management Consultants each month.

Also, we source opportunities for sectors including:

 

Book a free live demo with Creative RFPs to see how we can help your business grow.

 

Need additional support?

You don’t always have the time or resources to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offers four levels of bid writing support.

They boast an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of bid writing experience.

The services on offer include:

  • A RFP Writing service
  • A RFP Ready programme
  • The RFP Improvement package
  • RFP Mentor.

 

How to get contract-winning bids

You can absolutely complete all your bid submissions from within your agency. However, this can pose an issue if the buyer requires an especially long or complicated bid, and that’s before considering how you might fit this into a schedule already filled by your normal contracted work.

We also offer free consultations if you would like to discuss what is the best approach for your PR agency. On top of offering our bid writing services, we can also advise you on your existing RFP strategies and provide guidance.

A Comprehensive Breakdown of RFP for Event Planning Contracts

Posted on by John Hudson

Here’s an overview of what to expect and prepare for when RFP for event planning contracts

If you’re reading this article, you’re likely wondering two things about event planning contracts. The first is probably, what types of contracts are available for companies within the event planning sector? The second, what does the process of bidding for an event planning contract involve?

Finding RFP opportunities that match your services and capabilities can be an arduous and daunting process. Often, you need to filter through countless RFP platforms. The prospect of heading this process is what informed our foray into the industry. We implemented our strategy especially for bidders where existing responsibilities already take up so much of their time. At Creative RFPs, we have extensive expertise and consultancy experience in sourcing RFP and ultimately, in winning them!

The scope of event planning RFPs

First, a disclaimer in relation to event planning bids is the breadth and diversity of RFPs that are available. To provide a complete overview, we’ll tackle each prospective opportunity type. We’ll also look at what kind of processes you’ll need to follow when organising and constructing your RFPs:

Considerations for event planning contracts

Event planning can itself be quite an intimidating term, inclusive of a diverse range of roles and responsibilities. Something we endeavour always to note with our clients is that the two most important factors to successful RFPs are:

  • Experience – This refers specifically to the experience of the bidding organisation, rather than the experience of specific individuals within the organisation.
  • Proposed methodology/solution – In the context of event planning, this encompasses your organisations management strategies and infrastructural commitments.

When demonstrating experience, it’s important to ensure that your examples illustrate, at a minimum, the following features:

  • An established understanding about the processes and procedures involved in event planning.
  • Prior experience of working on contracts with both a comparable scale and comparable planning/management responsibilities.

Typically, you’ll likely be asked to provide, at a minimum, 2-3 prior contract examples where the stated features are present. The strongest responses for contracts in event planning will often use these prior contracts. These not only act as evidence of past experience, but a platform for validating their methodology and why its suitable.

Common oversights

When entering into the bidding process for event planning/management, there are a variety of considerations you should keep in mind. There are countless instances where wholly suitable, qualified enterprises, through neglecting the following features, lost out on desired contracts:

  1. Read AND refer to the specification

Before committing to a particular contract, it is vital that the ITT (invitation-to-tender) is studied in sufficient depth. This ensures you meet the pre-qualification criteria, but also that you possess the appropriate infrastructure. Infrastructure relates to both recruitment and sourcing procedures, in place from commencement through to the conclusion of contracted works.

In lieu of an internal writing team, the following list details several strategies for determining personal/corporate suitability:

  • Location: Establish where the contracted works will take place. Firstly, where is the site/event? Secondly, where is your base-of-operations? And thirdly, is it in close enough proximity to assure the buyers of your capability to deliver during the contract?
  • Budget/scale: This should be a key consideration in all bidding proposals. Once you’ve consulted the ITT/specification for an overall budget and contract scale, take this opportunity to determine:
    • Is the budget reflective of the services that your corporation is capable of providing? If not, how will works be subcontracted to supplement this?
    • Is the scale of the project/event reflective of your infrastructure? If no, how will you alter your recruitment and outsourcing practices to make sure events are planned and managed effectively.
  • Key dates: Other key factors when searching for suitable bids are your resources and the timescales for deadlines and production. An awareness of basic key dates: contract commencement and RFP submission deadlines being the primary figures worthy of note.
  • Pre-qualifying/required accreditations: Though variable per RFP, contracts in the event planning industry can require an array of qualifications and licenses. These are foundational indicators of your ability to carry out and effectively meet the specified criteria for service delivery. Required qualifications may be extended to include individual experience and credentials of team members (lighting, filming, etc.). 

  1. Innovations and USPs (Unique Selling Points)

Given the diverse operational requirements which define event planning, another element worth including in responses is your enterprise’s USPs.

USPs refer to any innovations which might distinguish you amongst your competitors. To demonstrate your enterprises commitment to ongoing growth, it’s worthwhile to include >3 innovations that your company has implemented. These USPs may include any mechanisms which streamline procedures and increase productivity. Innovations come in many forms, including:

  • Systems: Though not exhaustive, systematic innovations can refer to your operating system, communications platforms, planning and reporting tools, and financial software. Assuming, for example, your organisation provides its personnel with IM platform(s), you should detail why these are comparably effective.
  • Resources: An overarching term to describe your material and infrastructural sourcing strategies. For example, if your organisation uses a unique hiring platform/strategy, how is it superior to the standard strategy?

  1. Policies and other pre-requisite documents

Like most enterprises emerging into the RFP market, your company is likely in its infancy. It may be worthwhile – prior to RFP – to ensure all appropriate corporate policies are documented and recently renewed. Though not exhaustive, the list below provides an insight into areas where policies are expected:

  • Data protection
  • Safeguarding
  • Health and safety
  • Equality
  • Code of conduct
  • Complaints

To RFP, your policies act as indicators regarding your general operations and delivery standards. Additionally, they provide further insights into your enterprise’s lines of accountability, expectations and your treatment of employees. Policies are varied and often span numerous pages, making their production a daunting prospect for those foraying into corporate status. Luckily, at Creative RFPs, our established team of bid professionals have provided aid in refining and producing RFPs. We also have extensive experience providing bespoke advice and guidance to organisations creating them.

Why RFP for event planning contracts in 2022?

Since the advent of COVID-19, it’s no wonder countless suppliers assume planning contract opportunities would be scarce and excessively competitive. This isn’t completely accurate, however, as the government projection posits 35% of all tourism-based revenue will originate from events. Coupled with the government drive towards SME and VCSE sourcing, this demonstrates the present RFP climate is rife with opportunities.

How can we help?

 Presently (July 2022), restrictions continue to ease, and public events are once more becoming a commonplace occurrence. As such, the need for planning and management personnel on events of all sizes is greater than ever. A subscription to Creative RFPs provides the following support mechanisms to aid you in the process:

  • Access to all exclusive, public and private sector creative contracts in the UK.
  • An on-hand Account Manager is available to answer any questions you may have about event planning RFPs. They can help you understand the process and answer any questions you have about the RFP process in general.
  • A daily email bulletin is sent straight to your inbox when new event opportunities are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed, our bid writing division.
  • 20-minutes of free consultancy with one of our Bid Management Consultants each month.

Need additional support?

You don’t always have the time or resources to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offers four levels of bid writing support. They boast an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of bid writing experience. The services on offer include:

  • A RFP Writing service
  • A RFP Ready programme
  • The RFP Improvement package
  • RFP Mentor.

Contact us to find out how we can help your business grow.

We also source opportunities for sectors including:

Book a free live demo with Creative Tenders to see how we can help your business grow.

Past examples of event planning RFPs found on our portal 

Event Planning & Delivery Services of the Para-Cycling Road

2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Scotland – Budget: £990,000

Ceremonial Event Planning and Management

Scottish Government – Scotland – Budget: £700,000

GB-Middlesborough: ERDF – Grow Trees Valley Annual Conference and Event Planning

Teeside University – North East – £500,000

Whatever route you choose, Creative RFPs have options available for businesses of all sizes and contracts of all scales. We can offer your enterprise an immense leg-up in competing and thriving on contracts within the event planning sector.

Art and Culture RFPs: Where to find them, and how to win them!

Posted on by John Hudson

6 tips to help you win art and culture RFPs

In this blog, we’ll share our top tips for finding and winning art and culture RFPs.

So, you’re looking for art and culture RFP opportunities? This blog will show you how to easily find art and culture RFP opportunities. Our expert Bid Writers have 6 quick tips to help you create a winning bid! If you want to know more, keep reading…

Where can you find art and culture RFP opportunities?

When looking for art and culture RFP opportunities, most businesses will go straight to a search engine. They might use Google, which will find hundreds of websites with opportunities available. However, it will take hours to dig through each website looking for suitable contracts.

Additionally, you may find that the opportunities just aren’t suitable. They may omit key details, leaving you to read the lengthy RFP documents just to find out you’re not eligible! Or, the deadline date is very soon, and you won’t complete the bid in time. This process is not only tedious but can be very frustrating. Luckily, there are better solutions available…

Creative RFPs simplifies the process of finding RFPs. Using this portal, you’ll be able to easily find art and culture RFP opportunities. The portal displays key information for each RFP, such as:

  • RFP location
  • Deadline date and time
  • Budget.

This information will help you decide whether the opportunity is right for you!

To make the search even easier, you can use filters to narrow down your RFP search. Doing so means you can select a budget, location, and other keywords to help find the right opportunity for you. The portal is updated every day by our Opportunity Trackers. They search for opportunities manually, without using CPV codes to find RFPs either. This vastly reduces the possibility of missing opportunities we don’t reply on these often incorrect codes. Government sites use CPV codes, and as such, can be much less accurate.

Winning art and culture RFP opportunities

 Now that you’ve found art and culture RFP opportunities, the next step is winning work! To help you achieve this, our expert Bid Writers at our sister company, Hudson Succeed have six tips for you:

  1. Don’t go over the word count! By ignoring this instruction, you will lose marks.
  2. Try not to use too much technical jargon as this may confuse the buyer.
  3. Ensure your bid response is clear, concise, and easy to read. This will help the buyer understand your ideas and will keep them engaged.
  4. Make sure you proofread and edit your bid before submission. Any mistakes left in your response will make you look unprofessional.
  5. Consider using bid management tactics to stay organised, helping reduce stress and making the whole process easier.
  6. Hire a Bid Writer to manage the entire process for you. Be assured that they have the experience and the knowledge of what makes a winning bid!

Still have questions about art and culture RFP opportunities? Why not contact us? Our team are always happy to answer any questions you may have!

Upgrade to Discover Elite and never miss an opportunity

If you want to take your RFP search one step further, look no further than Discover Elite. By signing up to Discover Elite, a dedicated Account Manager will search for live bids for you! You’ll have weekly phone calls to discuss opportunities, which is especially helpful for those with busy schedules. By upgrading to Discover Elite, you’ll make sure you never miss another RFP opportunity.

Discover Elite offers:

  • An annual subscription for up to two of our Discover portals.
  • Up to five or seven bid breakdowns per month, depending on the package you choose. This will help you decide which bid is right for you.
  • Weekly phone calls with your dedicated Account Manager to discuss RFP opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notice monitoring.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and accessing viability based on your bid strategy.

Some of the RFPs have previously sources on our portals include:

Programme Development – North-West – £ 48,000

Council seeking qualified and experienced individuals/consortiums/organisations to help develop their Art and Culture Programme.

Support Services – West Midlands – Budget: undisclosed

The Council requires a supplier for the provision of focus groups.

PR – North-West – £80,000

To provide renowned museum with PR services in the lead up to the opening a new museum.

Too busy to write a bid response?

If you lack the resources or time to dedicate to writing a winning bid, you could always outsource it! Hudson Succeed, our sister company, has an 87% success rate and over 60 collective years of bidding experience. You have the choice of four bid writing packages, ensuring you can always find a service that suits you. Whether you’re new to RFP, or just need someone to check your response, Succeed can help. Their packages include:

  • RFP Writing – if you’ve found the right RFP for you but don’t know where to begin, we can help. Just send the specification to us and our Bid Team will take it from there. They’ll let you know what you need via a breakdown, and even submit on your behalf. This gives you more time to focus on your business.
  • RFP Ready – this programme is designed for those who have no RFP experience. Over the four-week programme, Succeed will work with you to ensure you have everything in place for a successful RFP.
  • RFP Improvement – this programme is for those who are currently RFP but are struggling to see success. Bid Writers will assess your previous work and supporting documents, giving feedback and guidance on how to improve.
  • RFP Mentor – have you written a RFP and need someone to proofread it? RFP Mentor is for you! A Bid Writer will review your work, making sure your grammar and spelling are correct, and it meets the specification.

For more information about any of these packages, please get in touch.

We also source opportunities for sectors including:

Book a free live demo with Creative RFPs to see how we can help your business grow.

Why not check out some of our other blogs? 

Photography RFPs – The Complete Guide

Posted on by John Hudson

How to find photography RFPs for your business…and win

Do you know what to expect when bidding for photography RFPs? To help you find the best photography RFPs for your business, we’ve put together a handy guide. Keep reading to find out more!

What are photography RFPs?

For those of you that don’t know, photography RFPs are contracts that require some form of photography service. This includes:

  • The production of photographs
  • Digital photography
  • Specialised photography
  • Event photography
  • Industrial photography
  • Aerial photography.

Photography RFP opportunities

From stock imagery provision to graduation photography services, there are a range of public and private photography RFPs. If you are a creative business looking to find photography RFPs, you should consider bidding for public sector contracts. The benefits of these contracts include:

  • Guaranteed pay
  • The government wants to award SMEs
  • Gain experience.

What is required in a photography RFP?

Although each photography RFP varies in content, they typically use similar structures. This includes questions on:

  • Social value: How will your work on the contract help the local community socially, economically, and environmentally?
  • Methodology and project management: How will you undertake work, meeting the requirements and specification?
  • Experience: What previous companies have you provided photography services for? This includes providing names, biographies and experience of the lead photographer/director and all managerial crew.
  • Commercial: How much will your services cost?
  • Insurance: Do you have the correct levels of insurance, including Employers Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity?
  • Technology: What technology do you use for photographing and editing, and how are your photos high-resolution?

6 tips to win photography RFPs from expert Bid Writers

Have you found photography RFP opportunities and are now ready to RFP for work? Here are a few top tips from the expert Bid Writers at Hudson Succeed:

  1. Keep your portfolio, testimonials, and case studies relevantPhotography RFPs often ask about experience. Be prepared to provide case studies and a professional portfolio of your previous work. Make sure these are relevant to the bid.
  2. Make sure your answers are clear, concise, and relevant
    A winning bid for photography will be well structured using clear and concise language. This includes formatting and sticking to the word count.
  1. Make sure your staff have up to date CVs with a section of experience, work done previously, any awards etc.
    When RFP for work, you may have to include company CV’s. Providing uniform CV’s shows attention to detail and looks professional.
  1. Don’t use technical jargon
    The people reviewing your work may not have any experience in the field. Keeping it simple allows for easy readability.
  2. Always proofread and edit before final submission
    This is a must with photography RFPs as you must have attention to detail. Get a colleague to proofread it before submission and use grammar checking tools such as Grammarly and Word’s spell check.
  3. Showcase your added value
    What are your unique selling points? How do you stand out in comparison to other companies?

Where can I find photography RFPs?

Finding photography RFPs for your business can take hours out of your busy day. Using a search engine provides countless websites, often filled with irrelevant opportunities. Luckily for you, we have a time saving solution to take the headache out of RFPs. That’s where Creative RFPs can help.  Creative RFPs is an easy-to-navigate, centralised portal that hosts all live creative RFPs opportunities from across the creative industry.

Our portals are updated daily by our Opportunity Trackers. They manually search for opportunities to upload to the portal. They don’t use CPV codes to find contracts either. This means that there’s no risk of missing opportunities that are listed incorrectly with the wrong code.

A subscription to Creative RFPs offers your business:

  • Access to all exclusive, private, and public sector opportunities within the creative industry.
  • An Account Manager who is available to answer any questions around photography tenders.
  • A daily email bulletin which notifies you when there are new, sector specific opportunities available.
  • Discount support from our bid writers at Hudson Succeed.

Past Photography RFPs

We source new RFPs opportunities daily from hundreds of sources across the UK. Some of our past RFPs sourced on the portal that included photography services are:

Photography and Videography
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – South East – Budget: Undisclosed

Conferring Photography and Framing Service

National University of Ireland, Galway- Budget: £1,800,000

Photography Services for Celtic Routes
Wexford County Council- Budget: Undisclosed

Sustainable Scale up Cluster: Photography & Videography ITT & Specification
BIC Innovation– Budget: Undisclosed

Provision of Photography (Lot 1) and Videography (Lot 2) to Maynooth University
Maynooth University- Budget: Undisclosed

We have worked with a range of clients from both private and public sectors. This includes photography RFPs through the UK government’s Digital Marketplace and the British Council.

Do you need assistance with photography RFPs?

We understand that writing content for these can be difficult. Therefore, we offer a dedicated solution to support growth in the creative and digital sector. Hudson has supported businesses in the creative industry and photography for almost two decades. We help businesses focus on their creative skills, while we take care of writing winning responses. Why not outsource to our bid writing experts at our sister company, Hudson Succeed. They offer four levels of bid writing support and boast an 87% success rate. The services they provide include:

  1. A RFP Writing service
    This is an ad-hoc bid writing service. Simply send the RFP specification to our team and they will write the RFP responses with your technical input. They’ll even submit it on your behalf.
  2. A RFP Ready programme
    This four-week programme is perfect for those who have never tendered before. Within this, we sort everything you will need to tender successfully.
  1. RFP ImprovementAre you already RFP but aren’t seeing success? The RFP Improvement package is for you. Our Bid Writers assess previous submissions, providing feedback and guidance. This helps improve your future tenders.
  2. RFP Mentor
    After writing a RFP, you may need someone to proofread it. A Bid Writer can check its contents against the specification and provide a spelling and grammar check.

As well as photography tenders, we source other creative opportunities for sectors such as:

 Want to save even more time?

By upgrading to Discover Elite, you can optimise your tendering opportunities. This allows you to upgrade your tender tracking process and save time.

With this service, you can expect:

  • A dedicated Account Manager
  • Up to 5 tender breakdowns per month
  • Weekly phone calls with your expert
  • No more pre-bid admin
  • An annual subscription to up to two portals
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices.

The Become a Pre-bid Master Package Also Includes:

  • All of the above
  • Up to seven tender breakdowns per month
  • A Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager with a minimum of five years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

How Creative Tenders can help in your photography tender journey

We have helped many clients to win photography and creative contracts, with great success. This includes Capital Content. Capital Content are a digital agency, specialising in video content, photography, and social media management. They used Creative Tenders to source new leads for their business. In just a few months, they secured a £15,000 contract.

We have reached the end of our blog on photography tenders. Here is a recap of everything we have covered:

What are photography RFPs?

Here are some examples of services needed as part of a photography RFP:

  • The production of photographs
  • Digital photography
  • Specialised photography
  • Event photography
  • Industrial photography
  • Aerial photography.

To find photography RFPs, you can use the Creative Tender’s portal. By upgrading to Discover Elite, an Account Manager will find RFPs on your behalf.

6 tips to win photography RFPs from expert Bid Writers:

  1. Keep your Portfolio, testimonials, and case studies relevant
  2. Make sure your answers are clear, concise, and relevant
  3. Make sure your staff have up to date CVs with a section for experience, work done previously, any awards etc.
  4. Don’t use too much technical jargon
  5. Always proofread and edit before final submission
  6. Showcase your added value.

Be part of something fantastic and join Creative RFPs today!

Book a free live demo with Creative RFPs to start finding photography RFPs in the UK.

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Media RFPs- The Ultimate Guide

Posted on by John Hudson

Media RFPs: Everything you need to know before you start

Media RFPs come in many forms and are a growing market. With the increased need for innovative marketing strategies, we’re seeing a vast range of media contracts going out to RFP.

In this blog, we will guide you through not only how to find these RFPs, but also how to win them.

How to find Media RFPs

When looking for any RFP in the media sector, your first instinct may be to use Google or a similar search engine. By searching ‘media RFPs’ for example, you will be bombarded with a large number of websites hosting these RFP

s.

To find a suitable RFP, you would need to scour these websites. This can take hours or even days and the whole process could become very tedious. Fortunately, there is a solution available. By using our Creative RFPs portal, you can search with ease to find live RFPs in the media industry.

By using the search function on our Creative RFPs portal, you can filter all results. You can narrow down your search by budget, location and keywords so the results match exactly what you’re looking for. This helps ensure that you only see RFPs that are relevant to you.

The budget for media RFPs can range heavily so businesses of all sizes can benefit from using our portal.

The portal saves you time and money, whilst searching for the latest media RFP opportunities that are right for you. We source new media RFPs every day using our high-skilled Procurement Team. The team categorise sector-specific RFPs all in one place using industry-driven keywords. This allows you to effectively find RFPs that are relevant to you and the services you offer.

Understanding the scope of media RFPs

Media RFPs cover a large range of opportunities that are published by different sectors. Whether you are searching for a marketing RFPs or a media relations RFP, we have something for you. We understand it can be difficult finding the most suitable RFP for you and your business. So, we are here to help you through the process.

Our portal is manually updated daily with new opportunities. You can be confident you are finding the most up to date and accurate results.

Examples of media RFPs we have sourced in the past include:

Marketing and Branding

Tesso Bridges – North West – Budget £7,000

Digital Media Planning and Campaign Management

National institute for health and care – North West – Budget £86,000

Digital & Social Media Agency Services (China) 

University of Dundee – Scotland – Budget: £500k

Communications and Advertising Framework

Southern Water Services Ltd – South East – Budget £12.8 million

5 tips for winning media RFPs

  1. Research the buyer

Ensuring you understand the buyer and what they want from you is key to writing a high-quality response. For a media RFPs, understanding how the buyer markets themselves and how you can enhance this will be vital. Understanding the specific requirements of the RFP will ensure you can include as much relevant detail as possible.

  1. Research the target audience

Look at who the scope of the RFP will be aimed at. For example, for a marketing contract, who will be the target audience of the marketing required. For example, the content you will be required to produce will be vastly different if your target audience is young adults as opposed to elderly people.

Being able to demonstrate how you will be able to tailor your content to reach the target audience is key to winning a media RFP.

  1. Experience

Depending on the contract, a media RFP may require specific experience or qualifications. Make sure you check the requirements for the RFP. It will be very difficult to succeed if you do not meet the mandatory criteria. For example, you may need specific media planning experience or marketing qualifications.

These requirements could heavily impact your final score. It is essential that you identify the requirements prior to writing your responses to avoid wasting time and resources.

  1. Read and reference the specification

The specification will detail exactly what is required from you for the duration of the contract. It may include specific software you need to use or certain processes you need to follow. By reading and referencing this, it demonstrates to the buyer you have what is needed to effectively deliver the scope. Referencing specific parts of the specification tells the buyer that you understand the requirements of the contract and have experience.

  1. Added value

What makes you stand out from your competitors? This is a key question to consider when explaining how you will add value to the contract. Social value is now a compulsory element on all public sector contracts, with a 10% weighting. Explaining what you do to help with environmental, social and economic issues is crucial to success in the public sector. If you are new to public sector RFPs, we would recommend planning your responses to these questions in advance. Knowing which initiatives you can describe in detail will speed up the process when it comes to answering these questions.

Answer these two questions before you start bidding on media RFPs

  1. Can you deliver the services in the specified geographical location?

The location of the service delivery is a key element to look at when sourcing potential RFPs. If the location is outside the area your business covers, you will need to consider the viability of the opportunity. Will you to be able to effectively carry out the work required?

On the other hand, since the pandemic, the way many businesses operate has changed, with an increase in remote working. Looking at the RFP you are going for

Using the search options and filters on our Creative RFPs portal will allow you to effectively narrow down all locations. This ensures you only view RFPs that are within the locations you specify. It is important to read the RFP documents to determine if the RFP will have to be delivered at a set location, virtually or even a mix of both. This will allow you to decide whether or not you can carry out the duties required.

This filter means you will be able to efficiently identify RFPs that are suitable for you.

  1. Does your business meet the financial threshold criteria?

Threshold considerations can range depending on the buyer and the contract. Considerations could include:

  • Looking at if your business is large enough to carry out the contract
  • Considering if you have the capital available/stated in the economic standpoint.

Bidding for a media RFP that would not be financially viable for your business would be a waste of time and resources. Media RFPs come in a range of sizes and budgets. This means that these opportunities are not exclusive to large, international organisations.

Your economic financial standing considers the following:

  • Your annual turnover
  • Financial ratios
  • Insurance(s).

Buyers consider this to make sure that you’re able to carry out the work.

Looking at this information prior to completing your responses could save you valuable time. If you notice you do not meet the minimum requirements – don’t bid for the work. It sounds simple but we have seen many businesses fall at the first hurdle by not checking the specification requirements.

Summary

As we come to the end of this blog on media RFPs, we thought you might need a little summary.

  • Where to find media RFPs: Use our Creative RFPs portal to search through new media RFPs. Book a free live demo to see the portal in action.
  • How to find the perfect media RFP: Take advantage of the filters on the search function of our Creative RFPs portal. These let you filter by location, budget and any keywords you want to include. This helps narrow down the scope of results you see as media RFPs cover a wide range of opportunities.

Tips for securing media RFPs:

  1. Research the buyer: Understand exactly what the buyer is looking for.
  2. Research the target audience: Look at who the scope of the media RFP is aimed at and ensure you tailor your responses appropriately as the target market for the RFP will influence how you write your responses.
  3. Experience and qualifications: Certain media RFPs may require specific qualifications or experience. It is key to ensure you have what is required prior to completing your responses. You don’t want to get to the end, only to find out you are ineligible because of this!
  4. Read and reference the specification: This demonstrates to the buyer that you can carry out the duties of the contract to all stated requirements.
  5. Added Value: How are you planning to add value to this contract? Answering this question is key to standing out from the competition.

Two elements to consider when looking for a media RFP

Location: You want to ensure the location is within a practical distance from where you operate. With the growing focus on remote work, you may be able to deliver the contract virtually..

Economic: Is it financially viable for you to pursue your chosen RFP? This is a question you will need to answer prior to completing your responses.

Do you need assistance with writing media RFP?

You don’t always have the time or resources to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offers four levels of bid writing support. They boast an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of bid writing experience. The services on offer include:

  • A RFP Writing service
  • A RFP Ready programme
  • The RFP Improvement package
  • RFP Mentor.

Contact us to find out how we can help your business grow.

We also source opportunities for sectors including:

Why You Should Bid for Government Marketing RFPs RIGHT NOW!

Posted on by John Hudson

3 benefits of bidding for government marketing RFPs

Do you know the benefits of bidding for government marketing RFPs? In this blog, the Creative RFPs Team reveal all. Keep reading to find out more! 

What services could government marketing RFPs involve?

Buyers might release government marketing RFPs to procure services across a range of subsectors, including:

Why should you bid for government marketing RFPs?

If you’re a creative business looking to find marketing opportunities, you should consider bidding for public sector contracts. The benefits of these contracts include:

  • Guaranteed pay

When you bid for government marketing RFPs, you’ll benefit from guaranteed pay upon winning the contract. This is because public sector organisations are bound by their contractual agreements to pay the awarded supplier.

Public sector buyers must pay contractors within 60 days of invoicing to comply with the Prompt Payment Code (2008). This is particularly reassuring for new businesses that might be hesitant about RFP for work.

  • The government wants to award SMEs

Before they start RFP for work, many SMEs assume that it will be difficult to compete with bigger businesses. However, this isn’t actually the case.

In the UK, the government has a target to spend at least £1 in £3 with SMEs. This means that public sector businesses have a goal to actively award contracts to smaller businesses. If you’re a smaller creative business looking for government marketing RFPs, you don’t need to worry about your larger competition.

  • Gain experience

To progress and win larger contracts, smaller businesses will need to gather case studies that showcase their relevant experience. If you’re new to RFP, these can be tricky to get your hands on. However, that’s where RFP for public sector contracts comes in.

SMEs will also be pleased to know that bidding for government marketing RFPs is a great way to gain experience. New and smaller businesses can RFP for contracts as part of framework agreements or Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS’). These are easier for smaller businesses to secure, as there are more places on offer.

So, once you’ve delivered work on these, you’ll have contract examples to show future buyers.

In summary

If you’re a creative business looking to find marketing opportunities, you should consider bidding for public sector contracts. The benefits of these contracts include:

  • Guaranteed pay
  • The government wants to award SMEs
  • Gain experience.

Need help sourcing government marketing RFPs that are right for your business? We can help!

Running your own business takes up a lot of your time. The last thing you want to be doing is trawling hundreds of websites searching for government marketing RFPs. Most websites post multi-industry opportunities and filtering them with CPV codes can produce unreliable results. Luckily for you, we have a solution.

Enter…CreativeRFPs

Creative RFPs is an easy-to-navigate, centralised portal hosting live creative RFP opportunities from across the UK.

Here are five examples of government marketing RFPs that we’ve previously sourced on the portal: 

Commercial Waste Marketing

Breckland District Council & South Holland District Council – Eastern – Budget: £20,000

SC22141 – Kent Downs AONB Experience Consumer Campaign

Kent County Council – South East – Budget: £100,000

Procurement of a Supplier to Develop Bilingual Marketing Content & Integrated Media Campaigns

Education Workforce Council – Wales – Budget: £200,000

WSCC – JS – Marketing Services for Experience West Sussex Campaign

West Sussex County Council – South East – Budget: £179,000

Provision of Marketing Support Services to Destination Staffordshire (Brand Maintenance & Development, Creative Design, Print & Digital Marketing Including Media Planning & Media Buying)

Staffordshire County Council – West Midlands – Budget: £576,000

A subscription to Creative RFPs can offer your business:

  • Access to all exclusive, public, and private sector creative contracts in the UK.
  • An on-hand Account Manager is available to answer any questions you may have about animation RFPs. They can help you understand the process and answer any questions you have about the RFP process in general.
  • A daily email bulletin is sent straight to your inbox when new, sector-specific opportunities are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed, our bid writing division.
  • 20-minutes of free consultancy with one of our Bid Consultants each month.

We source opportunities for sectors including:

Book a free, live demo with Creative RFPs to see how we can help your business grow 

Want to save even more time?

Upgrading to Discover Elite allows you to optimise your RFP opportunities, even when you’re busy. Our two upgraded packages can improve your competitor awareness and bidding success rate. Each can help save you even more time when searching for government marketing RFPs. 

The Ultimate Time-Saver package offers your business:

  • A maximum of five RFP breakdowns per month.
  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Hudson Discover sector-specific portals. This option can help businesses that overlap two industries such as Creative and Technology, for example.
  • Pre-market and award engagement notices are monitored on your behalf.
  • Buyer portal management, including registration, password management, downloading documents, and assessing viability based on your bid or no-bid factors.
  • Weekly phone calls with your dedicated Account Manager to discuss viable creative RFP opportunities.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package also includes:

  • All of the above.
  • Up to seven RFP breakdowns per month.
  • A Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager with a minimum of five years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

Do you need assistance with government marketing RFPs?

You don’t always have the time or resources to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offers four levels of bid writing support. They boast an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of bid writing experience. The services on offer include:

  • A RFP Writing service
  • A RFP Ready programme
  • The RFP Improvement package
  • RFP Mentor.

Contact us to find out how we can help your business grow through our bid management consultancy services.

We also source opportunities for sectors including:

Book a free live demo with Creative RFPs to see how we can help your business grow.

Contact us for more information.