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Tag: Design RFPs

Why Tracking Marketing, Digital, and Design RFPs Gives You a Competitive Edge

Posted on by John Hudson

Introduction

The marketing, digital, and design industries are fast-paced, competitive, and constantly evolving. For creative professionals and agencies, securing high-value contracts is essential for growth and long-term success. However, finding the right opportunities can be challenging, with RFPs and contract opportunities scattered across different platforms and industries.

This is where Tracking Marketing and Design RFPs, digital, and design RFPs comes into play. By proactively monitoring and responding to relevant RFPs, businesses can gain a significant competitive advantage. Creative RFPs simplifies this process, providing a centralised hub where professionals can access the latest opportunities and increase their chances of securing lucrative contracts.

The Importance of RFPs in the Creative Industry

RFPs provide businesses with structured opportunities to pitch their services to organisations seeking marketing, digital, and design solutions. Whether it’s branding projects, social media campaigns, website development, or graphic design work, RFPs ensure a fair and transparent selection process where the best creative professionals can win contracts based on merit.

For agencies and freelancers, RFPing is an invaluable strategy for:

  • Securing consistent work– Instead of relying solely on client referrals, RFPs provide an additional stream of opportunities.
  • Building credibility– Winning contracts from established businesses and government organisations boosts industry reputation.
  • Expanding market reach– RFPs open doors to new industries and partnerships, allowing businesses to diversify their client base.
  • Competing with larger firms– With the right approach, small agencies and independent creatives can successfully bid against bigger players.

Where to Find Marketing, Digital, and Design RFPs

1. Government and Public Sector Portals

Public sector organisations regularly release RFPs for marketing, digital, and design services. These can include:

  • Branding and advertising campaigns for public awareness projects
  • Website and app development for government departments
  • Social media management and digital engagement strategies

While these RFPs are publicly accessible, keeping track of them across multiple platforms can be time-consuming.

2. Corporate Procurement Platforms

Large companies and global brands often seek marketing, digital, and design services through structured procurement processes. These opportunities may be posted on corporate procurement portals, requiring businesses to register and submit proposals.

3. Industry-Specific Networks and Job Boards

Some creative industry networks post RFPs and contract opportunities, but these are often scattered and require constant monitoring.

4. All-in-One Platforms Like Creative RFPs

Instead of manually searching across different sources, Creative RFPs compiles marketing, digital, and design RFPs into a single, easy-to-navigate platform. This ensures businesses never miss out on valuable opportunities.

The Competitive Edge of Tracking RFPs

1. Stay Ahead of Industry Trends

By consistently tracking RFPs, businesses gain insight into emerging trends in the marketing, digital, and design sectors. This allows them to adapt their strategies and stay ahead of competitors.

2. Access Exclusive Opportunities

Many RFPs are not widely advertised, meaning only those actively monitoring opportunities have the chance to bid. Using a platform like Creative RFPs ensures businesses are among the first to access these contracts.

3. Save Time and Resources

Manually searching for RFPs across multiple platforms can be inefficient. With a centralised solution, businesses can streamline their search and focus on crafting winning proposals.

4. Improve Bid Success Rates

Regularly tracking RFPs allows businesses to refine their bidding strategies, improving their chances of success. Understanding past RFP requirements and industry benchmarks helps in crafting more competitive proposals.

How Creative RFPs Makes Tracking Easy

1. Centralised RFP Listings

Creative RFPs provides a one-stop hub for marketing, digital, and design RFPs. Instead of searching multiple websites, businesses can find everything they need in one place.

2. Real-Time Alerts

Subscribers receive instant notifications about new RFPs, ensuring they never miss out on relevant opportunities.

3. Industry-Specific Filtering

Unlike generic RFP platforms, Creative RFPs focuses solely on the creative industry. This means businesses only see contracts that align with their expertise.

4. Detailed RFP Insights

Each RFP listing provides essential details, including project scope, budget estimates, and submission deadlines, helping businesses make informed decisions.

5. Enhanced Efficiency

By automating the search process, Creative RFPs allows businesses to focus on strategy and execution, rather than spending hours sourcing leads.

Strategies for Winning Marketing, Digital, and Design RFPs

1. Understand the Client’s Needs

Tailor your proposal to address the specific objectives of the client. Highlight how your services align with their vision and goals.

2. Showcase a Strong Portfolio

Provide examples of past work, case studies, and client testimonials to demonstrate your expertise and success in similar projects.

3. Offer Competitive Pricing with Value-Added Services

While pricing is a key factor, offering innovative solutions and additional benefits can make your bid more appealing.

4. Submit a Clear and Professional Proposal

Ensure your bid is well-structured, free from errors, and presents your ideas in a compelling manner.

5. Meet All RFP Requirements

Review the RFP documents carefully to ensure compliance with submission guidelines, eligibility criteria, and technical specifications.

6. Follow Up with the Client

Engaging with the client after submission can demonstrate your enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate.

Who Benefits from Using Creative RFPs?

Marketing Agencies

Creative RFPs provides marketing agencies with access to branding, advertising, and content creation RFPs across multiple industries.

Digital Agencies

Web development, SEO, social media management, and app development RFPs are readily available for digital agencies looking to expand their client base.

Design Studios and Freelancers

From graphic design and animation projects to UX/UI design RFPs, independent professionals and studios can secure consistent work.

Startups and SMEs

Smaller businesses looking to establish credibility can use Creative RFPs to win contracts that help them scale.

Why Choose Creative RFPs?

1. Dedicated to the Creative Industry

Unlike generic procurement platforms, Creative RFPs focuses exclusively on marketing, digital, and design RFPs, ensuring relevance for its users.

2. User-Friendly Dashboard

An intuitive interface makes it easy to filter RFPs, track deadlines, and manage bids efficiently.

3. Regularly Updated Listings

New RFPs are added daily, keeping users informed about the latest opportunities.

4. Proven Success for Industry Professionals

Many creative businesses have successfully secured contracts through Creative RFPs, making it a trusted resource in the industry.

Conclusion

Tracking marketing, digital, and design RFPs is a game-changer for businesses seeking consistent growth and success. By proactively monitoring opportunities, agencies and freelancers can secure high-value contracts, expand their client base, and stay ahead in the competitive creative sector.

Creative RFPs simplifies this process, providing a centralised hub where professionals can access the latest RFPs with ease. Whether you’re a marketing agency, a digital specialist, or a design studio, leveraging a dedicated RFP tracking platform can give you the competitive edge you need.

Stay ahead of the competition—let Creative RFPs help you win more contracts and grow your business today!

Common Challenges in Design RFPs and How to Overcome Them

Posted on by John Hudson

In the competitive world of design RFPs, standing out is no easy task. Whether you’re a freelancer or an established agency, securing design contracts often involves navigating a complex RFP process that can feel overwhelming. This blog explores the common challenges faced by creative professionals during design RFPs and offers actionable solutions to help you overcome them.

1. Ambiguous Briefs

Many design RFPs come with briefs that are either too vague or overly detailed without clarity on expectations. This lack of precision makes it challenging to understand client needs and deliver a winning proposal.

Solution:

  • Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to seek clarification during the Q&A period. Focus on specifics like deliverables, target audience, and success metrics.
  • Leverage Experience: If certain details are unclear, draw on your expertise to make informed assumptions and outline them in your response. This shows initiative and professionalism.

2. Limited Timeframes

Tight deadlines are a frequent issue in design RFPs. Rushed submissions can lead to overlooked details, compromising the quality of your proposal.

Solution:

  • Create Templates: Develop reusable templates for proposals, case studies, and pricing models to save time.
  • Prioritize: Focus on high-impact sections, such as your understanding of the brief and creative approach, rather than trying to do everything at once.

3. Intense Competition

Design RFPs often attract numerous applicants, making it difficult to differentiate yourself in a crowded market.

Solution:

  • Highlight Unique Value: Showcase your distinctive creative style, previous successes, and how your work aligns with the client’s brand and vision.
  • Add Personalization: Tailor each proposal by referencing the client’s mission, values, or past projects to demonstrate genuine interest.

4. Pricing Pressure

Clients often seek the best value for money, which can lead to competitive pricing wars. Striking the right balance between affordability and profitability is a common challenge.

Solution:

  • Justify Your Costs: Clearly outline what your price includes—be it research, revisions, or additional services like branding consultations.
  • Offer Tiered Pricing: Provide options with varying levels of service to give clients flexibility while ensuring your profitability.

5. Navigating Procurement Jargon

For many creative professionals, the technical language and legalities of procurement documents can be intimidating and time-consuming to decode.

Solution:

  • Invest in Training: Familiarize yourself with RFP terminology through online courses or workshops.
  • Use Tools: Platforms like Creative RFPs simplify the RFP process by filtering relevant opportunities and offering guidance on complex documents.

6. Proving Creative Capability

While creativity is subjective, RFPs often demand evidence of your ability to meet their specific needs. Demonstrating this effectively can be a hurdle.

Solution:

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Include case studies or examples that align with the RFP requirements. If necessary, create a bespoke concept to showcase your vision for the project.
  • Gather Testimonials: Client reviews and testimonials can provide third-party validation of your skills and reliability.

7. Compliance Challenges

Design RFPs often require adherence to strict formats, documentation, and compliance requirements. Missing a single detail could lead to disqualification.

Solution:

  • Checklists Are Key: Create a compliance checklist for each RFP to ensure all requirements are met.
  • Proofread and Review: Double-check your submission for errors, formatting issues, and completeness before hitting “submit.”

How Creative RFPs Can Help

Navigating these challenges alone can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Creative RFPs is designed to help creative professionals like you succeed in the RFP process. By providing access to relevant opportunities, templates, and expert advice, we empower you to craft standout proposals that win contracts.

While design RFPs come with their fair share of challenges, they also present incredible opportunities to grow your business and expand your portfolio. By understanding the hurdles and applying the solutions outlined here, you can confidently approach RFPs and maximize your chances of success.

FAQs

1. How can I clarify a vague RFP brief?
Ans: Submit questions during the Q&A period and propose informed assumptions in your response to demonstrate professionalism.

2. What’s the best way to manage tight RFP deadlines?
Ans: Use pre-made templates for proposals, prioritize high-impact sections, and streamline your process with efficient tools.

3. How do I stand out in a competitive design RFP?
Ans: Highlight your unique value, align your work with the client’s brand, and personalize your proposal with tailored insights.

4. How can I justify my pricing in RFPs?
Ans: Clearly outline deliverables, include value-added services, and offer tiered pricing options for flexibility.

5. What tools can help simplify the RFP process?
Ans: Platforms like Creative RFPs provide filtered opportunities, guidance, and templates to save time and improve your submissions.

 

Ready to transform your RFP process? Explore our platform at Creative RFPs to find your next big opportunity today with us!

Related Blog: Crafting Creative Bids: Techniques To Make Your Proposal Stand Out – Creative RFPs

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? 

4 Golden Tips for Securing Graphic Design Contracts

Posted on by John Hudson

Everything you need to know when it comes to winning graphic design contracts

Winning graphic design contracts through RFP is a great way for freelancers and agencies to grow their businesses. RFPs offer creative businesses amazing opportunities for expansion. Luckily for you, you’ve found us, and we’ve got some great experience with RFP for graphic design contracts. This blog will walk you through the sources for finding these RFPs, and how to win them.

Where can I find opportunities to win graphic design contracts?

Manually searching for graphic design contracts can be exhaustive.

Luckily for you, we have a solution.

Enter…Creative RFPs.

Creative RFPs is an easy-to-navigate, centralised portal hosting live RFP opportunities from across the UK, including graphic design RFPs. It’s dedicated specifically to the UK’s creative sector, making RFP tracking quicker and more efficient.

Below are 5 examples of RFPs for graphic design contracts that we have previously sourced on our portal:

Branding & Marketing Support

QA Flooring Solutions Ltd – North West – Budget: £6,000

Graphic Design Specialist Aden Country Park
Aberdeenshire Council – Scotland – Budget: £32,800

Love & Nature Exhibition Design Team

Horniman Museum & Gardens – London – Budget: £192,000

Branding and graphic design

Dudley College of Technology – West Midlands – Budget: Undisclosed

DOF – SEUPB – Graphic Design & Print Management Services
CPD – Supplies & Services Division- Northern Ireland- Budget: Undisclosed

A subscription to Creative RFPs can offer your business:

 Access to all exclusive, public and private sector graphic design RFPs in the UK.

  • An on-hand Account Manager to answer any questions you may have about RFPs for design work. They can help you understand the procurement 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 bid management consultancy each month.

4 tips for winning your next graphic design contract

1.    Keep your portfolio, testimonials & case studies relevant!

Make sure that you’re responding to the buyer with relevant case studies. The commissioning authority will know how much you’ve invested into the bid. Simply put, an irrelevant past contract example can be a red flag. They need to see a real snapshot into the customer’s experience, so the more relevant, the better.

2.    Showcase your added value

What sets you apart from other graphic design firms? Isolate that aspect and present it in your ITT/PQQ. It will impress the buyer and make them wonder why the competition doesn’t offer this product/service/feature.

3.    Review your bid!

This is a must if you want to win a graphic design contract. Without attention to detail, you’re unlikely to be successful. Reviewing your own RFP documents with a critical eye, not unlike the buyer is highly important. Consider whether you would award the contract, viewing the document objectively. Ask colleagues to do the same.

4.    Boilerplate responses

Boilerplate responses are fantastic for reducing writing times for a graphic design RFP, freeing up your time. However, they can easily throw the bidder off if the response isn’t relevant. As stated above, the buyer simply knows if you’ve rushed the bid. So, make sure that your responses flow naturally even when using boilerplate responses, by avoiding irrelevant terms and jargon.

In summary

So, we’ve hit the finish line on this blog on winning graphic design contracts! What if you’re in need of a recap? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered;

Where can I source graphic design RFPs? – Join hundreds of creative professionals using Creative RFPs to save time and track opportunities. 

4 tips for winning your next graphic design RFP

  1. Relevant case studies – Keep your portfolio and case studies in line with the bid.
  2. Showcase your added value – What separates you from the competition? Use this element to great effect in your bid, highlighting your uniqueness to the buyer.
  3. Review your work – Would you award yourself the contract? Maintain a critical eye over the document. Get colleagues to do the same.
  4. Boilerplate responses – Ensure your bid responses are relevant if you’re using boilerplate responses to save time.

Need help writing your next RFP?

If you don’t have the resources or time to write a winning bid, why not outsource it? Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, boasts an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of collective bidding experience. They offer four bid writing support packages to help you on the path to success. Whether you’re new to RFP, or simply need someone to proof your written response before you submit – we can help.

RFP Ready

Our RFP Ready programme is designed for those who have never RFP before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to RFP successfully.

RFP Improvement

RFP Improvement can help if you’re already RFP but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next graphic design contract.

RFP Mentor

If you’ve written a RFP and need someone to proofread it – RFP Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

RFP Writing

If you’ve found the perfect RFP but don’t know where to start – we can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Get in touch to find out more information.

Want to save even more time?

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a RFP opportunity even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portals of your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid decisions.
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable leads and RFP opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

Contact us for more information.

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.

Check out some of our other blogs:

Acing Your Website Design RFPs – What You Need to Know

Posted on by John Hudson

Learn what it takes to win website design RFPs

Website design RFPs represent a core cog in the wheel of creative procurement. In our modern life, a website’s design is highly important to digital footfall, so there’s no shortage of demand. So, what does this mean for you? Well, it means serious financial potential. There’s a wealth of profitable website design opportunities through RFPs. In this blog, we’ll walk you through where to find RFPs, and tips to skyrocket your RFP success.

Where can I source website design RFPs?

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 website design RFPs. Luckily for you, we have a solution.

Enter…Creative RFPs.

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

Below are 5 past examples of website design RFPs sourced on our portal:

Website Designer/Developer Aden Country Park
Aberdeenshire Council – Scotland – Budget: £7,500

Website Design
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust & Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Yorkshire and Humber- Budget: £90,000

PQQ Website Replacement

Dublin Bus / Bus Atha Cliath – Republic of Ireland – Budget: £500,000

Development of a Standardised Website Within the South West Region GP Practice Estate
NHS South Central West SCU – South West Budget: Undisclosed

Invest South Tyneside Web Design/Development
South Tyneside Council – North East- Budget: Undisclosed

A subscription to Creative RFPs can offer your business:

Access to all exclusive, public and private sector website RFPs in the US.

  • An on-hand Account Manager is available to answer any questions you may have about RFPs for website design work. They can help you understand the procurement 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.

3 tips to help you succeed with website design RFPs

1.  Read all the questions!

We’ve seen too many suppliers rush through an Invitation To Tender (ITT) without fully digesting the material…and it costs. Simply put the buyer knows how much you’ve invested into a bid, and irrelevant answers can be a red flag. So, when you’re working on documents, make sure that you’re reading through the documents properly. Your response will be more relevant, and you’ll convey professionalism. Like most RFPs, website design RFPs deserve a close eye.

2.  Organise your crack RFP team!

This should be a no-brainer, but a team’s organisation can spell life or death in bid management. A disorganised team can fall behind on deadlines, and in the worst-case scenario, even submit a bid after the deadline. So, make sure that you’ve got internal deadlines to keep everyone sharp. This also aids team morale, as everyone is aware of how their input is helping the project progress. This advice also applies if you’re a one-man team, as applying internal deadlines can achieve increased efficiency.

3.  Stick to the formatting requirements

Buyers can be rather strict when it comes to formatting. If you blatantly ignore instructions, it will reflect poorly on you and your business. Make sure before you submit that the font and font size is what is stated in the guidance document.

Moreover, you should stick to the word/character counts. If a buyer is wanting a longer response, they will include an additional text box.

So, it’s best if you’re writing your response in Word, for example, to check your character count with spaces. You don’t want to be writing a detailed 1000-word response to then have to cut it down.

 

In summary

So, we’ve reached the finish line on this blog for website design RFPs. We’re sure that you’re focused on winning the next RFP. How about a recap?

Where can I find Website design RFPs? – A thorough look into the only sensible option when it comes to sourcing creative RFPs.

3 tips to help you succeed with website design RFPs

  1. Read all the questions! – Ensure that you digest the information when it comes to the RFP documents.
  2. Organise your crack team! Make sure that you’re working on your deadlines, setting internal deadlines and progress meetings.
  3. Stick to the formatting questions – Follow the buyer’s instructions for formatting such as word count, font etc.

What if you’re still unsure about writing the RFP? Our sister company Hudson Succeed is here to help.

Need help writing your next RFP?

If you don’t have the resources or time to write a winning bid, why not outsource it? Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, boasts an 87% success rate and have over 60 years of collective bidding experience. They offer four bid writing support packages to help you on the path to success. Whether you’re new to RFP, or simply need someone to proof your written response before you submit – we can help.

RFP Ready

Our RFP Ready programme is designed for those who have never RFP before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully.

RFP Improvement

RFP Improvement can help if you’re already RFP but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next website design RFP.

RFP Mentor

If you’ve written a RFP and need someone to proofread it – RFP Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

RFP Writing

If you’ve found the perfect RFP but don’t know where to start – we can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Get in touch to find out more information.

Want to save even more time?

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a RFP opportunity even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portals of your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid decisions.
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable leads and RFP opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

Contact us for more information.

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.

Check out some of our other blogs:

How to Win Digital Marketing RFPs

Posted on by John Hudson

What to expect from digital marketing RFPs 

Do you want to bid for digital marketing RFPs but aren’t sure how to get started? If that’s the case then don’t worry, we can help.

This blog will tell you what to expect from digital marketing RFPs. We’ll cover different subsectors and the key things you’ll need to consider before producing your bid. Keep reading to find out more!

 What type of digital marketing RFPs are out there?

Digital marketing RFPs can be found in both the public and private sectors, and include a range of subsectors. The different services include, but is not limited to:

  • SEO
  • PPC
  • PR
  • Media monitoring
  • Press cutting
  • Content writing
  • Copywriting
  • Social media.

What can you expect from digital marketing RFPs?

When you’re RFP for contracts in the creative sector, there are certain things that you should expect. These include:

  1. Economic financial standing

When bidding for digital marketing RFPs, you’ll likely have to provide information about your economic financial standing. 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.

As a general rule, we advise that you don’t bid for contracts worth more than 50% of your annual turnover. For example, if your annual turnover is £1,000,000, you should avoid contracts worth more than £500,000. 

  1. Experience

When bidding for digital marketing RFPs, you should expect to provide evidence of your previous experience. This helps reassure the buyer that you’re capable of delivering the project.

You should aim to provide the buyer with 2 – 3 case studies from the last 3 – 5 years. Ideally, these examples will be similar in size, scope and complexity to the RFP at hand. The most important thing to remember is that your evidence needs to be relevant. For example, your experience with design won’t show the buyer how well you’ll manage a social media campaign. If it’s not relevant to the buyer’s project, don’t include it in your RFP.

  1. Added value

To successfully bid for digital marketing RFPs, you’ll need to demonstrate added value in your RFP.

Added value, also known as social value, is now mandatory in public sector contracts, with a compulsory weighting of 10%. You need to demonstrate how your business will deal with the environmental, social and economic aspects of the contract.

For example, you should consider how your business will:

  • Support COVID-19 recovery
  • Encourage economic growth
  • Tackle climate change
  • Create new job opportunities.

Do you need assistance with digital 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, offer 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

Need help sourcing digital marketing RFPs? 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 digital 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…Creative RFPs

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

Below are 5 past examples of digital marketing RFPs sourced on our portal:

Digital Marketing Consultancy to Target an International Audience  

International Pheromone Systems Limited – North West – Budget: £10k

Promotional Materials, Internal & External Signage & Wall Art & Digital Marketing Materials

Delta Academies Trust – Yorkshire – Budget: £200k

Digital & Social Media Agency Services (China) 

University of Dundee – Scotland – Budget: £500k

Provision of a Digital Marketing Campaign Programme for SMEs

Advance Northumberland Limited – North East – Budget: Undisclosed

Invitation to RFP for the Provision of Event, Production & Digital Media Support for the 4 Corners Festival 2022 

4 Corners Festival – Northern Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

A SUBSCRIPTION TO CREATIVE RFPS CAN OFFER YOUR BUSINESS:

  • Access to all exclusive, public and private sector creative contracts in the US.
  • An on-hand Account Manager is available to answer any questions you may have about RFPs for digital marketing work. They can help you understand the procurement 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 bid management consultancy each month.

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.

Check out some of our other blogs:

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 digital 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 monitored on your behalf.
  • Buyer portal management, including registration, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid or no-bid
  • 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 5 years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

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

7 Things to Expect When you RFP for Design Work

Posted on by John Hudson

RFP for design Work

If you’re wondering whether to RFP for design work and you don’t know where to begin, we can help. This blog provides 7 things to expect when you RFP for design work.

First, let’s start with the basics…

What type of design work is out to RFP?

RFPs for design work are released by both private and public sector organisations. They could be looking to procure a range of design services. These could include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

  • Graphic design services
  • Print functions
  • 3D designs
  • Signage
  • Produce design schematics for graphics
  • Artwork
  • Exhibitions
  • CGI
  • Lighting design
  • Illustration
  • Cartography
  • Branding
  • Digital design and more.

7 things to expect when you RFP for design work

  1. Your economic financial standing

 When you’re using RFP for design work, you can expect to have your economic financial standing to be assessed. This is to make sure that you’re able to carry out the work. It is comprised of three things:

  • Annual turnover
  • Financial ratios
  • Insurance(s)

  1. Case Studies

When writing your RFP for design work, you will likely be asked to provide up to three case studies. These should be from within the last three to five years. These case studies should demonstrate projects that are similar in scope and scale to the one you are RFP for. They should demonstrate your capabilities to work on the project at hand.

Depending on the word count, they could include a positive testimonial from a previous client. This will strengthen your response, but bear in mind you might have to provide their contact details for a follow up. So, you shouldn’t make them up. It may also be a good idea to state if there were any challenges and how you overcame them.

  1. CVs

Some buyers may require you to include CVs for those who are to be involved in the project. Buyers want to be reassured that you and your team are experienced and qualified. They should be focused relevant and as concise as possible. Each CV should detail what the specific team member will be responsible for, they should also include:

  • Their job title
  • Any relevant qualifications or accreditations
  • A professional yet friendly picture allowing the buyer to put a face to the name.

  1. Outline methodology

You may be required to provide a concise written proposal setting out what your organisation would do. This outline should state how you will produce the work required as per the requirements of the specification.

  1. Quality assurance

Depending on the buyer, you may be required to provide details of your quality control process. This could outline how you ensure your organisation’s work is of the highest quality. You should provide details of security information and confirm general data protection. Bear in mind, this may not be required for all RFPs for design work.

  1. Social value or added value

RFP in the public sector, you will need to provide details of your business’s social value policy. This is because there is a mandatory 10% weighting on social value for public sector contracts. You will need to detail the environmental, social and economic aspects of the RFP. You should consider:

  • Encouraging economic growth
  • Creating new jobs and skills
  • Supporting COVID-19 recovery
  • Tackling climate change.

It’s worth noting again, that within the public sector, the contract will be awarded to the MEAT. The MEAT is the most economically advantageous RFP. Here, a buyer will be seeking the most value for their money. A buyer will be evaluating your RFP on more than just price. It’s worth remembering that the cheapest bid does not win. The buyer will be looking at a number of aspects, including, but not limited to:

  • Quality
  • Accessibility
  • Technical ability
  • The proposed design
  • Environmental benefits
  • Innovation
  • Customer service or ongoing support
  • Ability to deliver on time.

The specific evaluation aspects will be stated within the RFP documents. These will vary depending on the buyer, so it’s important to read the specification carefully.

  1. Framework agreement

Sometimes you can find RFPs for design work as part of a framework agreement. Framework agreements are multi-supplier agreements used within the public sector to procure a good or service. Securing a place on a framework can help you secure a pipeline of work for your business. They can run for years at a time with some having the possibility of an extension.

Framework agreements are often split into lots with each lot representing a specific good, work, service or geographical location. They allow for suppliers to apply for the specific lots they specialise in. This means a supplier doesn’t have to be able to deliver every aspect of the contract.

Need assistance with your next RFP for design work?

We understand that you might not have the time, resources or experience to write a winning response in-house. Outsourcing to bid writing experts can help you win your next RFP, securing a pipeline of work for your business.

Our sister company Hudson Succeed, have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. They offer four bid writing support services that can help you win more RFPs for design work. Whether you’ve never RFP before or need your response proofread before you submit – we can help.

  1. A Tender Ready programme
  2. The Tender Improvement package
  3. Tender Writing services
  4. Tender Mentor

Where can I find RFPs for design work?

Finding RFP for design work for your business can take hours out of your busy day. You likely don’t have the spare time to be searching hundreds of websites and portals for a relevant RFP. Many of them post multi-industry opportunities and searching for sector-specific leads can turn into a full-time job!

Luckily for you, we have a time-saving tool that can take the headache out of RFP. Creative RFPs is an easy-to-navigate, centralised portal that hosts all live creative RFP opportunities from across the Creative Industry. There’s no reliance on inaccurate CPV codes!

Our Opportunity Trackers manually search and upload unique, private and public sector opportunities. You’re able to filter and search the results by keyword, budget, location and more. This streamlines the process, allowing you to find the perfect RFP for design work.

Below are previous RFPs for design work sourced on our portal:

Graphic design commission, Manchester Art Gallery – Platt Hall

Platt Hall- North West- Budget: £6,000

Town Centre Heroes Exhibitions

London Borough of Barnet- London- Budget: Undisclosed

Lelley Fields Crematorium Marketing Strategy and Brand Development

East Riding of Yorkshire- Yorkshire and Humber- Budget: Undisclosed

Restoring Stover Park – Brand and Interpretation Design

Devon County Council- South West- Budget: Undisclosed

Graphic Designer, The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge- South East- Budget: Undisclosed

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 RFPs for design work. They can help you understand the procurement process and answer any questions you have about the RFP process in general.
  • A daily email bulletin 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 bid management consultancy 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 RFP for design work.

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 monitored on your behalf.
  • Buyer portal management, including registration, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid or no-bid
  • 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 5 years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

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

Why choose Creative RFPs?

Posted on by John Hudson

Why choose Creative RFPs?

Mr RFPs vs Mrs Finder

Our system is used by two types of customers, creative agencies and freelancers looking for new business opportunities. Business owners and marketing managers looking to source creative partners will also benefit from Creative RFPs.

How can we help your business grow you might ask? By using Creative RFPs (for agencies and freelancers) or by using Creative Finder (to source creative partners).

Here’s how….

Mr RFPs vs Mrs Finder

Mr RFPs will…

 

  • Source creative only RFPs, minimising the time needed to search for RFPs
  • Work with his team who has decades of creative sector experience
  • Provide a time saving solution for business development teams
  • Provide a dedicated account manager to make sure you don’t miss out
  • Set up cold calling campaigns to generate unique opportunities for our subscribers
  • Grow his team who are currently operating US wide with a clear international strategy
  • Create an ideal solution that works for both growing US agencies and freelancers

 

Mrs Finder will…

 

  • Give you access to our ‘free to use’ system for unlimited invitation to quotes
  • Help you write your creative and digital specifications
  • Ensure your opportunities are seen by hundreds of relevant freelancers and agencies
  • Take the legwork out of securing competitive quotes
  • Ensure our system is an easy to use online solution
  • Allow agencies to respond via our system, reducing the amount of emails you receive
  • Provide you with a dedicated account manager with over 10 years’ industry experience

Don’t waste your valuable time searching for RFP opportunities and suppliers….we’ve got them all in one place.  Sign up today at creativerfps.com

Tel: 0203 051 2217

 

 

 

The importance of receiving RFP / proposal feedback on Graphic Design RFPs

Posted on by John Hudson

The importance of receiving RFP / proposal feedback on Graphic Design RFPs

It’s disappointment when we receive the unwanted email from those companies we have RFP for, and sometimes more than others. But why is this?
Continue reading “The importance of receiving RFP / proposal feedback on Graphic Design RFPs”