(and save time by developing a library of useful content)
Creating a great tender submission can be hard work. I know from experience that anything you can do to avoid reinventing the wheel for every tender is a real bonus. That’s why I recommend developing a library of useful content that you can use over and over in your tenders — with a little customisation each time, of course.
Creating a library of your response content can be a strategic way to save time and improve the efficiency of your tendering process.
Here are ten steps you can take to help you develop and maintain a content library:
Understand the standard requirements by analysing the frequent elements across different tender responses. This will include information such as your company background, qualifications, policies, skills, and experience of key staff and previous project experience. It will also usually include your answers to health and safety, environmental, quality, social, sustainability, HR, and modern slavery questions.
Create templates for the different sections of a tender response and customise these based on the specific requirements of the tenders you’re working on.
Standardise key information by ensuring that the information is accurate, up-to-date, and complies with industry standards.
Build a knowledge repository for storing content and organise it by categories or topics so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Depending on the size of your business, you might want to invest in a Content Management System (CMS) to manage and update your content efficiently. CMS tools can help with version control, collaboration, and access control.
Document any lessons learned from previous tender submissions by seeking feedback from successful and unsuccessful bids to improve your content continually.
Incorporate case studies and success stories that demonstrate your company's capabilities and track record, and make sure you tailor these examples to fit the requirements of different tenders.
Regularly update content by conducting periodic reviews to ensure its accuracy and relevance.
Get someone else (such as a professional tender writer) to review your content for readability and comprehensiveness.
Get my tender submission tips — just shoot me an email and they’re all yours, completely free of charge.
My Final Advice
By implementing these strategies, you can streamline the tendering process, reduce response time, and increase the consistency and quality of your submissions. Keep in mind that while a content library can be a valuable tool, customisation for each specific tender submission is crucial to address the unique requirements of each opportunity.
And don’t forget, if you need a hand with your tender or library content, I can definitely help. Just call me on 0400 514 579, shoot me an email at pauline@tenderwise.com.au, or fill out this form here.
Happy tendering!
Pauline :)