I am simply amazed at the problems some of my colleagues are experiencing regarding writing job proposals for customers. So often I hear that there has been some sort of disagreement between client and service provider, something that can and should be avoided before a project is started. Here are four tips to help you write an effective job proposal letter.
Assume Nothing My junior high English teacher gave his students the real meaning of assume: if you assume something it makes an ass out of you and me: ass-u-me. Leave nothing to chance. When you speak with a client do not assume they understand much of what you have to offer. For instance, I sell website packages. I have learned to spell out everything that I will offer to my customers for a very specific price. If there are any "gray areas" I protect myself by telling customers that certain other expenses will be billed separately. Do not box yourself into a corner and do not pull surprises on your customers as they may think you are trying to cheat them. Keep the lines of communication wide open.
Get It In Writing Save all of your email correspondence with clients including emails you send and emails you receive. Sometimes what is not said verbally is articulated in writing. For example, I write much better than I speak, therefore I am more likely to put my ideas forth via "ink" or "type" than I am to verbalize them. In either case follow up your contact by placing everything in writing. You will need that paper trail in case something goes wrong e.g., a refusal to pay for services rendered.
Make Changes, If Necessary Sometimes projects change as the work goes forward. If it is a minor change, such as cropping a few extra photographs, you can probably "eat" the additional labor. However, if your project increases in size, let's say your clients now want a 12 page website instead of an 8 page site, they need to know that you need to be compensated for the extra work. Specify in your proposal letter that any changes to the project will incur additional charges; remind them of this "clause" should any major change be proposed. Your customer may decide not to go with the larger project after counting the additional costs.
Write a Contract I have done fairly well without contracts. Many of my customers know me quite well, therefore the proposal letter serves as a contract of sorts. I also require my customers to pay me 50% as an advancement; if they walk away from the contract upon completion of my work their website does not get uploaded to the internet. At the very least I have partial compensation for my hard work. Your experience or risk factors may be much different than mine; certainly use contracts if your customers are not well known to you or you do not have a previous business relationship.
In summation, every satisfied customer is a potential referral for new business. Keep those communication lines open and understood and you will garner additional projects because of your sound business practices.
(c)2005; Matthew C Keegan, LLC
Matt Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including aviation, business, customer service, product review, sales, and more. Visit http://www.thearticlewriter.com for additional samples of his work.
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about... Read More
Many government department heads are on the take. Oh they'll... Read More
This is the tale of two business plans with very... Read More
When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More
Cash is King?That is what everyone tells us and it... Read More
What is the Big Race all about when it comes... Read More
There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More
You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem... Read More
Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or... Read More
Here are some of the questions that you need to... Read More
The FTC Franchise Rule maybe changed, as the Federal trade... Read More
If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More
1. Everyone Makes A Difference ? Despite not letting him... Read More
Looking for a place to add a Quick Lube away... Read More
If you're starting your own business or currently work for... Read More
A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More
The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that... Read More
A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses... Read More
A career coach could be simply defined your job seeking... Read More
Is it right for you?If you decide to advertise your... Read More
Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like... Read More
As a small business owner, outsourcing work to Virtual Assistants... Read More
The revenue history is a vital piece of your power... Read More
In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest ..Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations... Read More
We were more than excited. Our women's doubles tennis team... Read More
Anyone who is serious about washing aircraft as a full... Read More
Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of... Read More
How do we keep track of our business deals?If you... Read More
COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING:Collaborative negotiating is a win-win strategy that can focus... Read More
There's no question that hard work and a little luck... Read More
New Franchisors and Entrepreneurs need to watch out as they... Read More
One of the major complaints in the QSR Quick Service-Fast... Read More
Part of the power plan is making sure you have... Read More
Achieving real success should be the goal of any good... Read More
Perhaps you are building a new home office or you... Read More
The modern Franchise business model and the much different business... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
Concrete Roof Tile Business: During the 2004 summer season, storms... Read More
You can make your trade show experience much easier by... Read More
No matter what kind of small business you have, you... Read More
Would it help you as a real estate investor to... Read More
"Order Now!" "Your Business Will Fail If You Don't Have... Read More
If you are a non-operator owner of many work trucks,... Read More
One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can... Read More
As a business owner, you already know how important it... Read More
At one point or another, almost every business runs short... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to... Read More
Small Business |