Proposal Structuring Essentials

Crafting the perfect corporate training proposal. A Deep dive into proposal components Writing proposals is a chore. What to include? what not to include? Having written hundreds of them, here's what I include and why: 1. Executive Summary: ↳ Think movie trailer, not dry summary. Captivate with the vision, not just the facts. 2. What We Heard: ↳ Mirror their language, not yours. Show you've listened, by reflecting their words, not just their needs. 3. The Opportunity: ↳ This isn't just a gap to fill. It's a launching pad for their potential. Highlight the transformation, not just the transaction. 4. Consultation Service: ↳ Position this as a partnership, not a service. Emphasise collaboration, not just consultation. 5. Approach and Methodology: ↳ Innovate, don't regurgitate. Present methodologies that are as unique as their challenges. 6. Project Roadmap: ↳ This is the journey, not just the route. Make it visual, engaging, and clear. 7. Investment: ↳ Transparency builds trust. It's not just about costs; it's about value creation 8. Terms: ↳ Make this easy to say 'yes' to. Simplify legal jargon into clear commitments. 9. The Team: ↳ Sell the dream team. Highlight unique strengths and past successes as a cohesive unit, not just individual CVs. 10. Case Studies/Testimonials: ↳ Show, don't tell. Use stories of transformation and success that resonate with their specific context. Each section of your proposal should not just inform but also engage and inspire. Think beyond the conventional and inject each part with a strategy that shows you're not just a provider, but a partner in their success. What are your top tips for great proposals? #ProgrammeBuilder #OfferActivator #BusinessDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingAndDevelopment #Facilitation #Workshops

I've reviewed 1000+ proposals on Upwork. Here's what separates winners from the rest: The anatomy of a winning proposal: 1. First impression (opening line) - Bad: "I am writing to express interest in your project" - Good: "I've helped 3 SaaS startups increase conversion rates by 45% using similar landing pages" 2. Proof of expertise - Bad: "I have 5 years of experience in content writing" - Good: "My article on AI trends got 50K views on TechCrunch last month" 3. Project understanding - Bad: "I can help with your website" - Good: "Your main challenge seems to be low mobile conversion rates. Here's my 3-step plan..." 4. Specific questions that showcase expertise - Bad: "What's your timeline?" - Good: "Have you A/B tested different hero sections before? This could help us baseline the improvements" 5. Call to action - Bad: "Looking forward to hearing from you" - Good: "I'm available for a quick call today at 2pm EST to discuss your conversion goals" Advanced tactics that work: - Address objections before they arise - Include a quick win they can implement right now - Link to similar projects (not your generic portfolio) - Mention specific metrics from past success - Keep paragraphs to 2-3 lines max Remember: Clients spend an average of 15 seconds per proposal. Make every word count. What's your success rate with Upwork proposals?

After securing over $2M in research funding and reviewing 100+ proposals, I've identified the exact elements that make reviewers stop, pay attention, and champion your work. How to write a research proposal that gets funded: (7 moves that make yours stand out) 1. Frame the Problem • Show real-world impact • State one clear issue • Use simple language 2. Command the Literature • Challenge old assumptions • Connect past to present • Map key research gaps 3. Clear Methods • Match tools to questions • Detail data collection • Plan for problems 4. Require Resources Right • List exact tools + people needed • Budget precisely • Show feasibility 5. Map the Timeline • Set clear milestones • Break into phases • Add buffer weeks 6. Style the Writing • Make it scannable • Lead with impact • Cut jargon 7. Follow the Format • Follow guidelines exactly • Check every citation • Submit early Want to know the secret? Good proposals tell stories. Great proposals solve problems. Get my FREE guide from: https://lnkd.in/eev8U5K5 What's your biggest proposal writing challenge? Share it below ⬇️ #phd #research #proposals

Let’s say you want to propose a new project to your team. Or maybe you’re heading into your performance review and want to show up looking ~prepared~. Every company has their format, but as an ex-consultant, I’ve spent quite some time building decks for client projects, proposals, and even my own performance reviews. If I’m ever trying to put thoughts together in my current job as a content creator, I’ll first pull up blank slides (my teammate Annie V. has a love-hate relationship with my deck obsession🥲). I utilize slides for pitches to brands, advising strategies, internal performance reviews, training modules for my team, and post-mortems following partnerships. Here are four tips that I think make every deck better: 1. Identify the problem. Get to the point within the first two slides of your presentation in the form of a problem statement. Why should someone spend their precious time looking at this deck? If you’re proposing getting allocated more funds to support a team happy hour, the problem statement could be something witty like “We do good work, but we don’t celebrate that enough.” Pro tip: keep this problem statement to one or two simple sentences. The more you elaborate on the problem, the trickier it becomes to solve. 2. Use icons. Wow…I’m SUCH a consultant. Icons make a boring slide interactive and easy to follow. 3. Provide data to substantiate your proposal. Why should your audience believe in your plan of action? Do you have examples from the past or case studies that you can reference? I recently pitched integrating a brand sponsorship into my Gen Z series. I built a slide that included statistics from both the series on my channels (link clicks, engagement, etc.) and Gen Z consumer behaviors as they related to the brand’s industry / product. 4. List your next steps. A proposal is not of value unless you’ve provided actionable steps for all stakeholders. I always make next steps attributional by listing them in a 2-column table format (action item on the left, the person responsible on the right). Is this similar to how you organize your pitch decks? I’d love to hear some additional tips in the comments below!

I was mentoring someone on my team today when I saw their proposal. The proposal had nothing factually wrong or even had all the key points. I messaged, “It does not have a character; it does not have a soul.” Can you please add some soul. She was even more confused and called. This is what I ended up saying—almost spontaneously without skipping a beat. Three things, I said - (now I am thinking of three things to say - with 30 years behind me. I guess I started well and was so happy I ended well, too. This is what I said - Communication in any proposal, discussion, or negotiation is as important as what we speak. Over the years, I’ve found that good communication—whether in sales, non-profits, or strategic partnerships—rests on three things 1. Setting the Context/Start with a Common Frame of Reference: Before diving into details or solutions, you must ensure that everyone who reads the proposal or participates in the conversation is working from the same frame of reference. Misalignment at the start—often unnoticed—can lead to vastly different interpretations, wasted effort, and usually a disaster (Trump—Zelensky example came in handy). A good context setting ensures clarity, reduces friction, and helps focus on the real problem. 2. Build your USP/ Brand / Key Identity: What makes you, you. What makes us us? She was puzzled. I asked about the brand keywords. Communication must carry a distinct identity, whether a personal brand, an organisation, or a movement. Without a clear and consistent character, recognition and recall diminish. Over time, staying true to this identity builds trust, credibility, and lasting impact. 3. Make it sound positive, optimistic and practical. Be enthusiastic about working together to make them a part of solving the problem. Every challenge has blind spots, but how they are framed makes all the difference. A good proposal acknowledges constraints without making them roadblocks. Write with practical optimism—one that energises, motivates, and inspires action rather than confuse it with complexity. So, if the proposal had to have a soul, all good proposals, discussions, and negotiations would be clear, distinct, and futuristic. They set the stage for the same frame of reference, establish a brand/ identity, and create momentum toward real solutions. Are your proposals structured for impact? I would love to hear how you approach this in your work. Let’s discuss it! #Leadership #Communication #Strategy Sameeksha Gupta Sonia Duggal Neha Bharti Anamika Sai Ravin Carr