A proposal is an offer to provide some service or product for money. It is a persuasive plan describing what work will be done, why it should be done, and how it will be done.
In particular, you may write a proposal to do any of the following on a website:
- do user and task analysis
- create an information architecture and prototype
- to perform a usability test
- to provide technical enhancement
- to redesign an existing web site in order to meet client needs more effectively
Deciding Whether to Make a Proposal
Remember that a proposal, once accepted, becomes a legally binding document. If you submit a proposal to a client, you are legally bound to do the work described in the proposal, within the time promised and for the proposed price.
Use the following criteria to decide whether or not you should submit a proposal:
- Can we do the work, within the time limit? Do we have the resources and personnel?
- What will our costs be? Our profit margin?
- Who will the competition be? What will they charge?
- Will our work and price be competitive?
- What other projects are we involved in?
Preparing to Write a Proposal
The following tasks are part of making a proposal. Divide your labor between them efficiently:
Strategic Planning
Your proposal will be more effective if it is driven by the following strategic issues:
- Your strengths, things that set you apart, the key benefits of your proposed solution
- Key customer concerns, requirements, and your strategies to meet them
- Your weaknesses, and strategies to minimize them
- Potential problems or challenges in implementing your solution, and strategies to resolve them
- Competitor strengths and weaknesses, and ways to address them
Creating the document
Creating a graphic outline for your proposal
Creating graphics and charts
Creating an appealing layout
Writing the text
Determining Costs
Estimate the number of hours the project will take
Determine what tools you will need
Compare with similar projects done in the past
The Proposal Outline
Begin by creating a graphic outline. A graphic outline is an outline and rough sketch of what the finished proposal will contain, including what graphics you'll use. It should be designed around the tangible benefits you will provide.
Use Graphics for Emphasis and Clarity
As you design your graphics:
- Refer to all graphics from within the text
- Place the graphic near to the text reference
- Keep the graphic as simple and uncluttered as possible
Document Design for Clear Communication
Communicate the overall logical structure of your document to readers at the very beginning. Use visual grouping and subheadings to guide the reader through the document. Begin and end each section of text with short paragraphs.
