A Conversation With Chris Duvall on Common Tender Writing Mistakes
At a recent business communications conference, we had the opportunity to talk to senior writer at Madrigal Communications, Chris Duvall on effective business communication strategies.
Duvall’s career extends across a variety of work in internal and external corporate communications, specialising in developing strong communications strategies. He was kind enough to share his expertise with us, specifically his perspective and approach to tender writing.
As tender proposals play a crucial role in winning new contracts, we asked him about the most common mistakes made by inexperienced tender writers.
“Tender writing is not as tricky as it seems. But still, it requires attention to detail. I’ve noticed that many writers include way too much information. Irrelevant details not only lengthen the document, but detract from the message you are trying to deliver. Readers don’t have the time to fish around for important information. Your focus should be presenting the required information clearly and concisely.”
He suggests being wary of alienating your evaluator with complicated language, “It’s important to avoid going overboard with technical jargon. For instance, you might be an expert in hydraulics, but it’s unlikely that the evaluator has any clue what you’re talking about. Try to communicate complex ideas in easy-to-understand terms.”
To keep the reader engaged, Duvall recommends including graphics and illustrations. He warns “You can’t submit a plain, boring document. Use a passionate and active tone to create a compelling tender proposal.”
Yet with all this in mind, Duvall advises that often it is better to play it safe and utilise professional writers, especially for high-value contracts.
“Finding a successful tender writing approach takes time. In fact, I suggest organisations seek tender writing courses and training to improve their writing capabilities.”