Tip #9 – Proper Presentation

Once you’ve gathered all important components for your proposal, take time to ensure it is properly presented. Put together a Table of Contents and check that all copies of all documents are proofread, smudge-free and in correct order. Finally, insert proposal into a suitable binder. Give finished document a final review; it’s your last chance to correct any mistakes. Submit proposal according to instructions provided and make sure it is delivered before submission deadline. If possible, deliver proposal in person. You never know who you’ll encounter on receiving end!

Tip #10 – Investigate Winning Bid

If your company is not awarded bid, try to learn more about company that did submit winning proposal. Put on your investigator hat. Find out price submitted with winning bid and approach that was proposed. Research company itself. Use whatever you discover as a learning tool for next time. The information just might help your company put together next winning proposal.

And there you have it – ten tips for submitting a winning proposal. Good Luck!

You'll feel like a relic left over from pre-Electronic Revolution days if you don't have a Web site. However, many trade show managers, in a rush to construct and display a Web site, wind up with sites that lack compelling graphics or information that will be useful to their potential exhibitors. Without proper guidance you'll waste money ... and project an image of a business that isn't ready for this millennium. The solution: Find a reliable Web site designer who is familiar with trade show business and will hire writers who can create Web site copy that is powerful, persuasive, and informative. But don't put a site up until you're ready; you wouldn't want your Web site debut to fall flat. 4. You have a great Web site, but nobody sees it.

Those who aren't Internet savvy sometimes think that once they create a Web site, their prospects will automatically find it -- after all, that's what Web search engines are for, right? Wrong! Search engines are great if someone wants general information about trade shows, but there's no guarantee your show will be at top of "hit list." Because there are millions of Web sites on Internet, only sure way to differentiate your site from rest and drive traffic to it is through collateral advertising. Make sure your Web site address is prominently displayed on all your advertising and marketing materials, including your stationery and business cards. An expensive, snazzy Web site is useless if no one visits it. 5. You put together an ineffective ad campaign.

Bad advertising is worse than no advertising at all. Unless you have a great in-house advertising department, resist temptation to create your own ad campaign. Advertising is not a good place to start a budget-cutting initiative. But just because you hire pros to do your advertising doesn't mean you'll have an effective campaign. It's best to find an ad agency that has had consistent success in trade show industry. To find such an agency, do your research. Consult with other trade show managers and look through Advertising Redbook, available in reference section at most public libraries. Ask for examples of an ad agency's work with other trade shows. Steer clear of campaigns that might be a turn-off to your prospects by appealing to a specific generation rather than a wider audience. And remember that humor and creativity are important attention-getting devices in advertising, but don't let your message get lost.