By Amanda Costello
Have you ever pictured your bid submission in a pile of other binders, all vying for the chance to be noticed? Personal touches can make a big impact without requiring a lot of time or money. Likewise, small visual enhancements throughout your bid can elevate any printed or digital bid submission.
Think about the packages you’re most excited to get in the mail. Do they include company-branded tape like Amazon and Sephora? Do they include personal touches like shipments from Chewy for your beloved pet? My invested in company-branded tape and tissue paper, and these small enhancements didn’t cost much, nor did they add any effort to the process of boxing up our print bid submissions. We also include a hand-written thank you note on company stationery. These small touches reflect the human effort and care put into every bid, and they have received favorable feedback from recipients.
Similarly, small visual enhancements can help break up long requirement responses. If you have a quote repository, have you considered turning an applicable quote or two into a pulled quote? Have some fun with pulled quotes by playing with text color and the size of the quote marks. It’s a great way to break up blocks of text and add a creative flair to a bid response.
QR codes are another great way to supply information in a fun, visual way. If your bid allows for external links, consider linking to a video on your company’s website via a QR code picture embedded within your response that can further highlight the process or feature you’re explaining in a requirement response.
There are several ways to add design elements to a bid response. Your imagination and bid deadlines are your only limits. Take inspiration from your favorite magazines or websites or even eye-catching ads you come across. You don’t have to be a designer to make great things. You can create a lot in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint alone. Canva is another great resource. It’s easy to use with an abundance of free templates.
