A Sample RFP
request For Proposal Submission - RFP
Request for Proposal Documents (RFPs) are
sometimes used by companies when they
design or
re-design their websites. Many RFPs force
respondents to fit everything into a tightly
controlled format of deliverables, timeline, and
pricing. The problem is that this also tends to
obscure the true strengths of the companies you’re
talking to.
SimplyGreatWebsites receives
several RFPs per month and since a big part of
business comes from referrals it is great to receive
your Request. You can expect a prompt submission and
SIMPLYGREATWEBSITES.com will submit the most
affordable bid for the quality that you need to
succeed with your project.
Simply send your PFP
to gary@simplygreatwebsites.com. And thank you for
consideration for your very important project.
SimplyGreatWebsites is in the business of creating
websites and campaigns that work beautifully and
which people find easy, appealing, and compelling
while helping clients succeed online.
Suggestions to Best Utilize the RFP Process for your Business
Some companies are so overly restrictive in their
RFPs that it becomes difficult for their Designers
(like SimplyGreatWebsites.com) to provide a good
response. As such those kind of RFPs often limit
replies form companies that would actually give them
the best and/or most affordable results.
If
your company doe needs to use a RFP because of
competitive biding requirements in your board’s
directives, charter, or by-laws … here are some
suggestions to improve your likelihood of creating a
positive engagement with the designer you select and
a compelling website as a result.
Define your Goals … avoiding exact designs or functions.
A list of goals allows designers (like SimplyGreatWebsites.com) to demonstrate their expertise in web design and give you their best solutions for you to consider. You’re hiring them to come up with solutions that you might not have considered. The best designers keep up with modern trends that you may not yet be aware of and might miss including in your RFP.
Encourage Open Communications and give as much Information as you can.
The process of selecting a designer is not much
different from working with them. So, if you write
an open and creative RFP then you are more likely to
attract an open and creative designer for your
project. If however you write a bureaucratic or
overly restrictive document you will likely end up
working with an inflexible company. And that does no
one any good.
"Why" you want your website to
do something is just as important as "what" you want
it to do. For example if you want to improve your
search engine ranking … say how you are ranking now
and who are your primary competitors. Give your
potential designers the most information you can and
they will get creative to make you a client. It is
what designers do best … give them the opportunity
to shine and everyone wins.
One final suggestion to make the RFP process to help you actually get a Great Website.
One thing that is often missed in the RFPs received by SimplyGreatWebsites is a list of the systems that you are currently using and how they need to integrate with your website. By providing this to your desiner you can hel pto avoid most last minute surprises and eliminates bids from designers that lack the expertise in the Infusionsoft, Constant Contact, MainChimp, WuFoo, SalesForce, or the database that you might be using. Contact us if you have any questi8ons or need any help in constucting a RFP that will benefit your company or non-profit orginazation.
gary@simplygreatwebsites.com