Tender Proposals - Tips and Tricks

Winning a tender contract can make and break businesses - especially small business and companies that rely on the regular and ongoing work.  Sometimes competing with larger multinational companies can be scary, especially when they often have people employed for the specific purpose of winning contracts.  As a small business it is the little things that help you win contracts.To make sure your company is noticed it is vital that a professional, accurate and specific tender is submitted to ensure you are assessed suitably.   Here are 3 common mistakes to avoid when preparing your submissions:

1. Be specific - If the tender asks for a specific format, or template - follow it!  I can stress enough how important it is to write your submission to the specific tender.  Too often I have seen companies submit a generic response to a tender.  There is few times this will result in success - follow the guidelines, ask questions and answer all criteria.
2. Abide by the time lines - Time lines are in place for a reason, and with government contracts, usually legislated and highly regulated.  Not only is it important to meet the time lines to ensure your submission is considered - it looks unprofessional if you cannot submit a tender proposal on time.  The reflection on your company for being late is poor, and more often than not will be remembered by the tender panel for all the wrong reasons. 
3. Tailor your submission - Generally the tender evaluation process has specific criteria to assess all tenders against to ensure fairness, comparability and an equatable process.  Answer all sections, provide all copies of documentations and specifically address price criteria.  Provide examples of similar work, not just your whole portfolio, examples need to be comparable.   If a tender asks for a specific fee breakdown address this specifically - do not just provide a general price list.  Even if your prices are not different to general rates, provide the rates in format/template that is requested. 

Tender submissions are not designed to be easy to win - they take time, commitment and dedication, however the rewards the reap often outweigh the effort.  As with most parts of business the effort you put in is reflected in the results. 

So What is a Virtual Assistant

So what is a Virtual Assistant? To put it simply it is an assistant that works remotely to deliver services that you may not otherwise have access to. For instance you might need assistant with specialty services, such as tender proposals, presentation and reports or helping you get on top of tasks so that you can focus on what you specialise in - running your business.

Some people might think "why engage a Virtual Assistant, it is only admin work and I can do that myself" - but don't underestimate the value of a specialist, a virtual assistant is not limited to general administration duties. Think of a Virtual Assistant as a right hand man that can compliment your business and help you meet your professional goals and ambitions.

Just like you you might hire an accountant to do your taxes or accounts, a Virtual Assistant specialises in certain tasks. Sure you could probably complete your accounts if you are not an accountant - but would you lose money that you didn't even realise you were missing because it is not your speciality? Generally a Virtual Assistant has a specialty, education and experience in the relevant industry.

The beauty of a Virtual Assistant is that they allow you to focus on what you specialise in - delivering services for your business. If you are feeling overwhelmed by tasks, or just wish you had more time delivering your services instead of spending 4 hours formatting a presentation, a Virtual Assistant is a viable option. Not only to free up your time, but in most cases a Virtual Assistant could complete a formatting task in half the time or less than it might take you.

The advantage of hiring an assistant on an ad hoc basis also ensures you are employing someone on a project basis instead of full time employment where the employer is responsible for full time wages, super potentially sick leave and annual leave. In the case of a Virtual Assistant you pay only for the time dedicated to your project, thereby reducing your project overall costs.

If you have any further questions about Virtual Assistants or any additional enquiries please do not hesitate to contact me at hcrick@y7mail.com.

Cv's are still important..

Social media seems to have penetrated most modern business practices, but the following research shows that CV's are important!
CV's not destined for the chopping block yet!

Its nearly tax time....

And that means its time to sort out your shoebox of paperwork, receipts and invoices to get ready to prepare your tax lodgement.  Regardless of if you are seeing a tax accoutant or attempting a DIY lodgement there are a few simple things you need to do while you are waiting for your group certificate(s).

First things first - find your receipts that can be used for tax deductions - there is no point missing out of deductions because of a lack of prepartion.  It is better to provide more information to your accountant than less.

Also if you have had more than one employer in the last financial year make sure you have received your group certificate from all employers before lodging your tax.  Given the econony and industry changes in the financial year there might be more than a few people who have had more than one employer this year. 

Lastly, find your last Notice of Assessment - this is vitial to verify your idenity to lodge your current tax assessment.  To be valid your Notice of Assessment should be issued after 01 May 2007 and show your sequence/reference number in the top right hand corner.  If you happen to have misplaced your last Notice of Assessment contact the Australian Tax Office (ATO) for a copy to be sent.

Allocating time now to prepare your paperwork will help reduce wasted time at tax time. 

The Influence of Social Media on a Marketing Strategy

A great article about the influence of social media on your marketing strategy for your business. 


http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/reaching-a-wider-audience-faster/story-fn6ck2gb-1226327185462

Have you activated your brain buttons?

Brain Buttons are an alternative suggestion to get your brain activated for particular tasks.  Some people find that they concentration levels increase, particularly if there is little other stimulation for the task ahead, such as a presentation, lecture or training course.  Next time you a major report to write, or you have an important deadline to meet try stimulating your brain buttons for two minutes.  To activate your brain buttons follow the below steps that can be completed anywhere from the car to your work desk. 

Brain Buttons are actually acupressure points, located just below the collar bone and on either side of the sternum. With one hand on your navel, use the thumb and first finger of the other hand to rub these points for 20 to 30 seconds. Change hands to activate both polarities.

SOURCE: OPTIONS CENTRE EDUCATION TOPIC - PACE - PART II BRAIN BUTTONS 21/03/2012 http://www.options-center.com/pdf/education_topics/PACEBrainButtons.pdf

Have you ever nodded off in a boring lecture? Reversed letters when reading or writing? Been at a loss for words? Had your brain simply feel "numb?" Lost your train of thought midway through a sentence or task? Felt like you were working harder at a mental task than it required? Brain Buttons
Brain Buttons are the second part of getting "in PACE" for learning. Brain Buttons are actually acupressure points, located just below the collar bone and on either side of the sternum. With one hand on your navel, use the thumb and first finger of the other hand to rub these points for 20 to 30 seconds. Change hands to activate both polarities. Doing this releases visual and hemispheric stress and supports clarity of intention and directional body awareness. They also stimulate energy flow from one side of the body to the other. The brain buttons may be tender at first, but over a few days to a week, the tenderness subsides. Then, even holding the points will activate them. Often one will feel pulsing in the fingertips when very lightly holding the points.
Activating the Brain Buttons helps with both behavior
Brain Button activation prepares students for reading effectively. It helps in "keeping place" while reading, aids in the task of consonant blending in recognizing words, eliminates letter reversals, and prepares for crossing the visual midline when reading.
Related skills enhanced by Brain Button activation include writing, typing, computer work, and even constructive television watching.
Brain Buttons can be activated discreetly at school or work, or whenever mental fatigue arises, by simply placing one's hand just below the collarbones. [Brain Gym® Teacher's Edition Revised, p. 25] can be the answer to mental fatigue, as they "switch on" and integrate the halves of the brain so that thinking is clearer and easier.

What you really need to apply for that job!!!

This is a great article by Forbes that highlights what you need to apply for a job and interpreting job ads. Happy Hunting.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/03/05/what-you-really-need-to-apply-for-a-job-and-what-you-dont/

Hails.