5 Questions to ask a Bid Writer before you hire them
When you're investing time and money into bidding, the right bid writer can make all the difference. But how do you know if a bid writer is the right fit for your business? Whether you're outsourcing for the first time or looking to switch providers, asking the right questions upfront can help you avoid disappointment and improve your chances of producing a winning bid.
Here are five essential questions to ask before hiring a bid writer:
1. What Experience do you have as a Bid Writer in my Sector?
Experience matters, but relevance matters more. Bid writing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Someone with experience in public sector contracts might not be the best fit for a commercial tender, and vice versa. A bid writer who’s helped win millions in construction tenders might not be the best fit for a creative services proposal. Ask about specific industries, clients, and types of bids they’ve worked on. Ask whether they’ve worked with businesses like yours and if they’ve delivered results. Look for someone who understands your world and can reflect that in a compelling, compliant response.
Bonus tip: Don’t just ask about win rates, ask for specific examples, case studies and previous technical scores.
2. What is your Bid Writer Process for Developing a Winning Proposal?
The best bid writers won’t just start writing. They’ll have a clear repeatable process, including:
A discovery phase to understand your business
A storyboard or content plan
Developing Win Themes
Interviewing your subject matter experts
Milestones for drafts and reviews
Final quality assurance checks
A structured approach means less stress, better alignment with your business, and more chance of scoring highly with evaluators. Understanding their process gives you confidence they’ll deliver on time and without surprises.
3. How do you Tailor your Bid Writer Responses for each Opportunity?
A good bid writer doesn’t copy and paste. Ask how they approach personalising each bid. Do they review the buyer’s values, read previous contracts, and adjust tone and content accordingly? Even the best bid writers need your insights. But how much of your time will the process take? Some bid writers can work fairly independently once they’ve had an initial briefing. Others may need more input from you. Make sure their working style suits your availability.
Tailoring you bid is key to standing out.
4. Can you show me Examples or Testimonials from your other Bid Writer Clients?
A reputable bid writer will have social proof. Case studies, testimonials, or references can give you confidence that they’re capable of doing what they say they can. A trustworthy bid writer should be happy to share client feedback or connect you with previous clients. This can give you an idea of what it’s like to work with them and the results they’ve delivered.
Don’t be afraid to ask for samples (with confidential information redacted) to get a feel for their writing style.
5. What are your Bid Writer Fees and what’s included?
Be clear on how pricing works. Some bid writers charge a day rate, others a fixed fee. What’s included? Will they support with submission, attend clarification calls, or offer feedback after the bid is submitted? How many revisions are included? Is proofreading part of the service? Will they submit the bid for you or just provide the content?
Make sure the scope matches your expectations.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a bid writer is an investment in your business growth. Asking these five questions will help you find someone who doesn’t just write well but who understands how to position your business to win. It’s about building a relationship with someone who understands your business and can communicate it persuasively on paper.
Asking these questions will help you avoid disappointment and increase your chances of winning more bids.
Need help choosing the right bid writer or want to learn more about our approach? Get in touch via www.wordsmithprojects.com or explore our free resources designed to help you bid with confidence.