Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Write a Telecommunications Business Proposal

The telecommunications industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. The field includes a wide variety of organizations that do everything from telecom infrastructure, designing and manufacturing tablet computers to selling service plans to cell phone users.
Whether you specialize in building and maintaining wireless networks, satellite communications, or in creating the latest Wi-Fi reading application, you always want to grow your market share or get your new projects approved or funded.
These days, when competition is fast and global, it's vital to constantly increase your client list or customer base, secure new projects, and form new partnerships.
After you identify a potential new project or beneficial relationship, how do you go about convincing the other party? The telecommunications business is complex: a brochure, phone call, or handshake is not likely to seal a new deal. You almost always need to spell out a lot of details, which means you need to write a business proposal.
If you've never written anything other than memos or in-house reports, the prospect of writing a proposal may sound like a monumental task. But it doesn't have to be. All business proposals have the same goal--persuading the reader to agree to your ideas--and the best proposals share a common structure, too.
The first thing you should know is that a good proposal should always be customized for your potential customer or partner. Of course you'll talk about your products and your organization, but you should describe them in terms of how they will meet the needs of the other party. To start, gather all the information you can find about the people who will be reading your proposal. What, precisely, is their business? What is their organization's history? What do they care about? What do they already know about you, your project, or your products? What questions will they have? As you may have guessed, the biggest question most organizations have is "What's in it for us?" So keep the benefits to your potential customer or partner first and foremost in your mind as you create your proposal.
A proposal has four basic parts: introduction, description of needs and requirements, description of project or goods or services offered, and description of your organization's expertise.
When your reader opens your proposal packet, the first thing he or she should see is a Cover Letter introducing your proposal. Keep this short--just introduce yourself, explain why you are sending your proposal at this time, state what you would like the reader to do after considering the proposal (call you, sign the enclosed contract, set up a meeting, etc.), and provide all your contact information.
The next page should be a Title Page for your proposal. Simply give it a descriptive name. Some examples might be "Proposed Expansion of Transmission Network to Expand Wireless Coverage Area" or "Proposal by Smith Company to Provide Cell Phone and Internet Services to Jones Corporation." If your proposal is long or complex, next you'll want to include a Table of Contents and an Executive Summary--a list of the most important points. But you will need to create them after you're done with the body of the proposal.
On to the next section: the description of needs and requirements. Put yourself in your potential client's or partner's position. What do they want or need? If you are responding to an RFP, that will be spelled out in detail in the RFP and you can simply repeat that information here. In other cases, you have to describe it for the reader. For example, one company's traveling sales reps might need reliable, long lasting cell phones that can easily share information with company computers; another company might require cutting edge security software to encrypt their sensitive global transmissions. As well as describing the needs in this section, describe any requirements or limitations you know about. These might be costs, deadlines, or specific details such as devices, operating platforms, download speed, ability to interface with multiple networks in multiple countries, etc. In this section, you'll have pages with titles like Problem Statement, Needs Assessment, or Goals and Objectives, as well as Requirements, Specifications, Performance Requirements, Interface Requirements, Limitations, Deadlines, Schedule, Market Demand and any other topic pages you need to describe the current situation.
Next up is the section where you describe exactly what you have in mind, taking care to explain how your project, products, or services will meet the needs and requirements of your potential client or partner. Include as many topics as necessary to fully describe your proposal--you want to show that you have a well thought out, detailed plan for success. The pages in this section can include a wide variety of topics, depending on your business and the project you have in mind. Most proposals will use general pages with titles like Intent, Project Plan, Products or Services Offered, Options, Cost Summary, Schedule, Benefits, and so forth. If you're proposing to upgrade telecommunications equipment or software, you might want pages like Legacy Systems, Hardware, Software, Integration Plan, Training, and so forth. If you're proposing a joint venture to develop a new device, you might want pages like Design, Prototyping, Collaboration, Investment, Responsibilities, Timeline, etc. In this section, try to anticipate questions the proposal reader might have, and provide answers in advance to show your ability to plan for all eventualities.
In the final section of your proposal, it's time to explain why the proposal reader should pick you as a partner or supplier. Here, you'll provide information about your Company History and Clients Served, similar Projects you've worked on, your Expertise, any special Certifications or Training you have, and perhaps information about your Team Members or company Personnel who will work on the project. If you have Awards, Achievements, Referrals, or Testimonials, include them in this section.
Now you have a first draft of your proposal. Take the time to proofread it carefully and make every page look and sound as professional as possible. Consider using special fonts or splashes of color to make it look attractive. Visual appeal is especially important in competitive situations where you need your proposal to stand out.
The more proposals you write, the easier the process will become, because you'll reuse information and some topic pages will be the same in every proposal. However, always remember that customization is the best key to success--be sure to tailor each proposal to the specific organization and readers you are targeting, and explain how your ideas will benefit them and meet their needs.
You might also like to know that you can get a jump start on any proposal writing project with pre-designed proposal kit. A proposal kit will come with sample proposals you can look at to get ideas, and pre-designed topic templates. Each template in a proposal kit will have instructions and suggestions to prompt you for information on that topic, so you'll never sit and stare at a blank screen. Using a proposal kit can help you efficiently create great-looking business proposals.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Portable Toilets for Your Festival

Are you planning a festival and wondering about options for portable toilets? You do not want to spend too much time on this topic, as it clearly is not as exciting to plan as other activities. However, it is one of the most important. It can make a big difference in how successful your event is. Turning to a company that specializes in this service is a good idea. However, you still have to consider what your needs are before you agree to move forward with the plan.
Who Is At Your Event?
One of the first things to consider with portable toilets is how many you need. It is a good idea to work with the organization to determine your needs based on the size of the event. The anticipated crowd ultimately will define the number required. In addition to this, you also need to consider the types of people you will service. Do you need units that are wheelchair accessible? It may be a requirement to offer these. Do you need units that are easy for children to use? Do you need units that have baby changing systems within them? Consider who your group is and determine what amenities they will need.
Quality Really Does Count
When it comes to these systems, one thing's for sure; no one wants to use units that are broken or not taken care of by the provider. They do get dirty from use, but they should be in good working condition before they arrive to your destination. You need to ensure the company has taken every step possible to ensure the system is well maintained and working at its best.
Working the Budget
Numerous factors come into place when selecting these units. Most pricing for them is fixed based on the location, number needed, and types required. However, you may be able to negotiate costs down. Do not expect the company to provide a free service. It is a good idea to work out the details well in advance of booking your event. Of course, you should not wait until the last minute to contact these organizations to find out if they have available units. Rather, work this into the plans for your festival from the start.
Portable toilets are necessary in nearly any festival or group outing where there will be a lot of people present. Finding the right organization for this is a critical step in the process, though. Look for a company with the ability to guarantee you great service and function of the units. After all, your festival will not be remembered in the right way if there is an incident involving these systems.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Selecting Software For Tax Collection That Reduces Costs

Software for tax collection is widely available. A variety of programs exist, but not all programs are ideal, however. For any municipality or other taxation collecting authority, having a program that runs simply and effectively is critical. One that can help to reduce in-house costs is also an important factor. Yet, many agencies fail to find the right program for their needs right out of the gate. For those agencies looking for a solution, some can make an outstanding improvement in the functionality of the system.
What Does It Do?
Beyond the basics, any software for tax collection needs to achieve various goals. Those goals often include increasing employee productivity while reducing overall costs. The process should streamline or simplify the methods being used currently to collect on these debts. This process can be a challenge when older systems are in place. As you compare the options, determine how effective any program can be by determining what it can offer to your situation as an improvement.
Most of these programs can collect delinquent payments. They can provide property owners with a means to submit payment online. Some also allow for auction management features, including those that allow auction information to be shared online. Some programs integrate with other government programs and treasury requirements. Ultimately, finding a desirable program means considering the needs of the taxing authority as well as those of the consumer with a bill to pay.
What Can It Promise?
When selecting from the available options, consider the promises made by the program. Is there a significant amount of time necessary to set up and train employees to use the program? Are there risks in terms of costs? What types of features and management tools are provided as a component of the program? What limitations does it have in terms of types of payment accepted, delay in reporting and report production? What is the cost?
By learning as much as you can about the program, you can minimize risks related to the investment. Ultimately, to do this, you need to see the system in action and functional. To do that, look for reviews offered on the product or ask the developer for references that help to indicate exactly what is being presented and what type of functionality it can offer.
Often, the best investments in software for tax collection are those that are simplistic to install, reduce delinquent concerns, and increase productivity of the office staff. Some programs do this better than others do. Software needs to be modern and up to date, packed with features that make it possible to manage this collection process simplistically. The right program will pay for itself in the long-term by reducing overall costs.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Office Furniture Installations to Set Up Your Space

For office furniture installations, do not do the work yourself. Moving from one location to the next can be a challenge if you try to do it yourself. Even if you are setting up a brand new space, having a professional to help you through the process is a good idea. It can help you to get established and ready to go sooner than you thought possible. Add to this the ability to get up and running with optimal organization.
Simple and Effective
One reason to turn to a professional for office furniture installations is that you can get the job done right away and without any limitations. If you are moving your business from one location to another, hiring professionals can speed up the process. You may be purchasing brand new furnishings for your new space. On the other hand, you may need to tear down, pack up and then setup the new space quickly. When hiring a team of professionals to do this work for you, the job gets done faster and with skill.
What Services Do Companies Offer?
Every company offering this service may be a big different. However, many of them can help with extensive setup projects. This may include project management. Here, a professional will manage the entire setup of the new offices and workspaces. You may need help with cubical reconfigurations. Hiring experts to do this level of work for you will ensure the job is done with professional results.
You may need office build outs, new workstation installations or shelving and racking assembly. Some companies need panel and fabric cleaning so they can just get into the new space in the first place. In other cases, you may need help with file space planning and setup. In nearly all situations, it is a good idea to have a professional moving team specializing in this area to help you get the new space setup.
Teardown Services
For those who are moving from one location to the next, having access to a team of professionals to help with office cleanout is important. You may need help with office lease termination cleanouts if you manage a rental building. Additionally, in nearly all moves there will be the need to get rid of surplus items or garbage. Some companies offer disposal and salvage services, too.
Office furniture installations go better when you have a professional team working for you. Get the setup done faster and professionally by hiring a team to do the work for you. When you do, you will reduce the overall amount of time your company is not operational and increase the organization and final result. Do you really want to do the work yourself?