Why Reviewing Is Just as Important as Writing in the Bid Process
When it comes to writing a winning bid, writing is actually only half the journey. The other half, and often underestimated, is the review. Whether you're refining a long-form response or polishing a final draft, reviewing is not just a box to tick. It is a critical phase that demands time, attention, and the right people.
Understand Your Purpose
Before diving into a review, pause and ask: What is this review for? When is it happening? In our process, the first review is all about content and gaps, not style, grammar, or punctuation. If you find yourself obsessing over apostrophes and full stops at this stage, you’re missing the point. Match your review to its purpose. If you're meant to assess substance, don’t get sidetracked by surface-level edits.
Look at the Evaluation Criteria
You simply cannot review effectively without understanding the evaluation criteria. Read it once. Then again. And again. Ask yourself: What will the evaluator be looking for? Your review should be laser-focused on aligning the response with those criteria. If the bid doesn’t speak to what’s being asked, it won’t score well, no matter how beautifully written it is.
Ask Yourself – So What?
As you read through each section, challenge it. Ask: So what? Why is this being said? What’s the benefit to the client? If a paragraph doesn’t clearly communicate value or relevance, flag it. Every sentence should earn its place by contributing to the overall win theme and client benefit.
Provide Feedback in a Useful Way
Feedback is only helpful if it’s usable. Stick to the agreed method—whether that’s comments, a feedback form, or a verbal debrief. Don’t go rogue with tracked changes if that’s not what the Bid Manager or Writer has asked for. Remember, they’re the ones who need to interpret and act on your feedback. Make it easy for them to do so.
Conclusion: Reviews Build Winning Bids
A winning bid isn’t just written—it’s reviewed, refined, and strengthened through collaboration. So next time you’re asked to review, embrace it as a vital part of the journey. Your insights could be the difference between a good bid and a great one.