106 / 116
1 0 6
ACROSS THE TRADES Summer 2017
Here are some tips on how you can
spruce up that quote.
1
First Impressions
Count
Even if you are using a word
document, you can design a
striking cover page that will give the
right first impression. Starting with
a heading – Project Proposal/Quote,
followed by one large photo of one of
your most appealing projects. Then
underneath put your company’s contact
details including a website address and
any social media contacts. Even if you
stopped at this particular point, you
have already made a vast improvement
on what has previously been just a one-
page word document.
2
Use a template
If you are using Word or
Google docs for example,
you can find some great
templates, backgrounds and borders
that can be easily adapted to feature
your quote. They will not only stand out
more but give you a professional finish
that requires absolutely no design skills
on your part. If you have a designer
or want to personalise the style of
your document, then ask the designer
to develop a template which you can
simply insert the actual estimate into
each time you need to create a new
quote.
3
Incorporate
testimonials
Nothing incites confidence
like a third-party
endorsement and this should be easily
obtained if you don’t have them on hand.
The best time to ask for a testimonial
is at the end of a project when the client
is happy with the completed job. You
need to seek permission to use that
client’s testimonial in promotional
materials and you can simply use their
first name and suburb as a reference.
If you want to get a little more creative,
take a head and shoulders photo of the
person giving the testimony and use
this to accompany the testimonial in
your document. Photos make a more
powerful statement and bring that
testimonial to life.
4
Case Studies
Do you have a knock-down,
rebuild with before and after
photos? Or how about an
upper-storey extension? Even though
the potential client may have already
seen some of your work, it’s a bonus to
enhance your quote with a case study
relevant to what you are quoting on.
5
People relate to people
Human faces behind an
organisation not only add
appeal but they provide
a connection that you cannot get
through text so include a profile on
yourself and the team that will be
working on the project. Real estate
agents are notorious for using photos
of themselves on everything – from
postcards to large glossy reports, you
will always find a photograph of the
agents included in all promotional
materials. It’s a concept that works.
6
Timeline
A timeline of expected
delivery of a job from
quoting and sign off
through to the end result should be
included to manage expectations but
more importantly to show the next
steps and help lead the client to the
next stage. If you really want to improve
the odds for a call to action, provide an
area for the client to sign and return the
approved quote.
7
Inclusions
Be transparent. Spell out
the inclusions as well as any
additional considerations
the client may need to think about when
considering your quote. The client will
appreciate the transparency and allow
them to accurately compare quotes.
8
That added touch
Are you emailing, posting
or presenting the quote?
Ideally you would meet with
the client and go through the quote
over a coffee. If time is an issue, then
send the quote with a promotional
item or something for the client to
remember you and hold onto in terms
of branding. It could be as simple as a
fridge magnet, coasters, bottle opener
or other merchandise but try to find
something useful that people will hang
onto and interact with. A client will
always appreciate someone who goes
the extra mile.
So unless you really don’t need the
work, now is the time to start sprucing
up that quote. It won’t cost a bomb but
it might just be the one thing that lands
you the business over a competitor.
Taking a little more time to present well can be the difference in landing a
job... or not.
MARKETING