Insights archive
Red Pony is a team of writers, editors, Microsoft Office template developers and communications trainers. We have been writing about our areas of expertise for over a decade in our Red Pony Express newsletter.
This collection features the best articles from the last 10 years.
No place for hope
When you’re applying for grants, awards and tenders, it’s no time to be modest, uncertain or even loud. Simply make your claims, back them up and be rigorous. The rest may well be fill. Even if your application does not get what you would’ve hoped for, assessors will thank you for making their jobs easier.
Tenders, funding applications and award submissions: different sides of the same coin
When it comes to writing a tender, business proposal, funding application or an award submission the purpose is the same – convincing the reader that you are the best proposition based on your capabilities and achievements. One technique to help you achieve that is to apply a ‘what, how, where’ model to your writing.
Make better buying decisions with better tender specifications
I’ve read a lot of project briefs and tender specifications over the years and, while I’ve seen some good ones, I’m constantly amazed at how many contain basic errors, are repetitive or are simply too vague to serve their function of establishing a baseline for comparable quotes.
Are you tender-ready?
If you’ve ever responded to a request for tender (or RFT), you will know just how arduous the process can be. While the rewards for a successful submission are significant, the job of responding to a long list of complex requirements within a short timeframe puts many off before they start.
Why Word 2016 for Mac is a damp squib
When I installed the preview version of Word 2016 for Mac last week, I did the same thing as I have done for every version since the release of Word 2004 for Mac. And on each occasion I’ve been sorely disappointed.
The ‘what, how, where’ of tender writing
Last month I was invited to present at a Tender Management Roadshow in Adelaide run by the Tonkin Corporation. In my talk I spoke about the tools and processes we use at Red Pony to help our clients produce compelling and often successful tenders.
Five tips for creating a compelling executive summary
Writing the executive summary is generally the most important and therefore daunting task in creating any document. As the name suggests, this section must target the decision makers—and it may well be the only part of the document they read. Therefore it is vital that it provide a concise, accurate and compelling summary of everything that follows.
Writing a tender and living to tell the tale (part 2)
In the first part of this article, we looked at what you need to do before you start writing your tender. In this second part, we look at some tips for developing your response to the request for tender (RFT).
Writing a tender and living to tell the tale (part one)
Tenders present a terrific opportunity to win lucrative new business. They may also require a significant investment of your time and resources, with no guarantee of a successful outcome.