Generic templates with their year-long use led one to convert proposal software for bookkeepers into a potent weapon for niche markets. Construction industry clients have been our main foundational platform for seeing the need for more than just generic proposal templates. We needed industry-specific solutions if we were to present ourselves as credible partners to contractors addressing unique problems.
The breakthrough in our company’s success came through customising our digital proposals to address construction-specific pain points such as project cost tracking, subcontractor management, and progress billing. This laser-focused approach immediately struck a chord in our niche market.
We used Figsflow’s proposal software to customise our template proposals with construction language, appropriate case studies, and industry-specific pricing structures. Most importantly, we were able to inject more interactivity into the software, thus allowing us to demonstrate the ways in which our services uniquely served the common pain points within contracting.
Proposals with customised construction specifications were now under such headings as:
Progress billing workflows
Job costing systems
Subcontractor payment tracking
Construction payroll management
Project-based reporting
The results were stunning. Our proposal acceptance rate in construction jumped to 75% from 40%. Oftentimes, prospects commented that our proposals demonstrated a good understanding of their industry challenges.
The success in construction led us to develop similar templates for other industries. Each niche market required its own language, pricing structure, and service combinations. Restaurant clients, for example, responded well to proposals highlighting inventory management and daily sales reconciliation.
One unexpected benefit was the reduction in scope creep. By clearly defining industry-specific services upfront, clients better understood the value of specialised bookkeeping support.
