I Like To Write The Cover Letter First
I like to write the cover letter first. Many folks leave it for last. I have tried that. But there is a risk that it will not get the attention it deserves. I believe you also miss out on the opportunity to frame the key narrative elements of your response from the get-go. These themes can then weave their way through the rest of the proposal creating a compelling, cohesive submission.
Much of what we write in proposals is not thoroughly read by our prospective clients. Does that mean we can lessen the effort we put in? Absolutely not. Most selection committees are comprised of different types of individuals, with variety of experience, interests, and concerns. And typically they each think that certain areas are more crucial: for some (yes, many) it is the fee; others the proposed project manager; others the history of relevant projects; and for others it is the project approach. They, naturally, focus on the sections of the proposal that relate to their concerns, often skimming others.
A proper proposal is written to respond to these different constituents and satisfy each of their interests, giving them the confidence that the proposer is a firm then can rely on. But what if the good work that goes into creating a great proposal never sees the light of day, because the cover letter wasn’t approached with the same care and attention?
The cover letter’s responsibility is to position your proposal apart from the competition and to get the client excited about reading on.
I’d suggest:
- keep it to one page
- write about the client and the project, not just your firm.
- demonstrate your understanding of the client’s goals and the uniqueness of the project
- be concise and clear with your language
- get them excited about reading the rest of your proposal
Of course, if the RFP requires specific information included in the cover letter, it is important to follow those directions.
Good luck!
Kirsten Sibilia, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, is Chief Marketing Officer at Dattner Architects, a NYC-based firm committed to designing inspiring and sustainable additions to the public realm.
You can reach her at ksibilia@dattner.com and learn more about her on LinkedIn.
