Mastering the tender game – marketing tips for subbies

9 July 2024

Winning tenders can literally make or break your business. We’re here to help you cut through the noise and provide you with concrete, actionable advice. While we all wish the best person for the job won every job – we know unfortunately that’s just not true. The way you market your business, and show off what you do best, is essential in keeping those contracts coming through.

Here are four essential tips for subcontractors aiming to nail their tender submissions;

1. Be selective with your efforts: Marketing isn’t just about chucking a few ads up. It’s about finding the best market for your business. In your case, this means finding the best tenders for you to quote on. Tendering can be incredibly time-consuming, so it’s crucial to be selective about where you invest your efforts. Target tenders that best match your company’s strengths and strategic goals to optimise your chances of success.

So how do you find the best tenders? We’d suggest working out as a group what type of projects work best for your business and work backwards from there. Are there particular builders you work well with, what are your target sectors, how far are you willing to travel, what’s the ideal contract size? You should be prioritising the tenders that tick the most boxes.

2. Nail the details: The devil is in the details, and nowhere is this truer than in tendering. From ensuring compliance with tender requirements to tailoring each section to showcase your capabilities, the thoroughness of your submission can set you apart from the competition.

After all, no one knows your trade better than you. If your quote goes beyond just a price; including how you’ve priced it, what you’ve included, what you haven’t, and why – you’re going to rocket up the builder’s good books when it comes time to award the contract award.

3. Maintain an accurate profile: Similarly to the point above, maintaining an accurate subbie profile on E1 will ensure builders are seeing the most up-to-date and relevant information about your offerings.

Your project history is how your business is defined. Those who are awarding the contracts ultimately want to know if you’re up to the task. And nothing show’s you’re up to the task like showing off what you’ve done before.

4. Prioritise clear communication: Effective communication can really boost your tender’s appeal. This means not only presenting your proposal clearly and concisely but also establishing and maintaining strong connections with potential clients throughout the bidding process.

Think of these tips as your go-to guide for tendering, backed by years of industry knowledge and data-driven insights. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to refine your approach, these strategies are designed to give you an edge in the competitive arena of construction tenders.