Five Bid Writing Mistakes to Avoid to Improve Your Success Rate

Strong bid writing plays a key role in winning contracts. Even businesses with the right skills and track record can miss out due to common and avoidable mistakes. Whether you’re submitting tenders regularly or just getting started, knowing what not to do is just as important as understanding best practice.

Here are five common bid writing pitfalls and how to avoid them.

1. Not Answering the Question

It sounds simple, but one of the most frequent issues in tenders is failing to directly answer the question. Responses can drift off-topic, repeat earlier content or provide generic information that doesn’t address the buyer’s specific ask.

How to avoid it:

• Break down the question into parts and answer each one clearly
• Reflect the buyer’s language in your headings and wording
• Stay focused, specific and relevant throughout

2. Lack of Evidence

Saying “we always deliver on time” isn’t enough on its own. Buyers need proof. Without evidence, even strong claims can come across as empty statements.

How to avoid it:

• Include examples of similar work, backed by real results
• Use measurable outcomes like savings, efficiencies or KPIs
• Add testimonials, case studies or performance data where relevant

3. Relying Too Heavily on Generic Content

Copying and pasting standard answers might save time, but it often weakens your bid. Responses that feel generic or disconnected from the buyer’s project won’t score highly.

How to avoid it:

• Tailor every response to the buyer and the opportunity
• Reference specific contract details and desired outcomes
• Use boilerplate content as a base only, not the final answer

4. Poor Structure and Flow

If your content is hard to follow, evaluators may miss key points. Disorganised responses can reduce marks, even if the content itself is strong.

How to avoid it:‍

• Use headings and subheadings that reflect the question wording
• Lead with the key message, then support it with detail
• Use bullets, tables and spacing to make your content easy to read

5. Skipping Reviews and Proofreading

Even strong answers can be undermined by typos, formatting errors or inconsistent messaging. These issues can damage credibility and make your bid look rushed.

How to avoid it:

• Review every response against the scoring criteria
• Get a second pair of eyes to proofread
• Check for formatting, style and use of templates

Avoiding these five mistakes can make a measurable difference to your bid quality and win rate. Clear, well-evidenced responses that are easy to follow give evaluators confidence in your ability to deliver.

At WeBid Consult, we help companies write stronger bids that score higher and win more work. Whether you need a review, some guidance or full writing support, we’re here to help.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your next submission.