If you’re responsible for putting together big, detailed proposals for enterprise customers, you know the drill: it’s time-consuming, error-prone, and sometimes feels like you’re reinventing the wheel every single time. You’ve probably got a graveyard of old Word files, copy-pasted bits from your last RFP, and way too many opinions from “stakeholders.” This article is for you—the folks who actually have to write, edit, and deliver proposals that win (or lose) seven-figure deals.
Let’s walk through how to use Enrow templates to make proposal creation faster, cleaner, and a lot less painful. I’ll cover what works, where you should be skeptical, and where templates actually make life easier. No fluff—just practical steps.
1. Understand Where Templates Actually Help (and Where They Don’t)
Before you start, it’s worth being honest: no template is going to magically turn a weak offering into a winning proposal. But what they can do is cut down on the repetitive, manual parts—especially for big enterprise deals where the structure is predictable, but the details are unique.
Templates help with: - Standardizing sections like company overviews, legal terms, and pricing tables. - Lining up formatting so proposals look sharp (and don’t get mangled by last-minute copy-paste jobs). - Making sure nothing critical gets forgotten (like compliance or support details).
They don’t help with: - Crafting a smart, persuasive narrative for this specific customer. - Filling in gaps when you don’t have the answer. - Fixing bloated, jargon-heavy copy (garbage in, garbage out).
Pro tip: Use templates for structure, not substance. You still need to tailor your message.
2. Set Up Your Enrow Template Library
Don’t just dive in and start editing a random template. Take a few minutes to get your house in order. This is the part almost everyone skips—and regrets later.
a. Audit Your Current Proposals
- Grab your last 3-5 winning proposals. Look for common sections—executive summary, scope, pricing, T&Cs, etc.
- Note what’s always there, what changes, and what’s just filler.
- Discard the filler. If you’re not sure what’s filler, ask yourself: “Did anyone ever ask about this?”
b. Build a Core Set of Templates
In Enrow, start by creating a few base templates, not one giant “mega-proposal.” Typical template types: - Master proposal template: Covers the full structure (section headings, table of contents, boilerplate text). - Section templates: For things like technical requirements, customer references, legal, or support. - Reusable snippets: Short, drop-in text for stuff like customer logos, bios, or FAQs.
Keep it simple: The point is to reduce complexity, not create a new maze.
3. Customize Templates for the Deal—Not the Other Way Around
This is where most folks trip up: they force every deal to fit the template, instead of making the template serve the deal.
a. Start With the Right Template
- Don’t just grab the “latest” version. Pick the template (or section templates) that best match the scope and industry of this deal.
- If you’re selling to healthcare, don’t start with your generic SaaS template. Make a copy, tweak it for HIPAA, and save that as a variant.
b. Fill in the Blanks—But Don’t Over-Automate
- Enrow makes it easy to use variables (like {{customer_name}} or {{go_live_date}}). Use these for facts, not for sales messaging.
- Don’t rely on auto-filled “pain points” or “vision” statements. That stuff reads canned, and your customer will smell it a mile away.
c. Delete What Doesn’t Apply
- If a section isn’t relevant, remove it. Don’t leave it as “N/A” or “TBD” unless someone truly needs to see you’ve thought about it.
- Avoid the temptation to show off everything your company can do. Focus on what solves this customer’s problem.
Pro tip: Less is more. The best proposals are clear, tight, and focused on the customer, not on your internal process.
4. Collaborate Without the Chaos
Proposals die in committee. Here’s how Enrow helps—and where you’ll still need discipline.
a. Assign Sections, Not Documents
- Enrow lets you assign ownership of specific sections to different team members. Use this. Don’t have your legal team editing your executive summary, or vice versa.
b. Use Comments, Not Email
- Keep feedback inside Enrow’s built-in commenting. This is way better than endless email chains or rogue Slack threads.
- Set deadlines for edits. If someone misses the window, move forward instead of waiting forever.
c. Version Control Is Your Friend
- Enrow tracks changes, but don’t get lazy. Name versions clearly (e.g., “CustomerX_v2_with_legal_edits”), so you’re not hunting for the right file at the last minute.
- Archive old versions after the deal closes, but save the final “winning” proposal as the new gold standard for next time.
What to ignore: Fancy “AI-powered collaboration” features that promise to write your proposal for you. They mostly generate generic filler. Use your own judgment.
5. Polish and Deliver—Without Getting Bogged Down
You’re almost there. Here’s how to wrap up fast, without sacrificing quality.
a. Formatting: Trust the Template (Mostly)
- Templates keep fonts, spacing, and headers consistent. Don’t waste time fiddling with styles unless your customer has specific requirements.
- Double-check that logos, tables, and charts render correctly in PDF and Word exports. Enrow is good, but not perfect—preview before sending.
b. Last-Minute Edits: Be Ruthless
- Run a final pass to cut jargon, fluff, and anything that doesn’t answer the customer’s real questions.
- Check for leftover template tags (like {{insert_feature_here}}). Nothing kills credibility like a missed placeholder.
c. Secure Sharing
- Use Enrow’s secure sharing or PDF export. Don’t send live, editable links unless the customer specifically asks.
- Track who’s viewed or downloaded the file if possible. This isn’t just for sales theater; it’s a cue for follow-up.
Pro tip: Don’t let “just one more review” delay things. Send it when it’s 95% ready—waiting for perfection is how you lose momentum.
6. Learn and Improve for Next Time
Templates aren’t set-and-forget. After each deal, take a minute to review:
- Which sections needed the most changes?
- What questions did the customer ask that you hadn’t covered?
- Did anyone complain about the format, length, or jargon?
Update your templates while it’s fresh. Don’t trust yourself (or anyone else) to remember next quarter.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Enterprise proposals will never be “one-click” easy, no matter what the software vendors say. But with well-structured Enrow templates, you can cut the grunt work, reduce errors, and actually spend time where it matters: tailoring your pitch and solving real problems for the customer.
Start small, keep your templates tight, and don’t be afraid to tweak as you go. The goal isn’t a perfect template library—it’s a smoother, faster proposal process that wins more deals with less pain.