10 Qualities of a High-Performing Bid Writer (and Why You Still Need Them In The Age of AI)
By Georgia Ryan
With AI bid-writing tools now handling everything from generating content to checking compliance, it’s tempting to think that bid writers are no longer essential.
But, the truth is, while AI tools, like AutogenAI, are great for handling the heavy lifting, a skilled bid writer brings creativity, judgment, and strategic thinking that AI can’t replicate. In this article, we explore why the human touch is still crucial and what you need to look for when hiring a high-performing bid writer.
AI Can’t Replace Creativity
AI can produce a good first draft in record time, but it still needs to be skillfully prompted by a human to bring the best out of it. And it can’t replicate the creativity that turns a bid into a compelling story.
A high-performing bid writer works with AI-tools and shapes content into something that resonates with the client, showing how your solution helps them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
In competitive bids, it’s often a creative narrative that differentiates a bid and persuades the client to choose a team. Creativity, not just technology, often makes the difference.
Judgment and Strategy
AI can analyze data, but it can’t offer the strategic judgment to navigate complex client relationships or outsmart the competition.
Great bid writers do. They understand how to position your strengths while subtly neutralizing competitor advantages.
Strategic framing aligned with the client’s priorities is often what sets a winning bid apart.
Collaboration Across Teams
Bid writing is never a solo effort, it requires input from multiple departments: finance, legal, operations, marketing, and more.
A great bid writer doesn’t just write – they synthesize input from various teams into a single, unified voice.
Collaboration is key to successful bid writing, and AI alone can’t manage this complex process.
What to Look for When Hiring a Great Bid Writer
- Strong, Persuasive Writing SkillsThe core of any great bid writer is the ability to craft persuasive, concise narratives. Bid writers are storytellers. They take complex information and simplify it, aligning your solution with the client’s goals and evaluation criteria. A strong writer makes the bid come alive. You’ll know it when you see it.
Key Insight: Look for writing that’s persuasive, concise, and resonates with the client’s needs – clear writing wins bids.
- Attention to DetailOne typo, one missed compliance detail, and your bid could be out. Great bid writers juggle the big picture with precision, ensuring every compliance box is ticked and every word is intentional.
Key Insight: Detail-oriented bid writers reduce risks and increase your chances of passing compliance checks – precision is non-negotiable.
- Experts at Translating Subject Matter ExpertiseA bid writer doesn’t need to be an industry expert, but they need to be masters at translating complex technical, financial, or legal content into persuasive, client-friendly language. Their superpower is taking what your experts know and transforming it into a compelling narrative that resonates with the client. In specialized sectors, industry expertise is a bonus, but their primary role is to make the technical details easy to understand and impactful.
Key Insight: Bid writers who excel at translating complex information help clients understand your value without feeling overwhelmed.
- Adaptability Under PressureBids are fast-paced, high-stakes environments, and adaptability is crucial. A great bid writer copes well under pressure, managing last-minute changes and evolving client requirements without breaking stride.
Key Insight: Adaptability is essential in the fast-paced world of bid writing – find writers who can adjust quickly without compromising quality.
- Synthesizing Multiple VoicesA great bid writer takes input from different departments and crafts a cohesive bid. They’re experts at synthesizing technical, financial, and operational perspectives into a single, clear voice. This ensures that the bid doesn’t feel disjointed, but tells a consistent story that aligns with your company’s voice.
Key Insight: Cohesive bid writing makes your company’s message feel unified and professional, which reassures clients.
- Curiosity and Research SkillsA great bid writer doesn’t rely on the information handed to them. They dig deep to understand the client’s challenges, research competitors, and gather additional insights to give your bid an edge. This curiosity will also drive them to learn more about their craft and get better. Curiosity is a uniquely human attribute, which AI-tools can supercharge.
Key Insight: Curiosity fuels a deeper understanding of the client’s world, resulting in bids that stand out.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ)Bid writing is about understanding the client’s concerns and responding to them. A great bid writer uses emotional intelligence to read between the lines and craft a narrative that addresses the unspoken concerns of the client. This builds trust and reassurance, making your solution feel like the safest choice.
Key Insight: Emotional intelligence is critical to building trust and creating a bid that reassures clients that your solution meets their needs.
And, don’t forget, bidding is a team sport. A bid can be a pressure cooker, and a great bid writer knows how to cooperate, collaborate, and support their teammates – as well as negotiate the egos of senior management. Managing relationships well ensures that everyone stays focused and productive while also safeguarding the team’s wellbeing. In a tense, deadline-driven environment, this can make all the difference in delivering a successful bid.
- ResilienceBid writing is tough. You win some, but you lose more. A great bid writer needs resilience. The ability to bounce back from losses, learn from feedback, and stay motivated for the next opportunity. Without resilience, even the best writers burn out.
Key Insight: Resilience ensures that your bid writer remains motivated and ready to improve, even after setbacks.
- Time ManagementEffective time management is absolutely crucial in bid writing. A great bid writer knows how to prioritize tasks, manage tight deadlines, and deliver high-quality content on time. They can break down complex bids into manageable pieces and ensure that the final product doesn’t feel rushed or incomplete.
Key Insight: Bid writers with strong time management deliver polished, complete bids, even under tight deadlines.
- A Sense of HumorWhen the pressure’s on, a sense of humor helps. Bid writing is grueling, deadlines are tight, and stakes are high. A great bid writer often has a slightly irreverent, dark sense of humor to lighten the mood and keep the team motivated when things get intense. It might seem minor, but the ability to stay positive in the face of long nights and tight deadlines can make all the difference.
Key Insight: A sense of humor can keep morale high, helping the team stay productive and focused even when the stakes are high.
Here’s The Truth
Even in the age of AI, high-performing bid writers will remain some of the most valuable assets you can have.
AI can handle a lot of the heavy lifting, from generating content to checking compliance, but it’s the human touch that turns a bid from good to great. A skilled bid writer brings creativity, strategic thinking, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to synthesize multiple perspectives into a winning submission.
When hiring a bid writer, look for someone who can manage details, adapt under pressure, translate complex expertise into persuasive writing, and juggle tight deadlines. Oh, and make sure they’re funny, too.
