When you’re trying to get hired for a freelance project, one of the most important things you’ll need to do is submit a killer proposal. But what does that mean? What exactly is a proposal anyway? And what should it include?
In this article, I’ll answer all those questions and more. We’ll cover how to write proposals that stand out from the crowd, why your proposal needs to be tailored specifically for each client’s needs, and how to use every trick in the book to make sure your proposal gets noticed.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Clearly define the problem you are addressing in your proposal. |
| 2. Understand your audience and tailor your proposal to their needs and preferences. |
| 3. Use a structured format to organize your proposal, including sections like introduction, objectives, methodology, and conclusion. |
| 4. Provide evidence and examples to support your proposed solution. |
| 5. Be concise and avoid unnecessary jargon or technical terms. |
| 6. Highlight your unique selling points and showcase your expertise. |
| 7. Clearly outline the timeline and budget for the proposed project. |
| 8. Proofread and edit your proposal for clarity, grammar, and spelling. |
| 9. Use visuals, such as charts or graphs, to present data effectively. |
| 10. Include a cover letter to introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the project. |
| 11. Follow any specific instructions or guidelines provided by the client. |
| 12. Revise and refine your proposal based on feedback and suggestions. |
| 13. Submit your proposal before the deadline and follow up with the client if necessary. |
What Is A Freelance Proposal?
A freelance proposal is a formal proposal for a contract for services. You may be thinking, “How can I write a freelance proposal if I don’t know what the client wants?”
That’s true you might not know exactly what they want yet. However, you should still be able to create a working template that can be adapted based on the project at hand.
Your freelance proposal template will also contain information about your skills and experience to show potential clients that you have what it takes to get their job done right — even though they don’t know specifically what their needs are yet!
Your Upwork profile is your first impression in the freelancing world. Learn how to make a great first impression and attract potential clients by following our guide on How to Make a Great First Impression with Your Upwork Profile.
How To Write A Freelance Proposal?
Now that you know what to include in your freelance proposal, it’s time to learn how to write a great one. Your goal is to create a document that inspires confidence in your ability and makes it easy for the client to say yes.
Here are some tips on how to write a great freelance proposal:
Be specific about what you will do and how you will do it. The more detail you can provide about the services or deliverables of your project, the better. This gives the client confidence that they’re hiring someone who knows what they’re doing, which increases their likelihood of saying yes when asked.
Be clear about the results you will deliver. If there’s anything at all unclear or open-ended about what exactly needs doing (and why), now’s the time to address those issues head-on so both parties are on board with expectations before work begins.
Be clear about what you need from the client and be sure not to ask for too much! It might seem counterintuitive at first glance, but asking for less than expected often helps convince clients that they don’t need as much info from freelancers as they originally thought because this person knows his/her stuff already (which means hiring them won’t be wasted effort).
Once again though: only ask for information if necessary if no additional information is required beyond what was already outlined then don’t waste everyone’s time by asking questions like “Will I have access?”; just assume yes unless otherwise specified beforehand.”
1. Get Personal
Personalize the proposal by addressing the client by name, and include a personal note at the beginning of your document to remind them who you are, why you’re writing this proposal, and how excited you are about working together. Use their name throughout the proposal as well this will help them remember who wrote it!
Make sure to include their contact information so that they can reach out if something comes up in between when you write your proposal and when it’s due (for example: “Hi Jane! I’m just checking in with our deadlines for this project. Do we still have time before Christmas?”).
Looking to land more Upwork projects? Discover the secret ingredient that can significantly increase your chances of success. Check out our guide on The Secret Ingredient That Will Help You Land More Upwork Projects to unlock valuable tips and insights.
2. Focus On The Client’s Needs
When you’re drafting a freelance proposal, it’s important to focus on the client’s needs. Make sure that your proposal spells out what your client wants, what they need, and what will be expected of you as a result of hiring your services.
Let them know exactly how much work will be involved for them to achieve their desired results. Be clear about any project goals or objectives so there are no misunderstandings later on down the road when it comes time for delivery and payment.
Include everything from timelines and milestones (deadlines) to deliverables by providing a clear vision for both parties involved for everyone involved to know what is expected from them throughout this process; including yourself!
3. Offer Solutions And Results
A proposal is a formal request for something, and when you’re writing a freelance proposal, your document must make it clear how you can help the client with their specific problem.
You should offer solutions and results throughout the document. Here are some examples:
Showcase your skills and qualifications by highlighting relevant experience, education, or industry certifications
Show off any previous work experience with case studies for each project (how long did it take? What was the budget? How did you handle communication with other people involved?)
Back up statements with data and facts to make sure they’re credible (you can use Google Analytics as well)
4. Showcase Your Skills And Qualifications
Once you’ve established the problem, explained how your skills and qualifications could solve that problem, and show how valuable you are to the company, it’s time for your next step: showcasing those skills and qualifications.
This means highlighting the experience you have doing what they need to be done, but more than that it means showing off who you are as a person. This is where we get into some of those qualities I mentioned earlier (skills), plus things like your personality and credibility.
You should also showcase your passion for this project by explaining why it matters to you personally or professionally; this will help make sure any potential clients feel good about working with a freelancer from across the globe who is committed to their success.
Boost your Upwork profile views with these proven tips and strategies. Learn how to optimize your profile and attract more potential clients by reading our guide on 13 Proven Tips to Increase Your Upwork Profile Views.
5. Show Off Your Experience With Relevant Case Studies
Case studies are a great way to show off your skills and qualifications, as well as your past work and experience. When writing case studies, keep the following tips in mind:
Showcase your skills and qualifications by providing specific examples of how you have solved problems similar to the one you are addressing in this proposal.
Include case studies that demonstrate how you worked with a similar client. For example, if you are proposing an SEO project for a company similar to one that has previously hired your services, show off how much value they received from working with you!
6. Use Testimonials From Satisfied Clients
Testimonials are the most important part of your proposal. If you can’t prove that you’re a good freelancer and that people love working with you, then why should anyone hire you?
Testimonials should be from real clients who have used your services before. These testimonials should also be from multiple clients, not just one or two. The more satisfied customers you have, the better your chance of getting hired by other companies.
If possible, ask these previous clients for their permission to use their names when promising future work in a proposal document. You don’t want to mislead potential employers into thinking they will get the same quality service as someone else’s company that isn’t even related to yours!
7. Back-Up Statements With Data And Facts
To back up statements with data and facts, you should use data, facts, statistics, and case studies. Also include testimonials or any other form of evidence that supports your statements.
A strong proposal will make it easy for the reader to see why they should choose you over the competition. Here are some examples of how to back up statements:
Use data to support your point that “customers are responding positively” when they receive a product or service from you. For example: “Our average customer satisfaction rating is 8 out 10 after using our product/service for 6 months” (data point).
Use facts as evidence that “you have been in business for 10 years” (fact).
Use statistics to show how many customers were served over a certain period: “We served 3 million customers last year alone!” (statistic)
8. Use Images And Other Visual Elements To Illustrate Your Points
If you’re using a proposal template, it might not be easy to add images. But if you have the freedom to choose what goes into your freelance proposal, consider including visuals like screenshots or infographics.
You could also use images of your past work if you have a portfolio site, pull out some of the best examples!
Images can help break up long blocks of text and emphasize certain points that you mention in your proposal. They can even make your proposal more visually appealing overall.
Ready to become a successful freelancer on Upwork? Gain a competitive edge and maximize your potential by following our expert tips. Check out our guide on 5 Tips on How to Become a Successful Freelancer on Upwork to kickstart your freelancing career.
9. Don’t Forget A Professional Design And Layout
Don’t forget a professional design and layout.
- Use a professional design template. Take the time to find one that works for you and your business, or create your own from scratch.
- Choose fonts that are readable and easy on the eyes, such as Arial or Calibri in 14-point size with line spacing of 1.3 (1 line between each word).
- Use colors that complement each other well; dark text on light backgrounds works best for conveying professionalism this is especially useful if you’re sending proposals via email!
- Make sure to include all necessary information, including contact details (mailing address & phone number), website location & social media profiles at the bottom of every page so clients can easily find them again later if needed (make sure they’re linked too!).
10. Discuss The Budget And Pricing Details Upfront, But Don’t Get Too Specific Right Away!
When you’re writing a proposal, it’s important to discuss the budget and pricing details upfront. But don’t get too specific right away!
If you want to write a winning proposal, you need to find a balance between discussing the budget (and even offering a rough estimate) early on while still keeping everything open-ended.
It’s helpful if your proposal outlines how much time you expect each phase of the project will take, so clients have an idea of what they’re signing up for but try not to make these estimates too specific just yet.
If your hourly rate is $100/hour and there are four phases in this project, then saying “I’d charge $400” would be fine but adding any more detail than that could put clients off and lead them away from hiring you because they think it’s too expensive.
11. Include An Estimate Of The Total Number Of Hours You Need To Complete The Project
If you’re not sure how long your proposal will take, it’s okay to leave this section blank and include it at a later stage when you have more information. You can also estimate in days or weeks instead of hours.
For example, if I was doing a proposal for a website development project, I would say something like “I estimate that this project will take me around 20-25 days to complete.”
12. Keep Your Terms Flexible So That They Can Be Negotiated Later If Necessary
Another thing to consider is payment terms. Payments can be negotiated later, so avoid mentioning them in your proposal. For example: “We’ll invoice $10,000 within 30 days of agreement.”
When you mention payment terms in a proposal, it’s more likely that they’ll be finalized as-is without room for negotiation. This makes it harder for both parties to come up with an agreement on how much should be paid and when it will be due and that can lead to some awkward conversations down the road.
13. Make Sure There Is Enough Time For Revisions Or Rework
Make sure there is enough time for revisions or rework in case something goes wrong with any part of the project’s execution, or if changes have been requested after delivery has already started – this will help avoid conflicts and disputes down the road.
Revisions are important to make sure that your freelancer understands what you need to be done and can perform their job properly. If you want to avoid any misunderstandings, it helps to make revisions mandatory by including them as part of your proposal.
As a freelance writer on Upwork, earning better ratings can open doors to more opportunities. Discover effective strategies to enhance your reputation and secure higher ratings with our guide on 9 Ways Freelance Writers on Upwork Can Earn Better Ratings. Take your freelancing journey to the next level.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what a freelance proposal is and offered some tips on how to write one, you’re ready to start creating your own!
Remember that your proposals need to be tailored to each person or company, and they should be able to effectively show off your services in an interesting way. We hope our guide has given you some ideas and inspiration for creating effective proposals.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on writing proposals that you may find helpful:
How to Write a Proposal: The Ultimate Guide: Learn the essential steps and best practices for crafting effective proposals in this comprehensive guide from PandaDoc.
The Complete Guide to Writing a Project Proposal: Discover the key components and strategies for creating compelling project proposals with this detailed guide from Visme.
How to Write a Proposal: A Step-by-Step Guide: Follow a systematic approach to proposal writing using this step-by-step guide from Process Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Freelance Proposal?
A freelance proposal is a document that you create to show potential clients what you can do for them, how much it’ll cost, and when you’ll start. It’s an important part of running your freelance business because it shows your expertise and professionalism, helps you sell yourself to potential clients, and allows them to see if they want to work with you.
How Do I Write A Good Freelance Proposal?
A good freelance proposal has creative writing skills: it needs to be well-structured, easy to read, and persuasive. The proposals we’ve included in this post use all of these elements and then some! You should also check out our post on how to write great proposals for more tips on how to make sure yours stands out from the crowd.
What Are Freelance Proposals?
Freelance proposals are what you send to potential clients when you’re applying for a job. They’re your portfolio, but more specific to a particular client’s needs.
Why Do I Need To Write A Good Freelance Proposal?
When you’re pitching something, your proposal is your first impression. A bad proposal can mean the difference between getting hired and not getting hired, so you must present yourself in the best possible light. That means writing a clear and concise document that covers all of the relevant information about yourself and your skillset.
What Should Go Into A Great Freelance Proposal?
A great freelance proposal should have:
- A cover letter explaining your interest in working with them;
- A summary of why you’re qualified for the position;
- A list of past projects that are relevant to this position;
- Links to any examples available online (like social media profiles or websites). What is a freelance proposal?
A freelance proposal is a document that you create and send to potential clients, outlining your services and asking for work. It’s also sometimes called a “proposal letter.”
Why Do I Need To Write A Freelance Proposal?
You may be able to meet with prospective clients directly or speak with them over the phone. But if you’re looking for more stable work, it’s important to build up relationships with clients so that they want to keep working with you. A well-written freelance proposal can help you make this happen.
What Should I Include In My Freelance Proposal?
A good freelance proposal has these main components: an overview of who you are, what kind of work you do, how long it takes you to complete projects like theirs, what your rates are, and why they should hire you instead of someone else (if there is someone else).
You can also include any relevant samples of previous work that demonstrate your expertise in their field (if applicable).
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!