A Simple Formula For Writing A Freelance Proposal

How many times have you found yourself in a situation where you’ve been asked to write a freelance report or an article, but first you need to create a proposal explaining how much it will cost and what the next steps are? 

This scenario is all too common for those of us in the freelance writing world. I’ve done this many times, so I’ve developed a simple formula that makes the process easier. Here are my top tips for crafting your freelance proposals:

Takeaways
1. Clearly define the client’s problem and propose a solution that aligns with their needs.
2. Use a professional and concise writing style to convey your ideas effectively.
3. Structure your proposal in a logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
4. Showcase your expertise and relevant experience to build credibility with the client.
5. Provide a clear timeline, deliverables, and pricing details to set expectations upfront.
6. Proofread and edit your proposal for any errors or inconsistencies before submitting.
7. Follow up with the client after submission to demonstrate your interest and address any questions or concerns.
8. Continuously refine and adapt your proposal based on feedback and results for improved success.

Why Is A Proposal Essential?

While it’s true that some clients will be more than happy to hire you without a proposal, most of the time, a good proposal can increase your chances of getting hired.

The main reason for this is that writing a proposal helps you to stand out from the competition. At any given moment there are hundreds of freelance writers offering their services on sites like Upwork and Fiverr, but not all of them write effective proposals.

So when you send over your proposal, it shows that you’re paying attention to detail and have gone above and beyond to try and set yourself apart from other freelancers who might also be applying for the job. 

It also signals your professionalism by showing off how well researched and intentional your approach is two things clients will always want when working with freelancers (especially since they’re often paying per word).

Crafting persuasive freelance proposals is crucial for winning clients and securing projects. Discover 14 Ways to Write Freelance Proposals that make clients beg you to work for them, and increase your chances of success. 14 Ways to Write Freelance Proposals That Make Clients Beg You to Work for Them

Do Your Homework

Before you can put pen to paper, you need to do some research.

Research is the key to writing a proposal that will get your foot in the door and earn you a meeting with the client. The more time and energy you spend on this step, the better off your proposal will be.

Here’s what I recommend:

Researching The Company – Learn as much as possible about who they are, what they do, and why they do it. Look at their website and social media pages for clues about their image; what kinds of images or messages appear on these channels? 

Where does their content come from (i.e., written by them or outsourced)? Get familiar with their products/services/branding so that when discussing things like pricing structure or project goals later on in your proposal. 

It feels natural rather than forced because there’s no connection between what I’m offering them now versus how I started talking about myself earlier in our relationship together.* Researching Competitors. 

Also, try looking at competitors’ websites (if applicable) since many people tend to copy each other when creating new web properties and if one site looks good enough then chances are others may have copied its design too!

Determine Your Key Message

Your key message is the most important aspect of your proposal. It’s what you want to say, and it should be clear and concise.

A good key message will:

Be short and to the point. The more words you use, the longer it will take for your potential clients to read through all of them.

Use simple language that everyone can understand. Don’t use industry jargon or make things complicated! That’s not helpful!

Using a conversational tone like in an email or text message would sound as if you were talking with someone face-to-face (or over Skype). 

This is different from an academic essay where tone matters less because readers are expected not just to understand what was written but also to digest its meaning in the way that some professors might want them to (which could mean reading very slowly).

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Break The Ice

You want to start on the right foot. So, you need to be friendly and professional. You also need to clearly define what you can do for them, how much time it will take, and any requirements they may have.

Your proposal must include information about your experience and expertise so they understand why you are the best person for the job. It’s also a good idea to include some credentials (or links!) so people can check out all of their options before making a decision.

Write A Strong Introduction

Your introduction will be where you make the case for why your work is worth paying for. It should include a short description of the project, why you are the best person for the job, and how long it will take to complete. Here’s an example:

I’m proposing a blog post on [topic] for [company]. I’ve done similar work previously, including articles about [topic] and [related topic]. This one will be roughly 1,000 words in length (about 3-4 pages), which usually takes me about 2 hours to write if I’m working full-time. Here’s some sample work:

[Link to some samples of your writing.]

Showcase Your Services &Amp; Solutions

Showcase your services and solutions.

What are the services you offer? What is it that brings you value to the table? And what is it that makes you better than other freelancers or agencies out there?

Tell them how they can benefit from hiring you. Think about the problems they’re facing and whether or not those issues could be solved by using your skillset. 

Your client must see how exactly what they need can be delivered uniquely by working with you, rather than just another freelancer with similar skillsets who might not have as much experience in X field (or whatever).

Explain how their business goals fit into all of this (and why). If a client wants to increase sales by 20%, then find out how their current website or digital marketing strategy isn’t working well enough at reaching this goal.*

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Show What You’ve Done In The Past

You must showcase your past work. Your portfolio is the most important thing you can put into a freelance proposal, so you must make it as good as possible. Here are some tips for creating an excellent portfolio:

Include your best work first. If you’re like me and don’t have many pieces in your portfolio, this is especially important for you. 

You need to showcase what makes you unique and valuable so that potential employers will think “This person will bring something to my company that no one else can.”

Showcase your work in action. It’s not enough to just show completed projects you should also show how those projects were used! 

For example, if I’m a photographer and took pictures of someone’s wedding day and then sent them off to be displayed on their website with beautiful captions underneath them explaining each shot; then I should include screenshots of said displays as well (or even better yet: videos). 

This way people can see exactly what they’ll get if they hire me on board: they’ll get beautiful pictures plus captions explaining each photo!

Provide A Breakdown Of Your Costs

The next question to answer is how much you charge. This is one of the most important points to cover in your proposal because it will help the client determine if they can afford you and whether or not your services are worth the price.

There are a few ways to go about this:

• You can provide an hourly rate, which tells them exactly how much they’ll pay for each hour that you work on their project.
• You can provide a monthly retainer fee for ongoing projects that requires payment every month regardless of whether or not work is done during that period (i.e., if you get hired to write web content once per month).

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Include A Call To Action

Make it clear what you want the client to do next.

This is your chance to turn your proposal into a call to action, so make sure it’s compelling and easy for the client to take that action. Here are some examples of effective calls to action:

• “Please let me know if you have any questions about our services.”
• “I look forward to talking with you about how we can help you solve this problem.”
• “If I haven’t answered all of your questions, please feel free to reach out at any time!”

You Can Use This Simple Formula For Your Next Proposal

You can use this simple formula for any kind of business. You can use this formula for a freelance business. 

You can also use this formula for a small business, or even a large one. It works in every case because it’s based on the idea that you’re proposing something that adds value to someone else’s life, and they don’t have to do anything but pay you for the privilege.

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Conclusion

As we’ve discussed, you don’t have to be the most experienced freelancer to land new clients and projects. With the right knowledge and preparation, anyone can make a good first impression on potential clients. 

By following our five-section formula for writing freelance proposals, you’ll be able to present your skills professionally and compellingly. This will make it easier for you to win over new clients.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to further enhance your knowledge on writing freelance proposals:

How to Write a Winning Proposal for Freelance Work: Learn effective techniques and strategies for crafting compelling proposals that increase your chances of winning freelance projects.

How to Write a Freelance Writing Proposal: Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide: A comprehensive guide specifically tailored for freelance writers, providing a step-by-step approach to creating persuasive proposals.

Writing Proposals as a Freelancer: Tips and Tricks: Gain valuable insights into the best practices and tips for writing effective proposals as a freelancer, helping you stand out and win clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should A Proposal Be?

As long as it needs to be. It’s not a novel. A good rule of thumb is to keep your proposals between one and three pages, with two being the ideal length. I’m a fan of brevity, so in my work, I usually shoot for around 1 page. 

If you’re writing for someone who has never worked with you before, then there’s no reason why your proposal can’t be as short as necessary but if someone has already hired you once before, chances are they’ll expect more from this round (and rightfully so!).

How Much Should I Charge For My Proposal?

As much as the job is worth! This will depend on how much time each client spent explaining their needs and expectations during the initial consultation call or email exchange. 

You’ll want to make sure that whatever rate they come up with feels fair based on what they told you about themselves and their project over those conversations; don’t try selling yourself short by undervaluing your work just because some clients might prefer cheaper options out there! 

When setting prices at the start of any freelance relationship (or even when bidding on new jobs), always ask yourself whether or not what was discussed during these previous interactions was worth being paid less than other projects might pay according. 

it’s up to each writer how much effort goes into preparing proposals before sending them out into the world, but regardless of how long it takes

What Is A Proposal?

A proposal is a document that outlines everything you need to do for your client, so they know exactly what they are getting out of the relationship with you. It also helps you create an easy-to-follow game plan that keeps everyone on track and ensures no work gets left undone by accident.

When Do I Need One?

A good freelance contract should include information about how much your services cost, how much time they will take, what milestones there are in the process (like when you’ll deliver drafts), and when each milestone needs to be completed.

How Long Should My Proposal Be?

Your proposal should be as long as it needs to be no more! The important thing is that it covers all the bases when explaining what’s expected from both parties involved in this project or relationship (you and your client). 

If there are any questions about something specific in another area of your business that isn’t covered here yet but might be relevant for this particular project then add them into their section at the back of this document where other ‘non-essential’ topics may go (such as taxes).

Why Is A Proposal Essential?

A proposal is a perfect opportunity to showcase your services and solutions. It’s also an excellent way to break the ice with potential clients, who may not know much about you or what you do. A strong proposal can help establish trust from the start a crucial step when doing business online.

How Do You Do Your Homework?

Researching what kind of content would be most appropriate for each platform is key when writing proposals for freelance clients and it gives them confidence in your ability as well! 

Doing some background work on their needs and preferences will allow them to see that their project matters enough to deserve attention from someone like yourself (and this applies whether they’re businesses or individuals)