If you’re new to freelancing or a seasoned pro, you’ve probably got to write proposals. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to know what should go into them, or how they should look.
To help out, here’s a guide on how to write a freelance proposal that will help you get more clients and keep them around for the long haul.
| Takeaway |
|---|
| 1. Understand the client’s needs and requirements |
| 2. Showcase your unique skills and expertise |
| 3. Craft a compelling project description |
| 4. Provide a clear breakdown of your services |
| 5. Set realistic timelines and deliverables |
| 6. Offer competitive and transparent pricing |
| 7. Include a portfolio to showcase your work |
| 8. Tailor the proposal to each client’s preferences |
| 9. Follow up with clients after submitting |
| 10. Maintain professionalism and patience |
Grab Their Attention
You want to grab your client’s attention, so use an attention-grabbing headline. You can also use a call to action in the headline, such as “Let’s talk!” or “Request a quote.” This will encourage them to take action and reach out with questions or concerns.
A blog post that does this well is one of my favorites: “The 5 Biggest Mistakes I See Freelancers Make.” The author uses emotive words like “failure” and “fear,” which makes the reader more likely to read on since they know there’s something in it for them if they do.
Additionally, you could include elements like testimonials from past clients or case studies (examples of how your service helped someone else).
Including visual content is another good way of grabbing a reader’s attention the best way is using visuals that show off how great your work is!
If you’re not sure where to get photos or graphics for this purpose, try searching Google Images under Creative Commons licenses; these images are free to use but still high quality enough not to look cheap (they’re hosted on Dropbox).
When hiring a Freelance PR or Brand Manager, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure a successful partnership. Our article on 13 questions you should ask before hiring a Freelance PR or Brand Manager provides valuable insights to help you make the right choice.
Introduce Yourself
This is your chance to introduce yourself, your business, and how you can help the client. Explain how your work has helped others in the past and why they should hire you for their project.
Also, explain what makes you different from the competition this could be as simple as saying that you offer a better price or that you have more experience than other freelancers.
Finally, explain why this particular client should choose to work with you rather than anyone else: who are they? What do they do? The more specific details about their company and its goals that you can provide will make it easier for them to see where exactly they fit into their plan.
Know Their Needs
A big part of your proposal should be based on client needs. Ask yourself: what do they want to achieve from this project? What are their goals and objectives?
Ask the client for a list of competitors, pain points, budget, and other relevant information to help you understand the scope of the project.
Break Up Your Proposal Into Sections
You’ve polished your proposal and it’s ready to be sent out, but what if you’re still not getting the response you want? As a freelance writer or designer, you face unique challenges when trying to get clients.
When working from home or from anywhere else for that matter, it can be difficult for clients to visualize how much time their project will take.
To bridge this gap between what the client expects and what you estimate in your proposal, include sections for each of your services as well as packages and pricing. This way, they’ll have an easier time understanding how much work is involved before they sign on with you!
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Include A Pricing Page
- A pricing page is a great place to include a list of your services, along with the packages and prices you offer for each one.
- Make sure you include the price for the entire project, as well as prices for each successive draft.
- If you’re charging by the hour, make sure to include those prices too, and be realistic!
Create A Timeline Page
The timeline page is a key piece of your proposal that helps clients understand what’s in store. It should be visually appealing and easy to read.
While it’s important to give enough details so that people know what they can expect, don’t go overboard with information overload or wordiness; you want this page to be something that clients will use as a reference point throughout the project.
Here are some tips for creating an effective timeline:
- Keep things short and easy to read; this should be more of a visual representation than anything else
- Use images whenever possible to make things more interesting (and less text-heavy)
- Make sure the timeline is organized chronologically there shouldn’t be any confusion about where each section falls on the timeline
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Add A Call To Action Page
Once you have created your proposal and are ready to send it out, make sure you have a call-to-action page that lists what you want the client to do next. This can be as simple as “Send me an email at [email address] with your budget in mind.”
You don’t want any room for confusion or questions on this page you need to make sure that they understand exactly how much they’ll pay when they’ll pay it, and what they’ll get out of working with you.
Make sure everything is spelled out clearly so there’s no room for confusion or questions on this page.
Practice And Refine
Your pitch is an art, and like any other art form, it needs to be developed over time with practice. Before you present your pitch to clients or colleagues, practice it in front of friends, family, and even strangers at a coffee shop.
You’re doing them a favor by giving them something interesting to listen to! The more you can expose yourself to different situations where different people are listening (and not just waiting for their turn), the better prepared you will be when preparing for client meetings.
- A proposal is the starting point of your relationship but never forget the follow-up!
- You’ve just sent off your proposal and it’s time to sit back and wait for the responses to roll in, right? Wrong!
Crafting a compelling freelance proposal is crucial for winning clients. Check out our article on what a freelance proposal should include to learn about the essential elements that will make your proposals stand out from the competition.
Follow-Up Is As Important As The Proposal Itself
There are so many ways to follow up with a potential client: phone call or text message, email, postcard (yes they still exist), handwritten letter (if you want to go old school).
The point is that following up isn’t just about getting a response from someone; it’s also about setting yourself apart from other freelancers who might have been in the running for this job but forgot to follow up after sending their proposal.
Discover the key elements of a winning freelance writing proposal in our comprehensive guide on what is a freelancing proposal. Improve your chances of securing freelance writing gigs with these valuable tips and tricks.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make a great freelance proposal. Whether you’re just starting and need some inspiration or you’re an experienced freelancer looking for fresh ideas, we hope these tips will help create the perfect pitch for your next client!
Further Reading
How to Write a Winning Proposal for Freelance Work: Learn effective strategies for crafting winning proposals that impress clients and help you secure more freelance projects.
Writing Proposals as a Freelancer: Tips and Tricks: Discover valuable tips and tricks to enhance your proposal writing skills as a freelancer, improving your chances of landing quality clients.
How to Write a Freelance Proposal: Get expert insights into writing compelling freelance proposals that stand out and drive client engagement, leading to more successful contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Way To Get Clients Addicted?
A freelance proposal that gets your clients addicted is a document that you send out to potential clients that shows them how much you understand their business and how you can help grow it.
It is one of the most important documents that you will ever write because it’s what will convince your client to work with you.
It’s also a document that needs to be written with care and thoughtfulness because it’s not just a bunch of bullet points it’s an opportunity for you to show off your skills and expertise!
What Is A Freelance Proposal?
A freelance proposal is an outline of the work you’ll do for your client. It should include details about what you plan to accomplish, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. It can also include information about your background or any relevant experience that would help your client decide whether they want to work with you.
Why Should I Create A Freelance Proposal?
Freelance proposals are critical to securing clients and keeping them happy. By creating a detailed proposal before starting a project, you set clear expectations on both sides and have a road map for what’s going to happen throughout the process.
If a client has questions about your proposal, you can address those questions before they arise by reaching out directly instead of having them pop up in real-time during the project itself which might make things more difficult for everyone involved if there’s no way for both parties to come together beforehand.
What Is A Freelance Proposal?
A freelance proposal is a document that you send to potential clients to convince them to hire you for a project, and it’s something that every freelancer needs.
Why Do Freelancers Need Proposals?
Freelancers need proposals because they allow them to show their skills, talents, and experience in a way that’s easy for clients to understand.
They also allow freelancers to demonstrate how they can help their clients achieve their goals by providing examples of past work as well as any relevant case studies or testimonials from previous clients.
Who Should Use Proposals?
Anyone who works as a freelancer should create proposals whether they’re graphic designers, writers, or web developers because they help you stand out from the crowd when it comes time for choosing someone new for the job at hand!
Should I Include A Cover Letter With My Proposal?
Yes, absolutely! This is a great opportunity to show off your writing skills and give the client a glimpse of how you’ll communicate with them throughout the project.
Does It Matter What Format My Proposal Is In?
Not at all. You can send it as an email or attach it as a PDF whatever’s easiest for you and your client. Just make sure that whatever format you choose is easy to read and doesn’t take up too much space on the recipient’s computer or phone.
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!