You thought writing proposals was a thing of the past, right? That as a successful freelance copywriter you would never again have to write up and send out a proposal before closing the deal? Guess what?
You’re wrong. The truth is that even when you’re running your own copywriting business and are in high demand, there will still be times when you will have to create a proposal and send it off, whether it’s for:
A new client who has heard about your excellent skills through word-of-mouth marketing but wants to know exactly what they can expect from you; A prospective client who has seen some of your previous work online or in print and wants you to submit a proposal so that they can compare it with other agencies’ proposals.
A client who absolutely loves working with you but feels that another agency has offered them a better price; Anyone else (and there are many others) who needs more detail on what exactly will happen if they hire you.
You need to be able to get your freelance writing proposal in front of these clients quickly otherwise some other freelancer might swoop in and steal the business from under your nose! Luckily, the internet is full of tools designed just for this purpose.
Whether it’s software like Bidsketch or Contract Killer Freelancing Proposal Generator or an app like Quote Roller, there are lots of ways to put together professional proposals without having to design them yourself. We’ve rounded up five we think our readers would find particularly helpful check them out below!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Craft an attention-grabbing introduction |
| 2. Clearly outline your freelance writing services |
| 3. Showcase your relevant writing experience |
| 4. Provide transparent and competitive pricing |
| 5. Set realistic project timelines and deadlines |
| 6. Include a compelling call-to-action |
| 7. Tailor each proposal to the client’s needs |
| 8. Use persuasive language to stand out from others |
| 9. Demonstrate your unique value proposition |
| 10. Proofread and edit your proposal for perfection |
Setup A Freelance Writing Website
It’s a good idea to set up a website for your freelance writing business, with all of the usual information that a client might want to see. This includes your name, contact details and bio.
Your site should also include a portfolio or samples of work you have done in the past so that clients can see what you are capable of doing for them. A good way to show off your best work would be by providing images of the final product (either as screenshots or actual photos).
If possible, add links back to any blogs or websites where you have written articles before so that potential clients can easily find more information about who they are working with.
There are many tools out there which will allow someone like yourself create their own personal web presence without having any coding knowledge whatsoever! Some examples include:
If you’re a copywriter looking to embark on a freelancing journey, learn how to turn your copywriting skills into a freelance writing business. Discover valuable insights on transitioning from traditional employment to a thriving freelance career.
Build A List Of Prospects
This is the most important part of the proposal. If you don’t have a list of prospects, then you don’t have a business.
You can start with your own customer base. Look at their content, marketing materials and social media profiles to see if there are any opportunities for writing. Then look at other businesses in your niche who might benefit from content on those topics as well and get in touch!
At this point I would also suggest checking out our post on how to find freelance writing clients: https://freelancerwriterpros.com/finding-freelance-writing-clients/
Research Your Prospects
This is where you’ll start to gather all of the information that will help you write a winning proposal. Your goal is to learn everything you possibly can about your prospect’s business, their industry, their audience and more.
Here are some great places to start:
Check out the prospect’s website (and several competitors’ websites). Look for keywords that may be important for you to include in your proposal later on (more on this later) as well as what makes them unique or stand out from their competitors.
For example, if they sell face cream and say it helps heal acne scars but most other companies don’t mention that benefit, it could be useful information!
Browse through social media accounts (and some competitors’) as well. Does the prospect use Facebook a lot? Do they post frequently on Instagram? What are they talking about most often? Is there anything specific about those topics or posts that might help inform how you write your proposal?
Contact Your Prospects With A Personalized, Value-Based Message
So, you have an amazing idea for a copywriting project and you’re pretty sure that your prospect is going to love it. You’ve spent the time doing research and collecting information about them, then asked them specifically what they want from you. Now it’s time to get ready for the big pitch.
The first step is deciding which email address you should use when sending out this proposal your personal one or a business one? Don’t use both! Choose one, but make sure it’s easy for people to find if they need more information about who they’re working with in case there are any issues down the road.
When it comes time to craft the actual message itself though, don’t just send out “Hi [name], here’s my proposal.” Instead try something like: “Hi [name]! First off let me thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule today I really appreciate it 🙂 Here’s some info about me…”
This way when prospects look at the emails later on down their inbox list all they see is positive vibes coming from someone who truly wants them happy (and making money).
Want to become a full-time freelance writer but lacking experience? Fear not! Our guide on becoming a full-time freelance writer with zero experience will equip you with the right strategies and tips to kickstart your successful writing career.
Send Out Proposals In Bulk, But Follow Up Individually
When you’re sending out proposals, don’t give everyone the same pitch.
You might think that if you’re working to a deadline and have to send out 20 proposals, it would be best to send them all at once. The problem with this is that some of your clients will receive their proposals before others and they’ll know it. So how do you make sure each customer feels special?
With mass email blasts, your approach can come across as impersonal and generic (unless you have created a template specifically for this purpose). In contrast, individualized emails show that you care about each client’s needs individually.
Respond To The Proposal In-Person (Via Phone Or Email)
Once you’ve received the proposal, it’s time to respond.
Respond with a polite and professional email that lets your potential client know you are interested in their project.
It might go something like this: “Hello [Name], thank you so much for reaching out and sending me the details of your project! I am very much interested in working with you on this copywriting challenge.
Before we get started, let me ask some questions about your expectations and budget so that we can make sure our work aligns with what would best serve your business goals. Would April 30th be okay for us to chat over the phone? Looking forward to hearing from you! Best regards, [Your Name]
Under-Promise And Over-Deliver With Your Client’s Offer (I.E., Do More Than You Say You Will Do)
You might be familiar with the phrase, “under-promise and over-deliver.” This is a common business strategy in which you under-promise your work for a client, then deliver much more than they were expecting. If you’re going to do this, just make sure that you aren’t asking your client to do anything illegal or unethical.
Under-promising is also a way to build trust with your clients because they know that they can rely on you to deliver great content without having to micromanage every detail of the project every step of the way.
Over-Communicate With Your Client (I.E., Send Them Updates Without Them Asking For Them)
The more you over-communicate with your client (i.e., send them updates without them asking for them), the more likely it is that they’ll want to work with you again in the future.
Depending on what kind of freelance writing service you offer, this could be weekly or monthly updates on how things are going. It could also be something as simple as letting them know when their payment has been sent through PayPal and will arrive in a few days (I know I wouldn’t mind receiving those kinds of emails).
In the world of freelance writing, the right words can make or break a contract. Find out the nine crucial words that can shape your career as a freelance writer in our article on the 9 words that will make or break every freelance writing contract.
Keep Investing In Yourself And Your Business (I.E., Always Be Learning)
You are one of the most valuable assets to your business. You should always keep investing in yourself and your business.
Invest in knowledge, skills, and education. Make it a priority to continuously learn more about what you do and how you can do it better.
Invest in your network both online and off-. The right people can help you find new clients or get a job faster if you need one. Plus, they give us a sense of belonging in our little corner of the world!
Invest in relationships with colleagues and friends who share similar interests as well; this helps foster growth through teamwork or collaboration projects that may not have been possible otherwise (you know what I mean?).
Are you considering using Upwork as a platform for your freelancing business? Discover effective strategies to optimize your campaigns in our guide on getting the most out of your Upwork campaign. Maximize your potential for success in the freelancing world!
Get More Clients This Way
Whether you’re trying to get more clients or simply looking for new gigs, it’s in your best interest to be proactive and persistent. You’ll have a better chance of landing the job if you:
- Be persistent.
- Be consistent with your outreach efforts.
- Be patient.
Don’t give up right away if someone turns down your first offer; keep trying until they say yes! The same goes for working on assignments that aren’t necessarily what you want just do them as best as possible and hope that maybe something else will come along (if not, at least you’ll have some good experience under your belt).
Stay friendly! Don’t make assumptions about why someone isn’t responding; just try again later without any animosity or anger toward them (even if it does seem like they’re being unfair).
Also: never use words like “this sucks” when referring back to one of their responses that’s just unprofessional!
This is also where having patience comes into play–you never know when things might start going better than expected.” In other words: stick around long enough until something good happens!”
Struggling to maintain work-life balance as a freelancer? Check out our top-notch tips on setting better work-life boundaries as a freelancer to ensure you thrive both personally and professionally.
Conclusion
Just remember that a proposal doesn’t need as much detail and polish as an actual project plan. In fact, it may be more effective to leave out details in order to build up a sense of intrigue. The most important thing is to get your ideas across in clear terms, a way that makes sense for your reader and their business. Good luck!
Further Reading
Copywriting Cheat Sheets: Access valuable copywriting cheat sheets to enhance your writing skills and create compelling content.
Freelance Writing Proposal Template: Streamline your freelance writing proposals with this template designed to impress clients and win projects.
Freelance Proposal Template: Optimize your freelance proposals using this template and increase your chances of landing your dream clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Freelance Writing Proposal?
Your freelance writing proposal is your chance to show potential clients that you are the right person for the job. It’s also a chance to show them that they can trust you, that you know what you’re doing, and that you’re not going to make any major mistakes.
You want them to feel like they can relax and enjoy working with you because they know that everything is going to be taken care of.
What Does A Good Freelance Writing Proposal Look Like?
A good freelancing proposal should include all of the following:
- A cover letter explaining who you are, what your qualifications are, and why this client should hire you over anyone else in their area or industry
- The scope of work that needs to be done (what exactly will go into this project; all tasks involved)
- An estimate of how long it will take for you to complete everything (in hours/days/weeks)
- An estimate of how much it will cost based on your hourly rate and estimated time frame (so they know what they’re getting in terms of quality workmanship versus budget)
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring A Freelance Copywriter?
Freelance writers can provide you with a variety of services, including but not limited to: revisions, proofreading, ghostwriting, editing, SEO optimization, and more. It’s helpful to know what you’ll get out of hiring a freelance copywriter before you go through the process of finding one.
Why Should I Hire A Freelance Copywriter?
Freelance writers have many benefits for your business. For example, they can help with content creation and strategy planning for your website or blog. Freelancers also offer flexibility in payment options they can work on an hourly basis or by project basis.
How Do I Find The Right Freelancer For My Business?
There are many ways you can find qualified freelancers for your business needs. You can use freelance job sites such as Upwork or Problogger Jobs to post job listings and browse resumes from applicants who have applied for jobs similar to yours.
You can also search through LinkedIn profiles or Google your company name followed by “job postings” (e.g., “company name job postings”). Once you’ve found some candidates that seem qualified, reach out with questions about their experience in similar positions and ask if they’re interested in working
What Is A Freelance Writing Proposal?
A freelance writing proposal is essentially an offer to write content for your client. It’s a document that will outline how you plan to approach the project, how much you charge, and what services are included in that price. It’s also a document that will help you land those clients who aren’t sure whether or not they should hire you yet.
What Is A Freelance Writing Proposal?
A proposal is a formal document that outlines your plan for a project. It’s a way to show that you’ve done your research and have the knowledge needed to complete it. Proposals also give clients an idea of how much work will be involved, what they can expect from the final product, and how long it will take to produce it.
What Do I Need To Include In My Proposal?
The details of your project should be included in your proposal. The more information you provide about your idea and its potential audience, the better chance you have of getting hired!
Be sure to include information about your experience with similar projects, any relevant credentials or certifications (such as degrees or professional certifications), and whether there are any deadlines involved (like if this job needs to be completed by a certain date).
And other relevant details like whether the project will require any specialized equipment or software (like video editing software).
Also make sure you let them know if there are any restrictions on content – some companies may not want certain types of images used in their campaigns so make sure they know if anything like that might be required!
What Is The Difference Between A Freelance Writing Proposal And A Sales Letter?
A sales letter is usually written to sell a product or service, whereas a freelance writing proposal is written to sell your services as a writer. A sales letter should be short and to the point, whereas a freelance writing proposal should be longer and more detailed.
What Is The Difference Between An Editorial Piece And Content Marketing?
An editorial piece is usually written for an editor or publication, whereas content marketing is written specifically for online readers (blog posts, articles, etc.). An editorial piece will be shorter and more focused on one topic while content marketing may cover many topics in greater depth.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.