Freelance writing is an industry, like any other. And like any other industry, it has its own lingo and rules, including a standard way of doing things. To be a professional freelance writer you need to know how to put together your very own Freelance Writing Proposal (FWP).
This proposal is a document that outlines the expectations that you have for your client as well as what they can expect from you- the details of your working relationship.
And don’t worry, creating this proposal isn’t complicated at all! We’ll help you figure out how to create one step by step with our “Elements Of A Freelance Writing Proposal” blog post template.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understand the client’s needs and project requirements. |
| 2. Showcase your writing skills and relevant experience. |
| 3. Clearly define the scope of work and project timeline. |
| 4. Provide competitive and transparent pricing details. |
| 5. Include persuasive cover letter and personalized approach. |
| 6. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the client’s industry. |
| 7. Highlight unique selling points to stand out from others. |
| 8. Include relevant writing samples to showcase your expertise. |
| 9. Follow up professionally after submitting the proposal. |
| 10. Maintain professionalism throughout the proposal process. |
Title
In the title, you’ll want to include:
a short and descriptive title that catches your reader’s eye and is easy to understand. It should also be catchy and consistent with the summary, target audience, job description, payment schedule, and tone of voice of the rest of your proposal.
For example: “Writing a blog post about why you should hire me as your freelance writer” would work well if you were writing for an audience of potential clients who have never hired freelance writers before.
However, if your client was looking for someone with experience writing for clients in their industry (such as marketing), then you might try something like this instead: “Hire Me As Your Freelance Writer And I’ll Teach You How To Write Effective Sales Copy That Drives Traffic To Your Website!”
The point here is that when crafting titles it’s important not only to make sure each one accurately describes its purpose but also leads readers down paths they may not yet have realized they were interested in exploring on their terms.”
Crafting a freelance proposal that leaves a lasting impact on potential clients is an art. Learn how to master this skill in our comprehensive guide on creating a freelance proposal that keeps clients coming back for more.
Summary
A summary is a brief overview of your proposal. It should be no more than two or three paragraphs long, depending on the length of the rest of your proposal.
The point of a summary is to give clients a quick look at what they will get if they hire you, and to give them an idea of how much work it will take. In other words, the summary should convey:
- What kind of content you’ll produce (e.g., blog posts)
- How many pieces are included in the job (e.g., 10 blog posts)
- The scope and type of client interaction involved (e.g., weekly calls)
Target Audience
When creating a proposal, it is important to define your target audience. A target audience is the group of people who will most likely read, buy or use whatever it is you are writing about.
For example, if a business plans on launching a new website and wants content written for its blog, it may want to target millennial males between the ages of 18-30 with an interest in technology and social media.
By defining your target audience’s demographics (age range), psychographics (personality traits), behavioral traits (everything from how often they watch TV shows to whether or not they like video games), and lifestyle habits (what types of activities do they enjoy) will help narrow down exactly who this audience is.
What You Can Do For The Client
In this section, you’ll want to list specific things you can do for the client. Be specific and provide examples of work that demonstrates your ability to meet their needs. If you’re applying for a writing job, then clearly detail your skills as a writer: what kinds of writing do you enjoy doing?
Do any examples come immediately to mind? What kind of work are they looking for? It’s also important here not only to mention what you’re good at but also what areas need improvement.
Letting clients know how willing and eager you are to learn new things will let them feel more confident investing in your services when they don’t know how good of an employee yet.
Hiring the right PR or brand manager is crucial for your business’s success. To ensure you make the best decision, check out our list of 13 essential questions to ask before hiring a freelance PR or brand manager.
How Much You’ll Charge
Be sure to give a range of prices. It’s always good to give the client an idea of how much the work will cost, but I would avoid giving a specific price. If you know right off the bat that this is going to be a $300 project and you quote $300, then what do they say when they want something more complex?
You’ll have to go through all kinds of back-and-forth before you can get them in line with your expectations and that could take hours! It’s better just to start with an estimate and then fine-tune it as needed.
If your first draft comes back with way too many edits or revisions (or none at all), let them know and ask for more money if need be; then start again from scratch after getting their approval.
Timeframe For Completing The Job
The timeframe for completing the job will depend on many factors, including the number of revisions required and the size and complexity of the project. A reasonable expectation for most projects is for you to complete the first draft within one week, and provide feedback to your client within three days of receiving their comments.
This allows ample time for both parties to review each other’s work before finalizing any changes or moving on to production.
You must let clients know how long it takes for you to complete their jobs so they can plan accordingly and schedule your next project!
Billing Method
Most freelancers bill by the hour. In addition, most clients prefer to pay for work that’s already been completed rather than a project when it’s still in progress. This can be beneficial for both parties the client gets to see results quickly and the freelancer is guaranteed payment.
However, there are some situations in which it may be best to bill by project instead of hourly (or vice versa). For example:
A website design company might only want to do one major project at a time with each client; if this is the case, then they will likely bill by project rather than hourly.
A writer who’s sending out proposals for multiple projects can offer a discounted rate for those who choose not only one, but several pieces of content from them; therefore, billing per piece makes more sense here than an hourly fee would.
Gain valuable insights and tips from a seasoned freelancer’s first-year journey in our article on real freelancing tips. Learn from their experiences and avoid common pitfalls as you embark on your own freelance career.
Payment Schedule
If you’re a freelancer, setting a payment schedule is one of the first things you should do before starting any project. A good payment schedule is clear and transparent. It also has to be reasonable for both parties involved in the project.
For example, if you want to work on a project that requires immediate attention, but your client isn’t ready or able to pay right away because they’re waiting on funding or approval from their boss, then there might be some trouble finding common ground on this matter especially since writers are often paid per word or per hour (and not by the week or month).
On top of that, it’s important for both parties involved to make sure there’s enough money set aside from each paycheck so that everyone remains solvent over time without going into debt during periods where no new projects come along due to either lack of interest/insufficient funds.
Which could end up costing both individuals even more money down the road if left unchecked!
Your Background And Qualifications
A key part of your freelance writing proposal is detailing the background, qualifications, and experience you bring to the table. This section should include all of the following information:
Education
Include everything from degrees earned to courses taken.
Experience
A list of past employment (including job title, company name, location), internships, or volunteer experience in journalism/media/publishing. If you’re a student, be sure to include any relevant coursework and extracurricular activities (like writing for campus publications).
Skills
List anything related to your chosen field that makes you special or unique; this could include software knowledge or proficiency with graphic design tools like Photoshop or InDesign.
Credentials & Awards
List any relevant credentials here such as membership in professional organizations as well as awards, won for your work in this field (if any).
If there aren’t many awards available currently with which they can compete against other applicants’ achievements (e.g., if yours was awarded by an organization that no longer exists), consider including other less formal achievements instead such as being named “most successful writer” by peers during high school English class competitions
Your Related Experience
You may want to include any relevant samples of your work, such as a resume or links to social media accounts. You should also consider including links to previous projects, clients, and work.
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Examples Of Your Work (With Links)
Give examples of your work. You can do this by providing links to your portfolio, or you can include a sample of the type of content you write with the proposal.
Link to your social media accounts. If you have a blog or Instagram account where you share writing-related posts, include those links as well! Let them see what kind of writer they’re getting and how they might be able to help their brand grow through your content.
Link to your email address. Don’t forget this important step you don’t want to miss out on any freelance writing opportunities because someone couldn’t find the right way to contact you!
How You Can Make Money For The Client/Make Them Look Good
Your proposal is a business document. It should demonstrate how you can help the client make more money and improve their reputation, build their brand, save money and/or do all of these things. You can provide examples of your past work that has led to these results for other clients (with permission).
Promotional Strategy (How You’re Going To Get Them Noticed)
You should also include in your proposal a plan for how you will get the traffic. This is called a promotional strategy. You may want to do this in addition to their efforts, or you may want to do it before they get started on their promotional campaign.
You should also include a plan for how you’re going to get the top ranking in the search results and keep them there over time. This gives people an easy way to find them online when they are looking for someone who does what they do, which means more clients and customers!
Your Strengths As A Writer Or Designer/Developer
This section of your proposal should be a list of your strengths as a writer or designer/developer. What do you bring to the table that others don’t? How can you help make this client money? How will they get noticed by doing business with you?
Your strengths are what make you stand out from all other freelancers, so this is an important part of any freelance proposal.
A-List Of References From Past Clients (With Links)
- Include a list of client names and contact information.
- Include a link to the client’s website.
- Include a link to the client’s social media presence.
- Include a link to the client’s email address, if they have one (or use their website as an alternative).
- Include a link to their phone number, if they have one (or use their website as an alternative).
Revisions Policy
I highly recommend that you have a revision policy in place before you begin working with clients. Revisions are an important part of the writing process, and it’s important to be clear about how many revisions your client will receive and what that means.
You should always offer some type of free or discounted revision package when introducing yourself to a new client, especially if their budget is small or medium-sized. This can help build trust between you and the client and show them that you’re willing to go above and beyond for them in terms of customer service.
If a client wants more than two rounds of revisions at standard rates, it might be time for them to reconsider their project’s scope or hire someone else who can deliver on what they need within their budget.
Similarly, if a client asks for fewer revisions than they had paid for, then they should consider hiring another freelancer who can provide them with what they need within their budget (or look into hiring an editor).
In both cases, it’s best not to argue over these things; instead, focus on providing excellent work as quickly as possible so as not to waste either party’s time!
Contract Information (If Applicable)
Contracts are used when a client is paying for a service, and the writer is providing that service. If your project doesn’t require a contract, it’s okay to skip this section. If you decide to use one, keep in mind that contracts can be very simple or very complicated.
It’s important to consider both your needs and the client’s needs when writing up your contract so that everyone knows what they’re getting into at each stage of the project process.
A good freelance writing contract should include:
- A clause outlining payment terms such as when payments are due, how much they will be (if applicable), late fees if payment isn’t made on time, etc., and any other stipulations about payment.
- A clause describing revisions/editing processes and expectations for those revisions
- A termination clause outlining under what circumstances either party can terminate the agreement
Contact Information And Social Media Links
In addition to your name, phone number, and email address, you should also include a link to your portfolio or blog. The easiest way to do this is by including the link in your contact information for prospective clients. If you have social media accounts like LinkedIn or Twitter (or even Facebook), include links there as well.
Becoming a freelance writer opens doors to exciting opportunities. Find out how to kickstart your career in this field by following our step-by-step guide on how to become a freelance writer. Unleash your creativity and start your writing journey today.
Writing Proposals Is A Necessary Step In Your Freelance Writing Business And A Skill Set To Develop If You Intend To Become A Professional Freelancer
Proposals are a good way to show your writing skills to potential clients and give them an idea of what it would be like working with you. A proposal can help sell your services as well as provide a template for future proposals.
Conclusion
Be careful not to make your proposal too long, and don’t include irrelevant information in your pitch. Make it as short and sweet as possible.
Further Reading
7 Ingredients of a High-Impact Freelance Writing Proposal: Discover the essential elements that can make your freelance writing proposals stand out and win clients over.
How to Write a Winning Proposal for Freelance Work: Learn effective strategies and tips for crafting winning proposals that increase your chances of securing freelance projects.
Writing Proposals as a Freelancer: Tips and Tricks: Get valuable insights and practical advice on how to write compelling proposals that help you secure more freelance opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Freelance Writing Proposal?
A freelance writing proposal is a document that outlines the scope of work for your project, including any deliverables and deadlines. It’s a way to communicate what you’re going to do for a client, and when you expect to complete it.
How Do I Write One?
There are many different ways to write a freelance writing proposal, but the most important thing is that it contains all the information your client needs to know about what you’ll be doing for them.
An effective proposal should include (at minimum): an overview of who you are and why they should hire you, a description of what you will provide the client (including any deliverables), how much it will cost them, and when they can expect it by.
What Is The Purpose Of A Freelance Writing Proposal?
A freelance writing proposal serves two main purposes: to sell your services to potential clients and to offer clear guidelines for how you will deliver those services.
How Do I Write A Successful Freelance Writing Proposal?
The first step toward successfully pitching your freelance writing services is to ensure that you’re able to clearly articulate what you offer and why your potential client should hire you to do it.
This requires some research into their industry and background, as well as into what they’re looking for in a writer. Once you’ve done your homework, you can then begin crafting a formal proposal that includes all of the relevant information about your experience, skills and abilities, and rates.
How Much Do Freelance Writers Charge Per Hour?
Freelance writers charge anywhere between $40-100 per hour depending on their experience level and expertise within a particular field or subject matter area.
What Kind Of Payment Options Do They Accept?
Most professional freelancers accept credit card payments through PayPal or Square Cash only.
What Is The Best Way To Get Started With A Freelance Writing Career?
There are many ways to get started as a freelancer, but one of the best ways is to establish yourself as an expert in your niche and learn how to market yourself. The best way to do this is by writing blog posts about your expertise.
Once you have established yourself as an expert in your niche, you can begin pitching articles and other content related to your specialty.
How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?
Freelance writers earn their income through various means, including direct payments from clients and payments from online platforms like Upwork or FreelanceWritingGigs.com that connect writers with potential employers.
The average salary for a freelance writer varies depending on their experience level and location, but it typically falls between $30,000-$50,000 per year in most parts of the country (with higher salaries available in metropolitan areas).
How Can I Find Work As A Freelance Writer?
The easiest way to find work as a freelance writer is by signing up for freelancing websites such as Upwork or FreelanceWritingGigs.com which will enable you to search through listings based on location and skill set so that potential clients can find.
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.
