Standing Out in the Crowd: Perfecting Your Freelance Writing Proposal
While freelance writing is undeniably demanding, there are two specific areas where you can direct your efforts to make your freelance writing career more prosperous when it comes to attracting clients.
The first one is making your profile shine. We covered the tips for this one in our previous blog post. Today, we will explore the second area, which focuses on perfecting your proposal. You’ll learn what it is and how to create one without ending up lost in the client’s inbox, and lastly, we’ll touch upon the essential components of its success. Let’s begin!
What is a Freelance Proposal
A freelance proposal is a document that shows your skills and expertise, highlighting your qualifications, past work experiences, and other areas relevant to the project and the client’s needs.
Whether you are new to freelancing or not, it pays to learn how to write a freelance proposal. This crucial tool assists you in securing clients and winning projects. It is a summary for your potential clients explaining why they should pick you over the other XY writers who are hoping to be hired for the job.
The perfect freelance proposal makes your clients want you more than you want them. Crafting a compelling freelance proposal can give you an edge over more experienced competitors and significantly boost your freelance income. That’s why it’s crucial to invest extra time and effort into creating a strong proposal that showcases your skills and expertise.
7 Tips to Craft the Perfect Freelance Proposal
There are over 1.57 billion freelancers in the world as of 2023. While we don’t know how many of them are freelance writers, the chances are clients receive numerous proposals from different writers located all over the world.
These proposals can be very generic, and poorly written, but some of them might be very persuasive and well-structured. You probably want to belong to the other half and know how to craft a proposal that engages with your potential clients leaving a long-lasting impression. Well, you can!
While the context of your proposal depends on multiple factors, successful proposals usually share some common elements. Let’s take a look at them!
1. Analyze the Project Description and Know Your Clients
Before you start crafting your next perfect freelance proposal, don’t underestimate the project description. Analyzing the project details will help you understand the client’s needs and project requirements, so you can tailor-make your proposal.
There was an observational study that found out that 7 out of 10 freelancers don’t even bother to read the full description for the job position! Many freelancers don’t even take the time to learn about the client.
Numerous freelancers often use a one-size-fits-all proposal and then wonder why they’re not getting noticed. Don’t make the same mistake.
Each proposal should be customized to the specific client and the project. Just like when you are composing a unique cover letter. If you send a generic cover letter that broadly discusses digital marketing, don’t anticipate a positive response from a company specializing in SEM Marketing.
By thoroughly reviewing the project details, you can determine the appropriate style and context for your proposal. Adapting your proposal to align with the project description allows you to establish a better connection with your potential client.
2. Wow Your Potential Clients in the Introduction
When you are meeting someone for the first time in person, you put an effort into the first impression you make. However, making a first impression online is much more difficult when you aren’t face-to-face. That’s why, you have to be bold and start very strong on your freelance proposal.
While you want to make a strong impact on potential clients by showing off all your skills, accomplishments, and education, provide a brief introduction instead.
Show them you did the homework and know the clients’ core needs, explaining how you can provide solutions. Avoid using standardized beginnings, highlight why you are perfect for the job, and don’t be afraid to be yourself!
3. Show Only Strengths That Align With the Project’s Needs
Pitch your strengths but keep in mind that time is your enemy. Think about it as it was speed dating. Your potential client is probably looking over many proposals, and while you might have multiple skills you’d like to show off, the client is interested in those that align with his project needs.
While it is great you have some Photoshop skills, for a project that requires writing only, it won’t be necessary. Besides, it will mean extra reading time while there is much more in your proposal to scan through.
4. Provide a Summary of the Client’s Problems and Offer a Solution
Show that you understand the client’s needs and goals by addressing them explicitly in your proposal. This demonstrates your ability to listen and communicate effectively. Outline the project timeline and milestones to provide a clear roadmap for the client.
Be realistic in setting expectations and project timelines to avoid overpromising and underdelivering. This allows your potential clients to see the progress of the project and understand when each deliverable will be completed. It also helps to manage their expectations and ensures that the project stays on track.
5. Include Relevant Work Samples From Your Portfolio
Just like an HR person doesn’t call a potential employee to a job interview without looking at the resume, a client won’t even consider you for a job, if you don’t provide a sample of your previous work or testimonials from your previous clients.
You want to pick the best and the most relevant work that is related to the project description. If you want to get a writing gig at a company looking for lifestyle beauty writers, providing content on SEO is a waste of time.
Additionally, if your contribution helped the previous client to achieve their project’s goals such as boosting their traffic or improving sales, be sure to mention it!
6. Create a Detailed Pricing List
Rather than just presenting the total project cost, provide a clear breakdown of your pricing and payment terms to avoid misunderstanding and prevent client confusion.
Be transparent about your rates and any additional expenses. This helps the client make an informed decision and ensures that both, you and your client are on the same page.
Breaking down your pricing is crucial, especially when your rate is above the client’s budget. Remember rather than lowering your rate, understand your value, set your price accordingly, and don’t forget to justify your charges.
7. Drive Action with Powerful CTA
Finally, end your proposal with a strong call to action. Encourage the clients to take the next steps and make it easy for them to contact you for further discussion.
Incorporate your contact details, payment information, a proposal expiration date (after which a new proposal should be requested), and any other necessary details to facilitate your potential client’s progress.
Final Tips for Perfecting Your Proposal
Before submitting your proposal, always make sure to proofread. Use correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to demonstrate your professionalism. Pay attention to the overall flow and organization of the document, making it easy for the client to read and understand. This helps to create a positive impression and shows your attention to detail. Be sure to adapt each proposal to the particular client and project requirements.
Follow up after submitting a proposal to show your continued interest and commitment. Send a polite and professional email to the client, thanking them for the opportunity and expressing your enthusiasm about the project. This helps to keep you on their radar and increases the likelihood of them choosing you.
Make sure to continuously refine and improve your freelance project proposal. A freelance landscape is constantly evolving so staying updated and adapting your proposal is important. It not only helps you cater to changing client needs but also to industry trends. Perfecting your freelance proposal is an investment in your professional growth and client relationships, leading to better opportunities and a stronger freelance career.
Let Quillbee Assist You with Crafting the Perfect Proposal!
Crafting the ideal freelance proposal for a project is undeniably time-consuming. As previously mentioned, tailoring each proposal to the specific client and project requirements is crucial. Yet, when you’re seeking numerous projects, the process of creating unique proposals for each one can become overwhelming and stressful. Not to mention the demand for generating content across multiple projects.
This is where Quillbee comes to the rescue! Our AI-writing tool helps you generate content quickly and allows you to inject your personality and enthusiasm into your proposal.
Thanks to our exceptional Tone feature, you can easily customize the tone of your proposals, allowing you to connect with your clients using language that resonates with them. Your next proposal will be far from generic.
Experience Quillbee for yourself, producing not only captivating proposals but also content that truly sets you apart from the competition. Take advantage of our 7-day free trial today and foster those invaluable client relationships!
