Whether you’re a part-time freelancer or new to the freelancing world, it pays to understand how to write a great proposal. A great and unique proposal will compel your potential clients to seek you more than you seek them. However, convincing a potential client that you're the best for a certain project is a skill that requires serious effort and hard work to perfect.
Writing great proposals that can beat those of experienced competitors is a sure way of winning more projects and boosting your income as a freelancer. In this article, I'm going to take you through the tips for writing a unique and great proposal.
Make a Strong Entrance
What do you have on your proposal to capture your potential clients straight out the gates? What is it in your email that is unique from everybody else competing for the gig?
What will captivate immediate interest in the mind of your potential client is an entrance that delivers actual value, excites, and shows that you did enough research. You can always start by finding remote freelance projects on sites like Remote. co, Hubstaff Talent, and Content. You can go through the 'Ultimate Guide to Landing a remote Job'.
If you reach a potential client immediately after posting a project, you will have a high chance of landing the job. You should then ask yourself, what makes your proposal unique from all others applying for the same project?
For instance, if you're a writer and want to send an email to a potential client for their blog post idea, start with something like, 'My 6 Steps to Driving Traffic for [Company Name]'. This will give your potential client an idea that you've already spent time researching their project and laying out a strategy.
In the initial email, include a few details on how your strengths and experience will enable you to deliver quality work. Avoid including busing slang that adds no value to your proposal. Explain why you're the most qualified person for the job and illustrate your confidence to finish the job without showing any arrogance.
Making a strong entrance involves proving your dedication and devotion to a project. Prove to your potential clients that you’re more than ready to produce quality work. This can be in the form of drafting a quick sample of the related work.
Sell Your Strengths
Although this might look simple, tailoring your strength to a specific job is something that requires skills. Here, it would help if you learned how to highlight your best abilities to align with your potential client's needs. If you need to boost your confidence, browse through these motivational quotes and get the right mindset to pitch your A-game.
For instance, if you have blogging skills or marketing skills, focus on those strengths and proof of the tasks you have completed. If you're after a design project, show your potential clients your creative skills in the area.
One mistake you can make here is focussing on irrelevant or unrelated strengths. It is also important to keep your proposal short and clear. You will land in the reject pile if you try to squeeze everything you know about marketing and writing into your proposal.
There's something special in providing just enough details that the client needs to understand your strength in their business. Don't say more than is necessary.
Predict and Answer Questions
Sadly, not every client will provide a list of questions and expectations for you on their project.
Although vague project descriptions may be confusing sometimes, you should take advantage of these opportunities to demonstrate your experience and knowledge from the go. Show your potential client your ability to identify problems and offer solutions. If you manage to pull this through, you are already closer to sealing the deal.
One common question that you might be asked is whether you've done a related task before. The trick is always to anticipate and answer this question even in projects that you aren't asked. You can do this by including a link or two to some of the past projects you completed successfully.
To anticipate even more effectively what your client may ask, put yourself in their shoes. What issues might they be experiencing that they haven't spoken out about? For instance, with a website rebranding project, note poor-quality logos or images and offer them a solution.
Include Relevant Project Samples
It would be best if you let your proven project examples and portfolio speak for yourself. You should only select and attach the most relevant and best samples to your proposal.
Most clients are eager to learn that you've in the past worked on a similar project. And if you worked on it efficiently, it gives them confidence that you will do the same with their project.
Apart from just linking the samples to your application, you can also explain briefly how the contribution enabled your previous client to accomplish their goals and objectives. If you're a new freelancer without any samples to send, take the time to create some.
Use an Appealing Proposal Layout
To most clients, the first impression is always everything. This is why your freelance proposal should be crisp, well-organized, and aesthetically pleasing. Even before a client goes through your proposal, they will make an informed opinion and judgment just by looking at it. Depending on your proposal, a word document might be enough to deliver a good case for you.
There are applications like Bonsai, which might give your proposal a visual edge above others. You can access the Bonsai free trial to start.
Conclusion
Creating a unique proposal for a freelance project can be difficult if you don't follow the right steps. However, following these steps in writing a great proposal will help you do everything possible to set yourself apart from potential competitors.
Whether you want to validate an idea to get into a service or land a higher-paying client, you need to start with a strong foundation of understanding of how to pitch.
