You love nothing more than connecting with people through the written word.
But to land the best freelance writing potential clients, you'll need to make an unforgettable impression in your great proposals.
This is a different style of writing than the blog posts, emails, or website copy you're used to. By using a specific combination of elements and presenting them in a persuasive structure, you can get clients' attention and show them that you're the best choice for the project.
How?
It starts by understanding what a freelance writing proposal is, what it takes to make them compelling, and the key questions to ask before you get started.
Let's take a look at those now!
Some freelance writers cringe at the thought of creating job proposals. If you aren't offering copywriting services yourself, they might feel a little too “salesy” for your comfort.
But the best clients expect to see them before they'll hire you. Not only that: your winning proposal is a direct reflection of your abilities as a writer. The proposal writing is like a “free sample” new clients can read to get a taste of your high quality skills.
So it's crucial for you to get your proposals just right.
The biggest goal: to give clients the information they need about the details of the project and good reasons why you're the best freelancer for the job.
With the right techniques, you can walk the line between persuasive and informative. That starts by including key elements and arranging them in a time-tested structure…
Which brings us to the next section.
Freelance writing is a massive field.
You might specialize in blog articles, white papers, or eBooks. You could be a copywriter who excels in getting people to read and buy in little time. Maybe you do all of the above.
Every freelance writer is different, just like every writing project is different. Compelling and effective proposals must adapt to the scope (and complexity) of each project.
If you're trying to land a long-term project, like revamping the content marketing efforts for a large brand, it's much easier to feel overwhelmed than if you are writing copy for a three-page website. You wonder which details to include in your project proposals – and how to best distill the value you can deliver.
Freelance writing projects large and small will benefit from following a proven structure.
While complex projects require more information regarding timeline and milestones than simple ones, they all share key elements. These elements give clients the details they need… and plenty of good reasons why they should hire you to gain client work.
Here are the most common elements in smaller scale freelance writing business projects:
Here are some of the most common elements in large-scale writing projects:
You're a writer, so you're completely comfortable with shutting yourself in a quiet room and banging on a keyboard until the project ends is finished.
It's tempting to tackle your freelance proposals in the same way. However, connecting with the would-be client before you get started will save you a ton of time and pinpoint their greatest needs.
You can do this in a quick discovery call or Skype meeting with every client. After you read the request for proposal (RFP), set up a time to ask the client a few key additional questions.
The questions below will help you get started. These are designed to cut beneath the surface level of the project requirements. That way you can understand the deeper business pain points – and show clients that you're willing to put in the work to truly understand them.
Got the answers to your questions?
Good! Now's the time to integrate those insights into your freelance writing proposals. This instantly sets you apart from all the competitors who won't do this and merely regurgitate the project requirements.
Writing awesome freelance writing proposals is just like any other kind of writing. You'll get better with practice.
With that said, sticking to the proven formula above will save you a bunch of time and shortcut the process.
Ready to get started?
There's no need to figure all this out on your own. Check out the free proposal template below. With real-world examples, it will walk you through the proposal process step by step.
{client_name} needs more than just random website visitors to distinguish itself from its competitors; it needs an engaged, growing audience. High-quality content, created and added to your website on a consistent basis, will give {client_name} the tools it needs to build a following of interested prospects and make more sales. Content creation services will help {client_name} to:
Without a collection of high-quality content and an intelligent strategy to publish it, {client_name} risks losing its prospects' attention – and their business – to more engaging competitors.
Here’s what {my_company}’s content creation team will deliver to help {client_name} build a thriving online following:
Working with {my_company} will allow {client_name} to obtain the quality content and strategy it needs to overcome the challenges described above. If hired, we’ll break the project down into the following content creation services:
Development of a Long-Term Content Creation Plan
We’ll start by analyzing your current content and how you’re distributing it. Then, with your unique needs in mind, we’ll create a detailed strategy to give your prospects a stream of fresh content so you can gradually build authority in your niche.
Launching an Email Marketing Campaign to Build a List of Prospects
We’ll craft a series of messages to send to your email subscribers. Each email we write will be designed to build your prospects’ trust and gradually persuade them to do business with you over time.
Ongoing Content Creation and Publishing
We’ll put our long-term content strategy into action. Our writers will create top-quality content for you according to our publishing schedule. Then, after we proof each piece of new content, we’ll publish it on your website so you can engage new visitors.
Building Visitor Engagement Through Quality Content Solution
|
$14,800 |
{client_name} needs to establish long-term relationships with its customers in order to generate consistent revenue and allow for long-term growth. {my_company}’s writers create the high-quality content you need to build those valuable relationships, and they publish it strategically to make the most impact on your website visitors. Here’s why we can help {client-name} achieve its goals better than any other content creation agency:
If {client_name} hires {my_company} to create the content it needs to build long-term relationships with its customers, our timeline would proceed as follows:
| Phase | Activities | Completion |
| Development of Long-Term Content Creation Plan | {my_company} will analyze {client_name}’s content strategies and create a long-term plan to boost visitor engagement at {client_name}’s website. | 04/07/XX |
| Launch of Email Marketing Campaign | {my_company} will create and send a series of messages to {my_company}’s email leads to build credibility and persuade them to become customers. | 04/21/XX |
| Ongoing Content Creation and Publication | {my_company} will create and publish compelling content to {client_name}’s website for 12 months in order to build a following there and establish {client_name}’s authority in its niche. | 03/31/XX |
To take advantage of this proposal and proceed with the project as outlined, {client_name}’s next steps must be to:
Once completed, {my_company} will contact {client_name} to schedule a project launch meeting to make introductions and gather information before beginning the work.
We’re happy to make changes to project scope on {client_name}’s request at any time, but may be subject to additional billing.
Once the project fee is paid in full to {my_company}, any elements of text, graphics, photos, contents, trademarks, or other artwork furnished to {client_name} for inclusion in website are owned by {client_name}.
{my_company} assumes {client_name} has permission from the rightful owner to use any code, scripts, data, and reports are provided by {client_name} for inclusion in its materials, and will hold harmless, protect, and defend {my_company} from any claim or suit arising from the use of such work.
{my_company} retains the right to display graphics and other web content elements as examples of their work in their portfolio and as content features in other projects.
This agreement becomes effective only when signed by agents of {client_name} and {my_company}. Regardless of the place of signing of this agreement, {client_name} agrees that for purposes of venue, this contract was entered into in [STATE] and any dispute will be litigated or arbitrated in [STATE].
The agreement contained in this contract constitutes the sole agreement between {client_name} and the {my_company} regarding all items included in this agreement.