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FREELANCING PROPOSALS: 8 TIPS TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
The key to crafting a top-notch pitch is to focus on your prospect's needs and interests while also highlighting your unique skills and abilities. But this is not always easy. In this article, I provide eight tips for you on how to make your proposals stand out from the crowd.
This includes introducing yourself and providing background information, stating your purpose for the proposal, defining your goals and objectives, and highlighting what sets you apart from other applicants.
Additionally, it is important to briefly discuss the budget and how funds will be used to avoid misunderstandings and maintain good customer relationships. With these tips in mind, freelancers can create a proposal that effectively communicates their value and catches the attention of their desired clients.
I have 8 tips for freelancing proposals for you today.
But first, let me introduce myself:
My name is Echez, and I am a senior content writer, an entrepreneur, and a digital marketer. You are here because you want to make your proposal stand out from the crowd.
Read through and you will find out exactly how to do it.
FREELANCING PROPOSAL: 8 TIPS TO MAKE YOURS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
As a freelancer, you cannot do without sending out proposals. So many people like you send out tons of proposals daily.
So, how will you make your freelancing proposal stand out from the crowd? This article will give you 8 tips to create a top-class pitch to land your next job.
First, let’s cover the basics. Writing a proposal may sound similar to creating a portfolio, but they are different things.
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The difference is that your portfolio is a reference for everyone, client or not. Your portfolio contains a list of all or most of your notable work.
Anybody can take a look at what you say you do right in your portfolio.
But your proposal, on the other hand, is meant for a specific recipient. It is for your prospects. You design your proposal for people who want to hire you to do a job for them.
Many people get it all missed at this stage. Your potential hirer most likely receives tons of proposals every day. So how do you make him read yours or even consider booking an appointment with you?
Tip Number 1 for freelancing proposal:
Introduce Yourself and Provide Background Information on Your Freelance Proposal.
You don’t want to barge into someone’s privacy by talking about what you want. They will wonder, “Where did I know you from?”
So, a good introduction clears the ground.
If appropriate for the specific client, name where you knew them from. Maybe from a job advert they ran, or from a freelancing website they listed their job opening.
Tip Number 2:
State Your Purpose for the Proposal.
This should be straight to the point. If you have a service your prospect will need, go ahead and state that. Reading your proposal is a bonus to you, so don’t waste time before stating why you are writing.
Time is a big luxury these days. So, contribute to saving it by not beating around the bush.
Tip Number 3:
Define Your Goals and Objectives:
- What do you want to achieve with this proposal?
- Is your objective that they call you,
- Or do you want them to book an interview with you,
- Maybe, you expect them to send you a letter or ask for your sample job?
Whatever the case, define the objective of the proposal.
Sometimes it might be that your prospects are not even looking to hire.
But if you think you have something they should need, something that will make their lives easier, then say it.
And nudge them into doing your bidding. Make it easy for them to take action by including your call to action where it will be seen.
Tip Number 4:
Highlight What Sets you Apart:
If your proposal is a response to a need or something advertised, you should endeavor to highlight your unique selling proposition.
Because there are thousands of people looking for the same job you are applying for, you must set yourself apart. This may not be something too extraordinary.
If you have a proven reputation for delivering jobs on time, use this to your advantage. It could be that you have mastered a set of tools. boast a bit about it.
The purpose here is to tell your potential employer why they should ignore the other applicants and give you the job.
Tip Number 5:
Briefly Discuss the Budget and How Funds Will be Used:
If there is room for it, discuss the budget. This includes how much you charge for the basics. And if there are extras, include what you are willing to charge. Some types of jobs will require multiple revisions; if that is the case, how many revisions will you give at the initial price? What will be the cost for extra revisions, should the need arise?
When you do not make the above clear, it may create bad customer relationships. Sometimes it will prevent your clients from making informed decisions.
So, including your price and the way you plan to receive the payment is a crucial part of your proposal that you should not shy away from.
Tip Number 6:
Finish Your Freelance Proposal with a Call to Action and Request a Follow-up:
I have seen people mess up a good proposal by not finishing with a good call to action. Your prospects are constrained by a lot of factors.
So, when you are not clear on what you want, they will simply skip to the next applicant or move on with their lives.
Do not leave your prospects hanging and guessing what is next. Make it easy for them to do your bidding. Leave a clear call to action for them.
Sometimes simply saying, “I am looking forward to receiving a call from you,” might be all you need to trigger that action.
At other times, you may refer them to your portfolio or add a link to something they need to see. Either way, they are taking action to your benefit.
Tip Number 7:
Don’t Be Selfish.
Your proposals are not about you. I know you are excited about praising yourself, but nobody cares about that.
Business owners only care about how you will help them achieve their goals.
Nobody will take the time to read why you need the money, how you plan to spend your vacation, or how many dogs you have.
Those may be a point of interest on certain but rare occasions. Clients are interested in how you can contribute to their overall goals and success.
It is as simple as that. They will hire you if you can demonstrate your ability, availability, and readiness to understand what they want and how to help them get there.
You will be hired if you can demonstrate your ability, availability, and readiness to understand what your prospects want and how to help them get there.
Echez O; Ford
So, focus your proposals on those elements that will put you in line with pushing the success of your client higher.
Tip Number 8:
Stay Away From Generic Proposals.
The easy thing to do is craft one awesome proposal, simply change the names of the recipients, and push it out. Do not do that.
Will they know? Yes! They will see through it and know you are just sending out random pitches. This is a sign that you don’t care about them at all.
Tailor each proposal you send out to the particular recipient you want to work with.
This cannot be overemphasized. Research each of your clients, what they need, their pain points, their strengths, their weaknesses, and where they want to be in a couple of months or years.
Put yourself in line to help them achieve their goal, and you will achieve yours.
Once you know what your client’s needs are, ask yourself how you can help solve the problem for them.
You have read this far. Well done.
Now you are almost ready to send out your first proposal. But hold on a minute, as there are more tips for you to recap what you have read.
Recap on How to Send a Proposal that Stands Out and Gets Read.
- Know your audience: Understand the needs and goals of your prospective client, and tailor your proposal to fit those specific requirements.
- Research their company, industry, and any previous proposals they may have received.
- The next thing to do is to highlight your unique value proposition: Show how your solution is different from the competition and what specific benefits it will bring to your client. Be specific and use real-world examples to make your case.
- Show your expertise: Demonstrate your knowledge and experience in your field. Provide needed background on your company and team and include testimonials from past clients to show your credibility. Video testimonials tend to have more weight.
- Be concise and organized. A great proposal is easy to read and understand. Use clear, simple language and bullet points to highlight key information. Make sure your proposal is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Follow up: After you’ve submitted your proposal, don’t wait for a response. Follow up with the client to see if they have any questions or concerns and to keep your proposal at the forefront of their minds. A timely and professional follow-up can have a big impact on the decision-making process.
You now have everything you need to send out freelancing proposals that stand out. Go out there and start sending out unique proposals today. I wish you good fortune.
Kindly drop your comments through the Contact Us button, and I will get back to you with any solutions to whatever challenges you may have.
Please share this with your friends; it will cost you nothing. Besides, you may just be helping a soul discover and get a job today.
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