How to Put Together a Basic Freelance Writing Proposal

Learn how to create a professional freelance writing proposal in five easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet Access

Instructions

Find Out What the Client is Asking You For

1. Find Out What the Client is Asking You For

   
   
   The first step is always to find out exactly what the client is asking for so you can respond appropriately to it.

   
   
   To digress a bit, many freelance writers get nervous when they're asked to put together a freelance writing proposal. But, there's no need to be. There are basically five elements that should be covered. Address these, and you'll put forward a professional, in-depth proposal every time.

   
   
   If you've been approached about a project, then rephrase the customer's request in clear terms. This is akin to parroting back to someone what they said to you for clarification. For example, I recently received the following request:

   
   
   Client Request

   
   
   I am wondering the cost of writing persuasive, sales oriented content for the following 2 sites (two sites were listed). I also need thoughts on calls to action on each of these 2 sites.

   
   
   Site 1: This website is focused on software development/web development/database design and programming. We also focus on SEO/SEM/Internet marketing.

   
   
   Site 2: A college of banking website. They want to focus on bank executives, 1st year and 2nd year student prospects.

   
   
   Can you give me prices for home page content writing for these 2 home pages? We do this all the time so I want to establish a relationship with a solid content writer. We have designers working on the new design of each site.
   
   ###

   
   
   Basically, all he's asking for is content to be written for the Home page of two different sites, and he wants my ideas for call-to-action statements for each.

   
   
   Just so we're on the same page, I included that in my response. Don't get bogged down in the details - keep your response simple in your freelance writing proposal, responding only to what they're asking you for.

2. Deadline

   
   
   Every freelance writing proposal should include a deadline as to when you can get the project done. Even if they don't ask for a completion date (about half won't), give them one anyway. This will help you in two ways:

   
   
   (i) it showcases your professionalism, ie, you've given them something they didn't even ask for. Hence, you're professional, organized and just the person for the job! And

   
   
   (ii) this may be sooner than they had in mind; which again, works in your favor, as in "Wow, I had no idea we could get it back that quick!"

   
   
   Timeline Caution: Be careful when you mention timelines though. Be sure it's one you can make, even if that means outsourcing portions to other freelancers. I've made many a deadline-and hence have secured many long-term clients-this way.

3. Stipulations

   
   
   In this section of your freelance writing proposal, you want to cover inclusions, exclusions and other things that the client possibly hasn't thought of, or wasn't mentioned in their correspondence with you.

   
   
   What are some of these? Number of rewrites/revisions, whether or not you will include photographs, timeline for them to provide ancillary materials you ask for and more.

   
   
   Here again, this sets you up as a professional because you ma clue the prospective client into things that they never even thought of.

4. Upsell

   
   
   This is the section of the freelance writing proposal where you can make more money? How? By upselling clients, without being obvious about it. What do I mean?

   
   
   For example, for the client mentioned above in step one, one of the things I recommended for one of his sites was a Tips Booklet to use as a free giveaway. Of course, this could be done for an extra free.

   
   
   Make sure this is a value-added service, not just one to get you extra work. My proposition to this client went something like this:
   Rewriting the text is pretty straightforward. As far as a call to action, in my experience, tip booklets and lists work well, eg, 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Banking School. An idea for this can also be culled from the ideal prospects checklist you have as well. It can be a pdf download (ideally requiring them to subscribe to something first to capture the email address).

   
   
   The reason this works well is surfers come away with valuable, concrete information that they can pass along. If you want me to do a tip booklet of 3-5 pages, that would be extra (I could probably create one in 5-7 hours if you gave me the topic; that includes research time).

5. Rate

   
   
   In my freelance writing proposals, I like to mention rate last. Why? Because you want to pre-sell clients first.

   
   
   This tactic is used all the time in sales letters and online landing pages. Notice how the price is never near the top, but always at the end or near the bottom? It's that way for a reason. After you list everything that you're going to do for clients, listing your rate last is almost an afterthought, ie, "You're going to get all of this for this low rate."

   
   
   The mindset is, "Of course you want the service. And by the way, this is what it costs."

   
   
   Each freelance writing proposal is different, however, if you're stumped as to where to start, covering these five areas will ensure a professional freelance writing proposal.