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about becoming a freelancer and ways and places to find a freelance project In this article , we talked (if you haven’t read this article, it’s not a bad idea to have a look at it). Now we assume that you found the project; What is the turn now?

Negotiating and reaching an agreement!

For this you need a proposal. In today’s article, we fully explain what a proposal means and how freelancers should submit their proposal.

Let’s begin?

What is a proposal?

The proposal is an initial document that you present to the client and show what services you are going to provide for him at what cost. Of course, the first quote is just an estimate and a more precise number should be agreed upon after initial discussion of the project.

How does the proposal help freelancers?

The proposal is a tool to avoid misunderstandings . Also, if the customer claims that you did not do your job properly, you can defend yourself with documents.

The proposal includes project notes and any information related to the work. If your personal proposal is prepared properly, it may your chances of attracting customers . increase

What are the characteristics of a good work proposal?

In general, a good proposal defines a service that will be provided in a professional and comprehensive manner and should give the customer the feeling that they will receive high quality service at a reasonable cost.

If we want to say more precisely; The proposal should clarify the following:

• What customer needs do you meet?
• You are professional in your work and you care about it
• What does your portfolio for previous clients include?
• The suggested price is due to the excellent service and quality of your work
• You consider all the wishes and ideas of the company or the client
• That you provide the best possible product/service with the best quality to the customer

Teaching how to prepare a work proposal for freelancers

In the previous section, we have talked about why to present a complete freelance proposal and its characteristics, continue with us to about how to prepare an effective proposal . talk

The structure of your proposal is as important as its content, because according to the strategic structure you choose , all the necessary information is presented to the client, while keeping his attention until the end of the text of the proposal.

Tip: Before doing anything, you must write a good introduction so that you can attract the attention of the target customer. In fact, at this stage the client or employer decides whether to read your proposal to the end or not. Therefore, at this stage, use your maximum effort to attract the customer’s attention.

First step: practical information

Be sure to dedicate one of the initial pages of the proposal to include your information below and briefly and usefully introduce yourself and provide the necessary information.

Your contact information: Include your first and last name, contact number, email and website address in the proposal.

Client Information: Mention the client’s name, client’s business and website address, company email address in the proposal.

Numbers, date and validity period: Be sure to mention the date of creation of the proposal and its validity period, and if the proposal has different versions, add their numbers.

Second step: introduce yourself

The first page of your freelance proposal is an overview of your proposal. Most freelancers customize their proposal according to the client.

In the introduction section, mention the following:

• Briefly introduce yourself.
• Write the details of the project.
• Briefly explain your understanding of the project.
• Provide an overview of what you will include in the proposal.
• At the end, thank the customer for their willingness to cooperate.

In the following, we have provided a model to get an idea; But remember, every customer is different and it is necessary to customize the proposal according to each customer.

Dear Mr./Mrs. [customer’s name]

Greetings and courtesy

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me about [Brief and Helpful Project Description] for [Company Name].

I look forward to hearing from you about [describe what you will do for the client].

This proposal includes information about the scope of work, investment, duration of the project and its costs.

Thank you for your attention

The third step: description of the project / scope of services

Dedicate the next page of your proposal to your project description and scope of services.

Start by describing the problem the customer is currently facing. If you have information that clarifies the problem, include it in your proposal. Alternatively, explain the goals you have agreed upon with the client. Continue to express the solution to solve the customer’s current problem or achieve the project goals.

For example, first you need to explain the scope of services according to your field of work. Next, specify exactly what you will and will not do. Finally, the scope of your actions is defined and you don’t do extra work that you don’t get paid to do.

Important note: a section called “Proposal of other services” or “Proposal of additional services” If you offer additional services to the customer, add to your proposal. For example, a Freelancer developer can add support for a separate fee.

The fourth step: scheduling

Knowing how long a project will take to complete is important to clients . Therefore, you should have a section for the timeline that shows the details of your work at certain time intervals. In other words, a timeline shows the customer exactly what they will receive from you and when.

For example, let’s say you are a website designer and it takes you 12 weeks to design and deliver the same site to the client. Your 12-week timeline could include:

• Week 1 and 2: Research
• Week 3: Presentation of wireframes
• Week 4 and 5: Presentation of finished models
• Week 6 and 7: templates HTML/CSS
• Week 8 and 9: WordPress theme integration
• Week 10 and 11: testing and review QA
• The twelfth week: deployment on the online site

Step 5: Cost, salary or required capital

Talking about money, especially with a client, is not easy! But it is important to talk about it from the beginning and reach a mutual agreement. Both the client needs to know how much they should spend on the project and you need to know how much money you are putting your time into.

In this section, clearly state the cost of different services and mention if you have a special method (like 2 installments) for payment. Estimate the total amount at the end.

• Tip 1: If you offer additional services, include a separate section for their prices.
• Note 2: If your services will be subject to tax or discount, be sure to mention it in the contract.

Sixth step: Why me?

section “Why me?” . It includes information about your abilities and skills, portfolio of successful work, work history and certifications. In this section, you must convince the client why you are the best person for this job position. Try to make this section more attractive by using visual elements.

Seventh step: Setting up the contract

Each proposal must have a section called the contract. A contract is a legal agreement between you and the customer, according to which both parties agree to fulfill their obligations according to the requirements of the contract. The contract also gives credit to your work as a freelancer. In the contract, give the necessary explanations about the schedule, the payment method and, if necessary, the confidentiality of the information.

Note: We suggest that you consult a lawyer before considering the standard contract.

A few tips about writing a proposal

Spelling and writing mistakes may ruin all your hard work! Although many mistakes are inadvertent, we recommend that you don’t rely on autocorrect and do it yourself carefully.

In general, ask customers which they prefer between print and digital. If the client prefers a paper version , use high quality paper.

Consider a specific format for all your proposals, to with that particular format create a consistent brand for yourself . In fact, paying attention to the beautification and professional organization of the proposal contents is very important.

Do not write too long and too short; important information without causing fatigue in the shortest time . Your proposal should be attractive to the employer and give him

The more you know about the client’s business, the more likely you are to succeed in the project. Preliminary research will help you gain a broader view of the client’s business and further understand how you can help the client.

Freelance proposal sample download

a sample proposal in PDF and Word We have prepared format for you. But …

Please note that this proposal is only for example and shows you the general work. You have to take time and personalize it based on the project topic, your own working conditions and the employer’s conditions