Sending out a business proposal or quote can be daunting and downright terrifying. This applies to new freelancers sending out their first proposal and experienced business owners applying to a big company for the first time. A good proposal will outline the service you are offering and briefly how you will do the work. It will also include a quote or estimate for the job.
Freelancing is getting more competitive in some niches. According to Forbes, 50% of the workforce will be freelancers by 2027! So it’s getting increasingly important to learn how to make a business proposal that stands out if you want to grow your business. So, without further ado, this article by FOR® has written six steps to writing a winning proposal, each and every time.
Is it the right job for you
Not every job opportunity you come across is worth a business proposal. A brand ambassador proposal template or a PR proposal template, for example, will take you a lot of time to complete when done right, and you don’t want to waste that time on clients who aren’t the right fit for you and your business.
Before you proceed with your proposal, you should skim-read the job posting or RFP to determine whether it’s worth your time.
Get the Info you Need
If you have decided this is a job you want to submit a project management proposal or a WordPress website proposal template for, now is the time to read the job posting in more detail. Make sure you look to see if the client has attached any relevant documents that will help you, such as a creative brief if you’re a designer.
Read very carefully and ask yourself questions. You want to understand the client’s underlying problems and pain points, not just the deliverables they are looking for. This will help you think outside the box and come up with your own solutions – possibly even solutions the client hasn’t thought of! They’ll love your creativity and ability to suggest things. Pull from your previous work when thinking of solutions.
What to Include
Now, it’s time to decide what sections you want (or need) to include in your business proposal. You want to cover everything and provide all the information without overwhelming the client. Try to keep it as short as possible; otherwise, you’ll overwhelm them with too much information (and they’ll pass you over for a simpler proposal).
Business Insider says you should include 10 things in your business proposal: two testimonials (one in the header, one in the footer); an opening statement; a scope of work statement and description; a description of deliverables; “investment” details (aka pricing); a return on investment statement; a call-to-action statement; and a thank you statement.
Write your Proposal
Now that you’ve decided what to include, it’s time to actually write the content. Pay attention to your cover letter. This is usually the first thing your client will read and may be the reason they decide to keep reading your proposal.
If you know who will be reading your business proposal, address them by name and be conversational. Finding the right tone is key, and you don’t want to alienate them. Think about how you relate to the client and the situation you’re submitting your proposal for.
Is this someone you’ve worked with before, or a client in a creative industry? If so, be creative and personable to keep it light, approachable and casual. If you’re submitting a proposal to a government body or industry leader, you may want to be more formal to appear more professional.
Design your Proposal
Before they even read what you’ve written, the way any proposal looks will make a big first impression, whether it’s an animation proposal template or an artist residency proposal template. Even if you’re not a designer or not in a creative industry (like finance or accounting), it’s still really important to think about the design of your proposal.
You’ll want to make your business proposal look professional, clean and easy to read. Here are some examples to use as a guide. Make sure your chosen design reflects your brand (like its colours and logo) and uses design elements that are memorable without overwhelming the content.
Hit Send and Cross your Fingers!
You did it now you know how to write a business proposal, now pull it all together and send it off. Make sure you proof read your proposal before you send it to the client, and whenever possible, send it to someone else to have a second look.
And most importantly, don’t be afraid to send a follow up email after the proposal! You’re not bothering them. In fact, they’ll expect your email. Bonsai has a read receipt feature so you know for sure they’ve seen your proposal and can follow up at the right time.
Conclusion
The secret to a perfect proposal is to always improve your process. Focus on short-term gains while building a long-term strategy. Having a document solution with a centralised database for your proposals will boost both efficiency and quality and get you that winning bid.
Writing a winning business proposal requires a strategic approach, starting with choosing the right job and gathering all the information to address the client’s pain points. The proposal should have the key elements of scope of work, testimonials, pricing and a call to action, be concise and structured. Tailor the tone and design to the client and industry to make a good impression. And don’t forget to proofread, present professionally and follow up to get the best results. If you want to Boost your online presence by writing a winning business proposals, contact Toni Hukkanen, the head of FOR®’s Digital Marketing Agency.