Freelancers need to know how to handle the preparation of a business proposal. This will be one of the basic documents of your business.  A proposal outlines what you can do for your client according to that clients request to your business.  At times, you can initiate sending a proposal to a business that you researched as being a part of your target marketing. When approaching a new business partner or a potential client your business proposal is your first opportunity to make an impression.

 

Step One.  Know What’s Requested

Before writing one word, investigate carefully what you can really offer to the client.  If you are responding to a request for proposal, read it carefully several times. You want to answer all of the questions posed by the proposal.  Don’t give too little information and don’t give too much either.  Be specific; use the same terminology that you find on the request for proposal.

 

Step Two: Do your research. 

Learn everything you can about your potential partner or client.  How long have they been in business?  What is their specialty?  Who is their target audience?  Who have they partnered with or done business with in the past?  What do they care about?  This information is important because it will help you create a business proposal that appeals to them specifically. 

 

For example, if your potential client is seeking blog design services from you and you’ve created blog designs for a charity they are passionate about then it would pay to include or mention that relationship in the proposal. 

 

Step Three.  Focus on Client Needs

Make the proposal state what’s in it for the client. While it is important to highlight your strengths and what you bring to the table, it’s even more important to word your strengths as benefits to your potential partner or client.  Tell them what’s in it for them.  If you’re an expert at email marketing and have consistently created high converting campaigns – tell them what that means to them. 

 

Let the client know how your expertise will improve their life, solve their problems, and help them attain their goals?  This is why research is so important; you have to know what their problems and goals are.

 

In the next post, I’ll provide three more steps for responding to a freelance business proposal.