Whether you are a student, a new pro on the freelance market, or a seasoned veteran in your discipline, writing a killer proposal is essential for landing the best freelance projects. Taking the time to carefully craft your proposals will not only help you beat out other competitors for the job, but will also help you better understand the tools and time needed to complete a project.

1. StepstoWritingthe
PerfectFreelanceProposal
5

2. Whether you are a student, a new pro in the freelance market,
or a seasoned veteran in your discipline, writing a killer
proposal is essential if you want to land the best
freelance projects.
Take the time to carefully craft your proposals. Not only will
it help you beat out other freelancers for the job, but you
will also better understand the tools and time needed to
complete a project.

3. Before you start typing, be sure to read all of the project
details and familiarize yourself with the client.
The more information you have, the better off you will be.
Keep your online profiles scrubbed and up to date as well, as
you can be sure that prospective clients will be doing research
of their own.
Once you’re up to speed, follow these steps to writing the
perfect freelance proposal.

4. Set Yourself Apart
1
Make a splash with a strong introduction that shows
commitment to the project.
Your proposal should be succinct, showcasing your
strong communication skills straight out of the
gate. Outline the steps you will take to complete the
project, and instill confidence that you are the right
person for the job.
Your online profile can tip the scales in your favor,
be sure that yours is complete to give you
that extra edge.

5. One of the biggest benefits of being a freelancer
is the opportunity to work on a variety of
projects and develop a wide range of skills.
When preparing a proposal, it’s your job to
tailor those skills to the needs of the client and
communicate how you’ll use them to complete
the project.
Focus on relevant projects, degrees,
certifications, etc. to align yourself with what
the client needs.
Sell your Skills
2

6. If the project description is missing details or
seems confusing, don’t be afraid to fill in the
blanks for them.
Clients are counting on you to be the expert
and guide their project to completion. Be
prepared to advise them with detailed
responses to their questions and feedback.
Along the way, make sure to mention how
long the project will take to complete, setting
realistic expectations for both yourself and for
the client before work even starts.
Fill in the Blanks
3

7. Pick one example of a past project or relevant
snapshot to include with your proposal.
It’s been reported that 40% of people respond
better to visual content than plain text, be
sure to capitalize on this statistic with a visual
representation of your work if applicable.
Provide an explanation or a synopsis of the
example you attached. How long did you
have to complete the project? What were the
limitations? Goals? Sharing an example of your
best work without any context can sometimes
be ineffective.
Attach a Stellar Example
4

8. To ensure that your writing reads as well as you think
it does, take a moment to read it aloud.
Your proposal should be clearly structured with
language that is easy to understand. Always take
special care to proofread it for spelling and grammar
before clicking “Submit”. You only get one chance at
a first impression with a potential client!
Read your Proposal Aloud
5

9. Translating your skills into a perfect proposal
creates additional work up-front, but it will
pay off in the long run.
Using these steps will help to persuade a
potential client that you have the proper
tools and drive to complete their project and
exceed their expectations.
With these tips in mind, what are you waiting for?
Get started by submitting your first proposal on
Gigs by Experts Exchange today!

10. Gigs connects you with talented
freelancers to complete your next project.
Hire the best, collaborate easily, and get
projects done right.
About Experts Exchange
Get Started