The easiest way to make your proposal stand out is to have the same mistakes other freelancers are making in their proposals.
So let’s look at the most common mistakes we see many freelancers fall foul of when creating proposals, so you can stop, or avoid, making them.
Table of contents:
- Freelance proposal mistakes that can cost you:
- Freelance Success’s Winning Proposal Templates
- Related articles
Freelance Proposal Mistakes That Can Cost You:
1. Not proofreading the proposal
Let’s start with a very basic mistake – not proofreading your proposals before sending them out to potential clients.
It’s tempting to rush out your proposals because it’s work you’re not really being paid for.
But sending out a freelance proposal with grammatical and/or spelling mistakes shows a lack of attention to detail, and gives a bad first impression. It implies that you will take a sloppy approach to the client’s work too.
If you are a copywriter, for example, it’s expected that your writing skills will be flawless. So even a small spelling mistake can make a potential client feel like they can’t trust you to deliver high-quality work.
Small errors are usually seen as huge red flags – whatever industry you’re in. So be careful to give it that final look over before hitting send.
2. Missing out on important information
Every freelance proposal that you create and send out should be personalised and adapted to respond to the specific needs of your potential client. Try to include these five key components we talked about in our previous article.
Otherwise, you risk making the same mistake that Kieran, a freelance graphic designer from our community, made:
“The best proposals are the ones that the client can understand clearly what you are offering and what your pricing offers and even more important that you don’t miss anything. I have had experiences where leads have said they didn’t go with me because another person offered them add-on service and they didn’t see it in my proposals even though I could offer it as well.”
That’s why it’s usually good to build from and personalise a template – so you don’t miss any important details out.
3. Making your proposals too long
Another mistake that freelancers make is the opposite of the previous one – they include too much information, and make proposals too long.
Just because someone has asked you to send them a proposal, doesn’t mean they are going to spend a lot of time going through it – especially if the project is straightforward.
So keep it short but informative. Use bullet points and a simple, logical layout to help the client find the information they need quickly.
Of course, if you are preparing a proposal for a complex, longer-term project, then you will probably need extra pages and detail to fit everything in and meet the client’s expectations. But in most cases, sticking to a one-page proposal is the sweet spot – it will force you to be precise, and clear, and still give you enough space to include everything important.
4. Getting the timing wrong
Timing is another important aspect of a proposal that can influence the final decision.
It usually pays to be quick. If you send it too late, you can easily miss out on the deal. Other freelancers will likely have replied before you, and the client may have decided to go with one already to get the project moving.
Ideally, you send the proposal as soon as you can after getting off the call with the potential client.
Of course, this isn’t always possible. But if you have a proposal template to hand, the job shouldn’t take too long.
5. Avoiding a call before creating a proposal
Many freelancers, especially creative ones, tend to be more introverted. This means getting on the phone with potential clients can feel uncomfortable and outside your comfort zone.
This is a moment where it’s important to take a deep breath and do it anyway.
Firstly, many clients expect to have a quick call and discuss the project – so trying to dodge it and relying fully on email communication can be a waste of time and leave an unprofessional impression.
Jumping on a call is simply the most effective way to dig into the core of the project and find out exactly what the potential client is looking for – so you can craft a proposal that meets their needs perfectly.
Remember, the more you do this, the less uncomfortable it becomes!
6. Failing to follow up
We’ve already mentioned the importance of reacting quickly and getting your proposal out of the gates fast.
Many freelancers then make the mistake of thinking their work is done.
If you don’t hear anything back from your potential client, it’s easy to assume they have gone with somebody else or didn’t like your proposal.
That’s not always the case, though. It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to work with you. Maybe they have some doubts, concerns or simply haven’t had time to make the decision yet.
That’s why sending a follow-up email is so important. If you haven’t heard back after a couple of days, just send a note to follow up and ask if they have additional questions or anything that you can help them with.
Often, clients have become distracted by other projects or simply missed your email. Following up can jog their memory and also shows a level of professionalism on your part.
Of course, don’t appear desperate or nag them, but it’s more than reasonable to follow up after a day or two.
So next time when you are writing a proposal, make sure it’s free from any of these mistakes!
Freelance Success’s Winning Proposal Templates
A simple solution for mastering your freelance proposals is to create or modify a purchased proposal template.
This is a small investment that will save you hours of time and wasted energy. We have created some freelance proposal templates that are designed to make a great impression on your potential clients. They are easy to use, tweak and adapt quickly.
These proposals will give you a professional touch and help you to stand out and win more clients. The proposal templates are launching soon, so keep an eye out!
Related articles:
Five Key Components In Every Solid Freelance Proposal
Negotiating for Freelancers: 5 lessons from a former FBI negotiator
10 Ways to Get a New Freelance Client Today
Things to Know Before Writing a Freelance Proposal
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