Hey everyone,

In my opinion and experience, there's not just one way to write a winning proposal. Some expert freelancers like it short and to the point, some prefer a longer proposal and including more information about the work in question. Some freelancers find that boosting works and some do not. Depending on the business strategy and specific niche, there are expert freelancers who submit 50-60 proposals a week and those that submit single digit proposals. Using AI to help in proposal writing is also an interesting topic and a choice for some, either due to having English as second language or looking to improve their communication.

Discussion DO's
Let's use this tread as the main resource for sharing our own best practice proposal writing tips and experiences. We can use it later as a source to create a more comprehensive resource. Please do include your niche/category and other relevant information along with the main proposal advice, so we could understand the context in which you're running your business.

Discussion DONT'S
We can discuss at length specific user cases or strategies separately, in off-shoot threads. The reason for this is so we could create a knowledge base with direct and diverse advice, which we could share and direct other freelancers to when this topic is relevant. Also, let's keep the discussion focused specifically on proposal writing and submitting. We'll discuss best profile building, interview and project management strategies separately.

READY?

I'll start light, with sharing a few tips and a screenshot of how proposals are displayed on the client's end, since it's all about capturing the client's attention with the first couple of sentences (225 characters to be exact), as the first step in having a proposal viewed.

Here are some general advice and potential talking points to kick of the brainstorming session:

Think like a client. If you're hiring for the job in question, what would you like to see in a proposal? Remember that you're initially scrolling through a string of proposals as shown in the screenshot.
Keep the proposal concise. English is a very efficient language.
Include relevant samples to showcase your skills. If you lack experience, create hypothetical samples relevant to the job you are applying for.
Thoroughly read the job description and make sure you understanding the client's needs. Address specific requirements outlined in the job post. Sometimes clients do not adhere to the #2 point above so you have to play detective. Make sure to structure the proposal accordingly and address the lack of crucial project information by asking insightful questions.
Propose solutions. Instead of highlighting who you are and what you can do, if applicable explain how you will solve the client's problem or add value to their project. Again, be a detective. Try to find the client online in order to get a better idea of their business, needs and expectations. Do propose solutions that are related to potential problems or collaboration you've identified outside of the job post. This action will demonstrate your dedication and in addition to making your proposal stand out, can turn a $50 job one-off into a long-term, higher-value relationship.
Be authentic as much as possible. Not having perfect English is not a blocker. Using AI as a tool to improve your proposal is fine (in my opinion and not the consensus!), as long as you retain your own voice and don't abuse it. Keep in mind that building trust is crucial and you'll have to speak/chat directly with the client at some point.
Set realistic and achievable deliverables. Never overpromise and underdeliver.
Tone - maintaining a professional tone is the overarching rule. However, if your confident and are aware of cultural differences/communication nuances, it's fine and moreover an advantage to personalize the tone and have the proposal reflect your personality.