Freelance writing is perhaps the most popular freelancing jobs in the world. Since content writing plays a major role in marketing in the virtual space, companies, big or small, are always on the lookout for talented and punctual writers who can devote excellent articles of specific or varying kinds and help in gaining an audience.
Hence, in case you are wondering whether writing can make you earn, do not think twice about it and get started with it.
When you start freelancing or are already established in the industry, you must be well-aware of the importance of proposal bid which is essentially a short summary of everything that qualifies you for the job applied.
It sounds easy since it is “Short” but trust me, when you get down to writing a good, informative proposal bid, you will realize it is indeed a job difficult to do.
Amongst the most common mistakes committed by freelancers, one of them is the submission of poorly drafted proposal bids. Without taking it seriously, freelancers just write a bid as if it is some school homework you have been forced to do.
If you keep up with that attitude, your career is already on the downside. So, we plead all the freelancers out there to stop being stupid and start considering their professional lives seriously.
In this article, we will talk about this matter extensively so that you, hopefully, do not engage in nonsensical proposal bid-drafting and come up with something that shows who you actually are.
We will begin with an abecedarian introduction to what exactly a proposal bid is. Well, for starters, it is a very particular summary of why you should be considered qualified for the job applied. It is a succinct expression of oneself and limits its scope to your qualifications vis-à-vis the requirements of the job.
You need to be very precise as to what you can offer to the client: the number of projects per day you can undertake; deadline arrangement; pay rate; and a brief history of previous projects. If you are a great writer, you will know exactly what and how you should write.
The contents of a proposal bid include skills, past projects, education, and experience, but the most important section of the bid is what results you will help the client in achieving. Do not make lofty claims, but try raising the bar considerably to attract attention.
Most of us get confused about how those freelance websites work. To dispel much of your confusion, let us briefly tell you how the bidding process actually operates.
When you submit a proposal, the site will forthwith inform the client whose project you have applied for. The client will go through your qualifications and accordingly evaluate.
So, when you draft your proposal bid, you should fully realize that your evaluation will be based on performance rating, relevant skills, and completion rate.
If the client regularly posts projects, try finding out more about him and accordingly tailor your proposal.
There are hundreds and thousands of projects you will come across every day on freelancing websites, but you should not apply to every opportunity that comes your way. A professional does his homework first—that is noting down all attractive projects on the site and shortlisting the ones meeting your criteria.
Many websites have fixed number of bids per day, and you should not hastily exhaust them on every project. Instead, first study the project to figure out its legitimacy and then place bids. A comparative approach is wise and highly wanted in a professional environment.
This one is for the ones who are prone to skimming. We know you hate reading details, but if your career is on the line, we think it is a wise option to spend a few minutes in reading through the details of the projects provided.
The freelance industry may be huge and flooded with many opportunities, but that does not guarantee that every project posted is an authentic one. Many projects are sham, and if you are not vigilant enough, you will be at the receiving end of fraud and loss of money.
When you go through the project, assess the client’s profile, his background, the number of projects posted, verification of his account and other aspects. Generally, authentic clients get their accounts verified on the sites—in case the project you applied for does not come from a verified account, you need to pay attention.
Be a smart freelancer and avoid getting spoon-fed.
The owner of the project is not your friend, and even if he is, he is working in a professional capacity. Do not put down your formal attitude and employ impersonal tone in your bid—it will sound as if you are seeking favors from the other side.
You might be working from home and disconnected from the actual formal environment, but need not waive off those professional etiquettes when working. You are applying for a job—you do it like anyone else who is serious about it.
Impress the client with your strong sense of professionalism and no-nonsense approach.
You might be a super-talented writer, but you need not make lofty claims for the sake of impressing the client. Writing jobs are hectic at times, and if you have already raised the standard high, more pressure will be on you. Make claims only when you have the time and resources to fulfill them.
When writing a proposal bid, show your interest in testing your writing skills in a relatively new area, but do not be too loud about it like “I can do anything you ask”. Be very realistic!
Classy as it may sound, you should proofread your proposal bid. Let yourself not be satisfied with whatever you have written in the first attempt; read it again and again unless you are totally satisfied, and you will know when that kind of satisfaction hits.
There are many software available online which can make your life easy by doing most of the work for you. Take, for example, Grammarly, it is an amazing software that works as an add-on and does the grammar check for you. Similarly, there are many other tools for the job.
Just because a proposal bid is a short piece of writing does not mean it is not worth spending time over.