Writing a powerful design proposal takes time and work, but the payoff is immeasurable. After nearly 10 years in corporate America, I decided to make a career change and pursue freelancing and entrepreneurship. I began sending out proposals, eager to contact consumers, but they were lacking a critical component that I had overlooked: design requirements.
Understanding Design Requirements
A prospect will almost certainly specify the design requirements for the job they’ve posted. It is uncommon to come across a job posting that does not include any design standards or role descriptions. If you do, it’s a sign that the person or company isn’t sure what they’re looking for, which might lead to confusion. As a freelancer, you must determine which essential attributes are directly related to meeting the client’s objectives and express your experience appropriately in your proposal.
Matching Your Skills to Client Needs
Investigate the prospect or organization, identify key areas where your skill set can be useful, and meet their business needs. Include a link to your portfolio as a clever way to demonstrate how your previous work will be beneficial to their project. Failure to match your credentials with design criteria might lead to the following risks:
- Unmet design criteria may diminish your chances of standing out from the crowd.
- You may undersell yourself if you leave out key sections that highlight your work.
- Prospects who believe you are inexperienced may dismiss you outright.
Close the Deal
Understand that potential clients should be confident in their decision to chat with you further and assess whether you’re a suitable fit. Provide a Calendly link with available dates and time windows to pick from. Include your contact information and social media connections so that they may learn about your professional experience and affiliations. Writing a powerful design proposal requires perseverance and persistence. It opens the door to unlimited chances and long-term contracts with top prospects. Keep a steady momentum and remember that you have what it takes!