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7 Tips to Write the Perfect Web Design Proposal

Being a web designer is cool and fun and, if you’re serious about it, it can be quite a financially rewarding gig. As a developer myself, it’s the best feeling in the world to earn from something I love doing, and I know most people will agree with me on that.

Nonetheless, while the job itself is all sorts of fun, getting projects is quite a hassle and not because of low demand for web design services. On the contrary, despite a large number of projects available, many web designers, especially rookies, have problems pitching their services to prospective clients and consequently many opportunities pass them by. We did some research and brainstorming and came up with the following 7 amazing tips for writing perfect proposals for your web design services.

1. Know Your Client

Yeah, yeah, having a decent portfolio and a strong reputation get you a job faster but then again, what’s to say there aren’t other equally qualified applicants competing for the same job? So, to give yourself a head start, you need to demonstrate to clients your commitment to not only working for them but also towards improving their brand and solving their specific problems.

Before writing your proposal, do thorough research on the client, their niche, and their needs. Google them and study their business model, look at their history and most importantly, their culture and business principles. Additionally, go through their Request for Proposal (RFP) and pay attention to their requirements and specifications and only then should you start with your proposal.

2. Define the Problem

From your analysis of the RFP and additional research on the client, try to define the client’s problem from your experience and knowledge of web design. While at it, know that most clients are not techies and may not be able to outline exact specifications for their proposed personal or business sites. As such, look at their general information and instructions and try to diagnose their problem in your terms, taking into account what you think the client wants. This will dictate your application approach, help in estimating costs and also helps you know whether you possess adequate skills and know-how to get the job done.

3. Propose Solutions to the Problem

After doing preliminary due diligence, it’s now time to argue your case. Taking into consideration the client’s RFP and their stated requirements, outline your intended interventions and how your design process is going to meet the client’s needs and help them achieve their objectives. Being the most important part of your proposal, you need to be as clear, specific and precise here as you possibly can. It leaves less space for assumptions on the client’s side and shows that you know what you are doing and consequently increases the client’s trust in you.

4. Include Your Portfolio or References

Most freelance designers don’t include their past work in their proposals until the client asks for it which is counterproductive. We advise giving visual samples of similar projects you’ve worked on in the past, preferably just below the proposed solutions. You may also provide references from past clients who were satisfied with your work. It helps if you’ve worked with reputable businesses as it demonstrates experience and credibility but don’t sweat it if your portfolio is entry-level. In the end, it’s how you argue your case and how knowledgeable you sound at it that will give you the job.

5. Make an Irresistible Offer

At the end of your proposal, summarize your cost and time estimates for the proposed project. Notably, only giving cost figures with no supporting information won’t do you any favors. Instead, attach your costs to specific project deliverables and provide timelines for the completion of different phases and the whole project.

Whatever costs you mention, make sure to support them with additional details and potential benefits but don’t be too exorbitant in your quotations. Let the client see the quoted costs as an investment rather than expenses. We suggest offering an additional service on top of the design work such as free maintenance or hosting for a month or two after delivery as a way to capture their interest.

6. Conclusion

Conclude your proposal by providing your contact info and when you are available for contact. Include a Call-To-Action that may include an invitation for a phone or Skype meeting to negotiate terms of engagement. You may also add what you require from them before commencing work, whether a deposit or a binding contract and further reiterate on your discount terms if any.

7. Proofread and Dispatch

Comb through your written proposal to identify grammatical and spelling mistakes you may have missed and correct them. Also, examine all the figures you gave for errors or omissions and make corrections where necessary. If possible, have a friend proofread it for you and identify mistakes you missed or better yet, hire an experienced editor from any of the various sites offering solutions for affordable papers services to do it for you.

Sending a proposal full of mistakes will create a not so good impression of you to the client who may deem you as careless or amateurish and thereby unfit for the job.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, writing a winning web design proposal is not rocket science. All you need to do is convince a prospective client that you understand their needs and requirements and that you possess adequate abilities and skills to undertake the project. Hopefully, these 7 tips help you with that.

Feel free to share any suggestions or concerns on the article above with us and our readers in the comments below!

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Jatin Nahar

    August 16, 2018 at 8:41 am

    Impressive article. It is not neccessary that you should follow these tips for web design proposal, you can also follow these great tips in any types of business proposal like mobile app development, digital marketing, graphics design, data work etc.

  2. Ashwin

    November 26, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    The key here would be to approach the clients with multiple proposals rather than going ahead a single plan. There should be a flexibility and price range in your plan.

  3. brittany wolfe

    March 11, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    I really like your post about web design. it is very helpful for us.thanks

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