Will you do me the honour...
I don’t know about anyone else but I always get really excited and passionate talking to a potential new client. It’s like looking round a new house - you start to visualise yourself in the space, think about how you can make it your own and what improvements you can put in place. You see opportunities.
That passion and excitement is important, without it I know from experience that this client and I probably aren’t going to work out because I know that if I’m not excited then I won’t work to my best. That is one of the luxuries of being self employed and being able to chose which clients I work with!
That initial interest also means that I can come away from an initial discovery meeting and write a killer proposal that communicates my intentions but also my commitment.
These are my top 5 tips for writing that perfect project proposal:
Put that passion into it, thank them for their time and express your excitement. If, like me, you’re being invited to help care for someone’s business then you’re being asked to- in essence- hold their baby so make sure you tell them how beautiful it is
Think long term when you’re talking, talk about the future, about development and about long terms plans and aims. It shows you have a long term plan and that you think strategically rather than just reacting to tasks as given.
Share you ideas, show that you’ve been thinking about their business and how you could add value. Even if the idea is not fully formed say that since your conversation you’ve been filled with ideas for growth and you can’t wait to share them- get them excited about your role too.
Show off your organisational skills, give those subtle cues up front that you know what you’re doing and are a good choice. Use correct spelling, good grammar and a well presented, logical layout to information that is easy to read.
Give options, when it comes to cost especially people respond well to choice, don’t under estimate your time or worth but start with an entry figure that is the minimum you’ll accept, a mid range with added something and a top tier with bells and whistles.
Don’t forget to reaffirm your branding and your professionalism- this document is your chance to stay top of mind and to wow all over again so make it count.
Think of it like a marriage proposal- make that extra effort, get down on one knee and show how much you care. It’ll be worth it.