Writing a content proposal is something writers should put top priority on. It is a first step in the process of writing an article. Without it, even if you have the expertise, your potential client will not be willing to invest in you. How do you write a content proposal? Well, this post will help you with that.
How do you write a content proposal > The essential elements
The type of content and cost
This is the very first thing you need to decide, so that you know what kind of content your proposed article will be. Understanding this will help you to understand the scope and market value of your proposed article. Providing a brief description of the type of content, for example: For example is it an article, blog post, newsletter, EDM or social media post.
Being clear on the cost of the content is also very important. Some writers are happy to work for the client proposal, others will have a range of costs depending on the amount of research and writing involved.
What services will you be providing
Give them a brief rundown on how you go about providing the content. Will you be researching, interviewing, writing or doing copy editing? Explain how you gather information and how you will present the content to fit within their goals.
How long will it take
Whether the deadline is before a trade show, for example, it is important to give the client an idea of how long it will take to produce the content. This can include research, contact with sources and initial writing phase and then proofread once this has been completed.
Be clear about what is not included
Removing ambiguity out of proposals is key and to obviously manage the expectations of both the writer and the client. This will avoid any confusion when it comes to your writing. The way you do this is by adding information such as how many sources you will be using, whether or not you will need access to images or data, if there are specific requirements for referencing, formatting or style.
Payment terms
Be clear and precise about how payment works and what happens if the client does not pay on time. You should also add a statement to the effect that you reserve the right to pursue payment for services delivered, if they have been paid for in advance.
By following these points, you will be able to write a strong content proposal that sets out your skills and expertise perfectly. This is what will win over clients who are looking for quality writers at reasonable prices.
When you win the content writing work
Boom! You have just landed the client now what. This will give you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. You do not have to be frustrated over the fact that you are the only bidder or pitted against some creep with an army of writers.
You also have the confidence that you will be able to deliver on the quality level they are expecting. So, what should you do once you have won the content writing job?
Know what you’re writing for
The first thing you should do is make sure that you know what kind of article you are going to write; what its purpose is and who its audience is. This way, no matter how many ideas you have in mind, the article will not stray from its intended purpose nor will it lose its value because of some faulty idea that has nothing to do with the topic.
What is your target audience like?
This is also something you should know before writing a content proposal. This will help you achieve the intended purpose of your article. You must know that there are different types of writing (7 major types). For example, if you are writing for a nursing home, your audience will be seniors and people who work in the home. So you need to find out what their likes and dislikes are so that you can write articles that will meet their needs well.
Do some quality content writing research
Before you begin writing, it is important to do some research on the topic you want to cover. Doing this will help you determine what thought should be presented in your article. If you know which information is crucial and which are unnecessary, the writing process will be easy. Also, if you know how people think regarding the subject matter you’re going to write about, it will be easier for you to come up with good ideas and proposals.
Be creative, but don’t forget to add value
There are times when you will be asked to write a creative article. You can also write it yourself if this is part of your skill set, but when doing so, you should not forget about the main objective of providing value to your readers. Too much creativity can make your article confusing for readers and too little creativity can make it boring.
Edit, edit, edit
As you look over your article for errors and unwanted elements, you should make sure that it still makes sense in a logical fashion. You also need to make sure that the article is easily readable and understandable by the intended readers. The purpose here is not to edit your article but to edit its content so that it has the right flow and makes sense. As you polish your article, you may want to take the help of a professional editor, but make sure that you hire one who knows what they are doing and has excellent communication skills.
Prepare draft for review
When you’re done with your draft of the article, it is time to take a break from it, relax and then come back to read it with a fresh pair of eyes. However, that is not the only reason we advise you to take a break from your writing. When you take a break from your writing, some new ideas will come to mind regarding the article you’re going to write. This could be an idea about how to improve on the article or a thought that could be added later on.
Submit content for review and receive feedback
Once you completed your draft, it is time to work on refining and shaping the article according to the feedback you’ve received so far. Most good writers will write with clear concise language in mind. The clearer and more tightly written your content is, the more likely it is that your readers will be able to follow along and understand what you’re trying to say.
Update content inline with feedback
You have received feedback from the client, now its time to revise your article according to those changes. You may not always agree with the feedback but if you know that it will improve the quality of your article, then you should accept the changes.
Final client review
It’s always great to give your client one final check before publishing the final version. This could be something as easy as another proof reading of your article, or a very detailed guide to make sure that everything is clear and easy to understand. It’s good to remember that all content creators need to know how to provide excellent customer service when it comes to writing articles for clients, so take the time to learn all you can about it before jumping into this promising area of online business.
Provide final content writing product
You’re at the end. Prepare the final work in an easy format to publish, this could mean HTML, PDF or even Word file. Get it published and collect those payments!
Get even better!
Now that you have completed this process for the first time, it’s time to do it all over again but, before you start your next project make sure that you take a break and revise your article. As a writer in today’s digital world, having the ability to hone your skills through writing articles as well as fostering relationships with clients is one of the best ways to create additional sources of revenue on the side.
Don’t forget to ask for a review or testimonial
You’ve delivered great work, now go and get a review or testimonial. It will help you build your reputation as a valued content writer, and it’s a welcome addition to your portfolio.
Conclusion
Writing content proposals, while difficult to master, can be one of the most cost-effective ways to find high paying clients and make a steady stream of income as a content writer. Take your time to follow these steps carefully, and you will soon start seeing clients coming from all over the world, ready to pay you top dollar for your next writing project.
Here are some final tips for writing content proposals:
· Always check that you are communicating with the right person. We’ve made that mistake many times. Research the people you are sending content proposals to.
· Always be specific with your content proposal. Define the tone of voice, length, style and format that is required in the writing. This will help you eliminate unnecessary proposals.
· Do not forget to include a contact form so that your potential clients can get in touch with you easily at any time while remaining anonymous as well as keep up-to-date on any new information on your website or blog.
Your goal in all of this is to deliver a. great work and b. great customer service. If you lock these down , you will be drive up the value of the work you deliver to your clients and you will be able to attract more clients and more high paying ones as well. Once you have delivered great work, get feedback from your client on how they liked the article, then edit the article according to their suggestions.
Good luck on your journey, and happy writing!
Keen to learn how to become a content writer? Check out our content writing guide.
