Here are the 3 steps to make a targeted and attractive offer …
1. Read the project description
First read the project description carefully. Does it match your skills and experiences? Do you have time to complete the project satisfactorily? Does the budget seem appropriate?
If you answered yes to all these questions, go ahead!
2. Double check your profile
Wait, one last thing before you start: take a look at your profile. This is always a very important step because the customer will surely see who you are! Make sure you have a convincing profile and that everything is filled out appropriately.
3. How to write the offer
Now it’s time to write your offer …
1 – With the opening sentence you can conquer the potential customer. The customer will find himself reading a lot of offers: you must capture his attention in the first few seconds.
2 – Start by saying who you are, explaining in a few, convincing words, your professional talent (the client will be able to see the rest on your profile).
3 – Refer to the project specifically; show that you have actually read the project description. This means: don’t use templates! It is so obvious and unpleasant when suppliers use it. Each offer must be built ad hoc.
4 – The heart of your offer: describe from your point of view the fundamental steps and the steps that will lead the project to the final goal. Show the customer your overview.
5 – If you’ve worked on similar projects in the past, let the customer know and, if possible, include links to those projects.
6 – But remember: the customer is not an expert! Be clear and simple in your offer; also write parts of text where you explain the steps and the goal so that the customer can understand, without abusing the technical language.
7 – Specify what is included in the offer and what is not. If your bid is higher or lower than the budget, explain in detail why. Justify your cost calculation, no one would want to spend more without knowing why. Be also clear about rates and working hours.
8 – Before sending your offer: read the draft again. This is important for all individual offers. Many grammatical errors or spelling errors are a warning bell for the customer. They could in fact suggest that you are not reliable when it comes to offering a satisfying job.
9 – The first offer is not binding. Talk to the client, start a conversation with him. You can also send your first proposal with any questions about what is not clear in the description. You are allowed to modify your offer and update it based on the new information that the potential customer provides you. Make sure everything is clear so that if the customer rewards you, you can start immediately.
