How To Write a Creative Business Proposal That Impresses

When you own a small business, getting new customers may seem like an insurmountable challenge. It's hard to know where to start and how best to proceed.

However, as with most marketing efforts, if your approach is creative enough, it will stand out from the crowd and attract attention. And if your creative business proposal design grabs the attention of decision-makers at businesses that fit within your target market, you’ll soon find yourself with new customers beating down your door for your products or services.

20% of your efforts make 80% of results! And your proposal should be in the powerful 20%. Here are some simple steps you can take when writing a business proposal that will help build your customer base.

1. Invest in high-quality design elements for your business plan

This could include professional photography of people using the product or a custom logo. Basically, you can include anything else that will make your proposal stand out from the crowd.

2. Include testimonials from current customers in the proposal

These will add an air of credibility and demonstrate to potential clients that you’re up to the challenge of designing and implementing a creative marketing campaign for them.

3. Make use of social media in your proposal

This is especially important if you’re applying for a business-to-consumer type job. It’ll demonstrate how skilled you are with modern marketing tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter. 

Offer to create a presence on each social media platform for your potential client so they can get started right away without having to learn these skills themselves. If this isn’t realistic due to time constraints, offer to maintain the presence for a certain length of time. You can find LinkedIn employees or use platforms like Upwork to find people to create your presence on social media.

4. Keep your potential client’s budget in mind as you create your proposal

If they have a small budget, don’t propose creating a multi-million dollar ad campaign for their business. You can still highlight how creative marketing is the key to increased bottom line profits even if they’re on a limited budget. 

Create several sample ads that demonstrate this effect. You can even start with an infographic.

5. Use infographics within the body of your proposal as well as in the cover letter or email subject line

Infographics are an increasingly popular way to communicate ideas and information with large groups of people. They help them understand complicated concepts quickly and easily through pictures rather than words. 

Include infographics to demonstrate what you plan to accomplish for your client, why they need it and how it will benefit them.

Many people are finding that infographics are a great way to share articles, images and other types of media with large groups on social networking sites. For example, if you include an infographic in your email or business proposal outlining five simple steps someone can take to increase profits through creative marketing efforts, consider including links within the infographic. You can do this for each step on platforms such as LinkedIn or Pinterest so readers can easily share these tips with their own networks!

6. Create a free report that is closely tied into the main ideas your potential client needs help implementing

People are far more likely to download your free report if it’s tied directly to what you’re proposing to do for them. For example, consider creating a free report entitled “3 Tips for Marketing Success” and have it closely linked with the main components of your proposal (i.e., marketing success through creative marketing).

7. Utilize real-life examples in your proposal

Use specific data and anecdotes about other clients who have implemented similar strategies to show why you’re qualified, how much money they’ve made as a result of this implementation and how you can deliver similar results than others before them.

8.  If appropriate for your potential client’s industry, incorporate statistics into your proposal

This can demonstrate just how important creative marketing is today. You can use statistics from trade associations or government agencies to provide specific and accurate information that supports this claim.

If you are having a hard time doing that, you can find a business proposal template which you can modify based on what you need. Venngage has tons of business proposal examples to inspire your next design

9. Be sure to end your proposal on a strong note!

Don’t leave anything to chance; recap the main ideas you’ve covered in the proposal and why the client’s business needs help implementing these strategies ASAP. Conclude with a call-to-action such as “I’ll be available for (x number of hours per week/month) to help get started” or “I look forward to hearing from you soon!” 

This lets your potential client know that they will benefit greatly by hiring yo. Plus, it assures them that you’re ready, able and willing to take on this important project.

Remember that it’s easier to accomplish your goal of obtaining a client’s business if you are polite, professional and courteous at all times. You may think that being overly aggressive or friendly will get you further in the long run, but it’ll be apparent right away if you’re really qualified for the position based on how well you present yourself.

When all is said and done, remember that creating a winning proposal takes time, patience and an eye for detail. Don’t rush into it just because there’s a possibility of landing some additional clients. If you need help, you can always check out Venngage. The platform has tons of templates and images you can use in making your next business proposal. 

Start making your proposal today!

Patrick Banks
Patrick Banks

Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men's health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.

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