8 Steps for creating a graphic design proposal

The graphic design proposal is a document that you prepare for the prospective client to convince them that your graphic design services are a perfect fit for their business. In today’s competitive world, it’s important to have a proposal that stands out and differentiates itself from the others

Your proposal should help the prospective client to make the decision in your favor, it should influence the customer and convince him/her to invite you for the further process (follow this checklist to develop such a proposal).

There are two very important things you must know and apply to your graphic design proposal template for obvious benefits.

1. The prospective client is only concerned about his/her own needs.
2. The customer has very little time to get through all the proposals, s/he may reconsider a given proposal only if it makes a good first impression.

If you understand these two essential principles then apply them while writing your graphic design proposal and maximize your close rate.

Now let’s get rolling and look at a general structure your graphic design proposal template should have.

Cover Page

You only get one chance to make a first impression. The cover page of your graphic design proposal is the first thing your prospect/sales lead is going to see hence you better make it impressive. A cover page of your proposal should look neat and should be easy to read. An ideal graphic design proposal template‘s cover page typically includes,

• Name of applying organization and logo
• Project title
• Date
• Contact Information (personal contact name, address, country, phone, email, website)
• Name of the client you are applying to

Introduction and Summary

The cover letter in your proposal sets the tone for the rest. It outlines why the solution you are proposing is the most suitable and your company is well prepared to deliver it.

The cover letter of your graphic design proposal has to be highly convincing with a focus on what benefits clients can have using your services. If you can’t get this section right, chances are high that the rest of the content in your proposal will be skipped.

The best practice of creating an impressive pitch is using your prospective client’s words them. This means simply describe the problem they are facing. Your cover letter should include,

• Opening paragraph
• Reason for the pitch
• Showing you understand the challenges
• Benefits they can get from our solution
• Goals

Method of execution and list of services

This section should include the details about your approach. However, the details should only be about the approach and not about the solution.

• The key here is to give a rough sketch of the method you will use for the execution.
• Include the list of the specific services that are being offered.
• You should be ultra-careful about not going into detail.

A realistic timeline with a list of deliverables

You must break down all the key steps and the timeline for your client. Providing an accurate timeline with deliverables allows you to set the client’s expectations early. That means how and when you will be able to implement your solution. Thus your implementation plan should include information about

• List of deliverable
• Important Milestones
• Items in scope and not in scope
• A detailed timeline showing responsibilities

Engagement Fees

This is a crucial section because it is about money. So ensure you don’t make any pricing mistakes that might cost your business tremendously. If everything else falls in place/as expected, prospective clients will certainly want to know, how much it will cost him/her to accept your offer.

Keep things short and to the point and use a pricing table with a range of options that let your prospect or customer edit the quantities, select the services that best fit their needs, and allow them to customize your solution.

• Standard package (includes all the services mentioned)
• Less expensive package (where a client can choose the services)
• Deluxe package (with extra services)

Why Work With Us

You can fill out this section with the expertise you have, who will be working with him/her, are you a known vendor in the market, whether for all good reasons, etc., the awards you won, the big list of your happy clients.

• Introduction 
• Name, faces, and credentials of the people who will be working on the campaign
• Client benefits

Do not forget to add vision and values because these two aspects have a long-lasting impact beyond the proposal. Clients would pay extra for the reliability factor once they realize you have principles, values, vision; and you stick to those values in all weathers.

Client testimonials or case studies

In this section, you can make your clients visualize themselves working with you by telling the past clients success stories with similar issues with case studies or client testimonials.

• Project goal
• Solution
• Result

Legal fine print

Always keep the contract and your terms and conditions part of your business proposal template and get them signed together to avoid future conflict.

• Payment
• Warranty
• Termination 
• Agreement