How to Write a Fantastic Web Design Proposal

Online presence is now a priority for businesses. Moreover, 80% of marketers rely on their websites to push marketing efforts.

Competition on the world wide web is high. Additionally, the demand for websites and web apps is skyrocketing.

Web design firms must write killer proposals to win clients in an overcrowded industry. Here is how to write the best web design proposal to generate more business.

Research Your Audience for Your Web Design Proposal

Audience research is crucial if you are sending an unsolicited proposal. It helps you understand your prospect’s pain points to present a relevant solution. You can also generate insights to tie your products and services with your client requirements.

Most businesses perform the above step during lead nurturing in the case of solicited proposals. However, research for solicited proposals is also necessary.

It allows you to form a deep understanding about your current prospect. You can find out more about your lead to write a persuasive web design proposal.

Let’s say you are designing a website for a school. Your prospect may be a parent, and you can appeal to their emotions to win the deal.

Moreover, you can discover the tone and language you should use to write your proposal.

The Icy Whiz team talked to Daniel Florido, the Director at Pixelstorm, about balancing tech detail and client engagement in web design proposals. Here is what he said:

“To keep the customer interested, creating a captivating web design proposal requires striking a delicate balance between displaying technical skills and remaining succinct.

The secret is to provide the client with just enough technical information to prove your capabilities without going overboard. Divide your technical statements into manageable chunks and make it apparent how each component or piece of technology will advance the client’s project.

Using distinct titles and emphasizing significant points can assist in structuring and simplifying the proposal.

It’s important to convey your design solutions’ value proposition. Start by displaying a thorough awareness of the client’s demands and carefully connecting your solutions with their goals.

Make connections between your design decisions and these goals by utilizing sections such as “Strategic Alignment” or “Project Overview.” To establish credibility and confidence, including case studies or testimonies that show previous success in initiatives comparable to yours.

Lastly, make sure your proposal is client-friendly by including an easy-to-follow call to action and streamlining the acceptance procedure.

To expedite the process and improve user experience, make use of digital solutions that facilitate proposal sign-off, such as digital signatures or a straightforward “Accept” button within the proposal document.

This method not only makes decision-making easier for the customer, but it also shows how efficient and client-focused you are while managing projects.”

Develop a Proposal Structure

The structure of your proposal will vary based on the industry you are dealing with. However, a few sections are a must:

Executive Summary

It outlines your business and the problem you are trying to solve. Keep your executive summary concise and highlight only the main points of your proposal.

Project Background

The project background captures the pain points of the client. You show your prospect you understand them better than anyone in the industry.

An example of a problem overview is:

The client was operating an old website designed in 2010. It was losing out on traffic, and conversions were low.

Moreover, the eCommerce sales process was outdated and resulted in abandoned carts.

Proposed Solution

This is the most important section of your web design proposal. You present your solution and show how it solves your client’s pain points.

It is necessary to be technical without overwhelming your prospect with information. A proposal should not be too lengthy.

Example of proposed solution may be:

We will design a modern website with industry best standards. It will be interactive and provide an engaging user experience.

We will focus on responsive design to target mobile customers. Our team will also create a seamless checkout process to boost conversions.

Deliverables

A clear list of deliverables is a must after you describe your clients pain points and your solution. It provides actionable data and shows what your prospect can expect in return of their investment.

Examples of deliverables are:

• Design strategy document with key pages like home, about us
• Wireframe of web app of website
• Design review
• Final responsive website live at (URL)

Schedule

You must specify when you expect to fulfill your deliverables. Write the number of days or months you will take for each stage of your design process.

It is necessary to set realistic goals. You shouldn’t promise what you cannot deliver.

Therefore, evaluate your tasks and set your deadlines accordingly.

Rohit Maheshwari, Founder of NMG Technologies, suggested striking the right balance between technical details and conciseness in a web designing proposal. Here is what he said:

“Striking the right balance between technical details and conciseness in a proposal is key. Here’s how I approach it:

1. Know Your Audience: First, I tailor the level of technical detail for the client. As a web developer, I’d focus on the “what” and “why” behind my solutions, using clear language and avoiding jargon.
2. Highlight Benefits, Not Features: Instead of listing technical features, I showcase how those features translate into benefits for the client. For example, instead of “utilizing a responsive framework,” I might say, “Your website will seamlessly adjust to any device, ensuring a great user experience on all platforms.”
3. Visual Storytelling: A picture is worth a thousand words! Adding mockups, wireframes, or even short animations can visually communicate complex solutions concisely and engagingly.
4. Focus on the Value Proposition: Every proposal should communicate how my design solutions directly address the client’s needs. The value becomes clear by focusing on the positive impact on their business goals (increased sales, improved user engagement).
5. Development Environment: We utilize a modern development environment with tools that promote efficiency and code quality. This ensures a smooth development process and allows easier collaboration with clients (if applicable).
6. Testing (Browsers/Devices): Our testing process is accurate and covers various popular browsers and devices. This comprehensive approach guarantees a consistent and bug-free user experience, reassuring our potential clients of top-notch quality.
7. Admin/User Configuration: I design user-friendly admin panels and user interfaces, allowing easy content management and configuration. This empowers clients to maintain their websites without requiring constant developer intervention.”

Pricing

You should discuss the budget of the project with your client before you send your proposal. It helps you determine your costs and understand if the project is profitable.

Your web design proposal should outline the costs accurately. Break the costs down to your deliverables to paint a clear picture.

For example:

• User interviews – $1,000
• Internal interviews – $800
• Web design strategy – $500
• Wireframe – $200
• Full design – $500

Call To Action

The last section is vital to closing a deal. Your call to action or CTA goes a long way to nudge your prospect to take action.

Therefore, include a clear CTA at the end of your proposal. Don’t leave it vague, like, “we hope to take this deal further.”

Instead, include something like:

• Please call us at XXX to take things further
• Send us a confirmation email to start the project
• Please sign on the PDF to show your confirmation
• Please click the Accept button to start the journey (if you use proposal management tools)

Use a Template

Web design is a visual process. People in the profession may not have the writing skills to write a persuasive proposal.

They may rely on online services that provide web design proposal templates. Moreover, proposal management tools have pre-built layouts and content you may customize to your needs.

You can also create a custom template if you have the in-house talent. It serves as a foundation for all your proposals without reinventing the wheel.

It can save countless hours of work every time you write a proposal. You will encounter many common pain points of clients that can be met with the same solution.

Proofread Your Proposal

A web design firm or web designer should have attention to the minutest details. Otherwise, they cannot be expected to create a professional and aesthetic UI/UX.

Therefore, your web design proposal should be free from grammatical or spelling errors. You can use an online service to proofread your proposal before you send it.

Moreover, write in an actionable language and use active voice. Don’t hesitate to use power words and claim what you can deliver.

Additionally, you may include visuals to spice things up a bit.

We interviewed Julia Lozanov, Chief Editor at Verpex, on this. Here is what she had to say:

“One of the most effective proposals I crafted at Verpex was for a client in the e-commerce space. Their primary challenge was handling traffic spikes during peak sales periods, which often led to site crashes and lost revenue.

In the proposal, I dedicated a section to our cloud hosting solutions, specifically highlighting the seamless scalability and load-balancing capabilities.

I included a case study of a similar e-commerce client who saw a 30% reduction in downtime and a 25% increase in sales after migrating to our cloud platform.

To drive home the value proposition, I quantified the potential revenue gains and cost savings our solution could deliver based on their historical data. Visual charts illustrated the projected performance improvements, making the benefits tangible and compelling.”

Final Thoughts

Writing a web design proposal may seem challenging, especially if you are not experienced. Use our structure and template to write your proposal. Include the insights of your audience research to create an excellent proposal your clients can’t turn down. Keep your proposal to the point and avoid crowding too much information.

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on May 11, 2024 by sanjana