Freelance Writing Gigs: 8 Tips to Win a Bid

Winning freelance writing gigs requires submitting well-written and persuasive bids. To win, your bid must stand out against the bids of your competitors. Otherwise, your bid will quickly be overlooked and forgotten altogether. To help you prepare a strong bid, here are 8 tips on how to win a bid.

Place Lower Bids
When you first begin bidding on freelance writing gigs, bid lower than your competitors. Your initial goal will be to build a solid reputation. Until you prove your worth, you are very unlikely to win any gigs if you overbid. As your reputation and feedback grows, you may then begin to gradually raise your bid.

Submit Your Resume
Always submit your resume with a bid. It gives the buyer a quick glimpse at your skills and experience. In addition, make certain that you gear your resume specifically towards the freelance writing gig for which you are bidding. If you are bidding to write a technical manual on how to install Windows Vista, for instance, make certain your resume displays any previous gigs you did that involved technical writing.

Write Professionally
When submitting a bid, there is usually a section that allows you to explain why you are the perfect fit for the gig. Use this opportunity to write a clear, professional, and well-worded summary of your qualifications. Make certain that your statements are neither short or choppy. Furthermore, make sure that there are absolutely no spelling, punctuating, or grammar errors whatsoever. The slightest error will strongly discourage a potential buyer from even considering your bid.

Don't Rush the Process
No matter how impatient you are to find work, never rush through submitting a bid. You are more likely to make mistakes (e.g. spelling, punctuation, grammar). These can in turn drastically reduce your chances of winning the gig.

Don't Use Jargon
Don't use technical jargon when composing your bid. Although the buyer may be seeking a programmer, that doesn't mean that he or she is necessarily familiar with programming terminology. Given that, prepare your bid so that a simple layman could understand it. At the same token, don't make it too simple.

Don't Appear Desperate
Never discuss issues entirely irrelevant to the freelance writing gig. Too often, I see bids such as, "I am broke and really need this gig! Please offer it to me and I will do the very best job that I can!" This is unprofessional and unnecessary. Buyers are not concerned with your personal finances or well-being. They are seeking service providers who can complete the gig the most efficiently and effectively.

Stick with the Facts
Base all your statements only on work that you have genuinely completed. In addition, avoiding exaggerating your skills and experience. If the buyer believes that you can provide a certain level of expertise, and you subsequently fail to deliver, your reputation and feedback are likely to be negatively affected.

Ask Questions
Contrary to popular belief, asking questions doesn't mean that you are stupid or incapable of understanding the freelance writing gig. Rather, it displays that you have a genuine desire to thoroughly understand what is expected from you.

If you manage to win the bid, then congratulations! Just remember to thank the buyer immediately!