A Request for Proposal, or RFP, is simply an outline of the project you need completed. Although the explanation is simple, however, the RFP shouldn’t be. A well thought out Request for Proposal should have the following parts:
- Project title
- Project overview
- Project background (what brought the project into being i.e. established company needing a web presence)
- Project specifications (exactly what you need, point by point)
- Project constraints (Do you need the files in a certain format? What’s your deadline? Things like this should be included in this section)
- RFP Requirements (what you would look for when looking through responses)
Why so detailed? Remember that you may have hundreds of people looking at your project before you select someone. The less clear your project is, the more questions for clarification you’ll receive. What if you weren’t able to go back into the project and update it? You’d continually be answering the same questions.
If a project is as detailed as you can make it, chances are potential freelancers will be able to bid subjectively, rather than guessing at what they think the project is worth. Generally, people will post higher bids when they aren’t sure what all a project will entail. The more details, the more realistic the bids.
One of the things to keep in mind while writing a RFP for freelance work is realistic deadlines. If need be, look over previous projects similar to yours. Most freelancers prefer at least a five-business day delivery time, no matter what the project, because they may have other clients as well. With five days, they have the ability to deliver high quality materials to all of their clients without rushing any one.
By following the outline above and then carefully looking over the freelancers you’re thinking of hiring, your chances of having a good experience are much higher. Good luck on your next project!
Posted by yesfreelance 
