Writing a digital marketing proposal can be an intimidating task, especially if you’re new to the industry. But, with the right approach and preparation, you can create a successful digital marketing proposal that will get your clients excited about working with you.
I’ve used a number of tools over the years to create digital marketing proposals, but in my experience, you can position yourself as a digital marketing expert to prospective clients when you include the following, regardless of the template.
Quick tips for your digital marketing proposal
1) Design matters
Highlight your brand and theirs with a professional layout, cohesive color palette, easy-to-read text, and relevant visuals.
2) Don’t forget the data
In digital marketing, always showcase a data-driven approach to any tactical recommendation.
3) Underpromise, over-deliver
It’s better to underpromise and over-deliver than the other way around. If you’re confident you can do something in 3 days, tell them 7. Then, If you actually do it in 3 days, you look like a rock star.
And if you take double the time, you’re still a day early…
Start With Your Clients’ Needs and Goals
The key to writing any successful proposal is understanding what your client needs.
Before you begin drafting your proposal for digital marketing, research your new client and their business to get a better understanding of their goals.
At this point, you may have already had a discovery call with your potential client to discuss their goals and the various digital marketing services you offer.
Once you know what your potential client is looking to achieve, you can determine what type of strategies and tactics are most likely to produce results for them.
You should also consider conducting a competitive analysis; this will give you insights into how other companies in the same industry are approaching their marketing efforts.
Not sure how to measure goals and performance?
Use the ultimate list of OKRs and KPIs.
Reiterate your client’s goals in your digital marketing proposal
By doing this, you remind your client why they want to work with you and how their goals are the top priority.
This is a particularly important section to include in your proposal for digital marketing in performance media when you’re actively tracking against key performance indicators.
Digital marketing client goal examples
- Increase web traffic
- Improve customer engagement
- Generate leads and conversions
- Increase brand awareness
- Create content to strengthen brand authority
- Increase online visibility
A winning digital marketing proposal may also include a problem statement to preface client business goals. This is a great tactic to get a new client’s attention.
What to include in your digital marketing proposal template
Once you have an understanding of your client’s goals, you can start putting together your digital marketing proposal template.
Your proposal should include an executive summary, an introduction to your team and qualifications, along with a detailed description of the services that you offer.
Digital marketing services examples
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Social media marketing
- Web design and development
- Content creation and management
- Pay-per-click advertising
- Email marketing
- Funnel building
- Link building
Outline Your Approach
Once you have an understanding of your client’s needs and goals, it’s time to outline your approach in detail.
Make sure that you include all the services that you plan on providing (e.g., SEO optimization, content creation, etc.).
You should also explain why these services are necessary for achieving their goals and provide examples of how they will be implemented.
Don’t forget to include details about any metrics or analytics tools that will be used in order to track progress and measure success over time.
Include Pricing Details
When it comes to pricing details, make sure that you are transparent about what services are included in each digital marketing package and how much they would cost separately or a la carte.
It’s important not only to provide accurate estimates but also to ensure that there are no hidden fees or charges down the line.
Additionally, make sure that all payment terms are clearly outlined in the proposal, so there is no confusion later on when invoicing takes place.
This can help ensure that both parties understand exactly what is expected from them financially throughout the project timeline.
Best tools to help with your digital marketing proposal template
More leads. More revenue. More repeat customers. Keap helps small businesses like yours grow through powerful CRM and marketing automation.
Keap
Keap’s CRM with quoting features makes it easy to manage your digital marketing proposal process from start to finish.
Track and monitor your quotes, and get notified when a client views or accepts one. Plus, you can even add payment links for faster payments.
Go from proposal to paying client faster with Keap’s CRM with quote management. Streamline your sales process and save time so you can focus on growing your business.
Bonsai’s all-in-one product suite with smart automation lets you focus on your passion, not your paperwork. Manage your clients, deliver great work, get paid, and track your finances.
Bonsai
Bonsai makes creating and sending winning proposals easy. Impress current and potential clients with great-looking, easy-to-understand proposals.
You can also offer multiple service options for your clients to choose from so you can maximize your earnings and close rate.
Plus, electronic approval makes it easier to track when your proposal has been viewed and accepted.
Streamline the whole process from start to finish with Bonsai’s proposal tool, and make sure you get paid sooner.
Canva
Make your digital marketing proposal stand out with
Choose from a variety of templates, or start from scratch and create something custom with the help of Canva’s drag-and-drop editor.
Designing eye-catching proposals has never been easier- seriously, Canva has come a long way since I first used it years ago with easy documents, videos, and animations.
Google slides
Google Slides makes it easy to create and share digital marketing presentations with your clients. Create stunning slides fast and easily, so you can get back to business in no time.
Plus, sharing is simple, too – just send a link to your presentation via email or text.
Google sheets
Google Sheets makes it easy to track any data related to your digital marketing proposal. Chart metrics, update budgets, and input customer information – all in one place.
Plus, you can easily share your sheets with anyone who needs access to the data in a secure way. Make sure everyone is on the same page with Google Sheets.
FAQ
How do you write a digital marketing proposal?
When writing a digital marketing proposal, it’s important to include details about the services you plan on providing, why they are necessary for achieving the client’s goals, and how they will be implemented.
Also, make sure to outline pricing details clearly, so there is no confusion later on when invoicing takes place.
How do you write a short marketing proposal?
When writing a short marketing proposal, it’s important to be clear and concise while still providing the necessary information.
Focus on the services you plan on providing, why they are necessary for achieving the client’s goals, and how they will be implemented.
You can make this quickly in a Google sheet, Google doc, or Bonsai digital marketing proposal template.
How do you pitch someone for digital marketing?
When pitching someone for digital marketing, it’s important to focus on their specific needs.
For example, if they need help with SEO, explain how you will help them reach their goals in terms of improving organic visibility, website traffic, and conversions.
What are the 3 most important things in digital marketing?
The three most important things in digital marketing are having a clear understanding of your target audience, creating a comprehensive strategy for reaching them, and measuring results to ensure success.
By taking time to research the needs of potential customers and which channels they use, you can create an effective plan that will help you reach them.
How do you write a good marketing proposal?
Writing a good marketing proposal starts with understanding the client’s goals and needs.
Explain how you plan on helping them reach their objectives, provide evidence of your abilities, and outline pricing details clearly. Remember to keep it concise, professional, and relevant to the job at hand.
What are the 4 types of digital marketing objectives?
The four types of digital marketing objectives are awareness, engagement, conversion, and retention.
By understanding the needs of your target audience and which channels they use, you can create a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that focuses on each objective in order to reach your goals.
How do you write a quote for digital marketing?
When writing a quote for digital marketing services, make sure to provide an itemized list of all the services you plan on providing.
Include details about what is included in each service and pricing information so that there are no surprises later on when invoicing your client. Also, make sure to include any other relevant information, such as deadlines, payment terms, and contact information.
Making sure to keep your digital marketing proposal clear, concise, and well-organized will help you stand out from the competition and impress potential clients.
How much should I charge for a digital marketing plan?
The amount you charge for a digital marketing plan will depend on the scope of the project, the complexity of the services needed, and other factors.
Generally speaking, it is best to provide different pricing packages that your clients can choose from based on their needs and budget. This allows them to take advantage of your services without breaking the bank.
Most often, your services will need to be based on your client’s goals and the plan you create based on their needs.
It’s not typical to charge for a digital marketing plan separate from services.
How much do digital marketers charge per hour?
You will typically find digital marketing rates in the range of $60-$200+ per hour. This will greatly vary based on experience, scope of work, and other factors.
What should a digital marketing proposal include?
A digital marketing proposal should include an overview of your services, a timeline of when the project will be completed, pricing information, and contact details.
You should also focus on the client’s needs and how you plan on meeting them through digital marketing.
Make sure to show evidence that you are capable of delivering results and offer any additional information that you think will be beneficial to the project.
How do you write a digital marketing pitch?
Writing a digital marketing pitch starts with understanding the client’s needs and goals.
Explain how you plan on helping them reach these objectives, highlight your experiences, and provide evidence that you are capable of delivering results from your digital marketing services.
Make sure to outline any additional services you can offer and explain why your proposal is better than the competition.
Average digital marketing rates
According to Webfx, the average cost for digital marketing services for small to medium-sized businesses in 2023 ranges from:
- $2,500 to $12,000 per month
- $50 to $500+ per hour
- $1,000 to $7,500 per project
You can also reference the average rate of digital marketing services by channel:
Search engine optimization (SEO)
$1,500 – $5,000 / month
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
$9,000 – $10,000 / month or 5-20% of monthly ad spend
Email marketing
$300 – $5,000 / month or $0.1 – $0.5 / email
Social media marketing
$900 – $20,000 / month
Website Design
$2,500 – $100k / website
Content marketing
$2,000 – $10,000 / month
Website copywriting
$25 – $25,000 / page
Final thoughts
Writing an effective digital marketing proposal can seem daunting at first glance, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be!
Start by researching your client’s needs and goals so that you can create an appropriate strategy tailored specifically for them – then outline all pricing details upfront, so there is no confusion when invoicing takes place later on down the line!
By following these steps closely and creating a comprehensive proposal document, you’ll be well on your way toward creating successful digital marketing proposals every time!