10 Free Website Development Proposal Templates

A website design proposal is a document used by web designers and developers to present their ideas to clients.

It shows the prospective client what service and design you can provide as a website designer/developer. Most web developers use the proposal as a sales pitch to showcase their expertise in creating websites.

It is important to note that the proposal is a pitch, not a contract. It, therefore, allows the client to negotiate with the designer on a design that suits their needs. With an excellent proposal, the client and developer can agree on the details of the website and set expectations for the performance of their obligations.

The proposal is an important instrument in your line of work as a web designer. It benefits you and your client by helping both of you understand your capabilities.

A website proposal is important for the following reasons:

Reference for important information

A well-written proposal contains important information on a project which a client can refer to. You can use the proposal to provide project timelines and deliverables as well as your contact information. The proposal can be used as the beginning point of discussions with your client as it provides contact information and particulars of the project.

Keep everyone on the same page

Proposals help to set and remind the client of your agreement and expectations for the website design. Your proposal may sound like it provides obvious information, especially when you and your client have already discussed the client’s needs. However, you need to include this seemingly obvious information to ensure your client sees that you have understood their needs. Further, it sets clear expectations on what services you will be doing for your client.

Provides an opportunity to sell your skills

Since the proposal acts as a sales pitch, you can showcase your skills to the client. You can tailor your proposal to the client’s needs while offering other options. By providing various options, you allow the client to understand your value and assess your expertise.

Ensure it is not a contract

A proposal is an agreement with a prospective client; as such, it should not act as a contract. It is a sales pitch that allows you to present your ideas to the client. On the other hand, a contract is a more permanent agreement that sets obligations that have to be fulfilled by the parties.

Essential Questions to Ask the Client

Before preparing your proposal, you should discuss the client’s reasons and objectives to understand what elements of the web design are important to the client.

Some of the questions you can ask the client include the following:

• What business does the client operate?
• Why does the client need a website?
• Who is the client’s target audience?
• What options should the website provide for the target audience?
• What features should the designer focus on to ensure the website is successful?
• Who are the client’s top competitors?
• When should the website be ready for launch?
• What interactions does the client want to use the site for?
• Is the website part of the client’s marketing strategy?
• What aesthetics would the client like to see on the website?
• What is the client’s budget?

Since the website proposal is supposed to fulfill your client’s needs, it is supposed to have a simple layout outlining how you will address them.

The following sections are necessary for the creation of a comprehensive proposal:

An introduction

The proposal’s introduction is the starting point of the proposal. The first section should provide the necessary details on the designer, client, and project. You should include your business logo to make the proposal appear more official and promote your brand. It should contain the name of the project and its date.

For example:

Website design proposal
For: Jude Brooks @ Willard Inc
By: Lobbyist Inc@ Lobbyist Inc.
January 15, 2021

Problem statement

The problem statement describes the reason why the proposal has been prepared. Often, you design the proposal after discussing the client’s expectations. Therefore, the problem statement describes the issue the client wants to address. In addition to describing the problem, you could also state why the problem needs to be solved. A well-written statement shows the client that you are willing to solve their problem and increases their confidence in you.

For example:

“Following our preliminary meeting, we have discovered the following needs for your company.

Needs.

Willard Inc. requires a website to market its products to a wider client base and maintain its current client. The website will also help provide information on new products and offers available at its branches countrywide. This website must be simple enough to run and maintain by Willard Inc. employees.”

Proposed solution

The proposed solution is an outline of the way you will address your client’s issue. It provides the details of deliverables and the actors involved. This section should also provide the benefits the client will gain from implementing your solutions. When writing, you should incorporate the client’s objectives for the project by providing the connection between their problem and your solution. You can also make the proposal more client-oriented by framing it in the client’s language.

For example:

“The following solutions are best suited to address your needs:

-Create a new website that Willard Inc. employees can maintain.
-Customize the site to provide information on available offers to customers that visit the site.
-Integrate Willard Inc. business logos to provide familiarity to its customer base.
-Create a chat function where customers can interact with Willard customer care employees when they require clarifications.

These solutions convey that Willard Inc. is committed to maintaining its brand while expanding its customer reach.”

Project outlines

The project outlines describe the benefits and methods you will use to achieve your proposed solutions. The outline should be divided into phases for easy comprehension.

The phases include:

Discovery and strategy

The discovery phase includes research on the client’s needs. Beyond the client’s information, you should also explain how your research will address their needs and what the client’s competitors are doing. This discovery process should be followed by an outline of the strategy you will use to solve the client’s problem. The client should be able to understand the details of your strategy.

For example:

“Lobbyist Ltd. Will research Willard Inc. competitors and develop strategies to address Willard Inc. shortfalls. The discovery will be based on internet searches, market trends analysis, and mapping figures based on market trends.

Our strategy involves creating a website with a content management system that Willard Inc. employees can update continuously. Further, we will create pages and subpages where Willard Inc. can create links continuously to provide marketing and sales information to customers.”

Design and build

The design and build phase describe the layout and basic appearance of the website. It allows the client to understand the placement of content and the website’s colors. You may create an example of the design for the client’s approval.

For example:

“Within the designated timeline, Lobbyist Ltd. Will provide a preliminary web design for the website. At this stage, Willard Inc. will be required to approve the design and make its payment for this phase of the project.”

QA and testing

Once you build the website, you should test it before informing the client that it is complete. This initial testing allows you to identify faults or content that may not align with the client’s objectives. It will also allow you to look for errors that may slow down the site. The testing is often done internally by releasing a beta version to specific users. The proposal should outline when this process will occur, how the site will be tested, and those that will test it.

For example:

“Once the approved design is complete, our team will test a beta version of the site internally to identify errors and debug the site. This phase also includes training Willard Inc. employees on the use and maintenance of the site.”

Site launch

Once the site is ready, you will inform the client and have a meeting to discuss the details of its launch. In the proposal, you should outline the plans and schedules for the launch. The client should understand their part in the process, from selecting dates for launch to understanding how the site works.

For example:

“After beta testing and approval, Lobbyist Ltd. And Willard Inc. will set a date for launching the site after payment of this installment as per the fees schedule. Lobbyist Inc. will transfer the website to its root domain on the launch date, making it live.”

Timeline and schedule

Your timeline and schedule should mention the tentative dates for the beginning and completion of the project. It should also mention how long each phase of the project should take. When outlining this section, you should incorporate the client’s input, especially if they have set a tentative time for the completion of the site.

For example:

Proposed timeline.

Please note that all the dates indicated are dependent on payment after each phase and the availability of materials:

Deliverable	Number of days
Discovery and strategy	3 days
Preliminary website design	6 days
Beta testing	12 days
Official launch	12 days

Pricing

The process of each website depends on the client’s needs, their budget, and the amount of time and expertise you will use in making the site. The price you quote should allow you to profit from the work while falling within the client’s budget. You can set the price after discussing the client’s budget. You can also offer different packages with services at different prices; this allows the client to weigh each benefit and choose the package they are comfortable with.

For example:

Service	Estimated cost ($)
Website design	600
Content management system	300
Beta testing	250
Staff training	150
Free domain name registration	0
Total	1300

Terms and conditions

The terms and conditions govern your legal and contractual position with the client. They state the amount that will be paid, the method, and the payment schedule. It is advisable to schedule payment after every phase. You should also include penalties for late payment and license fees where relevant.

For example:

-“Once Willard Inc. completes its payment to Lobbyist Ltd., all website content, artwork, texts, and graphics will belong to Willard Inc.
-Lobbyist Ltd. has the right to use images, content, and information provided by Willard Inc. for purposes of the creation of the website.
-Willard Inc. should notify Lobbyist Ltd of any delays in payments at least 24 hours before the due date of payment. Any late payment without notification shall incur a penalty of 2% of the total price for every extra day after the deadline.”

Call to action

A call to action is a statement encouraging your client to take your offer. Most clients prefer proposals that are easy to accept. You can add options where the client can click to accept your offer automatically. You could also add the option of adding an electronic signature to the PDF document.

For example:

“To proceed with this proposal, Willard Inc. is required to take the following steps:
– Accept the proposal as it is or discuss the amendments. Please note that additional amendments may cause a change in the fees charged.
-Finalize and sign an agreement.
-Submit an initial payment of 30% as a deposit.”

You can select different formats depending on your website design and the client’s needs. You can also use the best format to display your skills.

Some of these formats are:

PDF

The PDF format is one of the traditional formats used by most clients and businesses. It is preferred because it is easy to access and download. In addition, clients can use the file without editing it or making changes you do not approve of.

Presentation

Some clients would like the website to be shown in the form of a presentation. This format can be simplified for a client that does not understand technology. The proposal can be presented as a slide show broken down into individual phases.

Webpage

A webpage is a document that can be viewed on an internet browser. You can send the webpage to your client to show them your expertise while allowing them to view the presentation on a site similar to what the website will look like.

Benefits of sending as a web page

Webpages are fairly easy to access. They allow the client to open the proposal on a device, giving them a good user experience. Some of the benefits of sending your proposal as a webpage include:

• Webpages are responsive. They encourage the client to read the proposal as they are optimized to be viewed on any device the client uses.
• Webpages provide more security to the document. Unlike PDFs, webpages can be secured with a password and are even limited to the number of viewers.
• They promote interaction by allowing you to use more interactive content like images, audio, and videos.
• Your client’s interaction on the webpage can be tracked. You can use the webpage to assess what section a client viewed and even how long the client viewed the page.
• Webpages can be made accessible to persons living with disability as accessibility tools can read the content by screen readers. Therefore, they allow you to serve a larger base of clients, including those with a disability.
• Websites can be edited whenever clients suggest changes. Unlike PDF pages which are fixed, you can correct errors and mistakes made on the document.

When creating your website, you must make it stand out to your clients. You can make your website unique by following some essential and useful tips. Some tips you should consider are the following:

Assess your abilities and availabilities

Your abilities and availability determine the time you will spend on the project and the resources you have to complete the project. You should consider whether you have enough time to complete the project and whether it will fit within the client’s timeline.

Recycle the content

While proposals may vary from client to client, some content may be similar. Instead of starting each proposal anew, you can recycle your best content to save time.

You can recycle in the following ways:

• You can save excellent or popular proposals in a specific folder. If you have a work folder for your proposals, you can save your best proposals in a separate folder which you can access easily if you need to refer.
• You can save common sections in one folder. Some sections of the proposal, such as the introduction or team section, can be copied from one proposal to another. Saving these sections allows you to reuse them in other proposals and focus on other proposal-specific parts.

Keep things simple and understandable

Your proposal should be simple to allow your clients to understand the content and the outline. You can keep your proposal simple by using plain English and defining technical terms.

Create a sense of urgency

You can create a strong sense of urgency in your clients by using a call to action. The call to action should encourage the client to accept your proposal, as other clients are willing to accept it.

Add an expiration date

As a designer, your expertise and experience increase over time. As such, you often need to adjust your prices to reflect your value. You should indicate an expiration date on which the proposal expires, and the client may have to accept one with different terms.

Include assumptions

Some things like the hosting site, toolsets, and third-party fees are thought to be obvious. However, you should mention them, so they are clear to your client.

Have a lawyer for reviewing purposes

Lawyers will help ensure your proposal complies with any legal standards your client might need. They can also help you avoid liability in case you and your client encounter a dispute in the future.

A website proposal is meant to make you visible to potential clients. As such, it should be tailored to their needs. Before preparing your site, assess and select your target market. You should then design proposals to attract this target market. You should meet with your client and discuss their needs and objectives for the site. Understanding their needs will help you design a proposal that fits their aesthetic and business needs. You should select a simple format that your client can access easily. Finally, you should quote a satisfactory price that accommodates your client’s budget while maintaining your value as a web designer.