1. Make sure your Portfolio is complete.

The first place that a potential client will click after reading your bid is your Portfolio. It is essential to have a complete and well written Portfolio. Make sure to keep your Portfolio up to date with information related to the current projects you are bidding on. If the client is asking for a business card design, make sure you have examples of business cards in your Portfolio Gallery. Remember, the more information the better.

2. Just like any good story, write an Introduction, a Body and a Conclusion

A good method is to start with a quick introduction about yourself. In the body include details about your experience and how you plan to solve their particular needs. Make sure your bid is complete by answering any questions that the client has posed in the project description. Conclude with a positive action statement such as "I look forward to the opportunity to work with you" to reassure the client that you are indeed excited to put together an amazing result for them.

3. Tailor each bid to the client.

Many freelancers have one bid that they use for each project. Avoid using the same bid and stand out against other bidders by addressing specific issues that the client describes in the project description.

Is that All!?

The amount of effort you put into your bid and your Portfolio will be clear to the client, so take your time, spell-check, use proper grammar and be professional. There are lots of ways to write winning bids but sticking to these few suggestions will go a long way to improving your chances. Use other tools at your disposal to increase your odds such as the project discussion board and the messaging features. Look to the right side of the page to see a few sample bids that have won projects in the past.