Stop Getting Ghosted: How to Write Social-Media Proposals Clients Reply To
The Freelancer’s Guide to Winning Social Media Pitches in 2025
Tired of pitching social-media services and hearing crickets? You’re not alone. The difference between silence and a “yes” often comes down to structure—not skill. Let’s fix that.
At SocialMediaBoard.co.uk, we review hundreds of freelancer proposals every week. Many talented professionals pitch themselves out of paid work simply because their outreach feels vague, long-winded, or impersonal.
The truth? Clients don’t want the “most impressive freelancer.” They want the one who makes it easy to say yes. Short. Relevant. Tailored. Results-focused.
? Quick Stats (Social Media Board, 2025)
| Metric | Average | Top 10% |
| Reply rate | 18% | 47% |
| Time to first reply | 3.4 days | 36 hrs |
| Deals closed per 10 pitches | 1.2 | 3.8 |
? You don’t need to be in the top 1% of talent to win work—you need to be in the top 1% of communicators.
? Try this now: Browse fresh briefs on our job board and test your new pitch structure on live opportunities.
1. Lead With Them, Not You
Most pitches start with a biography. Clients don’t care (yet) about your CV. They care about whether you understand their struggles and can deliver results.
❌ Bad: “Hi, I’m James, an award-winning social-media expert with 8 years’ experience…”
✅ Good: “Noticed your Reels average 15k views but only 40 saves—let’s lift saves to 400 in 30 days.”
Your first sentence must prove you understand the prospect’s pain point. Use platform-native language like “increase saves-to-views ratio” instead of vague phrases like “improve engagement.”
2–3. Keep It Short & Personal
Clients scan pitches quickly—usually on their phone. If you can’t deliver value in under 150 words, you’ll lose attention.
Structure for a 120-word pitch:
| Section | Example |
| Problem | “Your TikTok ads are driving views, not sales.” |
| Outcome | “I helped a D2C brand double email opt-ins with UGC.” |
| Proof | “Raised ROAS 2.8× for a fashion brand.” |
| Ask / CTA | “Open to a 15-min call Tuesday?” |
? Data from Social Media Board shows personalised first lines lift reply rates by 42%.
4. Show Relevant Proof—Fast
You don’t need a 20-page case study deck. One stat or live link works better.
- “Scaled TikTok ROAS 3× in 60 days”
- “Cut CPC in half using meme-led ads”
- “Boosted DM response rate by 240% for a travel brand”
Better still, link to something live—a Reel, carousel, or tweet. If under NDA, anonymise the brand and share the metrics.
5. Ask a Smart Question
Instead of “Let me know,” ask something specific that triggers a reply:
- “Are you A/B testing your video hooks?”
- “Which KPI matters more—saves or shares?”
- “Do you already use creators for lead gen, or still testing?”
6. Follow Up Like a Pro
Follow-ups aren’t spam—they’re expected. Add value each time:
- +48 hours: “Just noticed 2 of your last 5 Reels use hooks under 1.5s—strong move.”
- +7 days: “FYI—this Reel we launched last week hit 78k views in 3 days. Happy to show the format if helpful.”
If no reply after two nudges, circle back in 3 months with fresh results or platform updates.
? Pro Tip: Save your proposals in a spreadsheet with columns for date, CTA, outcome, and follow-up notes. Treat pitching like a pipeline.
Swipe File: 120-Word Pitch Template
Hi [Name],
Noticed your TikTok Lives draw strong views but low email opt-ins. I helped Brand X boost sign-ups 140% in six weeks using UGC lead magnets.
Happy to share three hook ideas on a 15-min call—does Tuesday work?
— [You]
? Use this template as your cold pitch backbone. Then personalise the “problem” and “proof” sections based on the brand’s content and audience.
Common Pitfalls vs Fixes
| Pitfall | Why It Fails | Fix |
| 20-paragraph life story | Client scans 1–3 lines max | Cap at 150 words |
| Generic AI template | Looks identical to 50 others | Add brand-specific first line |
| No question asked | No hook to reply | Insert 1 smart CTA question |
| No proof | All claim, no evidence | Link 1 live example |
| Overexplaining services | Confuses instead of clarifies | Show 1 clear outcome |
Next Steps: Put This Into Action
- ✅ Update your talent profile on SocialMediaBoard with results-driven samples.
- ✅ Copy the 120-word template, personalise it, and pitch 3 brands this week.
- ✅ Browse fresh jobs on our job board—apply where brands are already investing in social.
Ready to Win More Freelance Work?
Update your Talent Profile, apply for live briefs on our Job Board, and pitch with confidence using this playbook. Your next client is one pitch away.
