Proposal Writing

What This Skill Does

The Proposal Writing skill, developed by staybased, implements a 'Confirmation-First' closing framework designed to transform how consultants and freelancers present their services. Unlike traditional proposals that attempt to sell the prospect on an idea, this skill focuses on formalizing verbal agreements made during discovery. By utilizing the proven McKinsey SCR (Situation, Complication, Resolution) framework, this tool ensures your proposals are structured for maximum clarity and alignment. It helps bridge the gap between a successful discovery call and a signed contract by summarizing the client's context, articulating the costs of inaction, and outlining the clear path to resolution.

Installation

To integrate this skill into your workflow, use the following command in your OpenClaw terminal:

clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/staybased/proposal-writing

Use Cases

• Formal Proposals: Creating professional, structured documents following discovery calls.
• Upwork Cover Letters: Applying the 'micro-proposal' logic to fixed-price or hourly job bids.
• Service Agreements: Drafting clear, concise agreements for ongoing automation or consulting tasks.
• RFP Responses: Structuring complex bids that clearly map to the client's specific business context.
• Verification: Improving existing draft proposals to ensure they align with the confirmation-first methodology.

Example Prompts

1. "I just finished a discovery call with a potential client for a CRM automation project. They agreed to the budget and timeline. Please write a proposal based on the SCR framework using the notes from my recent workspace file."
2. "Draft an Upwork cover letter for a copywriting job that requires a conversion-focused landing page. I have already discussed the project requirements in the chat and have a verbal 'yes' to proceed."
3. "Review this draft proposal for a web development project. Does it follow the Confirmation-First framework, or does it try to sell too hard? Please suggest improvements to the Executive Summary."

Tips & Limitations

• The Golden Rule: Never use this skill before achieving a verbal 'yes' from the client. Sending a proposal to convince a prospect is a waste of resources; the selling should be handled during the discovery phase.
• Content Placement: All outputs are automatically directed to workspace/artifacts/, ensuring your files remain organized and accessible.
• Framework Adherence: Ensure the 'Situation' section accurately reflects the client's own words to build immediate trust.
• Non-Sales Tool: Remember that this tool is for confirming scope and commitment, not for cold outreach or lead generation. For cold outreach, utilize the dedicated cold-outreach skill instead.