There is a real challenge in competing for work when other freelancers applying for the same job have years of experience and past clients to show. A proposal is often the first and only chance to make an impression, so what you say and how you say it matters a great deal. Simply listing your skills may not be enough if the client is already leaning toward someone more established. At the same time, trying too hard to compensate for less experience can make you seem unsure of yourself. What can a newer freelancer include in a proposal to shift the client's attention toward potential rather than history?