What is an Upwork proposal?

An Upwork proposal gives you the chance to submit a message with your
application to convince clients that you’re the perfect fit for the job. This quick
and concise introduction—similar to a cover letter or an elevator pitch—
explains why the client should hire you. It allows you to spark a client’s
interest in your services and mention critical points on how you can solve their
problem.

The importance of Upwork proposals

Upwork’s work marketplace serves as a great source of potential projects.
The platform displays thousands of new jobs every day for a wide variety of
skill sets. The volume of posted jobs might seem like you’re likely to land
work, but remember that other freelancers using this platform are also
competing for those same jobs.

Proposals are one of the most vital parts of landing projects through Upwork’s
global work marketplace. It’s the first step in connecting with a potential client,
and your proposal must be designed to get a client’s attention. Crafting a
detailed and well-written Upwork proposal is the primary way to convince new
clients to interview you for their project.

If you work hard and build a reputation on Upwork, there may come a time
when you no longer need to bid for jobs because clients are coming to you
asking for your help on projects! But, until you reach that point, it’s important
to perfect your Upwork proposal and improve your pitch.
How do I get my first Upwork client?
Testing different cover letter options is a crucial step at the beginning of your
freelancing journey and separates those who land their first gig from those
who give up. Competition can be challenging, especially for new freelancers
just starting out. Without an effective proposal, you may end up sending out
dozens of proposals, only for all of them to be ignored. When it all comes
down to it, getting your first client requires you to write a compelling proposal.
Test everything and keep trying until you find the approach that works for you.

Note: It usually takes three days on average for clients on Upwork to hire a
freelancer they think is the best fit for their project. Patience plays a crucial
role in landing that coveted first project. Keep applying to multiple jobs that fit
your experience while you wait for responses from prospective clients.

How to write an Upwork proposal

that shines
Writing an Upwork proposal is a skill in itself, and just like any other skill,
practicing can improve your techniques. When it comes to writing a good
proposal, the structure is one of the most important things to consider. While
each proposal should be unique to the freelancer and job description, there
are a few common elements that most good proposals include:

● A quick, straightforward greeting and introduction followed by a concise

restatement of the client’s core need or problem.
● A clear statement that tells clients that you can solve their problem and that you
can start right away.
● A short pitch, preferably two to three sentences, telling the prospective client
exactly why you’re an excellent fit for the job.
 ● A brief but detailed description of the methods and processes you’ll use to
approach the project and provide excellent service.
● Attachments such as relevant documents, files of sample works, or links to your
portfolio demonstrating your past projects related to the client’s needs.

How long should your proposal be?

Your proposal doesn’t need to be lengthy as long as it confirms you
understand the problem and shows that you can solve it. Always aim for brief,
clean, and concise writing. Typically, everything you need can be expressed
in three short paragraphs.

Clients don’t have the time to read lengthy proposals with details that are
unrelated to their challenges. Long proposals may not convince anyone, as
almost no one will take the time to read them.

What is the best format for an Upwork proposal?

The format for an Upwork proposal is very similar to writing a traditional cover
letter. The proposal should be specifically tailored to each unique project. By
focusing more on what the project needs rather than coming up with a clear-
cut template, you’ll be able to craft better patterns and sequences in your
proposals that could convince the client to hire you.

Attract the client’s attention

Typically you’re going up against more than a dozen freelancers trying to
secure the same project offer. It’s likely that your proposal will only have a few
seconds to leave an impression before the client moves on to another. This
means that writing some catchy first few sentences is vital to ensuring your
proposal doesn’t get ignored.
From the client’s perspective, the point of your proposal is finding the
freelancer that can best help them. When you quickly get to the issues the
client really cares about, you significantly increase your chances of landing
that job.

Show understanding of the client’s goals and job

description
The first few sentences should confirm that you fully understand what the
client needs. Potential clients on Upwork want to know you’re going to be in
their corner. They want to know you have the right skills and are ready to help
them succeed. Always start by either restating the core problems or
commenting on something about the job. This shows that you’ve taken the
time to read the project description thoroughly and that you’ve got the
necessary expertise.

“One trick is to look at the feedback on the client’s

Upwork profile when applying; other freelancers will
call them by their first name in the feedback. This lets
me start my application with their name. By doing this,
I leave the client wondering how I know their name,
which draws them to my profile to see if they know
me. It also shows that I am very interested in the job
and collaborating with them; I paid attention to their
job description and looked even further. Finally, it
makes the application more personal.”
– Andreea-Lucia Mihalache, Upwork Top Rated
Freelance Writer‍
‍
Provide proof that you can get the job done
Essentially, clients want to feel confident that the freelancer they engage will
handle the project. The simplest way to prove to a prospective client that you
can succeed is by showing them an example of something similar you’ve
already done. Point out a few of your past experiences in your portfolio or
Upwork profile that matches their project needs.

Include work samples and past results

Attaching past work samples goes a long way toward building trust and
credibility. Clients are very interested in a freelancer’s past work, and it can be
the most significant factor in their decision-making. If you can provide specific
case studies, testimonials, or proven results, you might want to place them in
the second paragraph where they can be easily seen.

Note: This is also where a well-written Upwork profile comes into play. After
seeing an impressive proposal, clients usually look at the profile to find more
valuable information. Check out our tips for creating a great Upwork profile.
After making sure that your profile backs up what you’re saying, linking your
portfolio to successful project reviews is a good tactic.

Ask questions and offer solutions

Some job posts include predefined proposal questions asking if you have any
questions about that particular project. This gives you another opportunity to
show that you’re qualified to offer help. Make sure only to ask questions that
show how well you understand what needs to be done to solve the problem.
You can also ask questions within your proposal, but make sure not to
overwhelm the client to the point that it’s more work for them to respond.
Good questions to ask are related to timeline, product or business information,
or what you’d expect in the day-to-day while working on the project.

Separate yourself from competitors

Because you’re going to be competing with many other professionals like
yourself, it’s best to find ways to stand out from the crowd as early as
possible. An introductory video on your profile is a great way to do that. You
can reference this video in your proposal, which may make the client more
likely to engage with your profile and schedule an interview.

Remember to give reasons why the client should

work with you
Your Upwork proposal can serve as a great starting point for clients to get to
know you better and help you stand out. When writing your letter to the client,
make sure that it’s easily relatable and shows the benefits of choosing you for
their project. You should explain how your experience will be an asset to the
client’s project and let them know how long you’ve been in the business.

Want to learn more best practices for writing proposals that land jobs? Check
out this video by Upwork Ambassador Neal Strauss.
Upwork proposal examples
Here are three Upwork proposal examples for a freelance writer position.
Each of these Upwork samples is structured to present the freelancer as the
perfect fit based on a hypothetical client’s job description.

Upwork proposal example #1:

Hi,

I would love to be your freelance writer and help you execute your website
content strategy.

I have 5 years of experience writing content for websites, including

Forbes.com, Buzzfeed.com, and more. Below, I’ve linked two samples that
showcase my writing ability in a similar niche to your brand. As you can see, I
understand your audience and know how to write compelling articles to get
your website visitors to purchase your products.

I can complete 1,000-word articles with a 2-day turnaround time. Would that
work for your needs? Let me know if my writing meets your expectations, and
we can set up a time to talk about your project in more detail.

Example Website Content #1 (link)

Example Website Content #2 (link)

Thanks,

John Doe
---

Upwork proposal example #2:

Jessica Doe

---

Upwork proposal example #3:

Hello Nicki,

I’m a detail-driven writer who turns ideas into valuable website content for
clients just like you. I enjoy writing for various topics and niches (business,
lifestyle, travel, personal blogs, etc.). You can find examples of my past
writing work on my Upwork profile, plus (insert link here) and (insert link here).

My experience has given me a deep understanding of SEO writing and strong

digital marketing strategies to help drive traffic to your site. I excel in writing all
types of content such as blogs, press releases, product descriptions, and
more.

My rate is $50 for projects like this one, and I can have a finished piece of
writing delivered to you this week if you’re interested. Let’s talk!

– Anna G.
Note: Don’t use these as an Upwork proposal template, instead use these as
proposal examples that can inspire a unique proposal for each job.

Mistakes to avoid when creating an

Upwork proposal
Creating a winning proposal always comes down to understanding what the
job entails before starting a proposal for that project. With that said, there are
a few things to avoid when submitting proposals for jobs on Upwork.

Don’t use a proposal template

If your proposal isn’t well-crafted, it won’t get you jobs. When time becomes
an issue, many freelancers, especially beginners, resort to copied and pasted
templates to save time writing proposals. While this method may save many
hours of writing, you may start skipping the job description and applying
robotically. This is not a good idea because every client and job are unique.

Clients themselves can easily spot a pre-made proposal because it usually

fails to connect with their needs on a deeper level. Using a template can
significantly decrease your chances of winning jobs as they provide less
personalized ideas and suggestions. Using templates also puts you at risk of
developing the habit of not fully understanding the client’s needs and project
scope.

Don’t make it all about you

Another critical issue to avoid is talking too much about yourself and not
enough about the client. Remember that clients care about solving their
problems; that’s why they posted the project on Upwork in the first place. our
proposal must be about your clients, their problems, and the ways that you
can solve them.

Don’t include unnecessary fluff

Writing unnecessary details that aren’t useful to the job runs the risk of you
sounding unprofessional. Clients don’t have the time for fluff or filler. Write
personalized, concise, and impactful proposals to show clients that you’re
someone who values their time.

Don’t be too casual or overly professional

When it comes to writing winning proposals, professionalism is always a good
first impression to instill in your potential clients. Steer clear of comments or
statements that attempt to be funny or entertaining. More often than not, these
can have the opposite effect of what you intended. While work communication
has become less formal, especially with online collaboration tools, this should
not blur your vision of acceptable professional settings.

However, on the other end, being too professional can sometimes do more
harm than good. Many freelancers think that they have to sound extremely
formal in their pitches to appear knowledgeable and competent. But this
actually can hurt their chances of getting an interview. Being overly
professional might rub off clients the wrong way and give the impression that
you’re stiff and hard to connect with personally.

To avoid these two extremes, finding the middle ground is the best go-to to
ensure you connect with the client in the best possible way. Remember that
anything you write will always give an impression, and you want to make sure
that it’s a good one.

Next steps
Whether you’re a budding freelancer or a seasoned professional, securing
new jobs can be challenging if you don’t have a compelling proposal. If your
proposal is well written, unique, and demonstrates solutions for the client, it’s
only going to be a matter of time before you land that next project. Check out
recently posted jobs and start applying today!

Once you’ve sent a great proposal and landed an interview with the client, it’s
time to prepare for your interview so that you can win the project. When you’re
ready, check out this article to learn tips and tricks to interview like a pro.