Freelancing on Upwork is more popular than ever in 2024, and it’s getting harder to get clients to notice your proposal amongst the tsunami of people competing for each job.
The thing is, it’s not that tricky to write an Upwork proposal that stands out – let’s check out exactly what you need to do to win on Upwork and make your freelancing dreams come true (and actually profitable)!
Proposals Should Be Short & Sweet
As great as it may be, potential Upwork clients don’t want to read your life story or see every skill you have.
Aim to be concise, relevant, and engaging, quickly communicating what you bring to the table and why you’re the pick to make over all the other applicants.
After all, if there’s 50+ proposals, they’re likely going to skim them or lose interest after the first couple sentences – get to the point quick!
Consider the following:
The Elevator Pitch
Imagine you’re in an elevator with the client and you have 30 seconds to impress them.
You’re going to tell them exactly why they should listen and pick you before they reach their floor, impressing them with your enthusiasm, relevancy – you should be selling yourself.
Get To the Point Quick
First impressions are super important, and you usually make yours within the first sentence in Upwork proposals.
Address the client by name – they often sign it at the bottom or include it in the side menu.
Something simple like “Hi [client name]” already sets you apart from the other generic proposals, and shows that you fully read the job description in detail.
Speaking of which, referencing something specific from the description early on is also a great idea, and some gigs will specifically say “Include XYZ in your proposal to see that you’ve read it”…stay alert.
Be Specific & Original
Instead of saying, “I am a skilled writer,” try “With five years of experience in content creation, I specialize in crafting engaging blog posts that drive organic traffic.”
Tell them exactly what you do that exactly matches their ideal candidate.
Sell Yourself, Not Your Service
If you can show off your awesome personality right off the bat rather than writing a generic (BORING) proposal, you’ll intrigue the prospective client on the most important product: you.
They can choose from tens or even hundreds of applicants, and the proposal is your golden opportunity to show them who you are, rather than what you can provide.
This sounds a bit counterintuitive, but think of it this way – there are a gajillion TV shows, but your favorites are likely because you feel a connection with the story and/or characters.
You could choose any show within the genres you like, but you feel safe going with the ones you’re familiar with – make the client familiar with you ASAP!
Go The Extra Mile
Go the extra step and check out the client’s website if they’ve listed it, or look at the work they’ve done within the field.
This gives you a talking point in your proposal where you can say “By the way, I love X and Y about your company, look at how on top of things I am.”
Commenting on something specific about the client you’re proposing to shows them that you’re invested in them, and is something almost no one does – making it another great way to stand out!
Be a Solution, Not Just a Service
Going hand-in-hand with what we just talked about, you need to be a solution to the client’s problems.
They look for problem-solvers, so tailor your proposal to showcase how your skills directly address their challenges – bonus points if you give them an idea about the job within the proposal!
Identify Pain Points
Demonstrate an understanding of the client’s pain points.
This could take some research, or maybe you already understand the common industry challenges they’re in, but acknowledge their specific issues mentioned in the job description and how you fit the bill.
Highlight Relevant Benefits
You might have some skills that will help you achieve whatever gig you’re applying for, and you NEED to include those to make yourself stand out.
For example, if you’re a freelance writer, tell them about skills such as:
- On-page SEO
- Keyword research
- Topical research
- etc.
Basically, if there’s anything that’s an asset for the gig, make sure the client’s aware.
Showcase Your Portfolio
Any experience you have with jobs similar to the one you’re applying for is great leverage for your proposal.
If you don’t have any experience, make some!
For example, write some articles that are in the niche of your prospective client for writing gigs, or build your own website to show off your dev and coding skills, or design some logos for various companies to show off.
You want to show that you can and have done similar work, which gives the client confidence that you know what you’re talking about.
Showcase Social Proof
If you’ve been in the game for a while, include your client testimonials and positive feedback you’ve gotten.
This is especially great in more competitive job applications, and might be what gets you the gig.
Ask previous clients (who liked you and your work) to give you testimonials if they haven’t, which can be on the platform or off of it – anything to show your credibility!
How Much Should You Charge In Your Proposal?
You’ll be tempted to low-ball yourself and propose the lowest amount possible – but don’t fall into that trap!
Almost everybody applying is trying that exact same thing, so propose a price point that you think is actually fair (this will get easier the more you do it), and then stand out with the rest of your proposal.
A higher price point will grab the client’s attention, and will also lead them to think that you’re a more premium worker as compared to the rest of the applicants (if the rest of your proposal is high-quality).
That said, you might have to work for less than you want when you start out, but even then you should aim to go higher than everybody else – you’re not going to get top dollar until you’re a top dog.
Look at what the company has paid for similar jobs in the past, then go off of that!
Conclusion
Writing a winning Upwork proposal is a blend of creativity, the right content, and elbow grease.
Pay attention to what the job description wants, and figure out a way to present yourself as the solution to the client’s problem in the proposal.
Standing out by writing a unique, concise, and personalized proposal is key, and will increase your chances of succeeding on your Upwork adventure!
Let us know if we can help in any way!