Good Proposals Vs Bad Proposals on Upwork
Introduction:
Finding a good job announcement on Upwork is one thing, applying to it is another. Those who always fail to win a job on Upwork, may need to check this article before moving on. In the majority of cases, freelancers succeed on Upwork due to properly written job proposals and the way they apply to jobs. So, here we are to discuss good and bad proposals on Upwork. Make sure you read this till the end to discover every secret about good proposals from the client’s perspective.
How to Apply for a Job on Upwork
First, let’s discuss the system that works for job proposals on Upwork. You already know that Upwork is an online platform where clients look for freelancers to fulfill their tasks and help them in different ways. Freelancers have the opportunity to apply for jobs that meet their skills. Afterwards, the clients look through the applications and hire the best match for their job. So, the question is how you should apply for a job.
Job Details
Well, once you click and view the job announcement, you can see a lot of details related to the job type, the number of freelancers who have already applied to that job, the payment offered by the client, the client’s expectations, etc. It’s highly recommended to spend some time on investigating all of these details in a job announcement before applying to it.
Cover Letter
Your second task as a freelancer is to compose a cover letter matching the chosen job. While you may have a cover letter template in your docs, it’s more than important to focus on the chosen job details and write a cover letter specifically for that job. Your cover letter is supposed to match the info you find in a job announcement. You should be quite careful in the choice of your words to provide the info the client is looking for. So, avoid repetitions, unnecessary info and copy & paste.
Client’s Requirements
Make sure you understand the client’s needs and know what he wants. Then start writing a cover letter based on the requirements he has mentioned in his job announcement. Clarify what matching skills and experience you have and invite the client to discuss more details with you. Below, you’ll find more tips on how to differentiate between good and bad proposals. So, stick around.
Your Profile
Take care of how your profile looks because when clients read your cover letter, their next step is to view your profile. It should be 100% complete and should cover every necessary info related to your personality, skills, experience, suggestions and sometimes even hobbies. You should include all of this in your profile and portfolio. It’s even better if you add visual attachments, docs, and videos that tell about your skill set and past experience.
How Clients Choose a Freelancer
The first and most important factor for clients is the skills the freelancer has. When a client goes through a number of proposals his main goal is to find a freelancer that can fulfill all the tasks he has mentioned in the job announcement.
So, your proposal should cover only the info the client wants to see. Avoid offering other skills or experience that don’t relate to the job. It will be unnecessary and dull information. The proposal should look accurate, concise and meaningful from the client’s point of view.
Note that every employer is looking for responsible freelancers and even though you are a newbie and have no feedback on your profile yet, make sure you are always available to respond to the client in time.
Bad Proposals
To make things clearer for you here we have created a list of factors that make a job proposal look poor, weak and uninteresting for the client.
Repetitions: What does the client see in your proposal? Well, you should know that when you send a proposal it covers not only your specific letter but also your profile details including the description of your profile. It can include the same info as your cover letter. So, be careful not to repeat the things you have already mentioned in your profile description.
Unnecessary Info: Just similar to the previous factor, unnecessary info weakens your proposal. It’s important to focus on the skills and requirements the client has mentioned in his announcement. So, stay precise in what you write. You can offer some other skills that have direct connection with the job and can make you stand out.
Untidy format: A well-organized cover letter is also eye-catching. A client looks at how you put words together, how you compose your cover letter and how it looks at the end. You need to be polite in your cover letter, pay attention to details and compose it in an attractive way. Later we’ll share tips on how to make your proposal eye-catching.
Copy and Paste: This is perhaps the worst thing freelancers do when writing cover letters. Many think that if the cover letter includes all the skills the client looks for, it's enough for him to hire them. You should know that besides your skills, clients are also looking for your creativity and smarter way of thinking.
Good Proposals
Now, let’s see how a good job proposal or cover letter should look like to help you win a job on Upwork.
Details: Tell about everything the client needs to know about you. A good proposal should cover details about your skills, experience and any possible evidence that proves your availability to do the job as required.
Attachments: If you have visual materials, pictures, videos, documents, PDFs, URLs or other completed jobs similar to the one you are applying for, definitely attach them to your cover letter.
Tidy Application: Since Upwork doesn’t offer a template of a job application, you are supposed to compose it yourself for each and every job announcement. Thus, you need to pay attention to details, avoid typos, sometimes add bulleted lists to make the text reader-friendly, and so on. The final result should be attractive and well-organized. Never ever copy and paste a cover letter. It’s quite recognizable from the first sight and clients hate copied letters.
More Tips for a Good Proposal
If you want the client to notice you and consider you as a serious and well-organized personality, then make sure you write a quality cover letter. Here is a secret how to start. It’s better if you first of all learn a little bit about the client.
Although Upwork doesn’t share much info about the client you can still learn about his/her personality and expectations through his other job announcements and the feedback he has on his completed jobs. Believe me, feedback and job announcements of the client allow you to know a lot of things about him/her.
You can know their name and use it in your cover letter. You can know how they behave with freelancers. You can know at which scale they pay. At last but not least, you can even discover their character. All of these will help you to write a perfect cover letter to stand out in the crowd. Now, check the tips to use in your proposals.
Personalized letter: First, greet the client. It’s better if you look for his name in his details and send a personalized greeting.
Keep it Polite: Then try to be as polite as possible. The client should see you are a detail-oriented and respectful person.
Provide Examples of your Work: Write about yourself. Remind them why you are a good fit but stay away from repetitions. Tell about your skills and experience related to the job. Provide them with examples of your past work. Add attachments, photo or video materials, URLs, or anything that relates to the job.
Describe the Value you Offer: Upwork clients want to know if you are able to provide what they need. Besides your experience, skills and achievements you should also briefly describe the value you can bring to their business. You can suggest creative and useful ideas based on the job description. This can make you stand out.
Summing up the Proposal: Finish the cover letter giving thanks. Keep it short, sweet and positive.