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How to Write a Winning Upwork Cover Letter (+Sample)

Crafting an Upwork cover letter that wins you the job is one of the two things that drive new Upworkers crazy (the other being how to get approved on Upwork ).

This drove me crazy too when I started out. In fact, I must have spent countless hours and sent so many proposals before I started getting replies.

I almost purchased a $300 course just to get access to their community’s Upwork proposal vault.

If you’re in a similar position, you have come to the right place.

In this article, let’s discuss how to write an effective Upwork proposal cover letter that will win you the job.

Let’s get this started!

From Zero to Hero

When I started using Upwork, it was a while until I was able to land a contract.

When I did manage to land my first contract, I thought I had cracked the code and all I had to do was submit the same cover letter again and again.

Here’s what that (cringy and embarrassing) cover letter looks like:

(Good thing it happened before Upwork started banning accounts who submit way too many proposals without getting an offer.)

Using that stinky cover letter above, I still receive a few replies. But that’s it — no new offers or whatsoever.

Two realizations hit me:

• I knew then that I didn’t crack the code.
• Canned, word for word cover letters don’t work.

After three years, here’s my marketing effectiveness:

Stick until the end and I will show you an example of an Upwork cover letter I used to land a premium deal with a client.

Now, here’s how to make your cover letters better:

Sign up for exclusive updates, tips, and strategies

Answer the Additional Questions First

Many job postings will require you to answer additional questions besides submitting a cover letter.

Here’s a good example:

As you can see, the cover letter comes first followed by the additional questions you have to answer.

Naturally, you may spend most of your energy trying to make that cover letter flawless and then, answer the additional questions with a one-line sentence only, like an afterthought.

What you may not know is that when the client reviews your proposal, he will see the additional questions first.

I discovered this when I posted a job on Upwork.

Here’s one of the answers I got:

As you can see, clients will see the answers to the questions first. The cover letter will be the last element. That’s why when you see questions in the job posts, focus your energy first on the questions.

In a way, additional questions are more important than the cover letter itself.

Address the Client by Name

Whether it’s an Upwork cover letter, a cold email, or a private message on Facebook, addressing the client by name has a great impact.

After all, names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language according to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People book.

But does it really increase the effectiveness of your Upwork proposal?

Well, calling the client by name is just the first part of making your cover letter more personal.

It shows that you have done your research and most likely, the content of your cover letter isn’t canned.

As an example, let’s say that you’re the client and you need someone to write new articles on your website.

One of the proposals you received is this:

Would you hire him? Exactly!

The question is, where will you get the name of the client?

How to Find the Client’s Name

It’s easy enough when the job post has the client’s name.

Unfortunately, only around 1 of 10 posts has the client’s name.

If this is the case, scroll down to the client’s recent history and find reviews from past contractors that mentioned the client’s name.

For example, this job post doesn’t contain any clue about who the client is.

But on the client’s recent history, you will find two mentions of his name there.

Sometimes, you may find different names on the client’s history. Some may have addressed the client as Darren, Karen, or John.

To make matters easier, use the name mentioned in a review from a freelancer with similar services as you.

Let’s say that you’re a content writer. A past content writer left a review and addressed the client as John. In this case, use John in your cover letter.

There may also be instances when the client, together with his name, wrote the name of his company. There’s a lot of gold in here simply because you can make even more research.

One of my clients, when he posted the job, only displayed the company name. There was no clue about the recent history of his name. But since the company name was there, I was able to dig deeper.

Here’s a portion of the cover letter I sent that I’m quite sure caught his attention:

This has led to an active partnership. (I can also confirm that working with his particular client’s team is fun and exciting!)

Show Interest

By that, I don’t mean writing a line that says “I’m interested in your job post.”

There are usually two ways to do this:

• Make a suggestion
• Or ask a question

Let’s use this job post I found about a client looking for a content writer for his travel website:

Just because the job description was short, it doesn’t mean you have to put in the same effort and make your cover letter short.

This is often a mistake I see new freelancers do.

But how will you add value to a post as short as this?

If I were to submit a cover letter to do this job post, here’s what I would do:

• Explain to the client what an awesome about us page is and what it contains. (If you’re not aware, the about us page, in addition to telling your story, is an excellent waypoint to different pages or content on your website.)
• Include links to show him what I mean.
• Suggest how I can do the same.
• Ask him for a link to his website.

You can also show interest by mentioning something that only someone who dug deeper will be able to know. An example of this is the cover letter I showed in the earlier section where I mentioned something about the client’s team.

The Rate Matters

This part isn’t much about the cover letter itself but on what job post you submit your cover letter.

One of the things I have learned over the years is that there could be a mismatch between your rate and how much your client can afford or is willing to spend.

For example, no matter how good your cover letter is, it’s impossible for you to ask a high rate for this project.

How did I know this? Looking at the client’s recent history, he paid someone a measly $25 for an educational blog.

From the client’s recent history, you can be certain that he’s only looking for freelancers with (super) low rates.

One more thing: Avoid low-ballers .

These clients will not pay you for what you’re worth. You will only be wasting six connects which you could have used to submit a proposal to a premium project.

Further reading : There are a few job posts that have a high budget but will actually pay you peanuts — they lure freelancers by posting big budgets. This is one of the things I shared in my tips for Upworkers article . It’s perfect for those who are still starting out in Upwork.

Mention Your Experience

I have read numerous posts from “freelance gurus” that you don’t need experience to land premium contracts.

Although there’s truth to it, it’s not the whole truth.

As a client myself, I would like to make sure that the freelancer has the capability to do the tasks and that he’s willing to learn if he doesn’t have the skills yet.

However, freelancers who have previous similar experience and can prove it will most likely win the contract.

Why? Because it’s more certain that they will be able to do the job better and faster, which is a win for clients who go into hourly contracts with freelancers.

In addition to experience, include samples of related work or outcomes that you know the client will love.

For example, after including relevant samples of my work, this client has responded well to my cover letter and we ended up working together.

If you don’t have any relevant samples, just create one, and show it to the client.

Include a Call to Action

At the end of your cover letter, invite the client to do something. It’s proven that they will likely do something if you tell them exactly what to do.

It’s tempting to say “Hope to hear from you soon” or “Hoping for your kind consideration”. But it doesn’t really invite the client to do something.

Here are good examples of effective CTA (call to action):

• Hit that reply button over there to continue our conversation. (Favorite)
• How about we hop on a five-minute call to discuss your business needs?
• If you want to collaborate, let’s discuss it more over the chat.

I have been working with different combinations and so far, the first one has worked best for me. However, I don’t think there’s much difference as long as you keep your call to action, clear, specific, and easy to commit to.

Keep a Swipe File of Upwork Cover Letters

If you’re not familiar with what a swipe file is, it’s basically a folder where you keep all awesome ideas, copies, content, and ideas you have encountered.

In this case, keep a swipe file of Upwork cover letters that worked. Then, reverse engineer them and see why they work.

This is actually how I started improving my cover letter. I found and saved the winning cover letters I found online and try to understand why they worked.

I usually have three places where I store them:

• OneNote (favorite)
• Google drive
• Local drive

A piece of advice: save your cover letters that worked.

Here’s mine:

Since I have a record of what works and what doesn’t, I regularly update and optimize my cover letter to reflect what I recently learned.

That’s how I knew which call to action I thought worked best.

In addition, you may want to include links to your best work too. This makes it easier for you to swap out the samples you want to mention in the cover letter to make sure you only mention the most relevant work samples.

Example of a Winning Upwork Cover Letter

As promised, here is a cover letter I used to land a premium deal with a client.

Note that you can use the pattern I set but make sure you don’t use exact words. This cover letter was designed solely for the certain job post to this cover letter was submitted to.

In a gist, here’s how I did it:

Hey [name] , I’m sure you’ve got a lot of pitches to deal with so I’ll keep this short. I help [your target industry] [the outcome your client would like to get from your service] . In the past, I helped [a previous client you worked with] [the outcome you helped your previous client achieve – should be similar to the outcome the client would like to get] . Here are links to some of my work: – [link 1] – [link 2] – [link 3] [Ask a question or suggest something] Simply hit that “Reply” button over there so we could continue our conversation. Regards, [Your name]

Feel free to use this template.

Win Premium Clients With a Personalized Cover Letter

Writing a winning cover letter is easier than you think. But it will need a lot of practice and trial and error to finally get it right.

As I said, it took me so much time and proposals before I got a reply. From there, I continued optimizing it and seeing what works for my target clients and industry.

I’m definitely positive that as you practice and write more proposal cover letters, you will get better and win jobs.

And if you get lost, try the template I provided above.

Now it’s your turn. Here’s what to do now:

• Go back to Upwork and apply what you have learned from this article.
• Use the template and check my sample for inspiration.
• Get back here and let us know how it went.

And as always, let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment down below.

Alan is the founder of Work Pajama and other sites by Content Growers. When he's not writing here, he's busy helping clients generate more qualified leads and increase sales by educating readers with strategic content and writing blogs.

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25 comments.

I am new and wanted to have virtual work ASAP. Thank you for this blog, will surely help me with my application. Wish me luck!

Stay safe always.

Hey Genera! Glad you find this article helpful to you. I know you can do it! I was able to do it even without experience (or skills) at that time so there’s no way you can’t do it.

Keep it up!

Hi sir I just want to ask in upwork sometimes it offer milestone in specific job how can i break the budget into milestone and what will a put in the description of each milestone ? Thanks God bless

Thanks Alan. Let me go back and re-strategize

Thank you so much for sharing this very informative article. I’m about to start my GVA career… your blog post truly help me a lot. I hope I could make it in this industry.

Good luck on your journey!

I am inspired by your post and I made some notes out of it. I believe it will go a long way to help. Am a newbie in upwork; am good in data entry, typing and I can handle Microsoft Office. But I do not have any past experience in any company or works done before except personal. How do I start, my first cover letter was rejected. Please help out, I will appreciate it. Thanks

My most regards, Hilary

That is tricky since the skills you have are the same skills that 99% of Upworkers have. If I were you, better learn a better skill and try again. For every job post that needs basic stuff, the client probably gets 100+ proposals, so your chance of even being seen is super low. Hope this helps!

thanks so much for this awesome reply of you Alan. We’ve same issue with Hilary. I think your reply here will surely help. Better learn a better skill!

Good to know. Thanks for dropping by!

Thank you for this Allan. This is very useful specially for people like me, just starting careen on being a Virtual Assitant.

Happy to help!

Wow, great tips on writing an effective Upwork cover letter! I completely agree with you on the importance of mentioning your experience.

Including samples of related work or outcomes is also a fantastic idea. It provides concrete evidence of your skills and expertise, and it gives the client a glimpse of what they can expect from you. If you don’t have relevant samples, creating one specifically for the client is a brilliant approach to showcase your abilities.

I also appreciate the emphasis on including a clear call to action (CTA) in the cover letter. It’s true that clients are more likely to respond when you tell them exactly what to do. Your examples of effective CTAs are spot on, and it’s important to make them clear, specific, and easy to commit to.

Overall, these tips are insightful and practical. Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience in writing Upwork cover letters. I will definitely implement them in my future proposals and strive for better results. Keep up the great work!

Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this site.

Thanks Eileen!

That’s quite an interesting read. Of late I figured out that it is very difficult to get new jobs in Upwork, though clients are viewing my proposal. So I feel the best way is to rewrite the proposals. Thanks a lot for your input.

Hi Alan, this was very very helpful and am looking forward to learn more from you. I would hope that a Q&A platform will be provided in place for people like us who would wanna feed from your brilliant experience. Thanks!

Thanks, Alin!

Just discovered your content through Google search. Awesome and unique content. Just about to start freelancing on Upwork and I can tell it is of a great help to me. I believe I’ve just find a good teacher here.☺️

Thank you Allan and God bless you.

Hey Patrick!

Appreciate the compliment. I wish you a good fortune on your journey.

Thank you Alan! hope it works. Good luck for everyone.

Hey Alan! Best inspiration tip, Thanks alot.

Excellent information. This article offers practical tips and a clear structure for crafting effective Upwork cover letters. It’s a valuable resource for freelancers looking to stand out and secure projects on the platform.

Thank you for this fantastic guide on writing a winning Upwork cover letter! The tips and sample you’ve shared are incredibly helpful for both beginners and experienced freelancers like myself.

The sample cover letter is a valuable resource. It not only demonstrates the principles you’ve outlined but also serves as an excellent template for crafting our own personalized letters.

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Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Alan Anthony Catantan

The Best Cover Letter For Upwork : Tips Plus Sample! [2023 Update] 

By: Author Aisha Preece

Want to write the best cover letter for Upwork but don’t know how? Well, good news because you’re in the right place! 

When I started on Upwork as a freelancer , I had no idea where to begin and how to write the best cover letter for Upwork to get the jobs and clients I wanted. 

It’s completely understandable given that Upwork is such a huge marketplace for freelancers and clients! 

I wished I had someone show me Upwork cover letter examples so that I could have saved all that time. 

But you know what, I don’t want you to struggle as I did, so I’m here to provide help writing a cover letter so that you’ll be able to write anything from short and sweet cover letters to providing outstanding cover letter examples. 

So buckle up and dive right into some tips I learn on how to write a cover letter for Upwork during my Upwork journey, as well as provide one of the best cover letter examples. 

By the end of this article, you’d be a complete Upwork cover letter pro!

Affiliate Link Disclosure

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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How To Write The Best Cover Letter For Upwork ?

1. read the job description carefully.

As a beginner on Upwork, you might be very excited to get things going and to start applying to as many jobs out there. That’s fine.

But what’s not okay is if you just blindly apply with the same Upwork proposal cover letter for different jobs and do not pay attention to individual job requirements. 

Imagine if you were a client weeding through dozens, if not, hundreds of proposals, trying to find the perfect candidate for your job, and the frustration you face if the applicant’s cover letter didn’t match your requirements.

That’s why many clients have started including instructions right at the end of their job descriptions to ensure that you’ve read their entire post, and also are sure of their requirements.

See if you can spot the special instruction below! 

This is becoming increasingly common, so make sure you read through every word on jobs you apply to! 

2. Prioritize Answering The Additional Questions

This was a mistake I made as a beginner on Upwork. I often thought the additional questions were just, well, additional questions. 

So what I would do is spend all my time, energy and creative juices on the cover letter, making it the best Upwork cover letter.

When it came to the additional questions, I would often post a single-sentence response or make a reference to my cover letter. 

My thinking was that the client would have read my cover letter first then the responses, right?

How wrong I was! 

I literally only realized this when I started hiring people on Upwork that clients see your response first, followed by your cover letter. 

This makes a lot of sense because if you have multiple applicants to weed through as a client, you’d set specific questions to zone in on your ideal candidates. Duh! 

So make sure you don’t commit the same mistake I did and invest all of your energy into writing a good cover letter for Upwork that you neglect the additional questions! 

3. Personalize Your Cover Letters 

This is extremely important. Imagine if you’re a client looking through many proposals and every cover letter starts with a generic greeting.

But suddenly one of them addresses you by name.

Wouldn’t that make you stop and read further?

Yes, granted not all job posters post their name on the job posting, but a little digging goes a long way. 

Here’s how I find out how to address the job poster if they haven’t posted their name on their job posting – I just look at past reviews they got! 

Here’s one example below:

Most of the time other freelancers would have given them feedback and addressed them by name. 

Sure I’ve gotten it wrong sometimes as it might be someone else in their team. (rarely though!) 

But the fact is they can tell if you’ve done additional homework on them as a client and are sincere in your cover letter. 

4. Ensure Your Expectations Align 

Now one thing I need to remind you before you go about crafting the best cover letter for Upwork is this – ensure that what the client requires is what you are able to provide and at the budget they’ve set.

There is no point in doing a smashing cover letter on Upwork but you realize that the client is paying too low, or that they require more availability than you are able to provide. 

This goes back to reading their job post clearly for the budget and availability required and also looking at their past history as a client.

Are they dependable? Have they paid decently for past projects? 

Once you have established this, then you can go about putting together all the tips I’ve highlighted so far to craft the best cover letter in Upwork. 

5. Tailor Your Experiences And Skill Sets To The Job Description

If you want to write a good Upwork cover letter then you jolly well make sure that your cover letter addresses your client’s requirements.

If they want someone with health and fitness experience and you have a personal trainer certification on the side, mention it.

If they’re looking for a cryptocurrency fanatic and you love following the ups and downs of the crypto market, make sure you tell them all about it too! 

Often your experiences may not be directly relevant. But dig deep and I’m sure you’ll find something.

I once saw a job posting for a wedding planner requesting SEO articles for their website .

 I told them I wasn’t married (yet!) but I loved weddings and I had actively helped some of my good friends behind the scenes for their weddings.

It didn’t get me hired, but it sure got them interested enough to start a conversation with me on Upwork. Baby steps! 

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6. Show Don’t Just Tell

You can have the best cover letter for Upwork, but this doesn’t matter much if you don’t have the chops to back up what you’re saying.

If you’re a freelance writer pitching to a new client, make sure you have your portfolio on hand to show the client just what you’ve been telling them – your writing style and areas of expertise. 

Here are some of my writing samples ! 

If you don’t have the means to purchase a site to host your writing samples, there are tons of free sites out there where you can host your portfolio! 

Psst, I go through this in detail in my freelance writing course . 

But if you don’t have time for that and want to start immediately, Journo Portfolio is an amazing platform to get started on! 

7. Make Sure You End With A Call-To-Action 

If you want to end things on a high as you craft the best cover letter in Upwork, then make sure you end your cover letter with a strong CTA.

A CTA or Call-To-Action is a statement which encourages your reader or recipient to act immediately.

It’s like when you watch an advertisement on YouTube or on Instagram and they tell you to click on a link if you’re keen to find out more. 

You can say “Looking forward to hearing back from you!”

But why do that when you can say, “I look forward to working with you and I’ll be happy to jump on a Zoom call today or tomorrow to discuss your requirements in detail.”

Imagine if a client needed something urgently and needed to speak to a freelancer within the next day to get this done. 

Your CTA would have been a godsend to them! 

Best Upwork Cover Letter Samples

Now, are you curious about how to weave together all these tips to create the best Upwork proposal cover letter? 

Here’s how! 

Now before you go ahead and copy and paste this or any best cover letter examples for your next client proposal, remember that it is always important to read every posting carefully and personalize! 

Made it this far in the article? Great! Here’s a real-life example of an Upwork best cover letter that I wrote that got me the job!  

FAQs For Best Cover Letter For Upwork  

How do i write a cover letter for upwork.

Here are some quick tips on writing the best cover letter for Upwork:

• Read The Job Description Carefully
• Prioritize Answering The Additional Questions
• Personalize Your Cover Letters
• Ensure Your Expectations Align 
• Tailor Your Experiences And Skill Sets To The Job Description
• Show Don’t Just Tell
• Make Sure You End With A Call-To-Action 

Is A 500 Word Cover Letter Ok?

No, a 500-word cover letter is not ok. You should target a word count of 250 to 400 words for a cover letter. Keep things short, sweet and concise as your prospective client or employer may have a lot of cover letters to look through. 

Some of the best sample cover letters for employment aren’t the longest ones. They’re the ones that display the candidate’s experience best in the most succinct way. 

How Do You End A Cover Letter On Upwork ?

The best way to end a cover letter on Upwork is to reiterate why you’re the best person for the job and to remember to include a call-to-action statement so that the client will be inspired to contact you right after.

Some of the best Upwork cover letter samples are those that clients can look at and go – yes, this is exactly the person we need.

By ending the letter with these elements, you can be sure your proposal will be top of mind for your future client. 

How Do I Write A Good Cover Letter?

Writing a good cover letter isn’t just for Upwork, you can also apply these skills when writing a cover letter for a job:

• Read The Job Listing Carefully
• Do Your Research On The Role
• Start With A Strong Opening Statement 
• Use Forward-Looking Statements Like What You Want To Do For Them Instead Of Just Saying What You’ve Done 
• Be Personal 
• Show Enthusiasm And Interest For The Role
• Keep Your Cover Letter Short And Succinct
• Ask For Feedback Before Sending It
• Spell-Check Your Letter

So there you have it. The steps to writing the best cover letter for Upwork to get the job and clients you want.

It’s really not that daunting or scary, right?

The steps are very straightforward and as long as you’ve read the job posting carefully, you’ll be able to craft the perfect cover letter that shows the client you are exactly what they are looking for

If you’re still unsure about your Upwork journey, don’t worry I have many other Upwork resources you can refer to! 

You’ll realize that the best way to learn to get better at finding work on Upwork is really to just start applying to jobs with these tips and then finetune your approach from there. 

Take that first step, start writing and applying, and as always reach out to me in the comment section down below if you need help! 

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Letter Templates & Example

10 Impressive Cover Letter Examples for Upwork: Stand Out from the Crowd

Are you struggling with crafting the perfect cover letter for your Upwork proposals? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of cover letter examples for Upwork that you can use to kickstart your writing process. These examples cover a range of industries and job types, so you’re sure to find something that resonates with you. And the best part? You can easily customize and edit these examples to fit your unique skills and experiences. No more staring at a blank screen, wondering where to even begin. With our cover letter examples, you’ll be well on your way to submitting winning proposals on Upwork. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

The Best Structure for Cover Letter Examples for Upwork

When applying for freelance jobs on Upwork, your cover letter is often the first impression that potential clients will have of you. So, it’s important to make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward. One way to do this is by structuring your cover letter in a clear and concise way. Here’s a breakdown of the best structure for cover letter examples for Upwork:

1. Start with a personalized greeting: Begin your cover letter by addressing the client by name. This shows that you’ve taken the time to customize your application and are genuinely interested in the job.

2. Introduce yourself: Share a bit about yourself and your experience in the industry. Highlight any relevant skills or achievements that make you stand out from other candidates. Keep in mind that this should be brief and to the point.

3. Show your understanding of the client’s needs: Read the job description carefully and demonstrate that you understand the client’s needs. Explain how you can help them achieve their goals and solve any problems they may have.

4. Give specific examples: Provide examples of previous work or projects that are relevant to the job at hand. This helps to give the client a sense of your style and level of expertise.

5. Explain why you’re the best fit: Summarize why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. Highlight your strengths and explain how they align with the needs of the client.

6. End with a call to action: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the client for their time and consideration. Encourage them to take the next step by interviewing you or reviewing your portfolio.

In summary, a well-structured cover letter should be personalized, brief, and to the point. By following these guidelines, you can increase your chances of landing your dream freelance job on Upwork. Best of luck!

Cover Letter Sample for Data Entry Job

I am excited to apply for the Data Entry position you have posted on Upwork. I have been working in this field for years, and I know that my experience and skills are what you are looking for. I am confident that I can exceed your expectations and deliver outstanding results.

As a Data Entry professional, accuracy, efficiency, and speed are the core values that I possess. I understand that the data you handle is sensitive and critical to your business. Thus, I am willing to undergo additional training, if required, to ensure that I can meet your specific needs and requirements.

Thank you for your consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Cover Letter Sample for Virtual Assistant Job

Hello there!

I am thrilled to submit my application for the Virtual Assistant position you have advertised on Upwork. With years of experience in administrative and customer service, I am confident that I can provide excellent support to your business.

I have a strong command of various administrative tools, including Google Suite, Trello, Basecamp, and Asana. I am also proficient in managing emails, appointments, and social media accounts. As a Virtual Assistant, I understand the importance of being proactive, organized, and detail-oriented, which are all essential skills that I have honed over the years.

I look forward to discussing how I can help you and your business. Thank you for considering my application.

Cover Letter Sample for Content Writing Job

Dear [Client Name],

I am excited to apply for your Content Writing job posting. As a skilled writer and editor, I believe that I can produce high-quality content that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.

I have experience in various forms of content writing, such as blog posts, website copy, social media content, and product descriptions. I am proficient in research and can write on a broad range of topics. I can also adhere to your editorial guidelines and produce content that is both engaging and informative.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would love to discuss how I can contribute to your content needs further.

Yours truly,

Cover Letter Sample for Graphic Design Job

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for your Graphic Design position and showcase my expertise in creating visually appealing designs that capture your audience’s attention.

I have extensive experience in various design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. Additionally, I am well-versed in identifying the target audience and tailoring designs to meet the client’s needs. I can produce designs for a variety of mediums, including print, digital, and web.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the possibility of contributing my skills to your team.

Cover Letter Sample for Translation Job

I am interested in your Translation job posting and am confident that I can deliver accurate and professional translations in a timely fashion. I am knowledgeable in both the source and target languages and proficient in using various translation tools.

I have an extensive background in translating various forms of content, including academic papers, legal documents, marketing materials, and web content. I can produce high-quality translations that are tailored to the client’s needs while maintaining their intended meaning and tone.

Thank you for reviewing my application. I am available at your convenience to discuss how I can help you with your translation needs further.

Cover Letter Sample for Social Media Marketing Job

I came across your Social Media Marketing job posting and believe that I can help you develop and implement a winning social media strategy. I have years of experience in social media marketing and can produce results-driven campaigns that engage your target audience and increase brand awareness.

I am proficient in using various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I have experience in creating social media content, developing social media calendars, and tracking social media analytics. Moreover, I can tailor my approach to meet your specific business objectives and goals.

I appreciate your consideration and would love to discuss how I can help you achieve your social media marketing goals.

Cover Letter Sample for Web Development Job

I am excited to apply for your Web Development job posting on Upwork. With years of experience in web development, I am confident that I can deliver the optimal website for your business.

I have a strong command of various programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Additionally, I am proficient in development frameworks such as React, Angular, and Laravel. I am well-versed in designing responsive websites that are optimized for search engines, fast, and user-friendly.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing your project further.

Kind regards,

Tips for Writing Cover Letters for Upwork Jobs

Upwork is one of the largest online marketplaces where businesses and freelancers connect for work. Whether you’re entirely new to Upwork or looking to improve your chances of landing more jobs, one of the most crucial parts of the application process is to write a killer cover letter. Here are some tips to help you create a cover letter that will get you hired:

Keep it concise and personalized

Avoid writing a long, rambling cover letter. Instead, make it short and to the point. Focus on the main points, and draw attention to your strengths and accomplishments. Also, make sure to personalize each cover letter for the job you are applying for. Research the company and the job description, and incorporate this knowledge into your letter. Doing so will demonstrate your interest and increase your chances of getting hired.

Showcase your experience

When applying for a job through Upwork, it is essential to highlight your experience and success. Mention any relevant projects or clients you have worked with before, and how your skills and knowledge have helped these businesses. Be specific about how you have contributed to projects in the past and emphasize how you can help the potential client solve their problem.

Highlight your skills and achievements

Understand the job requirements and include in your cover letter how you meet these requirements with your skills and accomplishments. You should highlight what you bring to the table by explaining how your skills make you the best candidate for this particular job. Provide examples of how you have utilized your skills to solve problems in past projects or roles. Show that you have what it takes to get the project done.

Add a call to action

Conclude your cover letter with a call to action, letting the client know what you can offer them and that you are excited to work with them. Let them know that you are looking forward to hearing back from them, and they can contact you for further questions or to discuss the project in more detail.

By following these tips, writing a compelling cover letter for Upwork will become easier and will help you land not only more jobs but also the right jobs for you. Remember that your cover letter is an extension of yourself on paper. It should be thoughtful, concise, and show your potential client just how qualified and passionate you are.

FAQs about Cover Letter Examples for Upwork

What is a cover letter and why do I need one for Upwork?

A cover letter is a written document that accompanies your Upwork job proposal. It is a way for you to introduce yourself, sell your skills, and show the client why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

How can I make my cover letter stand out?

To make your cover letter stand out, you should customize it for each job you apply for. Use specific examples to show how you can help the client achieve their goals, and demonstrate that you have read and understand the requirements of the job posting.

Can I use a cover letter template for my Upwork proposals?

Yes, you can use a cover letter template as a starting point for your Upwork proposals. However, you should customize the content to fit the job posting and to reflect your unique skills and experience.

How long should my Upwork cover letter be?

Your Upwork cover letter should be concise and to the point. Ideally, it should be no more than one page long, and should highlight your most important qualifications and skills.

What should I avoid including in my Upwork cover letter?

You should avoid including irrelevant information in your Upwork cover letter, such as personal details or unrelated work experience. Additionally, do not copy and paste your resume into your cover letter – the two documents should complement each other.

Do I need to include my hourly rate in my cover letter?

It is not necessary to include your hourly rate in your Upwork cover letter – you can discuss this with the client once they have expressed interest in working with you. However, if the job posting includes a budget range, you can mention that your proposed rate falls within that range.

Should I include a call to action in my cover letter?

Yes, you should include a call to action in your Upwork cover letter. This could be a request for an interview or for the client to review your portfolio. It shows that you are proactive and interested in the job.

Thanks for reading, and happy job hunting!

We hope these cover letter examples have been helpful in guiding you towards a successful proposal on Upwork. Remember that crafting a personalized and effective cover letter is crucial to standing out from the competition and ultimately landing your dream project. Keep practicing and refining your approach, and don’t forget to visit our site for more guidance and inspiration. Here’s to your next great opportunity!

5 Effective Cover Letter Samples for Upwork Proposal to Win Your Dream Project Top 10 Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Customer Service to Boost Your Chances of Getting Hired Guide to Writing an Effective Cover Letter for Upwork Template 10 Effective Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal Sample Templates You Can Use Today How to Write an Effective Proposal Letter for Upwork: A Step-by-Step Guide The Perfect Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal: Ace your Freelance Applications

The Best Upwork Cover Letter Sample

I’ve given you guys a real Upwork cover letter sample to use when you’re writing your own proposals on Upwork.

The Upwork proposal is the first impression a potential client gets from you, so it is well worth your time to learn how to write the best Upwork cover letters!

I’ve been working on Upwork for over three years and have been able to make a steady $3000/month using the freelancing platform.

This guide is a culmination of all my secret tips and hacks that I’ve learnt over the years, so that you too can start winning jobs on Upwork and make money online!

As well as writing this free guide, I’ve also created the Best FREE Upwork Cover Letter template for you to download and use for your own Upwork proposals.

This is the same killer template that I used to write Upwork cover letters for Virtual Assistant jobs that I WON charging $25/hour! 

DOWNLOAD FREE PDF UPWORK PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

This sample template will help you WOW potential clients and become a successful virtual assistant on Upwork.  

Top 5 Virtual Assistant Training Courses

How To Write The Best Upwork Cover Letter

First impressions count.

When you are applying for Upwork jobs as a freelancer, make sure you check and see how many other proposals the client has already received for the job you want to apply for.

Often, clients receive 20-50 different proposals from freelancers all eager to win the job. 

YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR UPWORK COVER LETTER STAND OUT!

If you want to be successful on Upwork, then you NEED to learn how to write a good proposal. It is vital.  

Your Upwork proposal is the first impression clients get of you, it is worth your time to write personalised cover letters for each job you apply for.

Tip 1 – Do Your Research

Read the job posting two or three times, looking for any clues into the client’s background. 

If they sign off with their name, make sure you directly address them by their name in your greeting.

They might not have left their name at the end, but have a look and see if the company name is mentioned and see if you can Google their name that way.

If the company name has been mentioned, then do your research and see what you can find out about the company. 

Treat the research before writing a proposal just like how you would before a real life job interview, before going to a job interview you would want to find out as much as you can about your potential employee.

Upwork is no different.  

Top Ten Freelance Writing Courses Online

Tip 2 – open with a compliment.

My proposals start with a friendly ‘Hi…name’ because ‘Dear…’ seems slightly too formal for Upwork.

Take a look at the two sample cover letters I’ve included in this post and notice how after greeting the potential by their name, what’s the second thing I do.

I complimented them, either on their business if I was able to find that out from my research OR on the job posting. 

You can compliment them on how interesting the job description is, and why it caught your eye. 

Everyone likes to be flattered and a potential Upwork client is no different! 

Be careful not to go over the top though, people can tell when your Upwork proposal has a fake feel to it. Be yourself and be genuine, that will shine through in your cover letter. 

Tip 3 – Your Upwork Experience

A good Upwork proposal should highlight the benefits of working with you, but you be sure not to brag! 

After opening with a compliment and a friendly greeting, you want to state why you would be a good fit for the project.

Talk about your experience in the industry, for example, how many years have you worked in it.

If you don’t have any direct experience, then don’t worry, try and use examples that relate to the job. Be inventive!

You may have worked for a well-known company in the past, mention them, a well-known company gives you credibility. I worked as a Virtual Assistant for a VP of VICE Media and I am always sure to mention this in my Upwork proposals. 

Perhaps your education is relevant to the job description, go ahead and talk about it, but only if it is relevant. 

Tip 4 – Problem Solving

The next paragraph you will want to emphasize why you’re the freelancer they NEED to hire. 

What can you do for them that is different from the other freelancers applying for the job?

Taking a look at my example Upwork proposals, you can see that I asked further questions about the client’s company and I showed a genuine interest in her particular field of women entrepreneurs. 

My experience was my best selling point here, so I focused on that in my Upwork proposal and made sure to highlight my assets of being excellent at organization and time management.

When you are writing your cover letter have a think about what can you do for the client?

How will you make their life easier?

What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Freelancing

Tip 5 – call to action.

Once you’ve written about your relevant experience and skills, explain why you would be able to make your client’s life easier and solve their problem, the cover letter is finished.

The only step left is to close with a call to action, suggest a Skype call. Keep it casual, just a simple ‘If you have time, it would be great to jump on a quick five-minute call to chat further.’

This isn’t as scary as it sounds and chatting with a client on Skype is a great way to find out if you would be a good fit working together which is vital if you want to receive good testimonials. 

The final step in writing the best Upwork cover letters is to finish with a simple ‘Looking forward to hearing from you.’

Nothing fancy but always friendly and professional.

Tip 6 – Knowing What To Charge

Once you’ve learned how to write the best Upwork cover letter, it’s time to think about what to charge a client.

Don’t go by the proposed budget the client has set, do some research and see what you can find out.

Have a look at their previous job history, what kind of hourly rate do they charge?

Know your worth! Remember you need to make money too and Upwork takes a hefty 24% commission for the first $500 earned with a client, so be sure to factor this into your rate. 

When I apply for jobs, if I can see that a client has a strong job history and pays fair rates, then I am not afraid to double their proposed budget. 

For example, recently a client proposed $200 for a SEO project, I calculated that the work was worth $455 so that’s what I submitted in my proposal. . . and I won it!

That was more than two times the original proposed budget, but it wouldn’t be worth my time doing it for less.

If a client doesn’t want to pay a fair wage then pass, there are fair clients out there on Upwork, it is worth the wait to find them.

Know your worth and add tax!

Tip 7 – Double Check

After writing the best Upwork cover letter ever, the final thing to do is double-check it all.

Look for small spelling mistakes.

Does it read well?

Are all your facts able to be backed up if asked for proof?

Then click submit and let’s win jobs!

The Best Upwork Cover Letter Template PDF

We were all beginners once, so I want to make your life a bit easier and have created this FREE Upwork Proposal Template that I used to use when writing my Upwork cover letters.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE TEMPLATE

Use the template as a basic structure but be sure to customize it appropriately for each job proposal you submit for. 

If you have any further questions about how to write the best Upwork cover letter or how to be successful on Upwork, feel free to write below in the comments or shoot me a quick email!

Further Upwork Resources

Why You’re Not Winning Jobs On Upwork

How To Be Successful On Upwork

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5 thoughts on “the best upwork cover letter sample”.

So useful, thank you!

What a great step by step guide for putting your best foot forward. Thank you for sharing this info!

This was an awesome post! Very informative!

Nice and concise post that will be helpful to many people!

Great template! I have contemplated doing work on this platform, but have never jumped in. Thanks for the suggestions.

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Home » Upwork Cover Letter Sample: 09 Examples & Ideas

Upwork Cover Letter Sample: 09 Examples & Ideas

We know you’re looking for the best way to start your job search, and we want to help. Our Upwork Cover Letter Sample are designed to show you how to highlight your skills and experiences in the most effective way possible. With a well-written cover letter, you’ll be one step closer to getting the job of your dreams. Let us help you make an amazing first impression on potential employers.

Cover letters are an important part of the job application process, and they can be a great way to show off your skills and personality. Cover letters can be a great way to show off your skills and enthusiasm for the position. But they can also be a lot of work to write. However, many people struggle with knowing how to write them. If you’re looking for some inspiration, or just want to see what a good cover letter looks like, we’ve got you covered. We’ve included a few work cover letter samples that you can use as a starting point for your own applications.

Check out these sample ideas to get inspired! There are many different ways to showcase your skills and experience in a cover letter. So find one that fits your personality and style. And don’t forget to personalize it for each job you apply to – the hiring manager will be able to tell that you took the time to tailor it just for them.

For More: Beginner Short Cover Letter Sample: 07 Examples Ideas

Table of Contents

Cover Letter for Upwork Proposal

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing to apply for the [POST TITLE] role advertised on your website. I have experience in [FIELD], and believe my skills and previous experience make me a worthy candidate for this position.

From my research, it seems that you are looking for a [DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION]. My CV is enclosed.

I would like to highlight my relevant skills and experience as follows:

> [OTHER INFORMATION THAT BRANCHES FROM THE JOB DESCRIPTION].

Any questions you may have regarding my application should be answered by the enclosed CV, but please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] [CONTACT DETAILS] .

Sample Cover Letter for Upwork

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached my CV to apply for the position of [JOB TITLE HERE]. I would be grateful if you would consider me for this role.

During the course of my 10+ years working in [INDUSTRY & POSITION], I have successfully demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team across various projects. I have made significant contributions to the success of projects by successfully managing the requirements, developing solutions and leading vendor teams.

As well as bringing extensive experience to this role, I also bring many personal qualities that are required for this position including drive, commitment, resilience and organization. The ability to work under pressure is a key requirement for this position and I have consistently demonstrated these skills.

My qualifications, achievements and contributions would make me an asset to your company. As previous employers, my referees will confirm that I am a hard working team player with honesty and integrity who always delivers on time. Please contact me should you wish to discuss this position in further detail.

Yours sincerely, Name:_______, Email:___________, Address:__________ Contact#____________

Upwork proposal cover letter

Respected Sir,

I am writing to apply for the Customer Support Specialist position on your website. I have been brought up and educated in a very supportive and encouraging family and was taught from an early age to be kind, polite and helpful.

Having grown up with pets has also given me an insight into how challenging some tasks can be for someone who is inexperienced. As well as this, I have experience in a customer service environment from my early teenage years and worked in several areas such as retail, hospitality, and more recently social media marketing.

I am very passionate about the sport of swimming and volunteer for various local events within my community. This has developed many skills that relate to this role including time management, understanding different types of people, and working well as part of a team.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully, Name:_______, Email:___________, Address:__________Contact#____________

Cover Letter Upwork Sample

Respected Hiring Manager,

I am writing to you with reference to my application for the position of ___________ as advertised on your website. Here is a brief summary of my experience and suitability for this role:

In 2019 I graduated from the University of Westminster with a Bachelors’s degree in Business Administration and immediately began applying for work in accountancy. I have had some success in securing roles at small local businesses but find that I lack experience in more varied areas of administration.

I have recently found your advertisement for _________ role and think it is an excellent opportunity for me to gain valuable new skills while working with a hiring company of your stature. My current education, combined with my already acquired skills in the administration would enable me to contribute efficiently and effectively to your company.

I can also see that this role requires knowledge of the following skills: __________________. So I am confident that my education has equipped me with sufficient knowledge of these areas and look forward to elaborating on how these skills could benefit your business.

I believe my drive for success coupled with my commitment to growth would make me a valuable addition to your company. So I am available at your earliest convenience for an interview and hope you find the attached resume relevant to this role

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information or have any questions about my suitability. Thank you again for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards, Name:_______, Email:___________, Address:__________Contact#____________

Cover Letter for Upwork Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I observed in your advertisement for a social media account manager that you are in need of someone who can offer creative and out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to business. I believe that my qualifications and experience make me the perfect candidate for this position. My career has been marked by consistent success working with people, building relationships, and researching new ideas.

I am confident that I can bring value to your company, particularly in the role of social media account manager. Here are some reasons why:

I have three years of experience working for a marketing firm where I learned invaluable lessons about how to manage client relationships and create engaging content for social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

During my tenure at Barnes and Noble, I managed the website and social media accounts for three years. Working with customers all day long really improved my knowledge of what makes people tick. So I believe this is an important quality to make me effective as a social media account manager for your business.

I have experience creating engaging content for various platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. As well as creating promotional material for Google Adwords.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications and how I can contribute to your company. Will contact you on Monday, April 18th to set up a time to meet and talk about what you need from a social media account manager.

Best regards, Name:_______, Email:___________, Address:__________ Contact#____________

Upwork Cover Letter Example

In this letter, I would like to present myself as a candidate for a Virtual Assistant position with your company. First, I will give you a brief description of who I am and what my qualifications are, then explain how my experience can be valuable in helping your company achieve its goals. Finally, I will provide you with references – both personal and professional – that you may contact.

My name is _____, and I am an experienced business development representative with a strong background in public relations, marketing, and social media. Also my primary focus has been on working with small businesses to cultivate their brands through the implementation of quality content marketing strategies. My goal is to use my expertise to help make your company a household name.

In addition to being a skilled marketer, I am also an exemplary writer and editor. My work for both small businesses and large corporations has been praised by clients and colleagues alike for its creativity, unique perspective, flow, readability, grammar, spelling, punctuation, use of industry-specific acronyms/jargon, and depth of research.

You can be confident that all work I complete for your company will not only meet, but exceed your standards. I would be willing to complete any necessary training, and my hourly rate is $22/hr.

Sincerely, Name:_______, Email:___________, Address:__________ Contact#____________

Best Upwork Cover Letter Samples

My name is _____ and I am writing in response to the job advertisement for a customer support representative. I believe that my experience and skills would be an asset to your organization, specifically in regard to this position.

I have previous work-related experience as a customer support representative, which allowed me to build strong communication skills, learn how to deal with a wide range of people in various work-related situations, and improve my computer skills.

My qualifications also include the following:

(insert list)

I am confident that my experience has developed qualities such as these that would make me an asset to your company. Would love the chance to discuss this role in person and demonstrate how I could benefit your organization.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Upwork Proposal Cover Letter Sample

Respected HR Manager,

I am writing to apply for the currently available position of a Social Media Manager on Upwork.com. I saw your listing on LinkedIn and think that I’m the perfect candidate for the job.

My name is [NAME] and I am passionate about social media marketing. Over my career, I have worked in various positions most recently as a Social Media Manager at [COMPANY NAME]. My duties included creating content for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other channels on a daily basis.

I am familiar with all social media platforms and have gained extensive experience in engaging an audience by publishing relevant articles. What is more, I have used my skills to promote the company’s new products or services. I have also had opportunities to conduct interviews with experts within the industry via Skype or Google Hangouts, which turned out very successful.

I am sure that I could bring a lot of value to your company as Social Media Manager at Upwork.com. My attached resume provides an overview of my education and professional experience. But if you wish to learn more, I am ready to answer all of your questions.

Please feel free to contact me at [PHONE] or via email at [EMAIL] at any time. I have attached my resume as a PDF file and look forward to hearing from you soon.

For More: 111+ Attractive Hair Stylist Resume Objective ideas & Examples

Upwork Sample Cover Letter

Dear HR Manager,

Indeed, it’s a real pleasure to be writing you. I came across your company’s advertisement for a Front Desk Officer on Jobstreet during my hunt for new opportunities. And am confident that I would be a valuable addition to your workplace.

I am currently working at [Name of previous Company], having been employed there since [Time period working there].

How I believe I would be a great fit for your esteemed organization due to my extensive experience, communication skills and understanding of the nature of this role. So I am confident that, with me on board, you will not only maintain the standard required but also see an increase in both productivity and profit.

I have enclosed my CV for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon,

So, what do you think? Are you inspired to try out some of these work cover letter ideas for your next application? So Let us know in the comments section below. So if you need more help getting started, be sure to check out our professional writing services. We can take the hassle out of crafting a stellar job application and make sure your resume stands out from the rest. We hope this article has helped you to come up with some ideas for your own cover letter. If it’s not, don’t worry because we have plenty of other resources on the blog that could help you out! You can find them by clicking here or visiting our homepage anytime. Once again, thanks for tuning in and good luck on finding a new job!

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So, you want to create winning cover letters on Upwork? Read this

Are you dreaming of landing freelance clients remotely and get the control to quit your job?

The first step is writing a cover letter on Upwork that wins a client over to your side. In this guide, you and I will dive deeper into what good and bad proposals look like and the specific steps to master writing them.

You’ll need to know less than you think and practice more but don’t worry, we’ll cover everything you need. This is the best skill you can master to earn money on the side. I know that’s a bold statement and think about it: even if you could do nothing else, you can offer to help businesses write proposals or sell their services for them. 

I take a different approach than most others because I don’t feel good about coming across as salesy. To my luck, it turns out to work really well as you might have seen in the case studies here .

The trade-off is that it requires more work than the average freelancer puts in, so truth be told, this is not for everyone. If you feel lazy and freelancing isn’t that important to you, no judgment from me but this probably isn’t what you are looking for.

With that note out of the way, let’s dig in!

Update : I prepared an article on writing strong Upwork proposals over at Millo in case you are serious about landing clients.

No matter if we are looking for a freelance gig, a traditional job, running a marketing campaign, writing copy or anything else that has an element of persuasion to it, we tend to win by first understanding what the client is looking for before crafting what we’ll show them.

To make this guide on writing a winning cover letter on Upwork very real, let’s first upload a project to the website and see what happens before we dive into the nitty-gritty of how to master the Upwork proposals.

How freelance clients experience Upwork

We could have picked any type of project, so to make this easy to follow for many of us, let’s pick a project around lead generation research.

First, we need to decide on a job title and category.

Next, we click update and move on to writing what we think is a good and descriptive project description. I took the liberty of preparing one that you can see below – I apologize for the zoom out, I wanted to add everything there for you to see.

Let’s make this a one-time project and move on.

There are so many different skills we can attach to the project. It feels as if there are too many to choose from, so let’s just pick quantitative research and move on.

On the same page we also have to pick some skills. It is unclear what this is for, so let’s stick with market research and data entry. 

We also need to share what level of experience the freelancer should have. It’s difficult to judge, so let’s pick the one in the middle. It’s probably a nice balance.

Next, we have to select if we only want to invite a specific freelancer or make it public, and how many freelancers we need. One freelancer will do for this project. Let’s keep it open and get some bids so the freelancers can show us what they got, shall we?

Finally, it seems, we have to enter the budget. A fixed price seems like a good bet but I don’t know how much this is worth. Especially, since we don’t yet know how many leads are out there and we want to pay what’s fair without getting ripped off.

Let’s say $1 per lead and add $200. Perhaps we are able to change it later.

A quick review of our details and we are off to the races.

Yay! Our project is live! We are taken to this page and suggested to invite freelancers but since we don’t know any, we’ll let the freelancers come to us with proposals.

Fast forward two days… Let’s see if we got any proposals.

..We did! We got 20 proposals. This is what it looks like when we browse through the proposals:

Somehow Upwork has decided for us that 14 out of the 20 options are the “best match”. Let’s take a look. I have blurred out any personal details out of respect for each freelancers’ privacy.

Let’s look at the other proposals…

Wow, this is a long proposal. Interesting. The freelancer found and included my name which is great.

This next proposal is long, so I had to bite it up into two screenshots.

Besides the fact that this is very long and a good chunk of it feels like rewording of the project description, this isn’t bad either. The freelancer has a few questions and has thought about the project along with specifics that we will receive as a client. Not bad at all.

This next one has attached an example from a similar project. For privacy of the people in the doc, I’ll not add it here but the formatting looks like what you and I are looking for.

The proposal is nice, short and not bad at all. Let’s see what else we have.

I’m not entirely sure how the language skills help with the project. Are you? Anyway, let’s not sit and think about how it might, with all the cover letters we have to go through. 

We are busy and this is just one task out of many that we have to do as a client running a business. It’s one of those cases where it would be great if the freelancer had explained how it could help the project.

The rest of the proposals are quite similar… except for these two:

Nice! Look at this doc:

The freelancer showed a sample of what our project would look like. There were only one other candidate that did the same thing:

The proposal itself doesn’t feel that relevant to the project but based on the sample below it feels as if the freelancer understands what we are looking for. Right?

There are plenty more, similar, proposals. Since you are busy and don’t have all day to look at this (just like clients don’t), let’s leave it with those highlights. 

Looking over these proposals, what do you notice?

I notice a few things:

We got a few different “categories” of proposals: 

• The “hail mary” copy-paste proposal that isn’t really relevant
• The ones that tried to explain how their experience was relevant
• The ones that showed us what the project would look like when it is completed

As a client it feels easier to judge if someone is the right fit by showing us something rather than telling us about their background. 

Particularly, because it is hard to trust that we are on the same page — even if someone says they understand, I’ve worked in outsourcing and remote projects for long enough to know that just saying someone understands is no guarantee that the two parties are on the same page.

Communicating between client and freelancer, and being on the same page is the biggest challenge with outsourcing, so it is extra important that even if we feel we understand, that we also work to make the client feel that we understand because there is a high chance we are not on the same page. 

Especially, clients experienced at hiring will be concerned about this and we’ll look experienced and score some easy points by pointing out that we know this is a problem and work to mitigate it. Telling something is easy – I can tell you that I know how to build a new Facebook but why would you believe me? Saying stuff is easy.. Especially on the internet.

It is really challenging to make the solution attractive based on explaining ourselves compared to showing the sample as a few of the freelancers did. There is something to the visual aspect.

At this point in the hiring process, we haven’t even looked at pricing, the Job Success Score, testimonials, top rated-badges or anything like that. 

It didn’t even cross my mind since we first need to make sure that we are getting what we are looking for and we got that proven from two people.

Almost all of the proposals were focused on the freelancer writing it rather than the project and the client. The irony is that I wouldn’t have thought about their background much if they haven’t focused so much on highlighting it.

And guess what: just as the freelancer is thinking about themselves, we as the client is doing the same. Everyone is and it’s normal. I don’t really care about their background, just whether they can do the project well or not.

Since most of the freelancer competition thinks about themselves, if we do the opposite, we’ll stand out immediately.

Another thing that I noticed in the proposals is that I didn’t feel any personal connection. I know this isn’t obvious but I would have loved to see a more personal or friendly way of writing the proposals. Most of the proposals felt very formal and in some cases even formulaic.

Even though freelancers are able to see how many proposals have been submitted, no one seemed to comment or mitigate the fact that there were a lot of competing freelancers for the same project. 

Many of the proposals would have been decent or perhaps even gotten a shot if there weren’t any other proposals… but there were. 

Since we can only hire one freelancer for the project, it’s a winner takes all scenario so if someone would make it 10% better, they would probably win.

With a lot of proposals and little time (being a busy client), it can feel overwhelming to look through many proposals and none of the freelancers seemed to consider that — and even if they did, we don’t know what they are thinking if they don’t share it with us. It doesn’t feel fair as a freelancer, I agree, but it is the world we live in and I’ve seen clients feel this way so many times.

I’m pleasantly surprised that there are more customized proposals whereas in the past, I’ve seen that most of the proposals have been lazy and irrelevant copy-paste cover letters.

Experienced clients see right through the template proposals, especially since there are many other proposals to compare with.

If we take the time to write even a basic custom proposal, we move from the worst bracket and into the middle bracket (in the three proposal brackets we talked about earlier) that might be considered for the project depending on the competition.

The challenge is that in most cases there can be only one winning freelancer, so we need to be the best. Luckily, it often isn’t that challenging.

Now, with a basic perspective of how it feels to be on the client side, let’s look at what good proposals look like and how we can create our own. 

But first, let’s look at why we keep sending the same proposals even if they don’t land us any jobs and how clients are pitched by other freelancers outside of Upwork compared to on the website so we have a basic reference point.

Why we keep sending proposals that don’t land jobs

We’ve all tried doing something that doesn’t work like sending out proposals that doesn’t land clients. After sending out a bunch of similar ones and not hearing back, why do we keep applying in the same way even though we know it probably won’t work?

Or in other words, why do we keep doing the same thing yet expect a different result?

This quote is often signed as said by Einstein but that doesn’t seem to be true: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

Either way, the point is great.

For some of us it is because we feel like we are working even though we know that working and making progress is not the same thing.

We are used to focusing on the number of hours we work from our traditional job but here on Upwork/with freelancing, we win by focusing on impact.

To mitigate it, we can for example create a habit around having a “doctor’s appointment” where we go undisturbed to dive deeper into the project for a little bit.

This requires reframing since we are used to clock in and out of jobs for a long time, and so this will naturally take a while to change.

This is one of the most powerful life lessons I’ve learned from freelancing and ironically, working in a traditional job, modern bosses tend to love this since it moves their business forward. Clocking in and out is just a metric created to hopefully help drive an impact on the bottom line but it isn’t a very good fit for that.

Examples of winning cover letters on Upwork

An Upwork proposal is different from what clients normally consider a proposal. On Upwork, this is the first impression the client gets of us whereas outside of Upwork, the proposal is usually the final recap of a potential project.

This graphic can serve as a summary:

As you’ll see, we’ll normally have had the opportunity to establish that we are good at what we do, discuss a specific project, and perhaps even flesh out the details. On Upwork, it is the other way around.

An Upwork proposal consists of a cover letter and sometimes additional questions, although the word “cover letter” is sometimes used interchangeably with “proposal”.

So what does a good Upwork proposal look like? Let’s dig in by first look at a few example proposals that won the project they were pitching for!

Upwork cover letter examples

The job description

The Upwork cover letter

The project was won at $35/h.

Another example. The project description:

Won at $250.

The cover letter:

The Upwork cover letter:

Why did these Upwork cover letters work?

Let’s see which insights we can extract from the cover letters. What do you notice? 

I notice that the proposals feel custom written to each of the projects — they show that the freelancer took the time to get to know the client and project before applying. There are some minor mistakes here and there. They are not perfect and that’s OK too.

The cover letters are SPECIFIC both in terms of addressing the project but also the freelancers’ background. They comment specifically on the project or business showing that they did their research.

I also notice that they often point out a specific unknown in the project that the client might not have thought about. Something that is needed in order to give accurate advice or price.

They take one of the following approaches (or both): friendly with genuine interest or focus on being the expert.

They are not trying to be the expert by writing a long essay about their experience, in fact, they tend to have only a small section about the freelancers’ expertise or background.

And finally, they end with a CTA to make the conversation and next steps easier for the client.

Other insights I’ve noticed are:

• The human aspect is more important than we think. I’ve earned a lot by being friendly, thoughtful of the client’s time, and focused on what they wanted – not always what I thought was best
• Showcasing our expertise and portfolio is important. Just not as always much as we like to think.

Next, let’s dive into how to apply these insights in our own Upwork cover letters.

Step by step guide to writing Upwork cover letters that win projects

A quick note before we begin. Since I’ve covered most of the frequent Upwork cover letter questions more in detail separately, I will not be diving into them here but I here are the links to each of them in case you need to dive in:

• Why do you think you are a good fit for this particular project?
• Do you have suggestions to make this project run successfully?
• What part of this project most appeals to you?

Let’s put everything we’ve learned together into the three key sections in the proposal:

Step 1: The hook

Direct response copywriting is the art of writing copy that persuades people to do  certain things — usually buy a product. 

That rule is that the headline only has one purpose: to get the reader to write the first paragraph. And the first paragraph only has one purpose: to get the reader to read the second paragraph.

You get the gist. When we apply for Upwork jobs with many proposals that are already submitted, this is particularly important, since it is easy to be lost in the sea of other proposals as we saw earlier. 

The first few paragraphs have one purpose, to get the client to open the proposal in first place. That’s it!

We can do that by addressing the client by name to instantly show that we are not wasting their time. Experienced Upwork clients are used to shitty and irrelevant proposals, so this is a good way to signal right from the get go that we are not one of those.

We can use the first few lines to write something that hooks them in since they can see that in their dashboard without opening the proposal. For example a compliment about the project or how we have similar experience.

For example “Hi NAME, I’m excited to see that you are also working in the language learning industry. I’ve helped a number of similar businesses drive customers with Facebook ads.”

Or “Hi NAME, I got excited when I saw your project about helping language students. I’ve learned two languages on my own and the most common challenge I see with students is that they are afraid of practicing because they don’t want to look stupid.”

You will often be able to find the name of the client in previous project descriptions or in the testimonials from previous projects.

Step 2: The meat

All other things being equal, this is the most important part of the proposal: We’ll show the client why we are relevant for the project. 

We can do that in a few different ways. For example by showing what we’ve done in the past but instead of showing our entire portfolio or work history, we’ll highlight just a few examples that are relevant to the project. 

That way, the busy client can quickly understand why we are relevant instead of looking at our life story and trying to guess it themselves. This is extra work and it is hard, and that’s why the client doesn’t do it. Most freelancers don’t do it either and so if we do, it’s so much easier to win the project.

For example “ As I understand you are looking for help running Facebook ads to drive more customers. I’ve helped a number of businesses similar to yours, one was teaching German and another Spanish.

By experimenting with different images, text, and audiences, I optimized the campaign from getting customers at $9/customer to $1/customer. There are many things to test but I’ve found that just focusing on the two that make a big difference will give the most bang for your buck. It would be great to speak with you to understand what you’ve already tried and how it went.”

If you don’t feel like you have perfectly related experience, highlight a project and show how one part of it is relevant. If the customers have been the same, you might highlight the pain points and show that you understand that type of customer well.

For example, if the project is for a business selling bathroom utilities like this one:

We might say: “ I helped another client in the bathroom utility industry generate leads with online marketing. We tested out three different channels: SEO, Linked ads, and Google search ads. LinkedIn was decent yet expensive. We built a great combo between different channels that I think you’ll find attractive.

Even though the items sold were slightly different, they were in a similar industry so there is likely overlap with the buying decision between their customers and yours.

With another client that sells portable gear for events, I’ve helped build a short term funnel with ads to get client leads quickly and a long-term approach with organic search traffic.

I figure your business is likely selling to event owners and in the second example my client was doing the same yet selling different gear.”

Do you remember the two best proposals we saw for the project we put on Upwork earlier? Showing samples as they did is another great approach to the “meat”-section of the proposal if we can show exactly what the project will look like. 

This is particularly great if you feel as if you don’t have any relevant experience because we move the focus to what the project will look like. 

We can expand this by walking the client through the process as well. This is also where we mitigate hidden client questions.

Common questions that are often not shared in the project description and overlooked are: 

• If there are changes/revisions during the project, will we, as the freelancer, disappear?
• Will we be easy to work with or does the busy client have to learn something new e.g. software?

We can mitigate that by for example detailing how communication might look like throughout the project e.g. if they will get weekly updates or a quick response time. 

Long-time readers of the blog will not be surprised: this is where putting in the extra effort upfront pays off.

However, I have noticed that even if something isn’t perfect, clients tend to love to see that we put in the effort because it doesn’t happen often. Modern business owners switch more and more from focusing on a specific skill set when hiring and instead, towards attitude and mindset because skills are easier to teach. 

We can show that by briefly explaining our thoughts behind what we are showing them and if relevant, the thought process behind it. 

For example if a job description is showing how a client want to run Facebook ads but doesn’t mention the project, we might explain that in order to recommend the best strategy we’d need to know more about the product and industry.

We might also show an example of how it changes depending on the price of the product e.g. that when a product cost more, a longer funnel/more time is needed in order to persuade the buyer.

Step 3: the close

This section is easy and focuses on next steps. Write a paragraph or two about the portfolio pieces or testimonials you have attached – don’t just attach things and let the busy client guess what it is.

Then conclude with one question so the client knows what to do next. I like to suggest a phone call to learn more but if you aren’t sure if you can help the client yet, you might ask a simple question about their business such as which industry they are in or about the products they sell.

For example, “I’d like to keep this short to respect your time. I have attached a few testimonials from previous projects, in case you are curious. Out of interest, what are your most popular products and what price point do they sell at?”

There is no real formula and it is more art than science as long as you add the key components and answer the questions that the client is looking to get answered. They might be described directly in the job description as well as those hidden questions we discussed before.

The client wants to know how we can help them and the more specific we are in showing them that, the easier it is to understand why they should work with us.

Portfolio, Upwork profile text, Job Success Score, etc. are all ways to show that and help the client “outsource ” the decision. 

We can either help them outsource the deciding by having them think “if this freelancer worked on x project or with y client brand that I like, they can probably help me as well”, or we can go ahead and show them directly how their project will look and what it feels like to work together with us through showing the process.

For example, if there is a big timezone difference we might realize that they could be concerned about it and instead of leaving it up to chance we can address it right away — which also shows that we thought about the client and how they might feel.

We might tell them that the time zone difference is actually a benefit because they can wake up to a project update in their inbox since we can work on their project while they are asleep because of the time zone difference. 

Notice how much we dive into how the client feels. That is not random. Clients often hire freelancers based on emotions even though most of us like to think that it is a logical decision.

Remember, your proposal doesn’t need to be the best in the world, it just needs to be better than the other applicants.

How to win projects if you have no experience?

You and I have already discussed this earlier in the guide and the overarching idea is to win by showing that we put in a lot of effort. We can also make it easier by picking an idea that can be done without crazy technical knowledge like leads research.

The most common approaches to show your attitude is to:

• Show a sample of how the project will be done
• Help the client visualize what the project looks like when it is complete and how the collaboration (incl. communication) will work throughout the project so they know what to expect
• Show that you’ve worked hard to understand the client by including small details that indicate you’ve done your homework instead of writing a long essay

How to write cover letters fast with templates

I don’t recommend using this section until you’ve landed plenty of clients and feel confident that when you send out a certain number of cover letters, you know you’ll land a client.

Only then does it make sense to optimize the process. Otherwise we are optimizing the wrong thing and not gaining anything.

That being said, the simplest way to go about it is to categorize the clients you’ve worked with into certain buckets depending on what type of job descriptions they use and then collect all the winning proposals for each of those job description types.

Next, mix and match each of the proposal sections for new proposals like a swipe file. For example, you might use half of the meat section from one proposal, another half from another proposal and the closing section from a third proposal.

The key here is to only use winning proposals since you know that they work. It makes sense to experiment with a few things here and there to develop new ideas as well. That works particularly well if you can reuse some proven sections of your old proposals.

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Apr 8, 2024 10:06:08 AM  by  Nathan R

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