Proposal Writing Strategies

I've rejected 1000+ proposals on Upwork as a client. Here's why most freelancers never hear back: The anatomy of proposals that get instantly deleted: 1. Copy-Paste Syndrome: - They blast the same generic template to 50 jobs - No personalization or research about my business - Usually starts with "Dear Sir/Madam" 2. The Resume Dumpers: - Send their entire life story - List every skill they've ever learned - Zero focus on my specific problem 3. The Price Warriors: - Lead with "I'll do it for less" - Try to undercut everyone else - No mention of value or results 4. The Vague Generalists: - "I can do anything you need" - No specific expertise or focus - Can't articulate their unique strength 5. The Red Flag Raisers: - Poor grammar and typos - Overpromise impossible timelines - No portfolio or proof of work What actually makes me respond: • Show you read my job post (mention specific details) • Share relevant case studies (not your whole portfolio) • Ask intelligent questions about the project • Demonstrate expertise in your niche • Keep it concise (I'm busy) The harsh truth: I delete 95% of proposals in under 10 seconds. Not because I'm mean. But because freelancers make it easy to say no. Want to stand out? Do the opposite of everything above.

I have scaled my agency SackBerry to $ 10K / month. And, I still don’t outsource my proposals. Not because I don’t trust my team. But because the proposal is where trust begins. It’s the first time a potential client sees: – How we structure ideas – How we think – How we listen – And how capable are we This is where people decide whether or not to trust you with their business. And that decision is rarely about pricing. It’s about precision, tone, and how easy you make the yes. Here’s what I always include in my proposals: 📍 A short insight into the client's current positioning or content gaps 📍 A clear breakdown of scope (no vague terms like “strategy support”) 📍 Tiered pricing—so they can choose based on priorities, not confusion 📍 Timeline with realistic buffers (because I respect everyone’s calendars) 📍 FAQs or “what this doesn’t include” section (to avoid assumptions) 📍 Top 3 of our relevant client case studies Every detail matters. So no, I’m not ready to outsource mine yet. Because every proposal is not a pitch. It’s a signal. If you're in the service business, what's one small thing you've added to your proposal that changed the game? #SakshiDarpan #ContentBusiness #ProposalTips #ClientExperience #FreelanceToFounder #CreativeSystems #BrandStrategy #TrustBuilding

The Proposal Formula That Gets Me Interviews on Upwork Most freelancers on Upwork are doing it wrong. They write long, boring cover letters. They copy and paste the same intro over and over. They beg for work. And then they wonder why they get ignored. Here’s the truth: clients don’t care about your life story, they care about whether you can solve their problem, fast. This is the formula I use to get interviews consistently: 1. Hook immediately. First sentence = impact. “I just helped a business like yours get [specific result] — let’s do the same for you.” If you don’t grab their attention in the first line, you’ve already lost. 2. Mirror their problem. Show them you understand exactly what they’re dealing with. Rewrite their job post in your own words — better than they did. That builds trust instantly. 3. Drop proof. No vague promises. Show them past results, short case studies, or metrics. If you’re new, showcase personal projects or explain how you’d solve it clearly and confidently. 4. End with a simple CTA. Something like: “Want a quick breakdown of how I’d approach this? Happy to send it over.” Make it easy for them to say yes. 5. No fluff. No resume. No desperate energy. Keep it short, clear, and confident. Let them feel you’re already in demand — because you are. Most freelancers try to look impressive. I try to be useful. That’s the difference. Write like you’re the solution. Write like someone who respects their own time. That’s when clients start to respond. #Upwork #FreelanceTips #UpworkSuccess #Freelancing #RemoteWork #FreelancerLife #ClientAcquisition #ProposalWriting #GetClients #WorkFromAnywhere

During my time at Qwilr, I’ve seen THOUSANDS of proposals. Here are 4 proposal plays that the best sellers use to close deals: #1 Lead With Problems Start your proposal by articulating your prospects' problems, ideally in their own words. Using quotes from relevant stakeholders within their organisation will grab your buyers’ attention and show you understand their problems. This immediately demonstrates that this isn’t just a generic pitch – you actually understand them and are focused on their specific issues. Doing this also puts decision-makers in somewhat of a tricky situation. They must either… 1. Disregard the opinions of their team as incorrect 2. Acknowledge they’re facing a problem, but decide not to look for a solution 3. Look for a solution (which you are providing in the rest of your proposal) Most (good) leaders will opt for the latter and will read on to better understand your offering. #2 It's Easy to Digest You MUST ensure your proposal is clear, straightforward and easy to understand. Remember, the folks who will be reviewing your proposal are incredibly busy and don’t have time to decipher endless information, searching for what is relevant for them. If your offer is easy to understand, it’s easier to say yes to. Avoid dense walls of text, and use images, graphics and interactive elements to simplify complex ideas. Always steer away from jargon. While it might showcase a level of expertise, you have to keep in mind that it’s likely a number of people will review your proposal. You need to make sure that EVERYONE will buy in. #3 Make It Relevant Buyers want to know that you’ve helped organisations that look like them, or the type of organisation that they aspire to be. Making sure that your proposal speaks to your buyers’ industry, needs, challenges and objectives will increase the likelihood of engagement Build your case by including concrete data and case studies that resonate with your client’s situation. CAUTION: It can be tempting to litter your proposal with logos and quotations from your “biggest” clients. You should not (always) do this! Instead, focus on featuring logos of similar companies or aspirational peers, not just massive brands. Remember, just because a company is “big” to you, that doesn’t mean your client will care. They want to know you can help THEM! #4 Keep Next Steps Simple It’s essential that you break down your proposal into clear, actionable steps – giving your client a roadmap on how to proceed and what will happen when they sign. You should also educate your champion on how to position the proposal to the buying committee, arming them to sell internally. Meet with them and go through your proposal, asking what needs to be removed and added (for other stakeholders) and how they plan to share it more widely. Want to send proposals that impress buyers and close deals? Try Qwilr for free at https://getqwilr.com

Make writing a proposal for research funding easy. Here is how. There is a tendency to rapidly begin filling in the parts of the application form as soon as possible. With a deadline looming, I used to ask all the partners in a consortium project to state filling in their work packages right away after the first meeting. I had a sooner the better mentality. My plan would be that once we had work packages written I would piece them together. The result. Frankenstein projects. Work packages that did not align, and objectives that sounded like they were each describing different projects. It was a writing nightmare. I was trying sew different ideas together. Reviewers see stitches. Like a good scientific paper, a funding proposal has to have a good logical flow. I now realize that the panicked approach I took previously to funding proposal development is not how to do it. It is much better to be 100% certain of the concept. Then write. For some projects this happens very quickly. Other projects take much more time. Sometimes what you are aiming to do is just complicated and full of uncertainties. Take that time. For scientific papers an outline works. For funding proposals the first step is to get all those involved aligned on the concept. This is not to say you don't write anything at all. To the contrary writing is a way to think. But you need to build up the layers. 1️⃣ Describe the problem and what you will do on a high level. 2️⃣ Then the impacts, outcomes and outputs you intend to have 3️⃣ Then the methods. ➡️ Methods are where you often uncover subtleties and problems that were not apparent at first. You need to solve those problems and the accompanying doubts before you can really begin to write. 4️⃣ Then you can build a project plan. Not before. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." -Abraham Lincoln Take the time to get the concept right, then write. 

Let me save you 3 months of trial and error. Because I’ve already done the hard part — so you don’t have to. If you’re a freelancer struggling to land your first (or next) job on Upwork, read this slowly: I know what it feels like… Refreshing your feed 10 times a day. Sending proposals that get zero views. Wondering if this “Upwork thing” actually works. It does. But only if you stop doing the wrong things. Here’s what you should be doing instead: 1. Stop applying to jobs that already have invites. If a client has invited others, chances are they already have someone in mind. Don’t waste your connects. 2. Target jobs posted within the last 5–10 minutes. Fresh jobs = less competition. Speed is your secret weapon. Yes, a client might still send invites after you apply — but it’s a risk worth taking because clients hang around few minutes after posting a job so there are high chances of getting your proposal viewed. 3. Apply to jobs that request a short video intro (1–2 mins). Most freelancers skip these. Don’t. Even if it’s not required, send a short video anyway. Especially for new clients — it builds instant trust and sets you apart. 4. Don’t ignore clients with new accounts. Yes, some may be shady. But many are real — and ignored. Fewer applicants = higher chances of being noticed. 5. End every proposal with a strong CTA. Guide the client on what to do next. Instead of: “Let me know when you’re free.” Say: “Are you available for a quick call now?” You can also ask: “Can you share your biggest challenge with this project? I’ll come prepared with a plan.” 6. Add a P.S. at the end of your proposal. The P.S. section gets read more often than the main message. Use it to: ♦️Reinforce your motivation ♦️Add urgency ♦️Include a second CTA ♦️Share a bonus insight Example: P.S. I’ve worked on a similar project before — happy to share a sample if that helps speed up your decision-making. 7. Check your profile visibility. Go to Settings → Profile Settings → Visibility. If it’s set to Private, no one can find you in search. Fix that now. 8. Align your categories with your actual skills. Wrong categories = Wrong traffic = No invites. Make sure your selected categories reflect what you actually offer. 9. Start your proposal with a hook that speaks to pain. If the first sentence doesn’t grab attention, nothing else will. Example: “Tired of hiring VAs who overpromise and underdeliver? I get it — here’s how I do things differently…” 10. Track what works. Analyze your proposals. Improve your openers. Test different CTAs. Tweak until you see results. 11. Be consistent. Upwork success isn’t magic — it’s method. Show up daily. Apply to at least 1 job a day. If you don’t have connects, log in and save jobs that match your skills. It signals the algorithm. Got questions about Upwork? Drop them in the comments — I’ll answer. Found this helpful? Repost to help another freelancer cut through 3 months of confusion.

I've reviewed hundreds of freelancer proposals and discovered why most get ignored... And it's not what most "experts" claim. It's not your experience. It's not your portfolio. It's not even your rates. The brutal truth? Your proposals sound exactly like everyone else's because you don't understand copywriting principles. Let me show you what I mean: PROPOSAL #1 (What Everyone Sends): "I'm a skilled web developer with 5 years of experience. I've worked with many clients and can deliver your project on time and within budget. I'm proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress. Please check my portfolio to see my previous work." PROPOSAL #2 (What Gets Responses): "I noticed your current site takes 7.2 seconds to load on mobile – which means you're losing about 32% of visitors before they even see your products. I've helped 3 other e-commerce stores cut their load times by 65%, resulting in conversion increases of 27-41%. Would you be open to me sharing a quick plan for how we could do the same for you?" See the difference? ✅ One is about the freelancer. The other is about the CLIENT'S PROBLEM. ✅ One lists generic qualifications. The other demonstrates specific understanding. ✅ One blends in with 50 other proposals. The other stands out immediately. This is copywriting in action – the art of using words to drive action. The unfortunate reality is that most Pakistani freelancers are learning technical skills but completely overlooking the ONE skill that gets clients to actually hire you – persuasive communication.  Here's how to apply copywriting principles to your proposals: 👉 Lead with their problem or a solution, not your skills 👉 Use specific numbers, not vague claims 👉 Create a mini "before and after" story 👉 Always add a unique 'hook' to your proposals 👉 Never forget to add an easy call to action Learning copywriting principles could be the difference between sending proposals that get ignored and ones that have clients fighting to work with you.

After securing over $2M in research funding and reviewing 100+ proposals, I've identified the exact elements that make reviewers stop, pay attention, and champion your work. How to write a research proposal that gets funded: (7 moves that make yours stand out) 1. Frame the Problem • Show real-world impact • State one clear issue • Use simple language 2. Command the Literature • Challenge old assumptions • Connect past to present • Map key research gaps 3. Clear Methods • Match tools to questions • Detail data collection • Plan for problems 4. Require Resources Right • List exact tools + people needed • Budget precisely • Show feasibility 5. Map the Timeline • Set clear milestones • Break into phases • Add buffer weeks 6. Style the Writing • Make it scannable • Lead with impact • Cut jargon 7. Follow the Format • Follow guidelines exactly • Check every citation • Submit early Want to know the secret? Good proposals tell stories. Great proposals solve problems. Get my FREE guide from: https://lnkd.in/eev8U5K5 What's your biggest proposal writing challenge? Share it below ⬇️ #phd #research #proposals

Straight-Up Real Talk (no fluff): No, it’s not luck. No, it’s not a fancy profile. And no, I’m not in the U.S. either. I just landed another GoHighLevel CRM project for a U.S. client—and I’m going to show you how I do this every single week. This is not just a tech gig. It’s architecture. It’s design. It’s solving a real business problem. But let me rewind a bit—because a lot of freelancers in my inbox keep asking: “How do you keep getting hired every week?” “How do you convert your clients into paying you?” “How do you make sure your proposal stands out?” “You’re in Africa—how are 99% of your clients in the U.S.?” So I’m going to answer these one by one. But not like a thread of tips—let’s go deeper. 1. “How do you keep getting hired every week?” I treat freelancing like a business, not a hustle. This means I don't just look for jobs—I build pipelines. Psychologically, clients love patterns. When they see a profile that looks “active,” they assume it's in-demand. So I don't wait until I’m free before I apply again. I apply when I'm busy. Momentum sells. And here's the thing: busy people trust busy people. Would you trust a doctor who also fixes cars? No. Same thing. 2. “How do you convert your clients into paying you?” Trust → Value → Money. I don’t sell in the beginning. I listen. If I can say back to the client what they’re already feeling—clearly—they’ll assume I’m the one who can fix it. Example from this latest gig: The client said, “We want Jobber, but inside GHL.” My proposal began: “You don’t want another CRM—you want Jobber’s brain inside GoHighLevel’s body. I’ve worked with other home service pros like you who needed the same thing…” That’s not a pitch. That’s empathy. When they feel understood, payment becomes easy. 4. “How do you make sure your proposal gets viewed?” Three things: Timing: I apply fast. First 5-10 minutes when possible. People don't scroll past the first few options unless the top ones suck. Profile thumbnail: That first two lines of your proposal shows up under your name like a mini-ad. I make mine irresistible. Bad: “Hi, I saw your job…” Good: “You want Jobber’s simplicity—but inside GoHighLevel? I’ve done it.” 5. “You’re in Africa—how do you get US clients?” Simple: I speak their language. Not just English—their emotional language. Clients aren’t hiring a country. They’re hiring a solution. So when I sound clear, confident, and aligned—they don’t even care where I am. Also: I adapt to time zones. I’m flexible with calls. I make their lives easier. The global economy doesn’t care where you live. It cares how you show up. So yes—I’m grateful for this latest project. But I’m even more grateful for the path that led me here. And to every freelancer still trying to break through: it’s not about being the best. It’s about being the clearest, the most trusted, and the most consistent. Stay in the game. Keep sharpening your pitch. Don’t just chase money—solve problems. #gohighlevel #highlevel

I Got My Eidi 🤩 While everyone was enjoying eid, I was closing a $250 deal on Upwork. ↳ So I'm Breaking down my proposal strategy step-by-step so you can write winning proposal on Upwork (steal this!) Ever had a client ask, "Can you clone a website?" Interesting na? Absolutely yes! I was thinking the same. This is exactly what happened when Mark Peters reached out to me. He wanted an exact copy of a website but with a few changes. A $250, 3-day project. Now, most freelancers would just say "Yes, I can do it!" and move on. I did something different. Let me break it down step by step so you can see why I got the deal and how you can apply this to your own Upwork proposals. 1. I Led with Questions, Not Desperation ↳ My message: "I wanna know about your current platform, are you using HTML or WordPress?" ✅ Why this works? Clients love when you show interest in their existing setup. It builds trust. 2. I Showed My Previous Experience With a Similar Project ↳ Instead of saying "Yes, I can do it," I led with social proof. My message: "Absolutely, I have already a record on Upwork for creating websites from existing ones." ✅ Why this works? Clients don’t want freelancers who are "trying"—they want someone who's already done it. 3. I Gave Him Confidence With a Process ↳ Clients want clarity. Instead of leaving things vague, I explained exactly how I’d do it. My message: "I will use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for this task and will create exactly the same or you can also provide feedback and customize according to your needs." ✅ Why this works? Now he knew exactly how I’d approach the project. It removed uncertainty. 4. I Made It Easy to Say YES ↳ When I asked about finalizing, I made sure to restate the terms clearly. My message: "Perfect. Anything else you want to tell me before contract starts? Agreed terms are 3 days and $250. You can send me a fixed-price contract." ✅ Why this works? It’s a soft close. No pressure. Just confirming and making it easy to proceed. 5. And Then… The Offer Landed! ↳ He sent the contract exactly as I expected. Why? Because I led him there step by step. Key Lessons (Read This Twice) ↳ Ask Right Questions ↳ Lead with proof, not promises. Show what you’ve done. ↳ Give a clear process. It removes doubt. ↳ Soft-close, don’t hard-sell. Make it easy for them to say yes. I’ve used this exact method to close thousands of dollars in Upwork deals. Want to see the exact proposal I sent? Comment "Proposal" and I’ll send it to you! And don’t forget… Follow Asad Riaz 🎀 for more freelancing and Upwork-related content! #freelancing #upwork