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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

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How To Write An Upwork Cover Letter: 5 Tips + Free Template

One of the reasons most freelancers struggle to land clients on Upwork is failing to write a convincing cover letter.

The cover letter is the main component of your job proposal and if you don’t write it well, you won’t be able to get the client’s attention.

Each client who posts a job on Upwork gets dozens and sometimes hundreds of proposals from freelancers. And the only way to grab their attention is to write a cover letter that addresses their needs and requirements.

So if you’re new to Upwork and trying to land a client, keep reading. This guide will help you write better, more focused, and well-optimized Upwork cover letters to get more responses from your clients.

What Is An Upwork Cover Letter?

The cover letter is an essential part of a resume or CV. Normally, when you’re applying for a job, you include a cover letter with your CV to let your potential employer know why you’re applying for the job, what kind of goals you have, and why they should hire you for the position.

Upwork cover letters use the same concept. Whenever you’re applying for a job on Upwork, you now have to fill out a section called Cover Letter.

Here, you can write a detailed yet concise message to clients explaining how you can help the client and why you’re the best person for the job.

As you can imagine, this is a crucial part of a job proposal that will determine whether you will get the job or not.

Before You Apply For Jobs..

Before you apply for jobs and start writing cover letters, make sure you complete the following steps. Because without these steps, clients will never hire you, even if you write the perfect cover letter.

1. Improve Your Communication Skills

Improving your communication skills is the first thing you should do before applying for jobs.

Learn to write better messages to clients and learn the proper etiquette for writing emails. You can follow this guide to learn more about it.

Also, I highly recommend that you take an online course on copywriting and business communication. Think of it as an investment in yourself.

And it will go a long way to help you write great proposals, cover letters, and communicate with clients like a professional.

If you’re interested, start with these Skillshare classes:

• Business Communication Skills: Write & Speak More Professionally
• Copywriting: Essential Skills For Writing Engaging Marketing Copy
• Professional English Emails: Write Clearly and Effectively

2. Optimize Your Upwork Profile

The next thing you need to do is optimize your Upwork profile.

When you apply for a job and send a proposal to a client, one of the first things they do is check your profile.

Now imagine doing all the work to find the perfect job and write a great cover letter while you have a terrible profile. It will only send those potential clients away. Don’t make that same mistake.

I wrote a complete guide on creating an effective Upwork profile. Give it a read and optimize your profile accordingly.

3. Gather Some Samples

Now, you can say all you want about your skills and abilities in your proposal but the client will never believe you if you don’t have hard evidence to back your claims.

So make sure you have some samples of your work to show the clients.

If you’re a writer, you can include links to your previously published articles.

If you’re a graphic designer, you can include a link to your portfolio.

If you don’t have any links to show, attach sample documents and files in the proposal.

4. Ask For The Right Price

When using Upwork to find jobs, asking for the ideal price is very important. Because it’s always going to be a bidding war between freelancers.

But the key to finding the right price is not to ask too low that clients think you’re desperate. Or ask too much that turns clients away.

To figure out the sweet spot between the two, you can check the Upwork services section.

Browse the category related to your work to see what other freelancers are charging for similar jobs.

Then come up with a price that fits your client’s budget and the regular rates at the same time.

5. Only Apply For The Right Jobs

There are some freelancers out there who apply to every job that comes up in their feed while copy-pasting the same cover letters and proposals.

This is a huge mistake that will get you nowhere.

Learn to pick the right jobs that fit your set of skills. Find jobs that have detailed descriptions that give you more information about the job. So that you can research the client and their industry to write better cover letters.

What To Include In Your Cover Letter

Once you complete all the initial steps to optimize your profile and writing skills, here are the most important points you need to cover in your cover letter.

• Address the client by their first name (eg: Hi John,)
• Mention that you’ve read the entire project description
• Do some research to understand what the client is asking for
• Provide solutions to the client’s pain points
• Mention why you’re the perfect person for the job with facts (eg: I have 5 years of experience in social media marketing and I worked for client X)
• Show examples of your previous work, portfolio, or client case studies
• In the end, mention that you have a strategy in mind for the client’s project and ask them to DM you for details
• Remember to keep it short, detailed, and concise

You’ll see how all these points come together in the example and the cover letter template below.

How To Write Cover Letter for UpWork

It’s best to write the cover letter on different software like Google Docs or MS Word and then copy it over to Upwork. You wouldn’t want to accidentally hit send while you’re writing the cover letter.

As I mentioned before, learning to write well is very important. Taking a copywriting class will not go to waste.

Take all the key points I mentioned in the previous section. Write in friendly and simple words to describe your proposal for the client.

Here’s a quick Upwork cover letter example to show you how it’s done:

Hi John, I read your entire job description and I think I’m the perfect person for the job. Here’s why: -I noticed that you’re looking to build an online store website. I think WordPress is the best platform to build your website and I have over 5 years of experience building WordPress sites -I’ve built WordPress websites for many clients including CocaCola and Pepsi -Here are just a few of the links to websites that I’ve recently built for other clients (include links here. Or attach your sample documents) -I have a really great concept idea for building your website that will make your brand look even better than your competitor (Do research to find the competitors and mention the name here). Send me a DM or respond to this proposal so we can discuss more details I’m really excited about this project and to work with you to build something amazing. Looking forward to your DM. -Your name

See how simple and concise that looks. And we covered all the key points in that 150-word cover letter. You can easily edit this message to include skills and experience related to your industry.

There are also great tools you can use for writing your cover letter online . They offer more professional-looking layouts that you can easily customize, which are ideal for applying for not just freelancing jobs but for any type of job application.

Free Upwork Cover Letter Template

I made a more beautifully formatted Upwork cover letter template that you can use when applying for jobs. You can download it below.

Make sure to edit and customize this template according to your needs.

10 Tips For Writing Professional Cover Letters

Follow these quick tips to make your cover letter look more professional.

1. Personalize Your Greeting

Avoid generic greetings like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” Take the time to find out the client’s name and address them directly. A personalized greeting shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the job.

2. Start with a Strong Opening

Grab the client’s attention right from the start. Mention the job you’re applying for and briefly state why you’re excited about the opportunity. Highlight a key skill or experience that makes you a perfect fit.

3. Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience

Focus on the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job. Use bullet points to make this information easy to scan. Be specific about your accomplishments and how they align with the project’s requirements.

4. Show Enthusiasm and Interest

Clients appreciate freelancers who are genuinely interested in their projects. Express your enthusiasm and explain why you’re excited about the opportunity. A passionate approach can make you stand out from other candidates.

5. Address the Client’s Needs

Show that you understand the client’s needs by referencing details from the job posting. Explain how you plan to meet those needs and solve their problems. Tailoring your cover letter to the specific job demonstrates your attention to detail.

6. Include Samples or Links to Work

Provide links to your portfolio or attach samples that are relevant to the job. Seeing your work helps clients assess your skills and makes your application more compelling. Ensure the samples showcase your best work and are easy to access.

7. Keep It Concise and Focused

Clients are often busy and may not have time to read lengthy cover letters. Keep your letter concise and to the point, ideally no longer than one page. Focus on the most important information and avoid unnecessary details.

8. Proofread Carefully

Spelling and grammar mistakes can make a poor first impression. Proofread your cover letter carefully to ensure it’s error-free. Consider asking a friend or using a tool like Grammarly to help catch any mistakes.

9. End with a Call to Action

Conclude your cover letter by expressing your eagerness to discuss the project further. Invite the client to contact you for an interview or to ask any questions. A clear call to action can help move the process forward.

10. Follow Up if Necessary

If you haven’t heard back within a week or so, consider sending a polite follow-up message. Reiterate your interest in the project and ask if the client needs any additional information. Following up shows your persistence and commitment.

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Land Your Dream Freelance Gig: Upwork Cover Letter Guide

Landing freelance gigs on Upwork requires more than just a stellar profile. While your skills and experience take centre stage, a well-crafted cover letter can be the secret weapon that sets you apart from the competition. 

This guide equips you with expert tips and winning templates for cover letters for Upwork to craft proposals that grab clients' attention and secure those dream projects.

Understanding the Importance of a Cover Letter on Upwork

Defining a cover letter in the freelance landscape.

Cover letters on Upwork serve as introductions, expand your profile, and showcase your suitability for the job, much like in the traditional job market. It's your chance to personalise your proposal, demonstrate your understanding of the project, and showcase what makes you the ideal freelancer for the job.

Why Your Upwork Cover Letter Makes a Difference

Here's why a cover letter matters:

• Provides Context on Your Fit:  A cover letter allows you to expand on your experience and skills beyond a simple resume bullet point. You can explain how your unique background and approach make you the perfect person for the role.
• Cuts Through the Noise: Upwork is a crowded marketplace. A strong cover letter makes you stand out.
• Demonstrates Initiative and Communication Skills: A well-written cover letter showcases your professionalism and ability to communicate effectively, essential qualities for any freelancer.
• Opportunity to Address Specific Requirements: A cover letter for Upwork helps highlight your skills directly relevant to the project's needs, demonstrating your understanding of the client's goals.

Crafting a Winning Cover Letter: Essential Tips

Now that you understand the importance of a cover letter let's delve into the key elements that make it effective:

Add Your Personality (While Remaining Professional)

While professionalism is key, there's no need to be boring. Write in a conversational tone that's respectful but engaging. Avoid starting with dull phrases like "My name is Job Applicant Jean" and instead, let your personality shine through with phrases like “Having helped clients achieve [Specific results] in the past, I believe my skills can be a valuable asset to your [Project Name] project.” 

Integrate Keywords Seamlessly

Pay attention to the keywords used in the project description. Subtly integrate these keywords throughout your cover letter for Upwork to improve your proposal's searchability within Upwork's search engine.

Example: Look for keywords in the project description (e.g., "social media marketing"). Subtly weave them into your cover letter to improve searchability within Upwork's search engine. Instead of generic statements like " I have experience in marketing ,” go for keyword integration: " I noticed you mentioned a focus on social media marketing and audience engagement. In my previous role, I managed social media campaigns that grew follower bases by 30% through targeted content strategies. "

Proactively Address Client Concerns

Anticipate potential concerns clients might have and address them directly in your cover letter. This demonstrates your attentiveness and ability to think ahead.

For example, instead of leaving clients wondering with generic statements like "I'm a great writer, trust me,” try addressing concerns like"I understand clear communication is crucial. I provide regular progress updates and keep you informed throughout the project. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns."

Crafting a Memorable Closing Statement

Instead of a standard sign-off, conclude with a call to action that reinforces your value proposition.

Example: "I'm confident my skills can significantly benefit your project. Let's discuss how I can help you achieve your goals. I'm available for a call at your earliest convenience."

Refine Your Approach: As you gain experience, track what resonates with clients and adapt your cover letters for continued success.

Showcase Your Passion and Understanding of the Client's Industry

Go beyond just listing your skills. Briefly mention what excites you about the client's industry or project type. This demonstrates genuine interest and sets you apart from freelancers focused solely on the job itself.

Example: "I've been following the impressive work your company has done in the sustainability sector, and I'm particularly passionate about [specific aspect of the industry]. My experience in [relevant skill] combined with my enthusiasm for this field allows me to bring a unique perspective to your project."

Highlight Your Skills and Quantify Your Achievements (When Possible)

Don't simply repeat your resume. Briefly showcase your most relevant skills and experiences that directly address the project's requirements. Back up your claims with data. Numbers add credibility and give clients a clearer picture of your impact.

Example: Instead of saying " increased website traffic, " quantify it. " I crafted SEO-optimised blog posts that resulted in a 25% increase in organic website traffic for my previous client. "

By incorporating these essential tips, you'll craft compelling cover letters that land you the freelance projects you deserve. Remember, a cover letter is an ongoing conversation. Keep personalising and refining your approach to stand out on Upwork!

Sample Cover Letter Templates for Success

These Upwork cover letter samples provide a foundation to build upon, tailored to different freelance specialities.

General Template: A Versatile Approach

Hi [Client Name],

I am writing to express my interest in your project for [Project Title]. Having reviewed the details, I am confident that my skills and experience in [Your Skills] make me a strong fit for this role.

In my previous work with [Previous Client/Company], | successfully [Describe a Relevant Achievement]. My portfolio showcases a range of projects that demonstrate my ability to [Highlight Relevant Skills]

I am eager to learn more about your vision for this project and discuss how | can contribute to its success. Please find my portfolio attached for your review.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Name]

Web Designing Template

Dear [Client Name],

I came across your project for [Project Title] and was immediately drawn to the opportunity to leverage my expertise in web design. With [Number] years of experience crafting user-friendly and visually appealing websites, I am confident I can deliver exceptional results.

In my previous project for [Previous Client], I designed a website that resulted in a [Quantifiable Achievement] increase in [Metric, e.g., traffic, conversions]. My portfolio showcases my ability to design websites that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also optimised for [Areas of Expertise, e.g. SEO, mobile responsiveness].

I'm eager to discuss your vision for the website and collaborate on a design that exceeds your expectations. Please find my portfolio linked below for your reference: [Portfolio Link]

Content Writing Template

Hey[Client Name],

I came across your project for [Project Title] and was immediately drawn to the opportunity to leverage my content writing skills. With [Number] years of experience crafting engaging and informative content, I am confident I can create pieces that resonate with your target audience and achieve your desired goals.

In my previous role at [Previous Client/Company], I successfully increased website traffic by [Quantifiable Achievement] through the creation of [Type of Content, e.g., blog posts, SEO-optimised articles]. My portfolio showcases my ability to write in various styles and tones, ensuring your content aligns perfectly with your brand voice.

I'm eager to discuss your content strategy and brainstorm ideas that will captivate your audience and drive results. Please find writing samples relevant to your project in my portfolio linked below: [Portfolio Link]

Graphic Design Template

I'm excited to submit my proposal for your [Project Title] project. Having reviewed the details, I am confident my expertise in graphic design can deliver visually stunning and impactful creative assets that align with your vision.

For [Number] years, I've been helping businesses like yours create captivating visuals that elevate their brand identity. In my previous project for [Previous Client], | designed [Type of Design, e.g. logos, social media graphics, website banners] that resulted in a [Quantifiable Achievement] increase in [Metric, e.g. brand awareness, engagement].

My portfolio showcases my design versatility and ability to translate your ideas into effective visuals. I'm particularly skilled in [Areas of Expertise, e.g., brand identity design, illustration, UI/UX design. I'm eager to collaborate with you and bring your design vision to life. Please find a link to my portfolio showcasing relevant design work: [Portfolio Link].

Video Editing Template

Hello [Client Name],

Having reviewed your project for [Project Title], I'm confident my video editing skills and creative vision can transform your raw footage into a compelling and engaging video.

With a passion for storytelling and [Number] years of experience editing videos for [Previous Clients/Companies/Industries], | possess a strong understanding of pacing, transitions, and the power of visuals to capture and hold the audience attention.

In my previous project for [Previous Client], I edited a video that achieved [Quantifiable Achievement] by utilising [Specific Editing Techniques]. My portfolio showcases my ability to edit videos across various styles, from promotional content to explainer videos.

I'm eager to discuss your vision for this project and collaborate on crafting a video that exceeds your expectations. Please find a link to my portfolio showcasing my editing skills: [Portfolio Link].

Note: Adapt the bracketed sections to your specific skill set. Also, while you can use these templates for reference, it's important to make your cover letter very personalised.

By incorporating these tips and templates, you'll be well on your way to crafting compelling cover letters for upwork proposals that land you the freelance projects you deserve. Remember, a cover letter is an ongoing conversation. As you gain experience on Upwork, track what resonates with clients and refine your approach for continued success.

Q1. What Components Are Mandatory for a Good Cover Letter?

Ans. While there's no strict format, strong cover letters typically include:

• A personalised greeting
• A brief introduction highlighting your relevant skills and experience
• A specific example from your portfolio that showcases your expertise
• A closing that expresses your enthusiasm and next steps (e.g., call to schedule a call)

Q2. The Resume and Cover Letter Dilemma: To Copy or Not to Copy?

Ans. Your cover letter shouldn't simply replicate your resume. It expands upon your resume by demonstrating your understanding of the specific project and how your skills directly benefit the client.

Q3. What is the difference between a Proposal vs. a Cover Letter?

Ans. On Upwork, the terms "proposal" and "cover letter" are often used interchangeably. They both refer to the written document submitted to convince a client to hire you. However, some freelancers differentiate between the two. A cover letter might be the initial introduction, while a proposal includes the cover letter alongside more detailed information about your approach, timeline, and pricing.

Q4. Should you use ChatGPT to write your cover letter?

Ans. While AI writing tools like ChatGPT can help generate ideas, it's crucial to maintain a personal touch in your cover letter. Clients value genuine communication and a clear understanding of your skills. It's best to use these tools as a starting point and then personalise the content for each project.

Six Steps to Writing the Perfect Upwork Cover Letter

To succeed as an Upwork freelancer, a great cover letter isn’t optional. It’s crucial.

The moment a job is posted on Upwork, it becomes visible to thousands of people who do exactly what you do. And unlike your middle school gym class, you aren’t competing against 20 neighbors with similar abilities.

You’re applying to the same projects as skilled  $3/hr Filipino writers, $300/hr startup experts from Silicon Valley, and award winning Forbes contributors.

The only way you can land any of these projects is to set yourself apart. And one of the most effective ways to  stand out from the competition  is to create a killer Upwork cover letter .

Related content:  Maximize your income with  this free freelance rate calculator .

How to create an attention-grabbing Upwork cover letter

I’ve won over 50 contracts on Upwork during the last couple of years – with many worth thousands of dollars. After a plethora of “trial and errors”, I’ve discovered how to win more clients than I can manage – for both myself and several other writers.

Here’s how I won over 50 Upwork contracts.

If you do quality work, but are still unable to find new clients, the issue probably has to do with your cover letter.

Add these six elements to your Upwork cover letter and watch the interviews roll in.

1. Start by sharing your qualifications

Why are you more qualified for this project than the other twenty applicants?

If the client doesn’t see a reason to keep you around right at the beginning, they will rapidly move on to the next candidate.

So establish yourself as a professional . Do you have a degree? State it here? Have you worked in the industry? Now’s the perfect time to state this.

But  keep it short! If this goes on for more than two or three sentences, you’re going to lose it. You can refer to a writing service, where you can not only get help in writing your essay but also get appropriate writing tips for your cover letter. The point isn’t to toot your own horn, but to show why you are the right fit for this position.

Here’s how I state my qualifications for a business blogging project:

Hi, my name is Rob and I have an MBA, experience in financial analytics, and have written content for over 50 highly satisfied clients here on Upwork – as you can see from the “Top Rated” freelancer badge on my profile. 

Although it’s a long and slightly wordy single sentence, it sums up who I am concisely.

Notice how I focus much of the attention on how I can benefit the client. I have business knowledge (MBA and work experience), keep my customers satisfied (beneficial for them), and am one of the Top Rated freelancers on Upwork (which means they will be getting the best).

I also leave a lot out. What you leave out of your cover letter is just as important as what you include. For a business client I don’t mention that I’ve traveled to five continents, am involved in my church, and love sailing the San Francisco Bay. Although I may mention those items for another project.

Ultimately, you want to tell the client why you are qualified for their project, but concisely enough to move on to the rest of your proposal.

2. Make it personal by asking a question

When possible, try to connect with the client – very briefly.

If they include a link to their website, this makes it easy. Otherwise, see if you can pull something from the job description itself.

I’ve noticed that  asking a question works best.

Asking a question is essential – whether at this point or at the end of the application. Why? Because it encourages the client to contact you to respond to your question.

If someone contacts me on Upwork, I have a 50% chance of getting the job.

I seem to get about 50% of the jobs that I am contacted for. Once the client reaches out to me, I can learn more about what they need and present myself as the perfect candidate.

Therefore, encouraging that initial contact is essential. And because we all love talking about ourselves and what we do, asking a question to make it personal is a great way to start a conversation.

Following suit with the same application, I would make the cover letter personal by saying something like:

Your job description mentions your company is in New York. Are your customers exclusively from NY or do you work with clients nationally/internationally?

Although nothing profound, this simple question treats them like a person I am interested in getting to know – rather than just a client I am trying to land. It’s also a question that helps me learn more about their needs and how I might be of assistance. Finally, it encourages a response on their part.

And that’s the most important piece – so I’ll say it again:

Once you get a client to respond to your Upwork cover letter, your odds of winning the project increase exponentially.

3. Explain why you’re interested in this project

Most projects on Upwork come from clients who are passionate about what they do. Whether they’re entrepreneurs or project managers, they have a vested interest in the success of their project.

This means that  they are in love  with their project. Whether it’s a website idea, a new app concept, or simply a poster to promote their band – the client is excited about this project.

And you should be too.

By sharing with the client why you  want  to work on their project, you’ll set yourself apart from the plethora of freelancers on Upwork who are simply trying to land their next job.

As with the other elements, keep it short – but a well-worded sentence can make a world of difference.

As you can see from my own blog, MoneyNomad.com, I love writing about entrepreneurship and would thoroughly enjoy researching and developing blog posts for your website.

This simple sentence reveals that I am already an expert on this subject and will be just as excited about this venture as the client is.

4. Share examples of similar projects

This is HUGE ! Although more and more freelancers on Upwork are showing links to their past work – there are still too many that don’t.

If you have previously published work – share links to it in your job posting. Even if the projects are on your own blog or developed under someone else’s name, it still shows a level of credibility and gives the user a feel for what they can expect from you.

If you don’t have any samples, then you probably shouldn’t be trying to sell yourself to someone else. Instead, focus on building up a portfolio of 1-3 items that you can share. Do this by offering your service inexpensively on Fiverr , starting your own blog , or writing a few articles on HubPages .

I have a wide enough collection of articles that I’ve written, that I can usually find some worthwhile samples. But if I can’t, then I’ll share related content with voice I think the client wants. And I’ll share ghost written content as well.

Here are some samples of articles I’ve written in the past:

http://www.happyfox.com/blog/gamification-employee-engagement/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/57e4746fe4b00267764fbcbe

https://moneynomad.com/6-ways-to-live-on-under-10000-a-year/

Because Upwork doesn’t allow you to add hyperlinks to your job proposals, you’ll need to add in the entire url. Also, include a space between each url so that it’s easy for the client to copy and paste into their browser if necessary.

5. Vaguely explain your rate

Sometimes I state my rate right upfront, but other times I provide a ballpark figure or don’t share it at all in the cover letter.

Ultimately, when it comes to stating your rate you want to keep two things in mind:

• Encourage the client to make contact (remember, I get 50% of contracts once a client interviews me).
• Prevent yourself from wasting time with clients looking for cheap work.

From a freelance writer’s prospective, there are ample projects that want a writer willing to develop articles for $10-25 a post. This is far too low for me – and I really don’t want to waste my time interacting with someone not willing to meet my rates.

However, if I state my rate at $0.30/word when someone else offers to do the same project for $0.15/word – they may not make contact with me, allowing me to negotiate a rate and level of quality that meets their needs.

Depending on the client, I will say something like this in the proposal:

I generally charge my B2B clients $0.30/word. However, because I enjoy writing about entrepreneurship and think your project would be a lot of fun, I may be able to reduce my rate slightly.

By stating the higher end for my blogging rates, and then mentioning that “I may be able to reduce my rate slightly”, the client will understand that I don’t write $10 articles, but he will recognize that he may not have to pay $150 for 500 words either.

If we ultimately agree upon $0.20-0.25/word, the client feels like he’s getting a steal. Win-win!

6. Offer something for free

If you’re confident in the service you offer, then offering an initial trial for free can help you  make a lot of money.

Particularly when you are new to Upwork, and competing with freelancers with a large portfolio and high reviews, providing a free trail offer is a great way to get started.

If you’re a freelance writer, a 500 word article won’t take you more than 1-2 hours – so offering one for free is certainly worth the potential of ongoing work.

For one-off projects, like web-design, this could be a bit more difficult. But it’s not impossible. Rather than doing the entire site for free, offer to do an analysis of their current website, a review of their top competitors, or a 30 minute mock-up of what their website could look like.

Once you’re established, offering work 100% free isn’t necessary, but it can still help to offer a “freemium” version of your work. An example of how I do it:

Finally, I would like to offer you a trial article risk-free. If you like it, you can pay for it and use it. However, if it doesn’t meet your expectations, you are welcome to improve upon it and use it for free. What topic would you like me to write about for this first post?

Other times I simply offer to write the first article for free in exchange for recognition and a link back to my own website. Usually people would rather keep the content ghost written and focused on their website – so the end up paying anyway.

The book “ Predictably Irrational ” states that  free  is a powerful word. We all LOVE getting something for free. In fact, people are more likely to take a $0.10 Hershey’s kiss for free than they are to pay $0.01 for a $1 candy bar – even though the latter is actually a better deal!

Using this same psychology in your freelance work, and offering to do a free “mini-project”, is a great way to land your next client. On Upwork, or anywhere else for that matter.

The completed Upwork job proposal – Emulate this to land your next client

And here we have it! The completed Upwork cover letter – and one that has landed me tens of thousands of dollars worth of clients:

http://bankvibe.com/how-saving-for-retirement-is-like-surfing/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/57e4746fe4b00267764fbcbe

Since writing this article, I’ve done a lot of hiring myself on UpWork and I’ve come to realize that a cover letter is even more crucial now. With so much competition on UpWork, you as a writer needs to stand out from the pack. When hiring a freelance UpWork writer, I always read a cover letter looking for errors and misspellings. My thought is, if they can’t write a good cover letter how will they write a good piece of content. Let me know if you think this assumption is correct in the comments.

As you can see, it says a lot while still being relatively short. Additionally, it attempts to connect with the client and keep them engaged – from beginning to end.

Try this format the next time you write an Upwork proposal and let me know how it works! Finally, if you have additional suggestions for dominating Upwork, I would love to hear about them in the comments.

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22 comments.

Why do you use “Filipinos” to compare? Idk, but it feels like you’re somewhat degrading us and you would like to discourage clients to stop hiring a filipino. Although your blog is good, I would really like to ask why.

Thank you so much for commenting. And I apologize if this article came across as degrading – that is not my purpose at all! The point I was trying to make is the diversity of competition that ALL freelancers have (regardless of where they are from). We are all competing with educated and skilled individuals willing to work for $3/hr – and freelancer celebrities who charge a premium, but have name recognition.

My desire is for Money Nomad to be a website where online entrepreneurs and freelancers from ANYWHERE can come to learn and grow. Thank you for pointing this out. I included the word “skilled” in the sentence – and I hope that helps emphasize the true point I was trying to make.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing more of your comments in the future!

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Website mock-ups are called “spec work” and frownded up in web development community. Also, you won’t get away with using your website URL in the proposal for too long since it’s against Upwork’s TOS.

Thanks for your response Ivan.

Since I deal with writing, I am not fully familiar with an appropriate comparison in web design. Perhaps an alternative would be offering a 10 minute analysis of their current website – or providing a 30 minute brainstorming session regarding the design of their website. Ultimately, it’s about finding a way to provide value and begin developing that relationship. I’m actually going to write an article in the near future “praising” spec work from a designer – so be ready to come harp on that post in a couple of weeks. 🙂

Regarding links in proposals – you are correct that, if you linked back to your design website, that would be against the TOS. However , linking to previous clients or samples is completely acceptable. Trying to prove that you were an exceptional designer, without providing links to your past projects, would be a very hard sell to make.

Thanks for stopping by and best of luck with your future freelancing.

Hey Rob, thanks for the tips. In my case, I’ve gotten some job offers and unto interviews but seems like the client goes MIA suddenly for a long period. Does it have something to do with my letter as well?

Great question Denny! There are two possible things going on here.

First, if you check the job posting you can tell how many interviews/hires there have been for the job. There is a chance that they interviewed multiple people and hired someone else.

Second, check out my article How to Know Which Jobs to Apply to on Upwork – it may be that you are applying to jobs for clients who aren’t established. A lot of people post “maybe” projects on Upwork and never follow through.

Thanks for your comment and let me know how I can help in the future.

I have been in business since 2009 and this is the first time that I admire a blog that got me subscribing to it’s mail-list, I admit you rock !!

I am very honored Hersham! Thank you for joining. I will definitely make an effort to continue to impress. 🙂 And feel free to reach out if you ever have questions or thoughts for topics that you would enjoy. Now that you’ve signed up, my goal is to make it worth your time!

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I appreciate these tips for Upwork. I just landed my first contract there, I just enrolled last week. It has been a small learning curve trying to figure which clients are legit or phony, and I had to enter an interview with two of them to find some red flags like doing work outside the platform.

I’m glad they’ve helped out a bit! But you’re right, there are certainly clients on Upwork that you have to filter through due to free work, outside of Upwork work, or simply low-paying requests. But there are definitely some good projects out there as well.

Best of luck!

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Hi Robs Can you please write a cover letter sample for lead generation email finding job

Hi Waheed! It will certainly depend on your personal skills and the focus of the job. If you just copy and paste what I write, you probably won’t receive much luck. However, following that format can certainly be beneficial! Good luck and feel free to run a specific scenario by me if needed.

Thanks for the helpful article. What’s your advise for a newbie? Someone who has lots of experience in a traditional work but no freelancing experience. Do you have a published article on this topic?

Hi, Alexandra here. You are not supposed to offer things for free on Upwork. It’s in the rules. That aside, I plan to use the rest of your tips to land my first job on Upwork. I plan to send in 5 proposals in the next two days!

Thanks Alexandra! You’re absolutely right — you should do free work through Upwork. However, offering a risk-free trial project (that you could use/resell if the client didn’t like it) can help you land a lot more clients. Remember, this is a high risk for the client — what happens if your work is terrible and they’ve already agreed to pay you $2,000 for it? They’ve just lost $2,000. Therefore, if you are able to say that your first article/design/etc will only be paid for if they like it (with you keeping the rights to use it elsewhere otherwise), you’ll be able to reduce their hesitancy to buy. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks a lot, Rob! I’m new at Upwork and your article is great help!

I’m so glad it helps! Best of luck as you get started. I look forward to seeing your success.

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Home » Cover Letter for Upwork: 08 Samples & Template

Cover Letter for Upwork: 08 Samples & Template

Do you need a cover letter for your Upwork profile? You’re in luck! I’m going to share with you my tips for writing an effective cover letter that will help you stand out from the competition. So, are you ready to learn how to write a cover letter that will WOW potential clients? Keep reading. Are you looking for a way to spice up your resume and stand out from the competition?

Check out this guide on how to write an effective cover letter for Upwork! also We’ll provide tips on what to include in your letter and how to make sure it catches the hiring manager’s attention. So whether you’re a beginner or experienced freelancer, read on for some helpful advice! Upwork is a great platform for finding freelance work, but it can be tough to stand out from the crowd. That’s where your cover letter comes in. A well-written cover letter can make all the difference and help you land your dream job. But, what makes a good cover letter? And, most important, how do you write one? Don’t worry – I’m going to show

Are you looking for a job? Check out this cover letter template for Upwork! This guide will show you how to write a cover letter that will stand out from the crowd. Are you looking for a job, but don’t know how to start? Upwork is a great way to get started. In this blog post, we’ll go over how to write a cover letter for Upwork. We’ll also give you some tips on what to include in your resume. Let’s get started. With this template, you can create a powerful and professional cover letter that will help you get the job you want. So why wait? Start creating your perfect cover letter today!

Table of Contents

Upwork Cover Letter sample for graphic designer

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am delighted to be able to apply for the Graphic Designer position with your company. Having done my research, I believe that you are looking for someone who has strong graphic design skills to create layout and design ads. If hired, I will bring this experience and more to the role.

Let me tell you why I would like to join your team as a graphic designer. I have very good communication skills and I can work well with others, but my creativity is outstanding. As a graphic designer, the projects that you will be able to see me complete for this position will speak volumes of that statement.

My experience includes:

• Creative design solutions that attract attention and convey the intended message
• Designing marketing materials such as brochures and posters
• Proficient with Adobe CS5 program suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)

Ready to discuss my qualifications at any time. I look forward to speaking with you soon and hope that we will meet again soon.

Your sincerely,

Sample Cover Letter for Upwork Data Entry

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the opening position for Data Entry Specialist. I believe that my experience and background will make me a good candidate for this job. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

While completing my degree at XYZ, I picked up several new skills that are essential to successful data entry projects. I can learn new programs quickly and efficiently. I’m also good at troubleshooting software problems, which is very important for this job.

I am looking forward to interviewing with you soon. Please call me on 555-555-5555 or send me an email at [email protected] if you have any questions about my candidacy. I will contact you next week for an interview on Tuesday or Thursday afternoon.

Thank you again for your time and consideration, Mr./Mrs. Employer.

Best regards,

YOUR NAME HERE

Cover letter for Upwork Graphic Designer

I’m a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in graphic design. My experience includes both print and digital mediums, ranging from banners to website design. I have also worked on several large-scale projects including creating presentations for businesses and event signage. In addition to my graphic design skills, I am an effective communicator with strong research and writing skills. My background in graphic design makes me a great candidate for the following position at your company.

As seen on my resume, I have extensive experience working in print mediums. This includes work with large-scale banners, logos, business cards, flyers, postcards, posters , brochures among others. My work has been used by several companies across the country, including New York City. As seen on my resume, I also have experience with digital mediums. This includes work with web design, social media presence and video editing.

I’m an effective communicator who works well in both groups and independently. I take direction very well, but can also work without supervision. My background in graphic design makes me an ideal candidate for the position advertised on your website at (website address) . So please contact me if you would like more information or if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please feel free to contact me at ( phone number ) or via email to set up a brief interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely, Your Name

Upwork Cover letter Sample for Data entry

I have been doing data entry for a number of years now and I am going to apply for this job with _________. I believe that my experience in the industry would help me climb up the ladder in your company. If you want, we can set up a meeting so I can show you how productive I am when it comes to typing projects. Also I am experienced in all kinds of data entry tasks be it simple or complex.

I can start immediately and will deliver your project on time. And I guarantee great quality work every time. Therefore, you can trust me to work on a confidential basis and not disclose any private information about your company or the details of the projects that you give me.

Do get back to me if this position is still open and if you want to schedule a meeting. I am looking forward to working with you.

Best regards, Name

Sample Upwork Cover Letter for Virtual Assistant

Respected Sir,

I have been looking for a job as a virtual assistant. So I came across your advertisement on LinkedIn and felt it would be something that I could do to help you with your company’s work. Below is my resume.

In addition, please find attached my cover letter which will give you a brief idea regarding my education, experience and skills.

I would love to have an opportunity to speak with you further about how I can help your company. I am available for the next two weeks if you wish to contact me before then. Thank You,

Upwork Proposal Sample for Graphic Designer

Your company recently posted a Project Request on Upwork.com, and we would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our graphic design studio. After having carefully viewed the project request and its requirements, also we believe that our professional services can be of assistance to your business. We welcome the opportunity to submit an Upwork Proposal.

In the attached proposal, we have highlighted our capabilities and competitive advantage within the graphic design industry. Please note that a detailed project plan is also provided as a separate document for your reference. We hope you find our proposal competitive and suitable for this assignment.

We would be happy to send more information on how we can assist your business. So please feel free to contact us by email at info@insert graphic design studio name here.com should you require additional information or clarification on any aspect of this proposal.

We look forward to working with you soon!

Sincerely, Insert Name | Graphic Designer | Company Name

So what do you think? Do you feel more confident in your ability to write an Upwork cover letter that will get you noticed? But always Remember, personalize each letter and make sure it is tailored to the specific job listing. And don’t forget to follow our tips for writing a strong opener, body, and closer. Finally, check out some of the best ways to follow up after submitting your application. So Let us know how it goes!

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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.  

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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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