It's Always About Getting More Leads!

Many people come to me, asking about Upwork.

“How can I land a client on Upwork?”

“I don’t know what to do when it comes to Upwork?”

“Upwork is useless. They just want to waste your connections so that you keep buying more. I sent out a lot of proposals and heard back nothing.”

“I don’t want to be bothered with sales. I just want to do my work and excel in my field. I wish a client would drop on me from heaven”

These are the typical phrases I often get to hear from freelancers and agency owners.

The problem is that most people do not want to spend time learning.

Before deciding to build a sales channel, you must learn about it.

How does it work? What are the rules? What things are favoured by the platform?

What works and what doesn’t?

Learn from the experience of other people.

Most people just want everything handed to them on a silver platter.

That is not the case in the business world.

If you do not work, someone else will fill the demand gap.

Upwork works.

You just need the right system.

I built a system for my Upwork last year and generated 5 clients in one week.

And there was this Upwork coach, I was working with. She was amazed by my results.

In my experience, the crux of Upwork is to stand out.

If you learn to stand out, you will land projects.

Everyone on Upwork is working for the same job.

The only thing that can help you stand out, is your proposal.

An Upwork proposal has several key elements.

By focusing on these elements, you can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed.

Now, remember, that the goal of your proposal is to get the lead on a call.

Do not make the mistake of thinking this will sell your client.

Here is a simple process to write a winning Upwork proposal:

Step 1 - Write Your Hook AKA Subject Line

The goal of your subject line is to grab attention and get your proposal opened.

For example, “Notion Poster Boy & Advocate”

This is a good hook.

Concise, Attention-grabbing and positions me as an authority.

Always make it specific, relevant, and engaging to entice them to open your proposal.

Step 2 - Personalize Your Introduction

Before writing this section, go to the profile of the client and look at the previous jobs posted.

Find the name of the client from there. Most freelancers talk about this.

Address the client by name and reference specifics about their project.

Personalization shows you’ve read their job post and are genuinely interested.

Make sure it is not longer than one or two lines.

Make it easy and quick to consume.

People who are posting a job on Upwork, do not have a lot of time.

And they have to read a lot of proposals.

Example

“Hi Chris,

I understand that you want to create a lifestyle management system in Notion for students. “

Simple. To the point. No fluff.

Step 3 - Highlight Relevant Experience

Common advice is to immediately showcase your relevant experience and past successes.

Use bullet points for clarity and impact.

This is true.

I have a better solution.

Talk about the solution that showcases your expertise.

Example

2 things make a Notion template stand out:

- User-Centric Design - Optimized UI is the name of the game when it comes to Notion templates these days.

- In-depth tutorials - A template is no good in Notion without clear instructions (User manual) explaining use cases for each feature.

Step 4 - Propose a Clear Plan

Now, this is where you will stand out from your competition.

Create a tailored solution and show the client what you bring to the table

Outline your approach to the project. This demonstrates your understanding and readiness to start.

Example

“Instead of talking about me, let me show you what I bring to the table.

I have created a mini Notion page that outlines my process for creating a Notion template from scratch.[Link to Notion page]”

Step 5 - Include a Strong Call to Action

Now, you are not going to be available all the time.

And Upwork clients are from all over the world.

So, guide the client to take action on your own terms.

Add a Calendly or Tidycal link.

I personally use Tidycal. It's 29 dollars for a lifetime.

Example

"Let’s schedule a call and discuss your specific needs and how I can help you build amazing templates.

Find Time here: [Link to calendly]"

Framework: The Upwork Proposal Optimization Model

Today's newsletter would be incomplete without this framework.

Implement this for more winning proposals.

1. Specificity

Most clients on Upwork do not have a lot of time.

They appreciate clear and concise communication.

It helps your proposal stand out by directly addressing the client's needs and project requirements.

2. Personalization

Clients love people who go out of their way to do things.

It shows commitment, genuine interest and effort.

Addressing clients by name and referencing their specific project details creates a connection and demonstrates that you have thoroughly read their job posts.

3. Relevance

Highlighting relevant experience builds credibility.

Showcasing your pertinent skills and past successes assures clients that you are capable of delivering on their projects.

4. Clarity

A clear plan demonstrates your understanding and preparedness.

Outlining your approach step-by-step reassures clients that you have a structured plan to complete their projects efficiently.

5. Actionability

Prompting action encourages client engagement.

Ending with a strong call to action encourages clients to take the next steps, such as scheduling a call or providing more information.

Focusing on these underlying principles of optimizing Upwork proposals to increase open rates.

Read today's full issue here.