Alongside these winning templates, we’ll also share 6 proven tips to craft cover letter templates on Upwork that make your proposals irresistible to open.
So whether you’re a beginner freelancer struggling to earn your first job or a professional burning 1000s of connections on proposals only to get zero responses, this guide will be a GOLDMINE. So, let’s start.
How To Make a Cover Letter Templates on Upwork That Stands Out- 6 Proven Tips
100s of jobs are posted every hour on Upwork, and each of them gets fueled with 50+ proposals within the next hour. About 50% of these proposals are copy-pasted and directly lands in the trash bin.
Another 40% don’t follow the job description and get ignored. The remaining 10% have the following ingredients in their cover letters and are the real winners.
#1: They are Concise
Even if you use a killer hook and your Client opens the proposal, he’ll quickly zap to others if you have a lengthy cover letter.
As a rule of thumb, keep cover letters under 300 words. Use short sentences and keep each paragraph not more than 2 lines.
Instead of writing,
“I can help you get high organic traffic through paid Facebook advertisements in one month.”
Write,
“I help business owners leverage FB ads to 2X their organic traffic within 30 days.”
#2: Portfolio
Top proposals have portfolios linked in their cover letters. If you’re starting out with no portfolio to showcase, complete some jobs for FREE.
If you’re an article writer, write 10 blog posts about different niches and upload them to Google Drive. This will be your portfolio.
If you’re a designer, design 10 logos…
Upload them in the drive, and boom! You’re ready to link them in your next proposal.
#3: Address the Client By its Name
Winning proposals don’t start with Dear Hiring Manager or Mr & Mrs. Instead, address your client with his name, such as “Hi, (First Name).
It feels more personal and increases the chances for your proposals to get viewed. A quick tip to find your Client’s name is to scroll through the job post, and skim through the reviews section. You’ll find freelancers addressing that Client with his/her name.
#4: Use Loom Video for Detailed Projects.
When 24 proposals are text-based, and the Client sees one that offers a visual representation, who’s got the chance to win here?
Free values are uncommon, but they can instantly hook eyeballs and establish yourself as an authority.
For detailed proposals, record a 5-minute video on “how you can solve the client problem” and link it to your proposal.
Bonus Tip: If you’re a beginner with no portfolio, we recommend making loom videos for every proposal and linking them in the first two lines.
#5: Read the Job Description Thrice.
Most beginners throw generic proposals right away when they see a job. Your Client has spent some time writing that job description and expects you to do the same.
Read the description at least three times to understand the Client’s pain points, expectations, and any key details he wants you to include in the proposal.
#6: Follow the YOU attitude.
Successful cover letters are client-centric and show how they can help clients solve problems and achieve desired goals.
These proposals avoid “ME-talk” and convert freelancer features into benefits their potential clients can enjoy.
So, instead of writing,
“I am an experienced WordPress developer. I did my graduation from XYZ. I know my job and can do the work on time. I am confident I can bring results.”
Write,
“Having experience in WordPress development, my clients have always enjoyed faster sites, better visibility, and ultra-user friendly interfaces. And I’d like YOU to have the same results, too.”
Note: Replace “I” with “You” in your proposals to follow your attitude.
Now that we’re done learning how to craft a killer Upwork Cover letter, let’s look at 6 hot cover letter templates on Upwork that can win your next job.
6 Most Underrated And Proven Upwork Cover Letters Templates
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Cover Letter Sample for Article and Blog Writers
While hiring blog post writers, Client’s look for previous article samples to ensure you’re the right fit.
And that’s what you must focus on while submitting proposals. Follow this outline while writing proposals for such clients:
✅Hook ( First two sentences targeting the Client’s core pain points)
✅Experience ( Relevant experience related to the job)
✅Solution ( How you can solve the Client’s problem)
✅Additional Skills ( What gives you a competitive edge)
✅Portfolio (Rock solid portfolio)
✅CTA (what should your Client do after reading the cover letter)
Job Description Client Posted
Cover Letter Templates on Upwork
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Cover Letter Sample for WordPress Content Strategist
Clients looking for WordPress content strategists want to avoid seeing writing samples. Instead, they crave before and after the progress reviews of previous sites you’ve worked with.
For example, suppose a client posted to get 100 volume low competition keywords to 2X his organic traffic. In that case, he’d want to see if you’ve done something similar for any past Client.
Here’s the ideal outline for such proposals
✅Hook (one or two sentences building curiosity)
✅Solution (How have you handled a similar job before)
✅Experience
✅Portfolio
✅CTA
Job Description Client Posted
Sample Cover Letter For Upwork
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Cover Letter Sample for Web Designer
Though a highly creative portfolio is the key to winning jobs as a web designer, you must also mention “what sets you apart from others.”
Bonus Tip: For such competitive markets like web designing, it’s always a wise idea to offer your client free value like logos, mockups, etc.
Follow the outline below for web design proposals:
✅Hook
✅Why YOU?
✅Experience
✅Past samples
✅Your USP (Unique Selling Point)
✅Free Value
✅CTA
Job Description Client Posted
Upwork Cover Letter Sample
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Cover Letter Sample for Graphic Designer
Just like web designers, offering free value as a graphic designer doesn’t go in vain. Start your cover letter by writing a crisp 2-sentenced hook that answers the question…
“Have you read the job?”
Then, write 3 sentences about how you can add value.
After that, share your experience, followed by your portfolio/recent projects.
Finally, offer free value and end your proposal with a solid CTA.
Job Description Client Posted
Cover Letter For Upwork
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Cover Letter Sample for Email Copywriter
Email copywriting helps business owners boost their ROIs via emails. So that’s what you’ll be talking about in your cover letters.
Briefly explain how your strategy got your previous Client a higher conversion rate. You can follow this outline:
✅Hook
✅Why you can be a good fit ( This explains if you’ve read the complete job description or not)
✅Experience (Show how your XYZ clients got higher ROIs)
✅Your unique selling point ( What sets you apart from other applicants)
✅Results speaking portfolio
✅CTA
Job Description Client Posted
Cover Letter on Upwork Example
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Cover Letter Sample for App Developers
If you’re an app developer, focus more on showcasing technical expertise, previous samples, and the ability to solve specific client problems.
Try to use industry-familiar tech terms to sound more credible. Here is a sample outline to follow:
✅Client name
✅Hook
✅Disguised solution (mention the solution the Client is looking for by writing how you solved that problem for previous clients)
✅Experience (mention your expertise with technical terms)
✅Actionable samples
✅Unique selling point
✅Portfolio
✅CTA
Upwork Cover Letter Example
FAQs
Can I use ChatGPT to write a cover letter?
You can use AI to get a draft of your proposal, edit it according to the job description, and submit it. Directly copy-pasting will waste your connects and time.
How to write a cover letter for Upwork with no experience?
If you’re just starting out, make a 5-minute loom video on how to solve the Client’s problem, then attach the link in the hook. Moreover, offer the Client some free value in your cover letters, e.g., a free logo, a free 500-word article, etc.
How do I edit a cover letter on Upwork?
You cannot edit a cover letter once the proposal is submitted on Upwork. You can only edit your payment terms.
How long should the Upwork cover letter be?
The ideal length for Upwork cover letters is between 150- 300 words.
Bottom Line
So this was all about the top effective cover letter templates on Upwork. Always put yourself in your Client’s shoes before submitting the proposal.
Spot clients’ problems and convert your features into benefits that can solve that problem. Moreover, spend time writing the hook.
An engaging hook will decide whether your Client goes through the meaty portion of the cover letter or skip it.
Last but not least, keep your cover letters crisp and on point. Too many words can drive your prospects away.
Furthermore, if you’re still confused about how to make a cover letter that shines, follow our guide above. We’ve shown 6 steps to do so with examples.
