How to Send Proposals on Upwork Step by Step: From Finding the Right Job to Clicking Submit

Here is how to send proposals on Upwork in short: open a job from Find Work, click Apply now, choose your profile, set your rate or bid, write a cover letter, answer the screening questions, attach a sample and click Submit. The Connects needed are shown before you submit and are deducted when you send the proposal.

The clicks take two minutes. The choices behind them take longer, and they decide whether you get a reply. This article covers both. You will see the exact steps, a pre-apply job check, the status labels that follow and the mistakes to avoid.

Table of Contents

1. What should you check before you apply?
2. How to send proposals on Upwork step by step
3. What should the cover letter include?
4. How do Connects and boosting affect a proposal?
5. What happens after you submit?
6. How do you respond to an invitation?
7. Which mistakes should you avoid?
8. What does a good first week look like?
9. Frequently asked questions
10. Conclusion

What should you check before you apply?

Not every job deserves your Connects. A short check before you apply saves money and time. Spend about a minute on it.

Check	Where to look	Good sign
Payment verified	Client information panel	Verified
Hiring history	Jobs posted, hire rate, total spent	The client has hired before
Reviews	Client feedback history	Mostly positive
Competition	Proposal count	Fewer proposals, or a fresh post
Fit	Required skills and deliverable	You match most of them
Connects cost	Near the apply button	Reasonable for the job’s value

If a job fails two or more checks, skip it. For a fuller method, read how to check an Upwork client before you apply.

How to send proposals on Upwork step by step

Follow these steps in order. Menu names can change over time, so use the Upwork Help Center if a button looks different.

Step 1: Find the job

Go to Find Work. Use search and filters such as category, experience level, job type and client details. Save searches for your main skills so new posts reach you fast.

Step 2: Read the entire post

Open the job and read every line, including attachments and screening questions. Note the deliverable, the deadline, the tools and any special instruction. Words the client repeats show what they care about most.

Step 3: Click Apply now

This opens the proposal form. You will see the number of Connects required before you commit.

Step 4: Choose your profile

If you have specialized profiles, pick the one that fits the job best. Agency members may be able to apply as part of an agency. Check your account options.

Step 5: Set your terms

For hourly jobs, enter your hourly rate. For fixed-price jobs, choose whether to be paid by milestone or for the whole project. Then enter amounts and dates.

Upwork charges a service fee on earnings. The form shows what you receive after the fee. Fee rules change, so check the current terms.

Milestones lower risk for both sides. A small first milestone can also make it easier for a new client to say yes.

Step 6: Write the cover letter

This part wins or loses the job. The next section explains what to include.

Step 7: Answer screening questions

Answer each one directly. Many clients read these answers before the cover letter. Never write “see cover letter” as an answer.

Step 8: Attach a sample

Add one or two samples that closely match the job. A single strong match beats many loose ones. Read why the right sample wins more Upwork jobs for guidance on choosing.

Step 9: Decide on boosting

Boosting means bidding extra Connects for a higher spot in the client’s list. It is optional. Use it only on valuable jobs where you are a strong fit.

Step 10: Review and submit

Read everything once. Check spelling, links and numbers. Then click Submit.

What should the cover letter include?

A simple four-part structure works for most jobs.

1. The client’s goal. One sentence that restates what they want.
2. A short plan. Two or three bullets that show how you would work.
3. Proof. One link to a matching sample, with a one-line reason.
4. A next step. A question or small offer that is easy to answer.

Aim for roughly 100 to 200 words. Clients often read previews on phones, so the first two lines matter most. For a deeper guide on wording, see how to write an Upwork proposal that gets a reply.

A short example

This example is illustrative.

Hi Jenna, you want your Shopify product pages to convert better before your spring launch.

Here is how I would approach it:

• Audit your top five product pages for speed, layout and trust signals.
• Redesign the template with clearer benefits and a visible add-to-cart button.
• Test on mobile and share a short before-and-after report.

Here is a similar redesign I completed for a skincare brand: [link]. Which product gets the most traffic right now? I would start there.

How do Connects and boosting affect a proposal?

Each proposal uses Connects. The number varies by job and appears before you submit. Connects are deducted when you send the proposal. As of 2026, Upwork lists the price of a Connect at $0.15, but check the official page for current pricing.

Boosting adds a second layer. You set a maximum extra bid, and Upwork explains when that bid is charged and when it is returned. Do not boost by habit. Track whether boosted proposals earn more replies for you.

Situation	Suggested approach
High-value job, perfect fit, strong sample	Consider a boost
Fresh post with few proposals	Usually apply without boosting
Weak fit or generic message	Do not boost; improve the proposal or skip
Very crowded job	Boost only if value is high and fit is exceptional

To learn the mechanics in detail, read how Connects work on Upwork.

What happens after you submit?

Your proposal moves through several states. Labels can differ slightly, but the pattern is similar.

Status	What it usually means	What to do
Submitted	Delivered to the client	Keep applying to other good jobs
Viewed	The client opened it	Be ready to reply fast
Message	The client wrote back	Reply within hours and answer clearly
Interview	An active conversation	Ask discovery questions and confirm scope
Offer	The client wants to hire you	Review the terms, then accept
Declined or archived	Not selected	Learn from it and move on

Freelancers usually cannot send extra messages until the client opens a conversation. That makes your first proposal very important. Read can you message people on Upwork for the rules around messaging and what to avoid before a contract.

Can you edit or withdraw a proposal?

You can often change some terms, such as your rate or bid, while the proposal is active. You can also withdraw a proposal. Withdrawing may not return Connects, so check your Connects history and Upwork’s current rules before you do it.

How do you respond to an invitation?

A client may invite you to apply to a job. Under Upwork’s current rules, replying to an invitation does not cost Connects. That makes invites very valuable.

1. Open the invitation from your Proposals area.
2. Read the job post and the client’s note.
3. Decide quickly. Fast replies help.
4. If it fits, write a tailored proposal using the same four-part structure.
5. If it does not fit, decline politely.

The client already picked you from their search, so lead with a short thank-you and then the client’s goal. Keep the rest focused.

How often should you send proposals on Upwork?

There is no magic number. A better rule is to send proposals on Upwork only when a job passes your check. Some days that means five proposals. On other days it means one, or none.

Timing also matters. Fresh posts tend to get more attention, so check your saved searches at set times each day. Then spend your best effort on the two or three jobs that fit you most.

Which mistakes should you avoid?

1. Opening with a bio. Clients care about their problem first.
2. Using one template everywhere. It shows within seconds.
3. Ignoring screening questions. This can end your chances.
4. Attaching unrelated samples. They weaken your case.
5. Writing too much. Long text often gets skipped.
6. Applying to poor-fit jobs. Even a great proposal cannot fix a mismatch.
7. Sharing contact details. Keep early talk on Upwork.

Quick pre-submit checklist

Check	Done?
The first line restates the client’s goal
A short plan is included
One matching sample is linked and tested
Screening questions are answered
Rate or milestones match the scope
No personal contact details appear
The message ends with a question or next step

What does a good first week look like?

If you are new, a simple routine keeps you consistent.

1. Set up saved searches for your top two skills.
2. Organize your samples by service and niche.
3. Write your four-part cover letter as a reusable outline.
4. Send a small number of well-matched proposals each day.
5. Track views, replies and Connects spent.
6. Rewrite your opening line if views are high but replies are low.

Quality beats volume here. Each proposal costs Connects, so fewer, better ones usually work out cheaper per client.

BidStaff can help with steps three and four. It drafts proposals in the tone of ones that already got replies and tracks results per profile. A spreadsheet can do the tracking part too.

Frequently asked questions

How do I send a proposal on Upwork?

Open a job from Find Work, click Apply now, choose your profile, set your terms, write a cover letter, answer questions, attach a sample and click Submit.

How many Connects does a proposal cost?

It varies by job. The number appears before you submit.

How long should an Upwork proposal be?

About 100 to 200 words works for most jobs. Go longer only if the client asks for detail.

Can I send a proposal without Connects?

Regular job proposals need Connects. Replying to an invitation does not, under current rules. Check Upwork’s Help Center for updates.

Can I edit a proposal after I submit it?

Some terms can be changed while the proposal is active. The cover letter may be locked. Check what the proposal page lets you edit.

Why am I not getting replies?

Common reasons include generic openings, poor job fit, late applications, weak samples and unclear next steps.

Should I bid lower than the client’s budget?

Not by default. Price the work fairly. If a client worries about risk, offer a small first milestone instead of cutting your rate.

Can I apply to a job from my phone?

Yes, the mobile app supports proposals. But long cover letters are easier to write and check on a larger screen.

Conclusion

Knowing how to send proposals on Upwork is easy. Winning with them takes judgment. Choose the right jobs, set clear terms, write a short client-first message, answer every question and attach the best sample.

Your next steps:

• Run the one-minute job check before every proposal.
• Rewrite your opening line to start with the client’s goal.
• Build a small, labeled sample library.
• Track views, replies and hires every week.

Other related articles

• How to write an Upwork proposal that gets a reply
• What are Connects on Upwork?
• How do Connects work on Upwork?
• Can you message people on Upwork?
• How to check an Upwork client before you apply

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team. He built BidStaff to solve the proposal and tracking problems that team ran into.