Why Your Upwork Proposals Aren't Being Viewed and What To Do About It

When you find a project on Upwork that fits your skills, you can submit a proposal to the client. This is similar to a cover letter and is typically a brief introduction to let the client know your background and expertise and express your overall enthusiasm for the job. After putting in the time and effort to submit a proposal, learning that the client didn't view it can be discouraging and frustrating.

You can track your proposal views by clicking on your profile picture and choosing >>My stats and trends>> from the drop-down menu.

If your proposals are consistently not getting viewed by clients, you may need to adjust your strategy. Many of these tips are small changes you can implement to help stand out more.

Understanding the Upwork algorithm

The Upwork algorithm was designed to facilitate high-quality matches between clients and talent—saving everyone time and resources. It looks at the job posting and compares it to talent proposals and profiles. In the proposal, it scans for the right keywords and then makes sure the profile includes the skills the client needs.

The algorithm also considers talent's past experience with similar jobs and overall history on the platform. Its goal is to match clients and talent as closely as possible using machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). Going beyond the proposal and evaluating talent profiles and work history helps to make sure that clients see the most relevant candidates first.

Dive deeper into how the Upwork algorithm works:

How Upwork search and ranking works

As a freelancer on Upwork, the jobs you see on your home feed and personalized job recommendations emails are projects that the algorithm determines are the best matches based on factors like your profile, skills, and overall work history.

On the client side, after posting a job to the Talent Marketplace™, if it receives many proposals, Upwork will show the closest matches first. This reorganization is based on the proposal along with the talent's profile and success with similar projects.

Clients can also search for talent and invite them to apply for their jobs directly. When searching for specific skills or categories, the algorithm will organize talent results based on who it determines will be the best match. As a freelancer, applying to a job invite doesn't cost you any Connects.

How to rank higher in the Upwork algorithm:

• Have a 100% complete profile
• Earn Talent Badges
• Maintain a high Job Success Score
• Apply to jobs that match your skills
• Keep your profile updated
• Gain positive feedback from clients
• Be active on the platform

The role of the Job Success Score (JSS)

On Upwork, a Job Success Score (JSS) measures your success as a freelancer on the platform. This score is calculated by how many projects you've completed and takes into account the contract length, earnings, and client feedback. Your JSS updates daily.

If you typically complete contracts and receive positive feedback, your JSS will be high. Canceled contracts, having to refund clients, and negative feedback can bring your score down.

You can view your JSS by clicking on your profile or in My stats and trends.

High-paying and longer-term contracts are weighted higher and can bring your score up. If you're new to Upwork, you may not have a JSS yet. Before you can earn a JSS, you’ll need to work with at least two clients in a lifetime on Upwork and complete two eligible jobs in 24 months.

The Upwork algorithm uses JSS when analyzing proposals and deciding which freelancers are the best match and should be at the top of the list for the client. Having a higher JSS could help you stand out to the algorithm—it's an extra vote of confidence. Freelancers with a JSS score of at least 90% consistently deliver high-quality work to their clients, which is why it's a requirement for Top Rated talent badges.

You can learn more about your score on your Job Success insights page. You can access this by going to your Stats and trends page and clicking >> View insights under your current score. This dashboard will help you understand your JSS and how to maintain or improve it. If you don’t have a JSS yet, you can learn more about what you can do to earn your score.

Freelancing on Upwork is about building your reputation, and part of this is your JSS. When clients hire talent on the platform, they want to make sure they receive the high-quality work they paid for. A quick way to help ensure this is by choosing to work with independent professionals who have a high JSS.

Top reasons your proposals aren't being viewed

Sometimes, a project receives many proposals, and the client may not get to yours before they start interviewing other freelancers. This is why it's important to find jobs that closely align with your skill set and spend time submitting a tailored proposal. Optimizing your profile and proposals to rank higher by the Upwork algorithm can help push your proposal toward the top of the stack so clients can see it.

When looking for jobs on the Talent Marketplace, you can filter by number of proposals to help increase the chances of getting yours seen by clients in the beginning until you get a JSS and build your reputation.

You can check and see how many other freelancers submitted proposals under Activity on this job >> in the job posting.

We'll dive deeper and explore some of the top reasons why clients aren't viewing your proposals:

• Submitting generic proposals
• Having an incomplete or outdated profile
• Overpricing or underpricing your services
• Ignoring client preferences
• Having limited availability or responsiveness

Submitting generic proposals

While you can use a general template for your proposals, each one you send should be tailored to the specific client and project. The Upwork algorithm helps to match clients with freelancers by reading the project description and using the skills as keywords to scan in the submitted proposals. If you use a generic proposal, it may not have the right keywords and could then rank lower.

Clients want to see that you took the time to write a custom proposal. It shows your interest in the project. They can tell when you use a copy-and-paste proposal that doesn't have any specific points about the job. Adding these details and personalizing your proposal help it stand out to clients and win jobs.

Your proposal is your first impression and how you let clients know you're the best talent for the project.

Having an incomplete or outdated profile

When submitting proposals, your Upwork profile is like your resume. It shows clients your JSS, skills, the projects you've worked on, past client feedback, and portfolio. Your profile should stand out and impress potential clients; it's how you sell yourself and market your skills.

Make sure your profile is 100% complete and filled in with all of your updated skills, experience, and other credentials. Upwork uses this profile to match you with clients and assess whether you're qualified for a project. Incomplete and outdated profiles may not rank as high by the algorithm.

A profile that has the skills and experience the client is looking for can help get your proposal toward the top of the submissions.

Overpricing or underpricing your services

When submitting a proposal to clients, you want to be strategic with your rate. If your hourly or fixed-price rate is outside of the client's posted budget, they may not view your proposal. When the client looks at submitted proposals, the ones that fall outside of their budget range will be farther down since they're less close a match.

Overpricing or underpricing your services can be a red flag to clients and prevent you from getting interviews. When you price your services too low, clients may think that your quality is less than other freelancers. Seeing prices that seem too high can scare clients away, as they feel they can't afford you and may go with another independent professional who has more competitive rates.

The Freelance Rate Calculator can help you figure out what your minimum target hourly rate should be based on your expenses.

Ignoring client preferences

Always read the full job posting before submitting a proposal—you want to make sure it's a project you want to work on and are qualified for. If your profile doesn't meet the client's skill and experience requirements, they may not look at your proposal. Try to find projects that best fit your skills, and then spend extra time crafting your proposal.

Clients may try to weed out freelancers who apply to jobs without reading the full description by adding a code word in the header or bottom of the post. They'll ask freelancers to include this word at the top of their proposal to find out who read the full posting.

When companies post full-time roles on job boards like LinkedIn, they're often looking for a wide range of skills. Companies know candidates won't likely have every single skill they need. Since the employees will hopefully work at the company for a while, they can learn on the job.

Clients on Upwork often turn to freelancers to close the skills gaps on their teams. They may need talent with a very specific skill set who can onboard and get started immediately. Many freelancers work on a project-by-project basis, and the client expects them to already be an expert at their skill.

Having limited availability or responsiveness

Make sure your availability is updated and matches the project's requirements. If your availability is set to "None," this could affect whether clients see your proposals. The Upwork algorithm may prioritize the proposals of other freelancers whose profile availability fits the project's needs.

You can set your availability by going to Find Work >> Profile >> Hours per week

Responding quickly to job invites and potential client messages shows your activity on the platform. When organizing proposals, responsive freelancers may be put ahead of others who take longer to reply. A freelancing best practice is to try to respond to job invites and messages within 24 hours—replying in just 1 to 2 hours is best but may not always be possible with different time zones and work hours.

The Availability Badge can help you stand out to clients using the search feature to find talent and send job invites. This badge lets clients know you're looking for work right now.

‍

Proven tips to boost your proposal views

Now that you know what not to do, you can start exploring some best practices and tips for making sure clients see your proposals. Getting clients on Upwork starts with perfecting your profile and building your reputation.

Instead of submitting proposals to anything and everything, be more selective and spend time on the proposals for jobs that closely align with your skill set. This process can feel slow at first, but as you start winning more projects and gaining positive feedback, it'll help clients see your proposals.

These are some proven tips you can incorporate to help boost your proposal views:

• Optimize your profile
• Bid on best-match jobs
• Personalize each proposal
• Set competitive rates
• Stay active and engaged
• Seek feedback and ask for testimonials

Optimize your profile

Start with your title and overview—this information, along with your profile picture, is what clients see first. Let clients know exactly what you do, and make sure your title and overview fit the jobs you're applying to. Choose a profile category and skills that relate to the type of work you're interested in and want to match with.

You can boost your profile using Connects to stand out to clients looking to send job invites. Set your budget—the maximum number of Connects you're willing to bid per click on your profile.

When you submit a proposal, having a profile that closely corresponds to the job posting can get it seen by clients. The Upwork algorithm determines which freelancers are the most qualified based on their profiles, including category, skills, JSS, and client feedback.

Many freelancers find success by choosing a niche and then working to build their expertise in that area. Their goal is to become the go-to person for that skill. Having a niche can make it easier to match with projects and clients—Upwork and clients know exactly what you're best at. If you want to offer more than one skill to your clients, you can create a specialized profile for each individual skill.

You can use these Upwork profile examples for guidance and inspiration as you work on optimizing your profile.

Bid on best-match jobs

Be strategic about the projects you submit proposals to. You don't want to waste Connects and time writing a proposal for a job that you think you could do but doesn't closely match your profile, skills, and portfolio.

When searching for jobs on Talent Marketplace, select your Category and type your skills as keywords into the search bar to find the closest matches. You can use the Advanced Search Feature to narrow down your results.

On your Home Page, if you go to Jobs you might like >> Best Matches, you can see what projects Upwork thinks fit your skills based on your profile, work history, and the client's requirements.

If you want to expand your skill set and offer more services to clients, you can take online courses and then start gaining experience by completing smaller projects. You can add certifications from Credly to your Upwork profile.

When a project receives a high number of proposals, clients may not get to those at the bottom of the list. You want to make sure that you're either an early bidder or a close match for the project, so your proposal is one of the top recommended by Upwork.

You can also use additional Connects to bid on Boosting your Proposal. This auction is open for seven days or until the client hires a freelancer, whichever comes first. The top winning bids will appear in the first four slots, which are marked "Boosted" with a blue lightning bolt.

‍

Personalize each proposal

Your proposal is your sales pitch. It's how you quickly demonstrate that you're interested and qualified for the project. Every project and client is different. Take the time to personalize each proposal, explaining your experience with the needed skills and answering any questions.

First, read the job posting and make sure that it's the right fit. After that, make a list of all of the skills the project needs. As you draft your proposal, include the relevant skills and experiences in a short summary.

Spend extra time on the header and the first couple of sentences-–this is the first part of the proposal your client will see.

You want to grab their attention so they click "Read more" and see the full proposal, hopefully then heading to your profile.

Clients want to know that you actually read their job postings. This can help set you apart from other freelancers who use generic proposals for their bids. Tailoring your proposal shows that you're invested and interested in the project. Copy-and-paste proposals can be a red flag for clients.

Record a cover letter video

When submitting a proposal, you’ll have the option to record a cover letter video. Adding a video to your proposal can help you stand out to clients. Express your enthusiasm for the project, show off your professionalism, and let clients get to know you and build a personal connection.

Rather than scanning a lengthy proposal, clients can watch a quick video with the highlights and main points. Videos are often more engaging than text. After grabbing their interest with the video, clients can learn more about your qualifications from your proposal and profile.

Elevate your proposal with Uma, Upwork’s Mindful AI

If you need help writing your proposal, you can get personal assistance from Uma, Upwork’s Mindful AI. Think of Uma as your work companion, designed to help you increase your productivity and win more work. Uma is built on custom AI models trained on winning proposals and Upwork best practices to help you put your best foot forward.

Uma combines the power of large language models with Upwork’s proprietary data and your personal experience on Upwork, such as your work history and freelancing goals. This tool can help make sure that your proposal matches the job description and has all of the elements of a winning bid.

“If you’re being aggressive and you're doing a lot of proposals, Uma helps make sure that you're not missing key things that the client is asking for and overlooking what kind of responses they are looking for, which is easy to do. Uma helps by providing relevant responses that the client wants to hear. I see value in that.” – Jason M., Web and Mobile Applications Developer

Uma is designed to help you achieve more successful results and is continually being improved. Click the Uma icon (shown below) when writing your next proposal to access this AI-powered tool.

‍

Set competitive rates

Know your value as a freelancer, but keep your rates competitive. Finding the right balance is important. Freelance rates are often based on skill and experience. The hourly rates guide can help you get a better idea of what other independent professionals charge for similar skills.

If you're new to freelancing, you can set your rate to the lower end of the average range and slowly raise it as the demand for your services grows. When bidding on ongoing or longer-term hourly projects, you can include a scheduled rate increase with your proposal.

When you’re unsure how much to bid for a fixed-price project, start by estimating how many hours it will take you. Then, you can multiply that by what your average hourly rate is. Deciding how much to charge for a fixed-price project can be tricky as you may not know exactly how much time it will take you. You'll get a better idea as you gain more experience and complete similar types of jobs.

Upgrading to Freelancer Plus lets you see the bid range (high, low, and average) from other freelancer proposals for each project. This can help you strategize your rate and be more competitive.

Stay active and engaged

When clients post projects, they want to find qualified talent who can get started right away. Upwork tries to match clients with responsive talent who are available and active on the platform. If a client likes your proposal or profile and sends an interview request or job invite, responding quickly can help you win the bid.

Make sure you don't miss any messages or job invites by installing the Upwork app on your phone and laptop and turning notifications on. The mobile app lets you respond to messages on the go. As a freelancer, communicating effectively with clients is key to success.

Freelancers have to market their services and skills to clients. As you build your reputation, clients may start coming to you with job invites or purchasing your services in Project Catalog™.

Upgrading to Freelancer Plus gives you 100 Connects each month to use on proposals and ads, along with full access to Uma and other perks. Uma is built into your everyday flow on Upwork so you never have to switch between apps, and Upwork’s own data is used to continuously update the model. This AI tool combines the power of a large language model (LLM) with data from the platform and your context – your goals, your history on the platform, and what you’re trying to do right now.

You can use Uma as a powerful work companion to help you complete your projects and tasks faster than ever. Uma can be a second set of eyes to review your work before sending it to clients, and Uma can be your partner in brainstorming. All of your chats in Uma are saved, so you can refer back to them as needed to continue the conversation.

If you want to upgrade to Freelancer Plus, you can view plan pricing and decide whether you’d like to pay monthly or annually. Along with the different pricing options, you can choose a reserve balance of up to $250. This allows you to automatically set aside a portion of your earnings at each scheduled withdrawal until you reach the amount selected. You can use these earnings for Connects and your Freelancer Plus subscription.

Seek feedback and ask for testimonials

Positive reviews and testimonials help to establish trust with new clients. Feedback is also an important part of your JSS. After completing a contract with your client, you both can leave optional private and public feedback. The public feedback is displayed on your profile as a star rating with written comments.

In the beginning, finding those first couple of jobs can be difficult because you don't have any reviews yet. Taking on smaller projects at first can help you gain feedback. If you've worked with other clients before joining Upwork, you can ask them to give you a testimonial. This can be helpful for winning projects before you have experience and feedback from Upwork clients.

Reviews on Upwork are optional. Try not to take it personally if a client doesn't leave you a review—they may just be busy. If you know the client was satisfied with your work, you could kindly ask them to leave feedback, explaining why it's important.

Once clients leave you a review on Upwork, you can share it on your LinkedIn, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter) pages to help attract more clients.

Conclusion

When you make Upwork your home for work, the possibilities are endless. You can take on clients part time to supplement your income or become a full-time freelancer and build a career doing what you love. Start your journey today and see which clients are looking for talent with your skill set right now on the Talent Marketplace. As the demand for your services grows, you’ll start having to spend less time finding clients and more time working with them.