Clients often receive a stack of proposals for a single job and decide within seconds which ones to read. The good news: most proposals are generic, so a focused, specific one stands out immediately. Here is the structure that consistently wins work.
Why every unlock should count
On Tasqerr, you use an unlock to open a job and send a proposal. That keeps job boards free of spam and means clients see fewer, better proposals. It also means you should bid on jobs where you are a genuinely strong fit, and make every proposal count.
The 5-part winning proposal
1. Open with their problem, not your bio
Your first two lines appear in the client’s preview. Restate their goal in your own words and show you read the post: “You need your Shopify product pages to load faster on mobile so fewer shoppers drop off before checkout.”
2. Show proof you have done it before
Link one or two directly relevant examples with a result: “I rebuilt the PDP for a skincare brand and cut mobile load time from 5.1s to 1.8s.”
3. Outline your approach
Three to five bullet points that show how you would tackle the job. This demonstrates expertise and makes it easy for the client to picture working with you.
4. Answer every screening question
Clients use screening questions to filter. Skipping them is the fastest way to be ignored.
5. End with a simple next step
Suggest a short call or ask one smart clarifying question. Keep it low-pressure.
Copy-and-paste template
Hi [Name],
You’re looking to [restate goal] so that [business outcome]. I’ve done this before: [example + result + link].
Here’s how I’d approach it:
• [Step 1]
• [Step 2]
• [Step 3]
Timeline: [X days/weeks]. Budget: [fixed price or rate].
Quick question: [one clarifying question]?
Happy to jump on a 15-minute call this week.
[Your name]
Mistakes that get proposals ignored
- Copy-pasted introductions that do not mention the project.
- Walls of text. Keep it to 120–200 words.
- Asking for contact details or payment off-platform (this breaks the Terms of Use and removes your payment protection).
- Overpromising on timelines you cannot meet.
Start bidding
New freelancers get free unlocks to start. Create your profile and put this template to work today.