You must not set your mind for competition with other players on platforms like Upwork which others are doing by trying to send a proposal as fast as they can and creating a shallow proposal. Competition in freelance business will always drain you out of energy and make you lose inspiration to continue it.
You must focus on your skills and unique services and how you will help clients to make this project a 100% success. Focus upon things asked by the client in the proposal and try to answer them with a past example you worked for your client.
In your proposal, you can also display the steps you will take which should include feedback from the client and revisions to create deliverables as close as possible to the client’s needs.
Think about the long-term connection and client acquisition. Do not become short-term focused. Be friendly with your clients and talk to them like you will be there for them for support whenever they need you in the future as well.
Think it this way – clients are people like us who find themselves in some problem or the other always and need someone to assist and support them with expert skills to excel them in their business. They can come to you anytime in an hour or a year also. In my case, some clients have even approached me for help after more than 2 years of no active communication.
People will always need people to solve their problems. You must always be ready to help them to understand freelance business which is exactly like any other business out there in a larger view.