Introduction
Before we dive into the mistake that many freelancers make, let’s set a couple of things straight. First, this post is for the entire freelancing community — not just those working in a specific niche or domain. Second, what you’re about to read isn’t some quick hack to instantly land projects. Instead, it’s a proven insight that can help you stand out in competitive projects, especially where other freelancers are falling into this common trap.
What Am I Assuming?
1 – Profile Completed
I’m assuming that your freelancing profile is already complete and ready for bidding or submitting proposals. By “complete,” I mean it should include:
- A professional bio and clear description of your services
- A solid portfolio showcasing your past work in your domain
- A high-quality profile picture that reflects professionalism
- Any relevant experience you’ve gained
- A well-defined list of your skills
These elements form the foundation of a strong freelance profile that attracts clients and makes your proposals more credible.
For New Freelancers
If you’re struggling to set up any of those profile pieces or feel lost with a platform’s layout — that’s completely normal. Tell me which part you need help with (bio, portfolio, profile photo, skills list, or writing proposals) and I’ll create a clear, step-by-step guide you can use right away to build a professional profile.
2 – Domain-Specific & Profile-Engagement Bids
The next assumption I’m making is that you’re bidding on projects relevant to your domain. For example, if you’re a content writer, you should focus only on content writing projects — not everything that looks appealing because of the budget.
Another key factor is bidding according to your profile engagement. This includes how many reviews you have and how established your profile is. For smaller projects, new freelancers are often preferred, while bidding on high-budget projects too early can waste your bids.
In short, I’m assuming you’re choosing projects that match both your domain and your current profile strength.
Those are the steps I’m assuming you’re already following. Now, let’s get to the main topic of this blog — the real reason you’re here.
Freelancing Mistake That Could Ruin Your Projects
Take a look at the image below. It shows a project posted by a client who’s looking to hire for a specific job. After this, I’ve also included screenshots of several bids submitted by freelancers for that project.
Now, here are some bids from freelancers:
Images are from Freelancer
When freelancers submit irrelevant bids that don’t align with what the client is asking for, their chances of winning the project drop to almost zero. Clients aren’t naïve — if someone has written a proposal, they’ll check whether it matches the project description or not.
It’s not that only a few bids are off-topic; in many cases, the majority are irrelevant or simply recycled from previous proposals. Some freelancers do this to save time — they write one proposal or cover letter and reuse it repeatedly. While this might occasionally work, most clients prefer bids tailored to their specific project requirements.
Solution
The solution is simple: write your bids specifically for the project description before submitting them. If your proposal doesn’t align with the client’s requirements, your chances of being selected drop drastically.
Tailored bids show that you’ve read, understood, and can deliver exactly what the client needs — and that’s what gets you noticed.
If you’re struggling to write tailored bids — whether due to time constraints or language barriers — you can try our free personalized proposal service. For the first 1,000 users, you’ll get up to 10 proposals completely free. Just fill in the basic project details, and you’re good to go. Click here to generate yours.
#Conclusion
In this post, we discussed a common freelancing mistake that often costs professionals their projects. Avoiding irrelevant bids and focusing on tailored proposals can significantly improve your chances of winning jobs.
If you’d like to learn more about freelancing, visit our blog section for more tips and guides. You can also head back to the home page to explore our services.
Thanks for reading this post! We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
If you have any questions or concerns about this content, feel free to reach out to us directly at bhazimyousuf@gmail.com.
