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Boosted proposals: when spending extra Connects pays off

Boosting moves your proposal to the top of the client's list for a price. How the auction works, when it is worth it, and when to save your Connects.

By The Upwork Agents teamOctober 8, 20262 min read

When you apply to a job on Upwork, you can offer extra Connects to boost your proposal. Boosted proposals are shown at the top of the client's list, marked as boosted. It sounds like an easy win, but it is an auction, and like any auction it is easy to overpay.

How boosting works

  • A few top spots. Only a small number of proposals per job can hold the boosted spots at the top of the list.
  • You bid against other freelancers. The Connects needed to win a spot depend on what others are bidding for the same job. You set the most you are willing to spend.
  • The bid is on top of the normal cost. You still pay the job's usual Connects to apply; the boost is extra.
  • Visibility, not a hire. A boost makes the client more likely to see you first. It does not make them open, reply or hire.

Upwork explains the details, including how long a boost lasts and when unused boost Connects are returned, in its guide on how to boost your proposal.

When a boost is worth it

  • The job is a near-perfect fit and you can say something specific nobody else can.
  • The client is credible: verified payment, a hiring history and fair reviews. See spotting red flags.
  • The post is busy and a strong proposal could otherwise be buried below dozens of others.
  • The project is worth it. A boost on a long or well-paid contract costs little compared with what you stand to earn.

When to save your Connects

  • The fit is only so-so. Boosting a weak proposal just shows the client a weak proposal sooner.
  • The job is small, or the budget is below your floor.
  • The post is fresh and quiet. Being early often does the same job for free. See why speed matters.

Measure it

Treat boosting as an experiment. Note which proposals you boosted and compare their reply rate with the ones you did not. If boosting does not move your replies, stop. See tracking your win rate.

On the Jobs page in Upwork Agents you can add a boost when you apply, and you see the job's Connects cost before anything is sent.

Further watching

Freelancers disagree on boosting, and these videos show both sides. We have not reviewed their advice:

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The Upwork Agents teamWriting about proposals, bidding and keeping control of your AI agents.

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