Are you a freelancer looking to get started on Upwork? Trust me, you're far from alone. Just a few years ago, I was once like you, looking for a head start in the world of freelancing. More and more people are getting on the freelance train — and they're all flourishing, well, maybe not all! I am a prime example of the former.
Who Am I to Give Advice About Getting Started on
Upwork?
I started my freelance journey in January 2018,
surprisingly, not Upwork. I was hired by a client, a Nigerian, who runs an
agric news site and blog, he’s based in Stockholm, Sweden, however, I was hired
as a content writer who updates blog posts consistently on the website. I
started actively freelancing on Upwork, in March 2019. Although I feel
uncomfortable sharing my personal earnings and profile, I have so far
completely supported myself by working on Upwork projects over a few years.
Yes, Upwork can be a big source of income for you.
(These tips are also transferable to other freelance
websites (perhaps not exactly) such as Freelancer and Fiverr)
Tips for Getting Started on Upwork
What’s Your Skill?
Upwork is an online freelancing platform. Trust me,
you need to bring a skill or two to the table to be of interest to this market.
However, you don't have to be a master of all trades — it's easier to be an
expert in one or two areas. So, what's it going to be like? UI/UX design, huh?
Data analytics? Software development? Writing?
Now that you've figured your skills out, take a spot
down. On Upwork, it is better to streamline your skills to increase your
chances of being hired. For example, writing is a common skill and quite
competitive, so if you're based on a specific niche, you're more valuable.
Right now, for example, B2b, B2c copywriters are gold on Upwork. The same
applies to all other skills.
Create a Winning Profile
You know what your skills are, but now it's time to help
potential clients understand that ability. Getting started depends a lot on a
good profile. One thing helped me, I painstakingly read a bunch of top-rated
freelancer profiles. I actually wanted to work with them after reading their
profiles. That's what your profile should do to the person who reads it.
However, what are you supposed to include in your profile?
- Single-line
Summary: Competent Virtual Assistant / Professional Copywriter / B2B
Content Strategist, etc.
- An
attractive profile: I've seen varying lengths; some short, others long.
It's up to you. But the trick is to let your personality and knowledge be
obvious to your clients. Tell your future client what you're doing, what
experience you've had in the industry, and why you think you are the best
fit for his project.
- Include
your educational history: Upwork actually recognizes your educational
background, particularly if it is related to the service you provide. You
could easily be labeled "Rising Talent" if you have/are trained
for a degree — relevant or not.
- Add
your professional experience: This is so important to clients. If you
don't have a website, start with one! Getting started with Upwork without
experience is easier when you have a body of work. So, link your website
or your online portfolio. Even if all you've got is a medium account or
content you've contributed to other people's sites. Link it all. This way,
clients know that you're a real person and not a robot and that you are
worth the investment.
Start Small
I know you want to make your first $1k in your first month —
it's possible! But is it going to happen for everyone? I don’t think so. I
earned about $300 by the end of my first month. However, I've done a variety of
work, from ghostwriting e-books to writing several blog posts. Sure, I did
that. The thing is, I wasn't sure what my niche was going to be, but I got sick
of writing things that I didn't care much about. As I was working on projects,
I ensured I was developing myself in the area of copywriting. I finally landed
my first long-term copywriting job with a glass tint automobile firm in South
Korea.
The idea is to start a little, and then push yourself to
grow. Take lessons, read books, do the work that scares you — even if you feel
under-qualified. Remember, the idea is to GROW.
Identify high performing clients
Okay, this is where a lot of new freelancers starting on
Upwork or other freelancing sites begin to lose their way. Upwork, Guru,
Fiverr, and all other gig websites are currently overrun by more low-quality
clients than the clients you actually want. Who is a low-quality client? The
client who wants to pay you one dollar for a thousand word article — yes, they
exist! Or those content mills always looking for 20 freelancers to hire in one
job. Those clients who don't have a niche and want you to write about anything
under the sun like a zombie. Yeah, they surely exist.
I could detect a great client from the first paragraph of
their job posting when I started on Upwork. Good grammar, check. Precise
requirement, check. Clear budget — whether daily or on a project basis, CHECK.
Once you get started on Upwork, you're going to work with bad clients. Often,
since you're a newbie, sometimes you're desperate for money. But I quickly
realized that they weren't worth the fight. Here’s the hack, when you read a
job posting, look out for the following:
- "Payment
verified." See how much they've spent on Upwork.
- Client’s
review
- Clear
guidelines and specifications.
- Client’s
country (Yes, I have my personal bias)
Write Killer Proposal
Your proposal is everything on Upwork, Now that you've found
your dream client, it's time to write a winning proposal! You can't afford to
waste your connect, especially now that Upwork connects cost money, it's so
important to give each proposal your best shot. Read the job description in
depth. Include any keywords that the client needs. Be confident, but do not be
arrogant. Tell the client why you're the best match for the job. Don’t tell
clients what you can do for them, SHOW them what you can do. Talk about your
related background and clarify how you have made a difference to your previous
clients.
LINK your previous experience, particularly if it relates to
the current job posting. Confirm that you can work on their terms! Check out
the TYPOS! How horrible would it be if you applied for a proofreading job and a
typo or grammatical error was seen in your proposal? Hey. That’s pretty bad you
know. It's going to take time before you land your first gig. It took me the
longest two weeks ever, burned several connects — and even more. But, trust me,
you will surely land your first gig if you stay and don’t give up. Freelancing
isn’t a get quick rich scheme. It is WORK. The truth about Upwork, freelancing,
life and everything else is that you get out of it, what you put into it.
Be Professional
So, you've landed your first client! Okay, What next?
Correspond as professionally as possible. You shouldn’t agree with unreasonable
deadlines. Ensure you give yourself enough time. Finally, ALWAYS DELIVER. Make
sure your client is happy, particularly in the first five or so jobs. And ask
for reviews! Never be ashamed to say, "I'm glad you're happy about my
work. “Can you leave me with a 5-star rating, please?” Most of the clients who
are happy with your work will do that — even if all they say is, like my first
client," Excellent job, thank you! "Oh, better than" no reviews,
"huh?
Link up and Learn from Experienced Freelancers
The best thing I've done since I started freelancing is to
interact with other experienced freelancers. Several paid masterclasses. Yes, I
paid or a whole lot to get a hack of Upwork. Those payments were an investment
that is now beginning to pay off. I was glad I found experienced freelancers
who could hold me by the hand and lead me on this crazy journey. Community
trumps competition. You can't take all the clients with you, believe me. So you
need someone you can trust to lead you.
Repeat after me:
My work is valuable
My time is valuable
I am valuable
I am the only one who can do the work I do, in the way I
do it, with the feeling and emotion I bring to it.
I am generous with my work, and I will find my footing on
Upwork and other freelance platforms.
Am…..Nah…Get to work.
I hope you found this blog post helpful, and you learned
one or two things? Let me know in the comment section. Whilst accessing the
blog post is free, SHARING with others is MANDATORY. I’d love to reach a larger
audience that would glean one or two and advance their freelance journey. My
job is to see you grow and become better.
I'll be sharing more Upwork and freelance tips — from
step-by-step proposal writing guides to finding a niche, how to optimize your
profile, and more!
Do you have any questions about freelancing? I’m happy to
help.
Follow me on social media.