How to Make Money on Upwork: 4 Steps to Success
Are you thinking about finding online jobs on Upwork but feeling a bit lost? Don’t worry—I’ve got some simple tips to help you use Upwork successfully.
What’s Upwork All About?
Let’s start by understanding what Upwork is and how you can use it.
Upwork is a platform where freelancers and businesses connect to find reliable and quality remote work. Businesses or individuals post job listings or projects, and freelancers like you and me can submit proposals for those jobs. It’s a place where the freelance world meets employers looking for remote talent.
How It Works for Freelancers
When you’re a freelancer on Upwork, you use “connects” to apply for jobs. At first, you got a certain number of connects each month. Once you used them up, you had to wait until the next month to get more. Now, you have to buy connects to apply for jobs, and it helps control the number of proposals for each job.
Connects cost 15 cents each, and most jobs need around 6 connects. So, it’s a good idea to apply for jobs you’re really interested in and think are worth the money.
If you get hired, there’s a desktop app you download. It tracks your time and takes screenshots of hourly work. So, it’s important to focus on the task at hand.
For project-based work, you submit your work for each “milestone.” The client sets the milestone with what they expect, and they decide if the work fits their expectations.
After finishing a job, both you and the client can give feedback. Building a strong relationship and doing quality work is key to finding more work in the future.
Types of Jobs on Upwork
Upwork has lots of different jobs, from social media management and graphic design to editing and writing. You can try jobs in different areas by creating multiple profiles for different specialties.
Think about your experience and focus on those areas. If needed, you can take courses or research different programs to add to your skills.
Choose specific areas to specialize in, and those are the jobs that will show on your job feed. Keep an eye out for new job opportunities because they come up often. Check regularly to see what’s available.
How to Make Money on Upwork Successfully
Step 1: Setting Up Your Upwork Profile
Getting your Upwork profile ready is the first step before diving into job hunting. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Connect Your Accounts
You can link your LinkedIn or Facebook profiles if you want, but it’s not a must. Having LinkedIn is good for showing you online.
2. Add a Nice Profile Photo
Upload a photo that’s professional and friendly. Make sure it’s clear and good quality. Clients like to see the face behind the name.
3. Craft an Interesting Title
Choosing a title might not seem super important, but it’s the first thing people notice. It should grab attention and reflect your skills and experience.
4. Pick Your Skillset
Decide on the type of skills you want to focus on. It can be broad, like “Virtual Assistant,” or more specific, like “Virtual Assistant and Blog Manager.” Choose what suits you best.
5. Add Your Overview
Now, let’s talk about your overview – a way to tell people about yourself and your skills. Remember those skills and strengths you thought about earlier? This is where you share them! You can talk about your past experience, the area you want to focus on, your know-how with apps and programs, and even basic skills.
Remember, when clients visit your profile, the overview is one of the first things they’ll see. They might not scroll down, so make sure it shines and shows how you can help them!
6. Pick Your Skills
Now, let’s talk about choosing your skills. In this part, you need to pick at least 5 and up to 10 skills that match your job. The options include things like Microsoft Office, Google Apps, proofreading, and being a virtual assistant. Concentrate on skills that fit the job you want.
7. Language & Experience Levels
After that, it’s time to select how well you know English and what your experience level is for the work you’re seeking. Be honest because clients will expect certain things based on your answers. Make sure your answers match your real skills.
8. Share Your Work Experience
Now, tell them about your past work. If you’ve worked as a virtual assistant before, focus on that experience. But if you’re new to freelancing, just list any jobs you had that relate to the one you want. As you get more clients, you can come back and update this part with your freelancing experience.
9. Share Your Education
Now, let’s talk about your education. This is where you can mention any degrees or certifications you’ve earned. Even if you didn’t go to formal school, you can still add any relevant training or things you’ve learned on your own.
10. Build Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is like your work showcase. If you’re into content writing, put in some samples of your writing. Planning on doing web design? Add examples of websites you’ve made (with permission) or graphics you designed.
While not all clients may scroll down to see your portfolio, it’s still crucial to include work that shows off your skills. Don’t have paid work to show? Practice and display that. Just be honest and say it’s practice, not something you did for a client. Show things related to the service you want to offer.
11. Set Your Hourly Rate
The final step is deciding how much you’ll charge per hour for your services. If you’re not sure about the right price, do some research on what others charge for similar services. Adjust your rate based on your experience level. Don’t charge like an expert if you’re just starting. You can increase your rate as you get more experience and work with more clients.
Tips to Success
Often, clients look at suggested profiles when inviting people for jobs (yes, I’ve done this!). So, make sure your profile is complete and optimized!
Check these things:
- Profile Picture: Is it a good photo? Does it clearly show your face? Clients want to know who you are, including what you look like!
- Description: Have you mentioned your top skills? Did you share past work experience that proves your qualifications?
- Work Experience: As you start getting clients, provide top-notch work. Good ratings matter, and clients want to see those five-star ratings!
- Employment History: Include past jobs outside of Upwork if they’re relevant. Share some useful past experiences!
Take the time to go through your profile and optimize it as much as you can!
If you offer different services, Upwork lets you have separate profiles for each specialty. Create quality profiles for each to attract specific clients. Make them top-notch!
Step 2: Applying For Jobs
Now that your profile is all set, let’s say you’re on the job feed page and you spot a job that gets you excited. What’s your next move? Click on the listing, and you’ll find all the details about that job: how many hours, the project length (short or long-term), the kind of experience they’re after (don’t hesitate if it says intermediate or expert!), and what they’re willing to pay, either hourly or for the entire project.
Sometimes, there might be questions the employer wants you to answer, like “Why did you apply to this job?” or “What experience do you have with __?” These questions help them know you better and narrow down their search. Just be honest in your answers. If you don’t have experience in something, mention it, but they might still be interested.
Now, look for the “submit a proposal” button in the top right. That’s how you apply for the job. I’ll guide you on what makes a successful proposal and how to grab the attention of potential clients!
Crafting a Winning Proposal
Writing a good proposal is key to success on Upwork. Without one, grabbing the attention of clients and showing them you’re the right fit becomes quite tricky.
If your proposal to potential clients isn’t top-notch, you might lose out to the 10 or 20 others applying for the same job!
Your proposal is the first chance the client gets to know you and figure out why you’re the right person for the job. So, what makes a “quality” proposal?
- Personalization: This is crucial! Don’t copy and paste the same proposal for every job. Clients notice. They want to see you’ve read the job description and paid attention. Take the time to make each proposal unique.
- Past Work Experience: Share relevant past work that qualifies you for the position. Clients want to know you have the experience they’re looking for!
- Your Skills: What are you genuinely good at? Be honest about your skills. Is it organization, communication, or attention to detail? Let them know why you’re a good fit.
- What You Can Do for Them: Specify how you’ll help them. Be specific for each job! Show them you were paying attention and genuinely have an interest in the position.
Step 3: Navigating the Interview Process
The thrill of receiving a message that they’re interested in your job application is fantastic! But what comes next?
Some prefer a video interview or a simple phone call, often done directly through Upwork messages. I personally had one video chat, and while it was nerve-wracking, I made sure to find a quiet spot and dress modestly.
Usually, they ask about your journey, past experiences, and your knowledge of specific programs. Some are more detailed with their questions, but most stick to the basics. Then, they discuss what they need from you and how you can contribute. Just be yourself, stay professional, and it should go smoothly!
Step 4: You’re Hired!
If you get the wonderful news that you’re hired, the next step is the client creating a contract. It outlines their expectations, the hourly or project-based rate, and, if it’s hourly, a set number of hours per week.
As mentioned earlier, download the desktop application to get started. It’s simple—turn it on while you work to track your time and capture your screen. Turn it off when you’re done.
Final Thoughts
Getting your first gig on Upwork might take some time, especially if you lack specific experience in that area. It can be tough competing with other freelancers, but don’t lose hope!
My first position came relatively quickly (after around 10-15 proposals), but the next few took a few months and nearly a hundred proposals. Yes, 100! But remember, I wasn’t paying for connects then, and I was a bit desperate.
Now that you pay for connects, you’re more intentional, and there’s less competition for each job. Be patient, and don’t be disheartened if you don’t land certain jobs. Once you get your foot in the door, it becomes much easier to secure the next few. So, stay patient, work hard, and you’ll get there! ?
