Getting Started on Upwork
The world of freelance is expanding dramatically throughout the years. Today, over a billion freelancers are seen across various industries worldwide. Almost 86% of these freelancers are enjoying working in the comforts of their homes. Since it is a trending business model for companies and organizations, more people are willing to give up their 8-to-5 jobs and try to enter this world.
Do you want to become a freelancer but do not know where to start?
In this industry, a freelancer works mainly for himself, rather than for the company or organization. You have control over some decisions where a regular employee doesn’t have. You can dictate and track your work hours, bill your clients and pay your taxes.
Being a freelancer comes with a great responsibility and commitment. But it is filled with benefits that make you a better person especially in your art. You may weigh the pros and cons before entering the world of freelance.
As a freelancer, your job is to pay your self-employment taxes and other deductions. It can be toiling but it is a must to abide in laws and regulations. Aside from these, you are to avail your own insurance or benefits if you want. Since you are not an employee, your contract does not include these.
You will be working on projects and with clients; however, it will not be as steady as you think. Projects end and clients may stop working with you. Most of the time, you are working alone and under minimal supervision.
On the brighter side, you can exercise freedom and flexibility. You can choose your clients and your workload depending on your capability, availability and preference. You can choose a work you are comfortable doing or a meaningful one. There is a wide selection of niches and skills. You can focus on one or explore doing different things. It is up to you.
Moreover, you can control your time and setting. You can work anywhere that will help you to be more productive. Because of this set-up, you can accomplish work and enjoy life.
Now, you might ask where you will start.
You can search for sites where you can build your profile and promote your most in-demand services. To help you succeed in your freelancing journey, you can create an account with one of the trusted sites, Upwork.
What is Upwork?
Upwork is built for freelancers who offer their skills, and for contractors who search for those with the skills they need for a project. It is designed for freelancers to promote and showcase their portfolio and skills easily to convince clients to work with them.
Though it is fairly easy to find work, the competition is high. So, how can you stand out among them?
This AI Upwork hack allows you to make bank on Upwork with as little effort as possible. Also, if you are planning to work as a content writer, this hack will help you earn money easily. All you have to do is to sign-up for a free Upwork account and a free trial on Jasper.ai.
Marketing yourself as a content writer is a very efficient way to make money. You have to build your credibility by creating a professional profile and delivering high-quality outputs. By using this AI hack, you can earn as much as 90 USD per hour without the writing and without worrying about plagiarism.
Getting Started on Upwork
Before Applying to Upwork
Choose a highly in-demand skill.
Planning is a key element in applying for any job. You have to narrow down your options to land in a job that suits you and your skills.
Check out the skills and jobs that are sought after by clients in Upwork. This strategy is beneficial for entry-level freelancers.
Also, you have to know your skills whether writing, marketing or design. You may work on your skill or strive to learn a new one. You can invest by enrolling in online courses and training.
According to Upwork, IT, analytics, and programming jobs are high in demand this 2022. The list includes the following:
Machine Learning
Automation
Data Analytics
Mobile Application
Virtual Reality Developer
Video Production
SEO
Product Management
Specialize in your Chosen Skill
When starting, it will be less advantageous for your profile to cater to a lot of skills. You have to stand out with your chosen skill; this will be the foundation of your freelancing career. Hone your chosen skill, rank for it and then, you may add other services.
Signing-up with a Free Upwork Account
Go to upwork.com on your browser. Click on Sign-up located in the top right corner.
Sign up using your preferred e-mail address. There are three options for this: your Google account, Apple account or work e-mail address.
Complete your free account set-up by entering your personal information such as name, password, and location. Select Work as a Freelancer and review Terms of Service, User Agreement and Privacy Policy. After understanding the terms and policies, tick the appropriate box. Click on Create My Account.
Create your Upwork profile. You need to complete at least 60% of your profile before applying for jobs. Remember to update it on a regular basis. You have to ensure your profile is aligned and relevant to what your market needs and values.
There are sections which will prompt you for specific information. These are important factors that will affect your clients who will review your profile and how versatile your job application will be.
Expertise – work categories and skills you offer
Expertise Level – level of experience in the field: entry level, intermediate, or expert.
Education – your degree, area of study, institution, other awards or involvements.
Employment - your work experiences which allow your clients to at least gauge your competencies and industries you are familiar with.
Languages – your English proficiency and other languages you can speak.
Hourly Rate – it is divided into three sections: hourly rate or what your clients will see, Upwork service fee, and the amount you will receive.
It is best to do some research about your expected rate especially if you are starting your career. You have to consider taxes, professional fees, and training. You don’t have to worry if you think it is less than what you deserve, for your hourly rate can be adjusted any time. After gaining some recognition from your clients and experience, you can be more confident in dictating how much your hourly rate is.
Title and Overview – this is the first section your potential clients will see. This is a great opportunity to impress your clients especially if you are an entry-level. State your profession, skills, and experience. Keep it short but well-made to promote your services.
Profile Photo – your picture must be professional and clear. This will show how confident and reliable you are.
Location & Phone Number – your contact details will verify your identity.
5. Review your Upwork profile. When you are satisfied, click Submit Profile.
Signing-up a free account may take a lot of your time but creating a professional profile is important to your freelancing career. It will be a great help to review your profile before publishing. In reviewing them, you might want to ask a friend to review it with you. Here are some guidelines you can ask yourself.
Are your services clearly stated? You have to make sure your clients know how you can help them.
Are you highlighting your strengths?
Have you included all certifications that can support you with your job applications?
Did you link your other professional accounts?
6. Verify your account using a valid government-issued ID and an online visual verification.
Your profile helps Upwork match you with relevant job posts. This will support your professional goals in your freelancing journey.
However, there is an AI Upwork hack that can help you showcase your skills as a content writer with an expertise in Digital Marketing. You can use AI to complete your bio and profile for Upwork. This will be explained to you thoroughly in a while.
How to Get a Job in Upwork?
Upwork is a pool of legitimate clients and high-paying jobs for different industries and categories. You also do not have to worry about getting paid because it offers security to processing your payment from clients. However, it is not enough to complete your profile to land on a job. Some starters get disappointed after applying hundreds of times. You might ask why it is this difficult.
The main reasons are your rating and feedback. When your project with a client is completed, you will grade and comment on each other. Remember, this can be viewed by the public. This is also reflected in your Job Success Score (JSS).
JSS measures how satisfied are your clients with your overall work. To earn a higher score, you have to build long-term relationships with them, earn great feedback, and complete your job excellently. It helps other potential clients to know your skills and integrity. It also shows them that more of your time is spent on working than finding jobs.
Upwork rewards freelancers for garnering a high score for your JSS. When you score at 90% or above, you will be considered as Top Rated. Top rated freelancers, who are included in the top 10% talents in Upwork, attract clients helping you grow your business.
Unfortunately, if you are new to this, you have no rating and feedback. Since clients cannot gauge your skills and reliability, they will probably look for another person; however there are ways that can help you make good impressions and get on your first job.
Optimize your Upwork Profile
One common mistake of new freelancers is to be quick in setting up their profiles. You have to take every element seriously, making it look more competitive and professional.
You have to test which element gets more views and job invites. From there, you can work on it for better results.
For instance, if your most viewed elements are your title and overview, you have to ensure that these are optimized by adding relevant keywords. These descriptions do not simply state what you do; instead, what can your skills guarantee in return. You should also highlight your niche within a wider area of expertise.
You can add an introductory video to prove your identity and competence. To help you boost your confidence, you may write it down first and then rehearse before filming. Be mindful that your video must be at most 60 seconds.
The video includes who you are, the services you offer and your work experiences. You can also share your future goals and projects on your freelancing career.
Upwork allows you to organize your sets of skills and experiences depending on your job using specialized profiles. This will help you widen your area of expertise and not compromise your profile creation.
Create Relevant Samples
The simplest approach to creating a sample is to write an article in a word file. But there is a more creative way, online portfolios.
Your portfolio showcases your skills to your potential clients. It can contain 4 to 6 samples of your work. Some preferred preparing a variety of samples to display versatility, and to be able to apply to more diverse jobs. Remember, quality over quantity. You should provide high-quality samples. Some ways to publish your articles are as guest posts to blogs, and as contents on your site.
It is important not to overlook having a portfolio. You do not have to have great technical skills to create one. You just have to rely on the available online resources to get started. You can choose a platform like WordPress, and strategize on how you can fully utilize it to grow your business as a freelancer.
Search for the Right Kind of Job
New jobs are posted on Upwork daily. Many opportunities may come at your door but you should not be opening everything. You have to slow down and focus on your main thing. You should have a vision for your freelancing journey. If you are still not sure which skill to focus on, you may start with ideal jobs such as Data Entry and Customer Service.
There are a lot of job opportunities but demands a more experienced freelancer. You will waste your time applying for these. You will also lose two connects for submitting a proposal, amounting to 15 cents each.
You may start with small jobs in Upwork. It may be humbling, but it is a steady journey towards growth and success. You may offer a lower rate for your service. This is also beneficial for clients that they might give you the job. This strategy is best only for one-time projects during your first few tries. Also, applying for a job that has been posted recently or within 24 hours is recommended. These clients respond faster and you have a better chance for interviews and getting hired.
You have to search for a good client. If you are satisfied with your small one-time projects, you may consider applying for a longer term with the same client. If you want to try another job, you may search for clients who constantly hire on specific job categories. Since you are no longer searching for small jobs, your rate will also be updated.
You can also check the client’s homepage and see if their payment is verified. You do not want your time and effort to be thrown into trash by not being compensated.
Leave an Impression with your Proposal
Prepare a cover letter.
A cover letter is submitted separately with your proposal. It is a brief introduction about yourself and your work history. Most likely, this is the first thing a potential client reads. Make a good impact by making a cover letter that is conversational, truthful, and at the same time highlights your strengths. Do not make it too personal by mentioning a lot of details. Remember, you want to encourage them to learn more about you through your proposals and hire you for the job.
Make a winning proposal.
A client screens more than a handful of proposals each time. So, it is important to make a brief proposal that will stand out among the others.
Firstly, you have to focus on the client’s needs. Read carefully the job description and align your proposal with that. Sometimes, there are hidden codes or instructions for the clients to know whether you have understood the scope of responsibility. That is why scripted templates must still be edited.
You may also search for the company name. Learn about the company, its services and its reach. Through this information, you may customize your proposal further.
Secondly, strategize the outline of your proposal before writing the content. Be sure important details are included in your proposal such as additional questions from the client or setting a schedule of call or video chat.
Lastly, emphasize what you can do. Do not go overboard about it. You may get negative feedback when you cannot deliver according to what you have committed. Your reputation will be tainted and it will be hard for you to get more clients. Instead, be honest and set the right expectation. There is always room for progress.
Get Ready for Interviews
When it comes to online interviews, your setting and equipment also matter. Your surroundings must be well-lit and conducive for meetings. Your camera and microphone must work properly. These also measure your professionalism. When you decide to work as a freelancer, equipment is a good investment.
Moreover, you should also look professional – your composure, attire and punctuality. Show respect by not wasting each other’s time.
You have to study about the client and the job. Some of the things that you have to be fully aware of are the client's goals and needs, the company’s experience, reason for hiring and its urgency, and freelancers’ feedback for working with them.
Because of this, you can articulate your answers well; prepare questions; and measure if you can commit to their goals and needs. Keep your composure and do not look desperate for the job.
Aim for Job Invitations
If you have accomplished a few jobs in Upwork, you can receive job invitations from clients. This will significantly increase the probability of getting a next job; however, not all invitations must be accepted.
Review the job invitations before accepting it. Revisiting your goals in your freelancing career and updating your profile regularly will help you weigh which job you can apply to. So, it is important to check the job description, the services you must offer, and the client’s budget for hiring you. Since you have worked for a few times, you should not grab a work that offers less than the value you have set.
One important note is that Upwork rates how quick are you to respond to the job invitations. You may want to have the Upwork app on your phone or turn on your email notifications to not miss any opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Being a freelancer requires devotion and patience. Landing on your first job may be difficult but it will be worthwhile in the long run. Opportunities are coming towards you and may overwhelm you, but keep focusing on your goals.
To support you on your journey, Upwork is a great site to meet clients who will help you grow your business. There is a pool of industries that are evolving as well as their needs and dynamics. Upwork can match you with suitable clients that can contribute to your growth and experience. A part of your responsibility is continuous learning and training for progress and for a wider area of expertise. There is a lot in store for you in Upwork.
