Upwork Tips And Tricks To Find Your First Freelance Job

Upwork is a massive platform that most freelancers use to find their first clients. However, it can be overwhelming if you’re just starting out as a freelancer. There are so many things to think about when you’re beginning your new freelance career – everything from writing your profile and taking tests to figure out how to start bidding on jobs and getting your first client review.

We don’t want you to get stuck in the Upwork Freelance Abyss, so we pulled together some of our favorite tips and tricks for finding that elusive first client.

How to Get Your First Client on Upwork in 2023

Takeaways
1. Research and understand the Upwork platform to maximize your chances of success.
2. Create a professional and compelling Upwork profile to attract potential clients.
3. Take advantage of Upwork’s job search filters and keywords to find relevant freelance opportunities.
4. Craft personalized proposals that showcase your skills, experience, and understanding of the client’s needs.
5. Continuously improve your skills, update your portfolio, and seek client feedback to build a strong reputation on Upwork.
6. Be proactive and responsive in your communication with clients to foster positive relationships.
7. Stay persistent and dedicated in your freelancing journey, as finding your first job may require time and effort.
8. Network and seek guidance from experienced freelancers to learn valuable tips and tricks for success on Upwork.

Table of Contents

1. Create A Profile That Impresses Clients

Before you begin applying for freelance jobs, make sure that your profile is set up properly. You will have to fill out your profile information and upload an image of yourself. You should also include details about any relevant experience or skills that you have. The better your profile is, the more likely it is that clients will notice you and reach out to hire you for their projects.

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2. Be Proactive

Don’t just wait around for clients to reach out to you; be proactive about finding work and applying for freelance jobs. To find work on Upwork, all you need to do is navigate to the “find work” tab on the main website. From here, you can browse through all of the different job categories until you find something that interests you.

3. Be Active In The Community

Join groups that interest you and engage in discussions with others who have similar interests or experiences as yourself. This will help potential clients see that they are not just working with a faceless robot—you’re an actual person.

4. Look For Jobs That Match Your Skills

When clients post jobs on Upwork, they indicate what type of skill set they’re looking for and what kind of experience their ideal candidate will have. If you have the relevant background, experience level, or skills that the client is looking for—be sure to apply.

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5. Picking A Niche

To be successful on Upwork you need to pick a niche. You can’t be a writer that writes about anything and everything, or a virtual assistant that does whatever they are asked to do. You need to pick something. Whether it is writing about the finance industry, or being a social media virtual assistant, you need to pick something and get good at it.

6. Getting Feedback

Feedback is very important on Upwork because clients will only work with freelancers who have good reviews from past clients. When you start out on Upwork you won’t have any feedback, so you need to think of ways to get some. You can use your friends as ‘guinea pigs’ by asking them what their business is lacking (content for the website, social media posts) then offering your services for free in exchange for some

7 . Create A Public Portfolio Of Your Work

You’re probably already pretty proud of the work you’ve done in your field. So why not put it out there for potential clients to see? Create a preview portfolio of some of your best work and link it to your profile description. By giving clients access to samples, they can get a better idea of what you can do before they even reach out to you. And don’t be afraid to throw some personality in there too!

8. Add A Video To Your Upwork Profile

People like seeing other people’s faces, especially when they’re considering working with them remotely. Even if you feel self-conscious about your video skills, adding a simple selfie-style video or screencast will help put a face to your name and give clients more confidence in hiring you for their projects. It’s also an opportunity for you to show off your personality and convince them that you’re best for them.

9. Send Personalized Proposals

Your proposal is your introduction to the client. It’s not just a list of services you can provide, it’s also a chance to personalize the project for that client.

Personalizing your proposals is as easy as adding a name and contact information at the beginning of your proposal. By adding names and contact information, you’re ensuring that when you reach out for communication, you’ll have somebody to follow up with if there’s an issue during your job.

Cut and paste proposals are a big no-no. They usually are generic and get ignored. It’s much more effective to spend time reading the job description and writing a customized proposal that speaks directly to the client’s needs.

If you don’t have time, don’t apply for the job; it will show in your proposal.

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10. Complete All Of The Required Tests On Upwork

Upwork offers a variety of tests that are designed to showcase your skills in different areas. Take all of these tests so potential clients will know more about what type of work you’re best suited for and whether or not they should hire you over someone else who may not have completed any tests at all (or hasn’t done well on them).

11. Put Yourself In The Client’s Shoes

This might sound a bit cliché, but if you can put yourself in the client’s shoes and consider what they are looking for, you will have a much better chance at winning that first job. You need to focus on what they need and show them how you can help them solve their problem.

For example, when I started building my Upwork business, I knew that clients typically have a limited budget and don’t want to pay a high hourly rate for someone with no experience. Therefore, during my first 6 months on Upwork, I only charged $15 per hour as an experiment.

12. Bid On More Than One Job At A Time

You might think you’re going to find a perfect match for your first Upwork job, but that’s not always the case. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Keep an open mind about what kinds of jobs you’re willing to bid on, and keep an eye out for several at once. That way you can choose from multiple bids without feeling like you’ve missed out on something great.

13. Be Patient

That’s right. You might not get your first freelance job on Upwork immediately. It takes a lot of time and effort to get your profile up and running, but once you do, you have to be patient! You may send out dozens or even hundreds of proposals before you get a client who’s interested in working with you. But that’s OK—if you keep at it, your perseverance will pay off!

14. Set A Budget For Yourself

It might be tempting to throw as much money as possible at your first Upwork project, but if you’re new to the platform and uncertain of your own value, you’re better off being conservative. The best way to do this is to set a budget for yourself and stick with it. This way, you’ll get used to negotiating with clients before taking on your first big project, which will give you more confidence and make you more comfortable with the platform.15. Increase Your Profile’s Completion Score

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15. Increase Your Profile’s Completion Score

Most freelancers on Upwork have a profile completion score in the 80-99% range. If your profile is at 50%, it’s not going to get the attention of clients searching for freelancers who are serious about their business.

Go through your profile and make sure you have completed all applicable sections, and that you’ve uploaded a professional photo and video.

One of the biggest mistakes freelancers make is not optimizing their profile. If you want to be successful on Upwork, your profile needs to be as close to 100% complete as possible.

This means creating a detailed bio, uploading a professional photo, and filling out all of your work experience and education. You’ll also want to talk about why you’re passionate about freelance work, and share some examples of your best projects.

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Final Thought

Hopefully, these tips have given you some helpful guidance as you prepare to embark on a freelance career. Now, it’s time to put that newfound knowledge into practice. Upwork is a great resource for finding freelance work, but there are a lot of other websites out there too.

There’s no shortage of work to be found, and if you’re willing to put in some hard work and time, you could find yourself making good money freelancing sooner than you might have thought possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Have Multiple Upwork Accounts?

No, you should only have one account. If you have been active for longer than 6 months, you can submit a request to create a new account that’s connected to your old one.

How Do I Get Paid?

You will get paid after you submit the work to your client. Your client must approve the work before any payment is released. If the client doesn’t approve within 14 days of submission, there are steps you can take to resolve the issue.

How Does Billing Work?

In most cases, billing will be hourly which goes through your Upwork account manager. Hourly projects require an ongoing connection between the freelancer and client through Upwork’s desktop app or mobile app during working hours.

What is Upwork and how does it work?

Upwork is a freelance platform that connects clients with freelancers. It is the largest of its kind, with over 20 million registered users. You can find anything from web design to writing jobs on there, as well as many other types of work.

Is Upwork Free To Use For Freelancers?

Yes! You can set up your profile and start browsing for jobs at no cost. However, if you land a job you will be charged a small fee by Upwork until you’ve earned $500 on the site. After that, they’ll take a percentage of your earnings (usually around 20%).

How Much Can I Earn On Upwork?

It depends on what type of work you do and how much time you’re willing to put into it, but most people make between $10-$50 per hour. There are some people who make much more than this and others who make less; it’s not uncommon for writers or developers to charge $100+/hr though. ]

The average rate seems to be around $30/hr based on forum posts about pay rates for various fields like transcription or coding tasks which often require specific skill sets like programming languages knowledge or typing speed accuracy

How Do I Set Up My Profile?

Start by adding a professional-looking photo to your profile, then complete the Overview and Work History sections. Don’t forget to add any skills that you’d like to highlight! For more detailed instructions, check out the full guide.

Should I Include Samples In My Portfolio?

Absolutely! Remember that your portfolio should showcase your best work, so only include samples that you feel represent your strengths as a freelancer. More details here.

How Do I Search For Jobs On Upwork?

The best way to find jobs is by searching through the Jobs page: enter keywords into the search bar at the top of the page, and then select “Find Jobs” to search all job listings. You can also browse through our Job Categories (e.g., Web Development) or Featured Jobs (these are hand-picked by our staff). Want more details? Check out this guide!

How Do I Contact A Potential Client?

You can contact a client by clicking the “Contact me” button on their job post, which will take you to a screen where you can send

What Should I Write In My Proposal?

Keep it simple! Your client should be able to easily scan your pitch to understand why they should hire you. This is not the time for long sentences or complicated language—instead, focus on short paragraphs (no more than 5-6 lines) and bullet points.

Herman Edward

I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!