How to Freelance on Upwork – Full 2022 Guide

People always say thousands of jobs are available out there, but where should you look? Sometimes, it might feel as though you’ve tried everything.

Upwork is a platform for freelancers who want to start their own business, build their online reputation, or change their career paths. If this is something you’ve wanted to do, this article might help you get started!

When you finish reading, you’ll know how to build your profile for success, what you should do if you don’t get responses from clients, and how to showcase your talents to be attractive to customers. In this guide we’ll show you how to freelance on Upwork starting today!

Why Starting a Freelance Career Might Be Ideal for You

Having a freelance career is something many people are exploring. You might be looking for a way to become your own boss or start your own business.

Freelancing could be the ideal way to begin a new path in your career, and these are some of the reasons why you should try it out:

You Might Need Flexibility on Your Schedule

If you become a freelancer, you can decide the schedules in which you’re willing to work. Once you negotiate with your future clients, you can submit proposals and find something that adapts to your current needs.

A way to manage successful projects, for example, is to choose specific schedules in which you can work on said projects.

This will allow you to organize your daily to-dos better since you can complement your other activities with your freelancing. It’ll also give your clients a sense of security because they know when they can expect results from you.

You Might Be Looking for a Side Job

If you’re considering freelancing as a way to make money, you’ve probably sent numerous work samples with no success while trying to get a side job.

One of the best things about being a freelancer on Upwork is that you can slowly build your reputation, or even start a business.

The more completed projects and happy clients you have, the more your Job Success Score will increase.

Upwork lets you find jobs that fit your needs, so freelancing is the ideal option to try if you want to explore something else to do and earn some extra money.

You Could Be Exploring Different Options

Another reason why you might want to become a freelancer is to get the opportunity to explore different options and grow your skills.

On Upwork, companies will post jobs, freelancers apply, and then they have to wait for a response.

This process allows you to work on your cover letter-writing skills, as well as on your abilities to handle client referrals, send work samples, communicate with potential customers, and more.

Attracting Potential Clients Is a Challenge at First

Many people say that Upwork doesn’t work because even though they tried offering their services in numerous job postings, they didn’t succeed.

However, you should remember that there are thousands of freelancers on this platform. The algorithm helps you submit proposals, and as you get projects, your visibility will increase.

Therefore, if you want to become a freelancer, you must be patient because you might not get your first client right away. Keep updating your profile and skill set, and you will eventually get more opportunities.

Why Many People Want to Start a Freelance Business

Successful freelancers often discuss how doing freelance work changed their lives. However, if you want to get started on Upwork, take a look at why so many professionals are interested in this type of work:

You Get the Opportunity to Do What You Love

Firstly, when you fill out your Upwork profile and start your freelancing business, you’re automatically setting yourself to get the opportunity to do the things you love the most.

The Upwork platform will not make you work on something you don’t like. Thus, if you’re passionate about web development but need to keep a steady, nine-to-five job doing customer support, don’t worry – offer hourly projects on your profile and get ready to live a happier life by working on the things you really like.

You Choose How Much You Get Paid

Another advantage of being a freelancer on Upwork is that you can choose your hourly rate or fixed price.

At the same time, all payments have payment protection, so you never need to worry about a crazy client just walking away without paying you.

To get paid, you can choose what works for you. Clients can make a wire transfer, pay through PayPal, Payoneer, etc.

You also pick how many hours you’re willing to work, so it’s a fantastic alternative if you want to get some extra income while also enjoying what you believe is fair pay for your skills and expertise.

You Can Build Your Professional Portfolio

The last immensely beneficial aspect of being a freelancer on Upwork is that you can build your portfolio.

Therefore, whether you stay working on the platform for two years or five, you can work on your online reputation and accumulate expertise for future projects.

When you become a freelancer on Upwork, clients might want to take a look at some projects you’ve already worked on.

However, as you find jobs that you like and agree to hourly contracts or a specific, fixed price, you can add those to your portfolio too.

Popular Occupations as a Freelancer

Some people know they want to start their own small business, but they have no clue of what they can offer.

If this is something that has happened to you, don’t worry! You don’t need to think about new clients, the jobs posted, or the proposal process must yet. Instead, take a look at some of the occupations that might interest you:

• Software developer
• App developer
• Web designer
• Graphic designer
• Content writer
• Video editor
• Musician
• Voiceover artist
• Digital marketer

There are, of course, many more options that might fit your skills. Nonetheless, these are some of the most common ones.

The Seven Pillars of Freelancing

To get started on Upwork, you must consider much more than just the hourly rate you want clients to pay.

There are some essentials that most freelancers keep in mind when they’re focusing on remote work, particularly because you need to make sure you foster long-term relationships with your customers.

Getting positive client reviews is not as straightforward as it seems, and if you want to charm a potential client and get your first job, you must deliver quality work. Take a look at some of the most crucial aspects to keep in mind:

You Must Determine Your Offering and Service

When you open your Upwork account, your possibilities are almost endless, as was mentioned earlier. This platform allows you to: 

• Contact the right clients
• Enjoy payment protection
• Submit reviews from past clients
• Choose whether you want to take hourly projects or work with a fixed price
• See the profiles of other freelancers
• Get long-term contracts with reputable companies
• Decide if you want to receive payments through Payoneer, direct deposit, Wire transfer, or Paypal

Nonetheless, to get to this point, you first need to decide what you want to offer. Ask yourself this question: what can you help people with? A few answers might come to mind, but you should try to narrow it down as much as possible.

Finding Your Target Audience Is Essential

If you know how you can help clients, then as a new freelancer, you have to find your target audience.

This is one of the most challenging steps of locating new jobs, primarily because you must set up a profile that attracts the said audience.

Once you find your first client, things are much more straightforward because you can communicate with them and set agreed-upon milestones.

However, getting to this point on Upwork takes a bit of time. The sooner you find your target audience, the better because then, you’ll be helping businesses and clients that really need the skill set you can provide them with.

You Need to Develop a Pricing Structure

Regardless of whether you’re offering software development, writing, voice recording, or other services, you need to have a pricing structure.

A good thing about Upwork is that you can see what other freelancers do. Thus, access Upwork’s desktop app and try to find people offering services similar to yours.

After browsing through their profiles, you might notice whether they charge per hour or have a fixed price. Use this to get an idea of how you can set your own profile for success.

Create Your Portfolio with Past Jobs

Upwork takes your skills and expertise very seriously when it comes to offering you opportunities to find a job.

Consequently, your portfolio must include your experience, academic background, previous freelance work you did, and any other projects that might be relevant to the job you want to find.

If you want to attract clients, you have to show them why you’re the person they want for their next project. Therefore, search portfolio examples online, and make one that people love.

Write Proposals that Clients Can’t Refuse

When you start contacting clients on Upwork, you have to send proposals to see if they want to hire you.

Writing proposals is as essential as having a sturdy portfolio that showcases your skills. If you want to find a job and get paid, you have to create a text that shows your to-be client why you’re the ideal person for what they need.

Build Your Relationship with Your Client

If you get the job, congratulations! However, the process is not over yet. Upwork’s sliding scale rewards long-term relationships, so fostering your bond with your client is crucial.

Clearly, this tip is a no-brainer: if you landed a contract with a client, you want it to last as long as possible.

However, what you should keep in mind is that it’s not only to ensure you have a stable job but also because Upwork will reward you if you do. Woohoo!

Never Stop Developing Your Skills

Even if you did get hired by a client, Upwork works to constantly offer new things to both freelancers and customers.

Therefore, if you eventually want to be able to get new projects, then you need to keep developing your skills.

The platform will give you bonus points if you do extra things, for example, complete courses or get new diplomas in the area you work in.

Thus, it’s the ideal moment to search what the internet offers you and start seeing in which courses you can enrol to improve your skills!

Start Freelance on Upwork – Step by Step Approach

Upwork takes some time for you to get used to it, especially if you’ve never worked as a freelancer before.

If you want to start getting projects, one of the first things you need to know is that there are different plans to choose from when you’re signing up for this platform. The basic plan, for example, is free.

With the basic plan, you get payment protection for your jobs. However, you have to pay to connect with potential clients – Upwork charges $0.015 for each ‘Connect,’ which are the site’s tokens for you to get in touch with customers.

Overall, Upwork is a great platform for freelancers since it allows you to improve your abilities, learn new skills, get paid, and more. Here is a complete guide on how to begin:

Sign Up

First, you have to go on the site and sign up for it. If you’ve never visited it before, take a look around.

You’ll probably see some featured clients, projects, and freelancers. Take your time to explore the platform and get familiar with it before proceeding.

When you’re ready to start, click on the button that says “Find Work” and then choose to “Apply as a Freelancer.”

Use Your Work Address, Google or Apple Account

After reading up on the basics, you’re ready to create your new account on Upwork. Many people started freelancing just like you’re doing now, so don’t worry about all the work you seemingly need to do before getting your first project.

Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button and use your Google or Apple account to get started. If not, you can also use your personal email address.

To get to the next phase, you will have to verify your email address. Just click the link in the email that Upwork sends.

Freelancer Basics

Upwork is going to ask a few questions about your level of experience and what you’re looking to get out of working on the platform.

Are you a beginner, intermediate or master of freelancing?

What is your financial goal or are you still trying to figure things out?

This is the most important question. Do you want to scan the Upwork job offers and apply to the ones that you think are the best fit?

Do you want to list offers that have a fixed rate for customers to choose from?

Or do you want Upwork to do the heavy lifting and find the clients for you?

Create Your Freelancer Profile

On the next screen, it’s time to start building your profile. You can import your LinkedIn profile, upload your resume or fill out each section manually. We are going to fill out this profile manually.

Create a Title

This question is first for a reason. What is your main area of expertise? Describe yourself in the fewest words possible.

Talk about Your Past Work Experience

Some people have a degree in something they don’t wish to work on, but that doesn’t mean they lack relevant experience in other areas.

If you want to impress a potential client and charm them to take you in on their projects, create a profile that stands out from the rest by highlighting your expertise.

Suppose that you want to be a content writer. If you used to volunteer at your college newspaper to write a weekly column, add that to your work experience – it counts for Upwork!

Emphasize Your Educational Background

If you have any diplomas, certifications, or degrees, you must include them, particularly if they’re related to the job you’re trying to find.

Clients will probably be impressed if you show them you’re academically prepared to tackle their projects. Therefore, make sure to discuss this in your profile.

Even though your educational background is an essential part of the image you show your to-be client, it’s not everything.

Include Your Language Proficiency

Being proficient in several languages is a highly valuable skill nowadays. Numerous clients want people who can fluently speak and write in English, Spanish, French, and sometimes even Italian or German.

At the same time, some complicated languages are even more well-paid. Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and other Asian languages, for example, often belong to this category.

If you can speak more than one language, make sure you add that to your profile. Sometimes a client might need someone to fluently express themselves in more than one, so they could even increase your pay if they know you’re able to properly do what they need.

Fill Your Profile with the Work You Do

This step is one of the most crucial ones you must consider. If you want to focus on mobile app development, for example, you need to make sure that your clients know that this is what you offer them.

Part of getting a job is being able to showcase your skills in a way that clients will want to hire you. Therefore, you must create an attractive profile that charms people!

Add an Overview and Title

This is not a section to describe yourself. This is where you sell yourself to the client. Tell a potential client why they should hire you. Assume they ignored the rest of your profile and use this section to show why you’re the best candidate and they are lucky for the chance to work with you.

Main Services

What are the main services you will offer clients. These needs to be closely related to each other, as potential clients want experts more than they want a jack-of-all-trades.

Scan through the categories and choose the services that most match your areas of expertise.

Set How Much You Charge Per Hour

As was mentioned before, when you’re trying to get a job on Upwork or attempting to charm a potential client, you must develop a pricing structure for yourself.

One of the fantastic things about Upwork is that you can decide on an hourly fee and a project-based one.

Therefore, if the job you get consists of getting paid per hour, you can use that pricing structure to earn your income.

Other clients don’t pay per hour. Instead, they hire freelancers per project. Thus, if you think this might apply to what you can offer them, you should add it to your pricing structure as well.

Incorporating both options gives your to-be client a sense of trustworthiness and security because they know they’re seeing the profile of a professional who understands how much they can charge and why.

You have to choose between $3 and $999 per hour and Upwork charges a flat 20% fee for any jobs you find on the platform.

Upload a Profile Picture

Freelancers who add a picture of themselves often get much better response rates than those who don’t.

The reason behind this is simple: clients want someone they can trust, and if you don’t show your face, you’re not allowing others to properly get to know you.

Remember that you’re setting up your work profile as a freelancer. Therefore, if you don’t have any professional-looking pictures, don’t hesitate to go to a place and have a photographer take some. It’s a long-term investment that will help you find the jobs you want.

If you don’t have the funds to get a professional to help you with this, you can always use a smartphone with a good camera, take advantage of the natural lighting at home, and wear the nicest shirt you have.

Think about it this way: if you went to an interview, you’d probably wear your best clothes to make sure you give off a good impression.

Your profile picture, title, and overview are the first things a client sees, so you must treat them the same way you would when meeting a to-be boss in person!

Add Your Contact Details

Adding your contact details not only allows you to guarantee that a client can find you and get in touch with you but also helps you ensure that the platform itself helps you get to where you need.

In other words, Upwork works with an algorithm that benefits both freelancers and clients. If you want your profile to be visible to a client, you must make sure you fill out all the fields that the platform gives you.

Clients expect to pay more for freelancers based in the United States, so this section will make a difference.

It’s not optional. You have to enter a phone number to go to the next screen.

Verify Phone Number

After you click send me a code, you will get a text from Upwork with a 5-digit code. Paste that into the box under “Enter Your Code Here.”

The screen will reload and the phone number will show that it is now verified.

Review Your Profile Before Submitting

Remember to review everything you wrote before submitting your profile. If you know other freelancers, try to ask them to read it for you and give you feedback. There might be some room for improvement, so don’t feel ashamed of asking for help!

Correct any typos you might have had, and make sure you added as much information, expertise, and skills as possible. Once you’re ready, submit it and wait for Upwork’s response!

Tips to Succeed When You Freelance on Upwork

Now that you know how to set up your profile to charm a client, get hired for a job, and get paid, there are some other suggestions you might want to keep in mind if you want to succeed.

Many people are not willing to go the extra mile, and what they don’t know is that this might make the difference between getting a job and staying at home with an empty inbox.

The best, most-experienced freelancers understand that you have to commit yourself to improve if you want to get more freelancing jobs or get hired on projects.

Thus, take a look at some of the tips you can follow if you want to take your freelancing career to the next level:

Make Sure Your Profile Is Unique

Upwork’s desktop app gives you numerous features to fill out your profile. However, some freelancers don’t realize that there are thousands of app developers, web designers, and content writers out there. Check out this short presentation paragraph:

Hello! I’m Layla and I’m a content writer. I enjoy writing top-notch information for websites, social media, and blogs. 

It has no grammar or spelling errors, and it definitely showcases what Layla can do. However, compare it with this one:

Hi! My name is Layla, and ever since I was young, I’ve had the soul of a writer. I enjoy helping creators take their brands to the next level by writing catchy social media captions, and I also love assisting people in improving their websites or blogs by writing compelling stories.

It gives off a completely different vibe! The second option is compelling and also showcases Layla’s skills and talents, but has a unique twist to it that will surely make her stand out from the crowd.

Since Upwork allows you to make your profile different, don’t hesitate to take it! Show each client how unique your work can be!

Develop Fantastic Proposals

If you want to get jobs, you have to create a proposal that your client can’t refuse. Therefore, carefully read their offer before submitting it.

Write a proposal that adapts to what your client is looking for. Try to ensure that what you’re offering looks like what they’ve dreamed of, and you’ll surely start getting messages in your inbox sooner than you think!

Get Ready for Interviews

Once you start submitting proposals, you’ll likely get responses from more than one client. Therefore, if you want to get a job and get paid soon, you must get ready for interviews.

Some people feel very anxious about the prospect of getting interviews. However, you should try to breathe in deeply, practice what you might have to reply, and do your best to sound as natural as you can.

Stay Patient – Getting Your First Client Might Take Some Time

Getting your first job on Upwork is definitely the most challenging part of starting on the platform.

Even though there are thousands of jobs available on Upwork, new freelancers might take some time before they get started, particularly because their profile doesn’t reach many people yet.

Once you start getting replies from different jobs and offers, you’ll see that it’ll escalate from there.

Thus, don’t worry if a few days go by before you hear back from clients. Keep logging into your account and be patient.

Constantly Improve and Update Your Skills

Freelancers must keep in mind that just because they have top-notch abilities doesn’t mean they can’t improve.

There is always room for learning, and the more prepared you are, the better chances you have at getting higher-paying jobs.

If you’re already going through jobs and applying, try to keep improving your talents. Enrol in new courses, keep up with your lessons, start a course on blog writing to get a certification for your abilities, and do everything you can to make your profile more attractive to potential customers.

You must keep in mind that there are thousands of freelancers out there, and many of them are probably competing for the same jobs you are. Therefore, you have to offer something extra.

Search and Find the Jobs You Want

Another fantastic aspect about getting started on Upwork is that you can locate the jobs you want. In other words, you don’t have to just sit and wait for clients to contact you. You can start the interactions yourself!

Log into your account and use the search bar to see what clients offer. You’ll probably get thousands of jobs to consider, so if you want to slowly build your freelancing business, make sure you carefully choose which ones you’re applying to.

Work on Your Cover Letter

Even though not all jobs ask you to submit a cover letter, freelancers should always know how to write one in case they need it.

At the same time, it’s often beneficial to understand what you must do to highlight your talents for specific jobs, so cover letters can help you do this.

On occasions, submitting them might not be mandatory, but if you do it, your chances of getting your desired jobs might increase!

Are You Ready to Freelance on Upwork?

Thousands of people go on Upwork every day, and they want to hire freelancers for different projects and jobs. There is no shortage of options on this platform, which is one of its biggest strengths.

Nonetheless, getting started is a challenge for most freelancers, particularly because you might have to wait sometime before you get your first proposal.

When you want to start your own business, feel financially stable and free, or work on what you love, you might think that there are no options left to explore. However, Upwork can completely change this vision!

The time is now – you can start building your profile and apply to start working on a project you feel passionate about. Make sure you follow all the previously mentioned tips and suggestions, search the platform to find your dream job, and enjoy your journey as a freelancer!