What would you give to make an extra 20,000 to 100,000 every month from your freelancing on Upwork?

It may be you've been struggling to get clients since you signed up on the platform, or maybe you suddenly stopped earning as if someone switched off the tap to your earnings.

If you do not have an Upwork account but are interested in starting your freelancing journey, then you can check out this Nairaland thread.

https://www.nairaland.com/6910990/kick-start-freelancing-business-free-upwork

Here are five tips to help you win on Upwork

1. Have a professional-looking photograph

You don’t want to scare your potential clients away by frowning into the camera. Studies have been shown that clients are going to pick a smiling freelancer over a frowning one even though they have a similar set of achievements and skillset on the platform.

Let the photograph have a close up of your face, and the top of your shoulders. Use a plain background and not a busy one that would distract your clients.

2. Buff up your portfolio

You can always showcase your work in your portfolio. Make sure you have as many items in your portfolio as you can find. Ideally as a beginner, you should begin with five items in your portfolio.

Make sure the portfolio items are on subjects you want to be seen as an expert in. Make sure it is relevant to your niche. You want to select items that you enjoyed working on and would like to work on more of those.

Your first few items should be as eye-catching as you can make them to be.

If you've been working on the platform for a while, you should constantly update your profile whenever you complete a job.

If you don’t have a portfolio, create one. Do NOT steal someone's job and do NOT project yourself as someone you're not.

If you are looking to get paid for your skills, then you must have skills to sell. So use those skills to create a portfolio and add it to your Upwork profile.

3. Optimize your profile overview

This is the place you get to sell yourself to the maximum. Your overview should answer the following questions:

>> What do I do?
>> Who do I do it for?
>> What qualifies me to do it?

Your overview should also end with a clear CTA for clients to contact you because you're eager to work with them and solve their problems.

SEO can help you here.

How so?

Your profile should highlight those words your potential clients are using to search for freelancers who offer your services. Add keywords to your headline and overview.

Tip: Use the profile of top-rated freelancers in your niche as a template if you do not know where to begin.

4. Write an eye-catching proposal

Your proposals should contain the answers to your client's questions. Use the words, terms and phrases they use in their job description.

You must also catch their attention. The first fifty characters on your proposal are the most important, because they're the first things that show. Grab attention. An easy way to do this is to ask a question that would pique their interests.

For instance, "Do you know CPA organisations lose an average of $5 million every week due to an overburden of paperwork?"

This sets you apart as an expert. You should also avoid using "I". Use "You" as much as you can and make your proposals about the client.

You should practice with this a little bit because it's good to submit proposals quickly. But do NOT copy and paste proposals. It is irritatingly obvious when you do and you send a negative message to your client.

If you could not take the effort to write a proper proposal, how are you going to handle the job you're applying for?

This is especially tempting for newbies. Don't be tempted!

5. Niche Down

One of the biggest mistakes newbies make is trying to be an all-rounder. No one wants to hire a jack of all trades. They want to work with experts and you need to project yourself as one.

Project yourself as an authority in a single niche and you can charge higher than the average person who's doing everything.

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So there you have it. Ask your questions and receive free wisdom.

Good luck, guys.

But if you formulate unique proposal for every job, you might end up between 20 to 50..

So, is there a shortcut to submitting unique proposal and still be on time??

Udoboss:
But if you formulate unique proposal for every job, you might end up between 20 to 50..

So, is there a shortcut to submitting unique proposal and still be on time??

Upwork is a highly competitive platform. You should always expect others to submit proposals for the jobs you're interested in.

Just take Jaycobb's superb advice: showcase your best work in your Upwork portfolio and, using the description of the job you're applying for (which you should read really well to understand what the client needs help with), sell yourself as an expert with engaging proposals.

Then, leave the rest for God.

Udoboss:
But if you formulate unique proposal for every job, you might end up between 20 to 50..

So, is there a shortcut to submitting unique proposal and still be on time??

If you do anything often enough, you become a good at it.

I can submit a detailed, engaging proposal up to 150 words in less than four minutes.

And I'll still need to navigate away from the proposal page to get the links to my portfolio.

But I didn't start like that. Practice is what gives you the edge.

I've submitted a lot of proposals over time.

How can I reach you

Fabulouslouie:
How can I reach you

You can send me a WhatsApp message at +2348147073858

Or you can ask your questions here. I'll answer as best as I can.

Thanks...My next question

Most times, beginners dont have samples for jobs posted...

How did you navigate through this hurdles?

Udoboss:
Thanks...My next question

Most times, beginners dont have samples for jobs posted...

How did you navigate through this hurdles?

This is the easiest thing to do. If you want to get paid for a skill, you need to have a skill. If you're a beginner writer, create articles (or any kind of writing) on topics you're interested in. Add them to your portfolio.

If you claim to be a programmer, create an app (or any kind of program you want)

If you are a video editor, create one for yourself.

Claim to be a graphic designer? Create a flyer or edit someone's pictures.

You can create a fictional job post for yourself and carry out the job.

In the beginning, you can also approach people who need your services and offer to help them for free.

Then post the positive reviews on your social media handles so people know you for it.

If you can't create portfolio items for yourself, then you don't need to worry about getting clients. You should worry about learning a skill first.

Jaycobbs:


This is the easiest thing to do. If you want to get paid for a skill, you need to have a skill. If you're a beginner writer, create articles (or any kind of writing) on topics you're interested in. Add them to your portfolio.

If you claim to be a programmer, create an app (or any kind of program you want)

If you are a video editor, create one for yourself.

Claim to be a graphic designer? Create a flyer or edit someone's pictures.

You can create a fictional job post for yourself and carry out the job.

In the beginning, you can also approach people who need your services and offer to help them for free.

Then post the positive reviews on your social media handles so people know you for it.

If you can't create portfolio items for yourself, then you don't need to worry about getting clients. You should worry about learning a skill first.

Thanks. Shed light on creating jobs for yourself.

Won't Upwork flag off as inappropriate??

Udoboss:



Thanks. Shed light on creating jobs for yourself.

Won't Upwork flag off as inappropriate??

Imagine you're a fiction writer. Instead of waiting for someone to write for, give yourself a task, write the story and add it to your portfolio.

If you're a social media marketer, the best way to showcase your skills is to market yourself on social media, instead of waiting for a client.

If you make animation, create a storyline and make the video for it, instead of waiting till someone hires you to.

If you touch up pictures, snap yourself and edit them.

That's what AdekunleGold and Joshua Mike Bamiloye did with their photoshop and design skills.

Thanks