A Beginner's Guide to Freelancing on Upwork

I started freelancing on Upwork in April of 2018, and it’s currently where I earn the majority of my income.

I had been considering taking the plunge into freelancing for a while before that, but without a college degree at the time (I received my Bachelor’s in 2019), I was afraid no one would take me seriously.

Spoiler alert: My lack of degree didn’t cost me jobs.

I have found that the main keys to getting work are patience, work samples, and confidence.

Upwork is great for:

writers

editors

event planners

virtual assistants

graphic designers

social media managers

…basically any job that could possibly be done remotely.

I’ve had over a dozen clients and have done everything from social media management to email copywriting and PR work, and a few random fun projects like creating “neighborhood guides.” I rarely work on projects I don’t like because there are enough opportunities that I have the privilege of being choosy.

Whether you are just starting out with freelancing, in between jobs, or looking for supplemental income, I highly recommend signing up for Upwork.

Here are my main tips for Upwork beginners:

Pack your proposals with ideas

Really research the client (if they provide you with enough information to), and tell them what you will bring to the table. If it’s a marketing position, list some creative marketing ideas. If it is a social media job, list some post ideas, even if they don’t ask for any.

Writing good proposals is a tedious process, like writing cover letters on job applications, but sometimes even a short and sweet proposal packed with attention-grabbing suggestions can land you work.

I wrote a proposal template that I have adapted for different clients to save me time.

The most common proposal question is usually one that asks you to describe similar projects you have worked on. Use your imagination here! If you’ve never been a paid social media manager, maybe you’ve volunteered with an organization and posted for them or about them. Maybe you had a really witty tweet one time that gained a lot of attention. Maybe a school assignment was similar. Try to come up with an answer for this question, even if it’s a little bit of a stretch.

I utilize both my major and minor as well as other interests to sell myself. My minor is in event management, so I have gotten several clients in the event planning space, even though I have never personally been paid to plan an event myself.

Make sure you have passion in the absence of experience

So maybe you’ve never done anything like the project you are applying to work on. There are tons of unique projects uploaded to the site daily, so it’s likely some things will be outside of your wheelhouse. That doesn’t mean you can’t get hired. Express your interest in the subject, and be specific. Passion alone is still worth something and it shows you’ll be dedicated to the project.

Don’t sweat the upfront costs

I was lucky enough to start out on Upwork during the good ole days when it was free to submit proposals.

Now, I get so many invitations to interview for projects daily (which allow me to submit proposals for free), that I have only had to buy “connects” (the currency on Upwork) once. But don’t let the upfront costs of connects deter you. Think of it as equivalent to purchasing a work uniform. You have to spend money to make money, and if you are serious about freelancing, you’ll make the pocket change back easily.

Make sure you have work samples ready

As I mentioned, having relevant work samples is a key part of successful proposals. You may choose different work samples to submit for every proposal, based on the type of work the client is requesting, but you should also have one central place where you keep all of your best work. That way, you won’t have to dig through your files to find the perfect sample.

I suggest creating a portfolio. I am challenged when it comes to web design, so I used Wix.

My page includes my resume, writing samples from various genres, and a little blurb about me and what I like to write. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just an organized home for your work that potential clients can easily navigate.

Those are the basic things you should know before getting started.

So stop waiting till you feel qualified “enough,” to start freelancing. Sign up, make a good profile, and put the time in to earn clients. I’ll be here to support you along the way. Just ask me about my Upwork coaching program!