Upwork is a marketplace that helps freelancers find projects, communicate with clients, and get paid. It is basically for writers, graphic designers, and web developers thereby making it easier to find jobs and earn money, however alongside it is important to scrutinize and think about which job type you would want to apply for.
Below are steps to take to make money on Upwork.
1. Set up a profile: your profile can also be referred to as your Curriculum Vitae, as it is just when you are applying for a job physically. Fill out the job type you would like to do, the specific areas in which you are skilled, your level of expertise, a headshot and a detailed description of your background, links to a portfolio or to specific work samples, education, how many hours per week you can work, location and preferred rate . If you get hired for jobs you cannot deliver on, your account could be put on hold or closed, so it is therefore advisable to set up a robust and honest profile. Upwork will typically approve your profile within 24 hours, assuming your profile is verifiable and accurate, after which you can start working. The more robust your profile looks, the more likely you are to receive job offers from potential clients.
2. Selecting a membership plan: Upwork offers two membership plans for freelancers, which are the basic and the plus. On the basic membership plan, the plan is free, but you will be required to pay to connect with potential clients. Freelancers on the basic plan pay $0.15 for each connect, but if someone reaches out to you, you do not have to use any connects. The basic plan also includes payment protection for hourly and project-based payments. While on the plus plan, you would be required to pay $14.99 per month. This includes everything in the basic plan as well as 70 connects per month, visibility into what price competitors have bid for a job, the option to keep earnings confidential, the ability to customize your profile URL, and your user profile will not be hidden due to inactivity.
3. Connecting with legitimate employers: Users can use their connect to submit proposals to their employers, which should include an introductory letter, their desired fee, and answers to questions included in the posting by the client.
4. Follow-up: If you have sent your proposal and have been in contact with a client but suddenly do not hear back anymore, you could write a follow-up, asking if there is anything unclear or if you could help with anything else.
5. Price set up: Upwork takes a percentage of the money users are paid by the client, and this is based on the total amount you bill with a client over time, so the more you work with a client, the smaller the percentage taken.
6. Develop a client relationship: Developing a client relationship is important because it can help you find more opportunities. Once you complete a project, you can ask for a testimonial or referral to other businesses that could use your service. Also, ensure you try to build a long-term partnership with your existing and past clients to get repeat business, as you could do more of the same work for the client or recommend an additional service that provides value to the client.
Additionally, in the process of seeking a freelance job on Upwork and clients, you will be required to exercise a lot of patience, stay optimistic, and do not give up, because it takes time to grow a successful freelance business.