To win jobs on Upwork and make huge earnings, you need to follow certain Upwork tips, and know how to write an Upwork proposal that stands out. There are over thousands of freelancers on Upwork looking to bag new projects and clients every day. So, how do you stand out among the crowd?
As one of the top-rated freelancers on Upwork, I have won 25+ jobs on Upwork. Here are some of my tried-and-tested Upwork tips that you can also incorporate in your freelancing journey.
Upwork Tips for Your Next Project
Check out these eight Upwork tips to bag a successful project and increase your earnings.
Create an amazing Upwork profile
First things first, you need to have an incredible Upwork profile with all your details added. Optimize your profile using keywords, title and description. No part of your profile should be left incomplete, because a 100% profile completion stands out in front of the clients.
Add a professional picture, update the title that suits you the most, add a brief description about yourself, and include your skills, past work and all other details.
Remember, your profile is your chance to introduce yourself to the clients without even meeting them. So, go ahead and create your Upwork profile. If you are new to Upwork, check out these Upwork tips and fresher’s guide on how to get started on Upwork.
In addition, use every part of your profile to showcase your skills. Upwork has an extensive list of standardized skills that can help quickly identify your strengths and connect you with relevant projects. These skills also help clients find you more easily, so they should reflect your specializations and expertise: Only claim and list skills that you can back up in one of your other profile sections, such as your work or employment history, portfolio, education, or certifications.
List up to 10 of the most relevant skills based on the projects you are looking for — the more the better — and move the tags around so they appear in order of importance. If you have multiple work interests (e.g. data analysis and accounting), list the number of skills proportional to how much you prefer each type of project. (If an important skill is missing from the skills directory, please add it as a suggestion.)
As you develop your skills or add new ones, update your skill tags accordingly and remove old skills as they become outdated.
Pro Tip: Take note of which skills and keywords potential clients include as you review interesting projects. You may see that clients in your niche look for freelancers by the service they want (i.e. logo design, web design) rather than the tools needed (i.e. Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop).
Read the job description carefully
Once you have created and optimized your profile, it is time to start applying for jobs. When you apply for new jobs, the thumb rule is to read the job description carefully.
While it may sound easy, most people flunk this part of Upwork tips when they just skim through the job description. That’s a BIG NO.
When the client has put in some efforts to carefully write the description, you need to show the same efforts to read and understand it. Reading the job description is one of the most important Upwork tip, because that will help you understand the role and craft your Upwork proposal accordingly.
Ace your Introduction
Whether you are a new freelancer looking for Upwork tips or an established one looking to diversify your profile, be creative in your introduction. You need to hook your clients in the first 2 lines of your Upwork proposal.
But how???
- Ditch the mainstream way of writing your proposal, instead send a short customized Upwork proposal video.
- Ditch the mainstream “Hello sir/ma’am”, instead look up their profile and address them with their name.
- Ditch the mainstream way of “only work talks”, instead go a little personal and find a common ground to connect with the client.
All these Upwork tips can help you stand out from your peers and attract the client, thereby increasing your chances of getting a response.
Offer valuable suggestions to the client
Do not just be a typical worker who is ready to do everything at his client’s demands.
Clients love to see people who can go beyond their suggestions. They need someone to take ownership of the work and offer their tips and expertise.
A great way to show that you are capable of this is to add that in your Upwork proposal. This is your key to define your personality and provide them with solutions they are actually looking for.
Pro Tip: Your idea or suggestion should be written in a positive way, and not belittling the client.
Describe your value
Along with useful suggestions, you also need to describe the value you can offer to the client according to the job description.
The goal is to focus on the value the client will get from you. Instead of just focusing on your achievements, you need to relate it to the client and his expectations. Instead of focusing on the ‘WHAT’, focus on the ‘WHY’ and ‘HOW’. This will surely impress the client and increase your chances of getting the interview.
Other than your expertise, also focus on your soft skills and showcase your entire personality to the client.
Understanding the budget
Another popular Upwork tips requested by striving freelancers is to understand budgeting- both in terms of the client’s cost and for themselves. A simple way is to come up with a proposed budget for the client. Take some time and check out the job history of your client- what kind of projects they have worked on, the time spent, etc. This will give you an idea of the approximate budget of your client.
Once you have an understanding of how much your client wants to spend, you can then calculate your earnings accordingly. Make it a point to mention the proposed budget in your proposal, so that everyone is on the same track and there is no confusion later.
Pro Tip: Stay away from clients who bargain too much. You don’t want to spend your energy on something that is unreasonably priced and not worth the efforts.
Avoid using pre-written templates
With freelancers applying for tens of jobs every day, they tend to have a pre-set template for their proposals.
Let me break it to you. There cannot be a worse mistake than this.
One of the most crucial Upwork tips is to create a new proposal suiting each client’s need, because a template proposal can be differentiated from a mile away, and you don’t want your proposal to be rejected because of that.
A personalized, well-written brief proposal is more effective than a wordy template proposal.
Improve your response time
We always talk about the client’s response rate, often forgetting about our own response time.
When writing your Upwork proposal, keep it short, succinct, professional and readable. Make it so engaging that the clients want to connect with you instantly. Once they have connected with you, the job is done.
Now, it is time for the next job, which is to be prompt in your reply. You should reply to your clients within 30-60 minutes. Because, you will not be the only one to get their reply. The one who responds faster will increase his chances of getting the ticket.
So, keep a check on your notifications and messages. Download the Upwork app, and focus on replying to your clients quickly.
Takeaways- Best Upwork Tips
You need to follow these crucial Upwork tips to create your profile, draft proposals and make your application stand out. Keep updating yourself with the new changes around, and enjoy the process.
Often times, you should also experiment what works the best for you, and create your own set of Upwork tips. It might be difficult in the beginning, but after some time, you will develop your confidence and become a successful freelancer on Upwork.
So, start applying for more jobs and get new clients. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me at [email protected] for any queries. I would be happy to help you! Join the Discord community of like-minded freelancers here.
