Story: Upwork as freelance

When I started to work as a freelance in 2016, I tried to register Upwork. However, Upwork rejected me at that time. Since then, I’ve never considered using these kinds of services.

In December 2019, I wrapped up 2019 projects. I have extra time during the holiday season. I applied Upwork again. This time, I could register quite easily. What was that 2 years ago? It is still a mystery for me.

Anyway, I have been tried how much I can engage with online clients in UpWork for 1 year. The limited-time is good. Freelance should not only focus on online service. We should develop mulch-channel. It’s a kind of insurance. You know, right?

I would like to report my performance in 2020 on Upwork.

What is Upwork?

©Upwork

Upwork profile

When you create an account, what you can do is creating a great profile. I updated it a few times during the year. At a very early stage, you may worry about why no one responds to you even you have experience. You have to compete with a lot of mid-east creators, mainly Indians. They bet on a project at a really low price. I am using Upwork as a client as well. So, I know how the candidates look like from the client’s viewpoint. I have not been met impressed professional a lot. The price indicates somehow the quality of service and confidence.

Upwork: Create a 100% Complete Freelancer Profile

Profile Guidelines
60%: Profile Photo, Profile Title, Profile Overview, Employment History, At Least 1 Skill Tag
5% each (max 20%): Portfolio Item
10% each (max 20%): Employment History Item
10% each (max 20%): Education
10%: Profile Video
10% (max 10%): Linked Account
5% each (max 10%): Certification
5% (max 5%): Other Experience
10% each (max 30%): Skill Tests Credit*

Upwork: Enhance Your Upwork Freelancer Profile for Greater Success

How To Get Your First Job On UpWork (Fast) – 5 Tips!

©Josh Burns Tech

1. Find the right job utilize advanced search
2. Apply quickly ✔️
3. Write a proposal to attract a client
4. Nail your interview
5. Never give up ✔️

At first, I wanted to work for only over $500 budget projects, especially logos and websites. However, I didn’t receive many responses in 3 months. I didn’t have enough social proof on Upwork. Hence, I shifted to apply for peanuts work, less than a $100 project. It sounds a little miserable. I have almost 10 years of experience as a graphic designer. Why do I need to apply for easy work? How did I manage my feeling?

I tried to think this is an online role-playing game. I calculated my daily expense, rent + insurance + membership fee, etc. Then, I tried to work beyond the costs.

You can filtering job type, keyword, budget, term, etc. I am going to take full responsibility for all projects. I aim to gain only 5 stars on Upwork. Therefore, I chose short-term, concise projects. I prefer a client who lives in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom rather than the third country. I found a lot of ridiculous prices, $5 for the logo, $100 for the website, etc. I felt it almost insults freelance graphic/web designers.

How to submit a proposal

There are a few requirements for proposal, cover letter, questions, and attachment.

– Be specific
Tell the client who you are and what you can do.

– Ask questions upfront
This will be proof that you read the description

Sometimes application shows template questions. Please respond, but keep it short simple.

After I submitted 5 projects, I didn’t get any response. I created a PDF portfolio, categorized logo, graphic design and web design. In the first project, I got an offer of around $50 project.

In mid-February, I earned only $150. It was all a graphic design service. Therefore, there was no pressure for me. One thing I had to care about is a skype call. I submitted wherever the client lives. They wanted to skype at 6 am and 11 pm. I did not want to do that. I had to consider it in future projects.

Don’t start work before receiving an official job offer.

I received a few awkward inquiries. I created the design quickly, but it was wrong. I submitted the first proof, then one client had not been responded after that, and the other client didn’t pay the fee for the web design which took 10 hours. You can see it below.

Open Bookmarks Co.: ePortfolio

You have to ask a client to send you the official job offer. Otherwise, you should not start work. I didn’t… I was wondering how I can protect the design which I submitted before receiving payment. Now I know.

What I learned at Webinar on Feb 25th

Sometimes, a webinar event is held in the Upwork community. This is a note. Now I know how I struggled to get a client on Upwork in spring 2020.

Create a client-centric profile:
– Ask myself, how can I help a client?
– Complete profile 100%
– Copy good reviews on profile.
– Pitch by title
– Introduction video
– A perfect responsiveness score
– Hourly rate based on your experience.

On the cover letter(offer value to the client.):
– Mention about the client’s project.
– Respond to client questions on the description.
– How I approach(Outline, but I don’t know specific.)
– Question if I have
– Be authentic and personal

Truth:
– The client will see additional questions first
– The cover letter is below additional questions

Extra:
– Catchy first sentence
– guidance if you can(Process?)
– Call to action(schedule to call?)
– Adjust to the client’s tone and manner

Rate:
– There is no answer, but I don’t compromise. Rather than that, I dedicate professional service to the client.
– Included business cost as well.

Ideas:
– Learn higher-paying skills.
– Negotiate price
– Upsell. Ask more jobs depends on the relationship after the project.

Invitation response:
Hi Mr./Ms name,

Thank you for reaching out.

At first, mention about client’s description and what I can do.
Secondly, timeline and estimate.
Close, let me know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Manage your reputation and profile

This is a key factor. Your client cannot see you directly. Your profile has to express who you are. Once you create a client account, you understand how many proposals a client gets, how a client chooses candidates. Competition is inevitable these days. We have to build trust through design online.

One of the reasons I have started Upwork is building social proof. I didn’t much care about how much I earn this platform. Instead of that, I would like to provide a great service. It leads to 100% customer satisfaction.

In March, the Coronavirus pandemic major hit in Canada and the United States. I don’t want to exaggerate, but it was chaos. Local cafes and libraries are all shut down. I had to find a co-working space. Even in this situation, clients posted projects on Upwork constantly.

One client invited me to interview directly. It means I didn’t need to bid. This is my goal, to receive an inquiry without a sales pitch.

– Communicate early, communicate often ✔️
– When it doubt, ask
– Set clear expectation
– Must on time ✔️
– Underpromise, over deliver

*All important, to be honest.

How to use the Upwork Desktop App (formerly named Team App)

©️Upwork

I got a couple of hourly jobs in a year. I was wondering how to truck it. UpWork Provides a time trucker.

How do we truck about research? It depends on the project, but it’s necessary to increase the quality of delivery. We have to know the client, industry, and competitor. Should we do it for free? No way.

This is interesting, but time truckers sacrifice your proficiency. Novice designer works for 10 hours for $15/hr, $150. You are professional and 3 hours by $40/hr, $120 with good quality.

If you work quickly more than others, you have to set a much higher rate than others, over $50/hr. At the end of 2020, my hourly rate is $50/hr. I don’t always use a time tracker for project research. I am still thinking about how much I should charge for research.

Project Catalog Early Access

Once you earned a few $K, you receive some offers. Creating a catalog was one of the new features. I had enough work and mockups. I didn’t know how it works. Just tested it.

Promotion for the new feature

Sometimes, Upwork assesses me in an analog way. When I registered Upwork, they required a video call, speaking check in English. It was not strict like Toptal.

I received a new feature promotion in the fall, some skill checks. I organized my profile and Upwork checked it. The email mentions it takes 3 weeks at that time. I felt humanity on it. On the other side, this is an analog way as I said.

I received the TOP RATED budge and The Brand Identity Skills Cettification. I don’t know how it’s working for client decisions.

Upwork Review From a Top-Rated Freelancer: Upwork Pros & Cons

©️Lauren Melnick

Pros/Cons
– 20% fee for the first $500
– 10% until $10,000
– Gose down to 5% over $10,000
Reference: Service fees

Pros
– Protection fee
– Pool of potential client

Cons:
– Low fee
– Have to pay for credits(available connects)
– Competition with low price

When I watch freelance work, many people mention that you can work wherever you are. It does not become my first priority. In 2020, the number of general inquiries has dropped. It’s because of COVID-19, I think. As a freelance web/graphic designer, I needed projects constantly throughout this year.

When the client checked my portfolio, they know my contact info. However, I did not have a chance to work outside of Upwork. The biggest reason would be payment and guarantee. Overall, Upwork is great.

Avoid Upwork! – Freelancers Beware: Upwork Review

©️Jason Whaling

We should know the pros and cons when we start something new. He mentions 3 cons to use UpWork. I don’t bias anything, I listened and write some thoughts.

About the Fee. He said the fee is high, that’s why don’t use Upwork. He should know about a freelance situation. I understand many freelance struggles to find a client. Freelance is nothing without a client. It’s $0. Freelance wants to work with a client even the fee is high.

High competitive. It’s a weak reason. Almost admitting you are not good enough. Building social proof on Upwork takes time. Let’s try long term hassle.

Don’t Support freelance. This makes sense. As I said, the design thief exists. Freelance has to protect our rights my own. 

Successful Freelancing on UpWork (w/ UI Helen)

©️Flux

According to the video,
– she has started in 2014.
– She has reached 40K. It sounds quite a long journey.
– Her clients came to her without bids. She got job offer directly.
– Up to 10% freelance makes 10K 
– Tried to underpay job to earn reviews
– She has a plus membership, $14.99/mo
– Proposal document
– Personalize
– Don’t believe a budget
– Clients want to talk with you by skype or zoom somehow
– Set clear expectations right

She mentions the importance of a cover letter. In my experience, 70% of clients are less describe for a project. I have to develop a relationship from scratch at each project.

Conclusion: 2020 Upwork report

Past 3 years, I was busy enough as a freelance designer. Sometimes, I worked both full-time by 5 pm and freelance after 6 pm. I liked to keep busy in my life. I like to work with people/client who has never met before. It will be continued in 2021.

Ideally, I wanted to reach 10k at the Upwork platform during 2020. As the video mentions, I would like to create a situation in which the client comes to the door without bidding. After I reached a few thousand $, I have invited a project from a client. Not only once, around 10 times.

I am confident beyond a client’s expectation with my work, but I don’t have a choice at Upwork. I have to be chosen by potential clients. For that, I have to keep a professional work, keep 100% customer satisfaction. Therefore, I sometimes have to provide a design service even an underestimation project.

See the long term and keep up good work anyway.

I received an email from Upwork. Once you earn a certain amount of money, you may receive benefits. This is the result of a skill assessment.

I received the top-rated badge, but since then, I don’t have many changes for the project.

As you see it, this is the result.

*As an excuse, I am waiting for an extra $1.5K payment from a client on December 30th, 2020.

*Updated: January 22, 2021

It shows 3 years and 2 months. As I said, Upwork had rejected me 3 years ago. I could register in November 2019. So, I am using Upwork for 1 year.

Reference:

Apple App Store: ‎Upwork for Freelancers
Apple App Store: Upwork for Clients