Does reducing your rates as a new member give you an advantage in getting jobs faster?

[#1]

Regardless of our expertise, so many have been forced to reduce their hourly costs because of their eagerness to get a job. But does it help?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Price is always an important element in a winning proposal. And being aggressive in your pricing on your initial proposals as a new freelancer, without undermining your credibility by overdoing it, will increase your chances of winning as long as your skills and experience meet clients' requirements.

Unfortunately, Upwork hasn't followed its predecessor Elance's example by providing public information about all freelancers' proposal pricing on each project, so you'll have to experiment with different prices on different projects. That will likely require submitting 50, probably more like 100, proposals to test what range of pricing wins you the most projects.

You can then raise your pricing as your portfolio of successful projects on Upwork grows.

[#3]

Hello!

I think it depends also on your expertise. Very low rates for sure will not help you. 
If you can check some other freelancers' profiles with almost the same expertise as yours, maybe this will help. 
And, for new members will be ok to set 10-20% lower rates. Maybe this will help!

Good luck!

[#4]

Thanks a lot, Alex. You have been very helpful.