To all freelancers looking for help

[#1]

I have always had freelancers come to me for help. In the last year, the river has swelled into an enormous ocean.

You don't need me; Upwork provides an enormous amount of information that few ever use. If, after you have gone through all the information I provide, you still have questions, that is when you ask additional questions in the forum.

If you think you will make big bucks right away, you are mistaken. The majority of freelancers never land a job because they have no skills and aren't interested in educating themselves. Others believe online freelancing is a path to full-time employment. It can be, but highly unlikely on this platform.

Freelancing is not for everyone. It means you are self-employed and must adhere to all regulations and laws governing responsibilities, such as paying taxes. Freelancing means you are on your own. No one has your back, including Upwork. If you don't follow the rules, no one will or can help you.

If you are willing to work hard, follow the rules and prepared to spend a lot of connects and proposals, you can be successful, as many are on Upwork. While so many fail, it is almost always due to lack of skills and treating freelancing like employment  where the employer will make sure you do the job correctly.

If you want to succeed, start with the Terms of Service, then read this from Wes. 

Then go here. Then here. 

After that, go here for safety information, and then here. If you still need help, after you have gone through all the previous steps, you can find additional help here.

It will take some time to go through all the information. I'm not suggesting people should not post in the forum, I am suggesting before you ask questions and want help, you need to help yourself first.

From Prashant P: "And have relevant profile picture of your face.  Not some desks, or Mickey mouse, or full face covering." 

From Susan S: "And patience! Have patience! It takes a while to get started, even after going through all the information available."

From Martina P:  "Only one thing you forgot, namely telling people to use all 15 skills, if you have all 15 skills"

And with advice from Maria T, I will say, 

Refrain from personal messages, please read all the links I have added.

[#2]

Hi Jeanne,

Could you assist me in improving my profile ranking? Despite my efforts in implementing strategies to enhance my profile, I haven't seen the desired results. If you have insights or guidance that can help improve my profile's ranking, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

Sincerely, 

Syed Hammad 

[#3]

Please examine my profile as I haven't had any employment offers in the last few months.
I tried everything, but it wasn't successful for me.

Can you please help me?

Awaiting your response.

Best wishes
Bhavsinh Solanki

[#4]

Please go back to the top and follow every link. You need to work on your profile. This is your opportunity to tell the clients why they should hire you. In addition, it is too long with far too many lists, and yet it still doesn't address the client.

Upwork continues to add anything that can spend connects, which is effecting every freelancer and client. It is much harder to break into Upwork freelancing than it used to be. Be prepared to send 100 or more proposals before you get a job. I am tracking the people I help, and even with real skills, it still takes dozens of proposals before landing a genuine job, if they ever find a job at all. Also, with so many scammer clients, there are fewer real jobs.

Learn all you can, improve your profile, portfolio, and proposals. Find a way to showcase your talent. If you are not interested in advancing your skills, you will be left behind if you are in a basic category.

[#5]

Hello, Jeanne! What do you mean by "...if you are in a basic category"?

[#6]

If you are offering the lowest levels of skills or similar work, you need to find a way to stand out, and the best way is to offer something special.

Everyone needs to have additional skills to be successful here. There are so many millions of people here, you need something extra. Skills also need updated. For example, I am a writer. If I were competing with everyone who is a basic writer, I would probably have a difficult time because there are so many. I have always had specialties, and they serve me well.

Any category can be basic, whether writing, coding, or accounting. If all you do is the least possible, you will need to step up your skills. Also, it is not that appealing to the client.

If you are an accountant, find a way to offer specialties. Do you work with non-profits? Do you have extra skills that relate to the work?

It might not be directly related, but add a service that makes a nice companion element. Create a niche inside a niche. I have unique specialties within medical and health writing. I might add, these comments work just as well with work outside this platform.

To everyone: never pretend or lie about your skills, hoping to get a job. It is the quickest way to terrible reviews and failure. With the Internet, education is just a click away.

[#7]

Hi. Nice to meet you

[#8]

Hello Amanda,

Please use two Skills in the Title and format the Summary into four paragraphs. Consider changing Earnings to Public so clients can see the size of work that can be handled. Thanks!

[#9]

Hello, William! What are you suggesting I format into four pragraphs and put two skills in the title of? Also, I don't see how changing my earnings to public would give clients an idea of the scope of my past projects. 

[#10]

Amanda,

Yes. Setting earnings to public allows prospects to see the size of projects that can be handled. Otherwise are they $5, $500, or $5,000 projects. It makes a difference for many prospects.

[#11]

That really helpfull. 

[#12]

Khurram,

Please set your Profile to public so it can be reviewed.

[#13]

we are in the  same boat mate!  seeking for help here 

[#14]

Wissal, you need to use the top post, read it, and follow every link. It will explain to you how to use Upwork, the resources and the Red Flags on Scams from Wes that every freelancer should read if they don't want to be scammed.

You have work to do on your profile. It barely has anything in it. You only have one line to get the client's attention in the search, so it has to be strong. Also, you list being native or bilingual in English, but then in your introduction, you say fluent. Just change it so it matches. Clients don't like conflicting information.

It's not easy to break into freelancing and takes marketable skills, money, time, and patience. You are not likely to attract clients until you work on your profile, and likely proposals as well.

Every freelancer has to determine what is right for them and their business.

[#15]

Wissal,

Please use three Skills in the Title, write four compelling paragraphs for the Summary minus the emoticons, and get Reviews on projects.

[#16]

How do you do paragraph breaks in the summary? Do you use HTML? Mine don't seem to show up. 

[#17]

Jennifer,

Just hit the enter key twice on your computer.

[#18]

8

[#19]

Bhavsinh,

Please use three Skills in the Title, write four compelling paragraphs for the Summary minus the emoticons, and increase the JSS to 90%+.

[#20]

Hi nice job

[#21]

DM flood ? 

[#22]

Direct messaging, where you contact other freelancers.

[#23]

But freelancers are not free to contact ☹️

[#24]

You can contact other freelancers. There is no charge. However, please be mindful of privacy. Many freelancers receive uninvited messages. It can quickly swell until you can't find messages from those you want to network with from the flood of people wanting jobs.

Only contact other freelancers if you have a specific reason, such as networking. Networking is not asking for help, asking for a job, or asking for help getting a job.

[#25]

Hi Jeanne, I would love to know how I can contact other freelancers, there are a few people I would love to approach for mentorship.

[#26]

You can use the network feature if you are top-rated, or if Upwork has rolled out the program for everyone. Messages are allowed in the community forum. However, I would suggest you go through the Academy links and other Upwork resources first. There are threads from experienced freelancers and other opportunities for learning. I recommend you take advantage of all the resources, material, webinars, check back for new topics, and learn from a variety of freelancers. There is no single path to success in freelancing. Advice is great and can be a guide, but ultimately, each person has to find their way.

I see that you have put time into your profile - good for you! I suggest you shorten your introduction and put into paragraphs, and remove some of the box checks.

* To everyone, please be mindful that not every person may welcome messages, and some freelancers are inundated. Please be polite, considerate and do not plead for a job or demand one. Do not be offended if you do not receive a reply. Do not contact a freelancer more than once if you don't receive a response. Some freelancers are also clients, so, something to be considered.