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.  Next, check this site regularly for events such as webinars and other learning opportunities.

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. This thread is dedicated to new freelancers. And here are announcements from Upwork that can help keep you up to date.

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]

Amit,

Be careful on taking advice from everybody on this site without looking at their profile to see if they truly have success.

Only apply for jobs that most closely match your profile so you can be the Best Match which stands out in the client's proposal feed. It's not necessary to spend extra to be in the top four spots.

[#3]

Be careful on taking advice from everybody on this site without looking at their profile to see if they truly have success.

How do you define "success" in the profile?

[#4]

I do not understand why people will post, I ask a relevant question, and they never respond.

[#5]

I didn't realize it was so difficult a question to answer. ???

[#6]

They prefer cookie-cutter responses.

[#7]

It is not necessary to boost to get jobs. If you don't have marketable skills, and every qualification for the job, and do your work better than almost anyone - then you don't apply no matter how much you need money. If you really want the job, and know, you are one of the top two - then and only then do you boost, and reasonably. Boosting is no substitute for skills.

Plenty of freelancers don't boost, and others boost only when they know it is almost a certainty they will be hired. Any other time, you are throwing money and connects down the drain with no hope of a return.

[#8]

So if I don't have skills I will never start work??

It's like when your CV is new: no one wants you. So how could you start?  You never start. 

Or

Someone has to trust in you. Like in the normal life.

[#9]

Hi Sara,

Skills can be obtained in many ways such as volunteer in person to practice, read articles, watch YouTube videos, take Coursera courses, get a local job, etc. that allow you to develop more and deeper Skills.

[#10]

So if I don't have skills I will never start work??

Freelancers must bring marketable skills or they will fail. This is reality.

Would you hire someone with no skills? Or someone who had never done the job before and had no education in the field? Being new is not the same as being unskilled.

I saw in your profile that you manage and advertise for Instagram accounts. That is a skill, although one in a crowded field. Perhaps you can build on that.

The "normal life" is having marketable skills for freelancers. It is a fact no matter where you go. Not all freelancers spend money and efforts on platforms. The real world demands real skills in freelancing.

No one has to trust you; you have to prove yourself. The only time it isn't true is if you are employed. Then the employer has to worry about training you. There are still libraries, and there is always the Internet. Stick with useful and legitimate courses and training. YouTube is a nightmare of lots of people who think they know "the way" to learn or be an Upwork success.

Decide what area you want to focus on, and tailor your learning from there. It's up to you.

[#11]

Very important talk
thank you!

[#12]

Thank you for your efforts! This post has a lot of information that should be useful for both new Upwork freelancers and experiences ones.

[#13]

So hard to find Client

[#14]

El-Red,

Please write four compelling paragraphs for the Summary, use all 15 Skills, and add a Project Catalog. Only apply for jobs that you are an exact match.

[#15]

You need to go back to the top post, read it and follow every link. You will not find a client with your profile. Freelancing means you are responsible for everything that happens in your business. Currently, you will only find scammers, because they can tell, just like I can, that you haven't done the work.

In the profile, you have to tell the client not just what you can do, but what you can do for the client with your skills. The better your profile, the more clients you will have and fewer scammers. Learn about hourly and fixed price jobs. Graphic design is a flooded category, so you need to find a way to specialize or stand out in the crowd.

Make sure you read and follow the Terms of Service and the Red Flags on Scams from Wes. Only you can protect yourself. Be safe.

[#16]

Does the page number at which the freelancer profile appear has anything to do with the private rating or public rating? Or it is just linked with the number of completed contracts?

[#17]

Mahum,

A freelancer's ranking on Upwork search is determined by a propietary machine learning algorthm.

Just always do your best on Upwork in every area.

Click the Academy link on the top of this page for success tips.

[#18]

It is neither. The algorithm Upwork uses for profile showings is secret, because if freelancers knew all the metrics, they would find a way to cheat. It is supposedly designed to give everyone a fair chance at being in the first pages. I have seen 100% JSS next to 64% JSS or even "rising talent" which has no real meaning.

Make sure the top two lines in your profile are excellent for grabbing the client's attention. Once you have worked on your profile and are content - let it go. Choose a time in the future to reassess your profile and make changes then. I have seen freelancers changing their profile weekly or even daily, in the hope they will catch a job. It's not necessary and a waste of time.

[#19]

Mahum, Keep in mind that Upwork also makes switches on profiles who gets viewed to balance each freelancers and gives everyone a chance. 

[#20]

I want to do job as a freelancer i can do content writer work also typing work and translation work 

[#21]

Mehul,

Click the Academy link on the top of this page for success tips. Also obtain in-demand expert Skills so clients will need to hire you.

[#22]

You should tell people to read Jeanne's post instead!

The purpose of this thread is not providing "success tips" (a lot of people will never ever get a single job here, and you perfectly know that), but rather telling people to be realistic about their expectations!

[#23]

You should see the private feedback and my other contacts, unhappy with the posts. Ugh! More complaints to field. Some people think I control this thread, and can toss out other posts if I don't like them, or people complain to me about them. For those that don't know, Upwork controls all the forum, what is pinned, and what posts are kept or taken down. I do not have any influence on such things.

For what it's worth, if I had the ability, I would not delete posts simply for being rude to me, or if I just didn't like them. If they are nasty reading or if vulgar, etc. then yes.

The funny thing is that I had no idea my post would be pinned, nor did I plan it. I wrote that post for a simple reason - to help. I worked to make sure all resources were available in one single post. The number of scammed and lost freelancers has skyrocketed. I have always helped other freelancers, as many of you do, without calling attention to yourselves. When the number became untenable for private help alone, I created the post.

When you don't read something, you miss it all. Perhaps people have not seen, or hate, the part where I say that freelancers don't need me. In fact, if they have skills, they simply need to follow the rules and normal self-employment business practices. Despite the hype, there are plenty of freelancers quietly working and making money all day long without spending hours on learning, taking classes, and learning new skills. Every freelancer has to follow their ROI and the way they want to work.

Yes, the purpose of this thread is to help people understand what freelancing means here and what to expect. Too many have never freelanced, and have no idea what can happen on a platform like this. With the silliness posted surrounding helping others, and the often ignored help, the only reason I continue is because of the amazing changes I have seen. Some freelancers will take advice and run with it, creating a career that will provide for them for years. I know most freelancers ignore the advice, like most ignore everyone's advice, but it's worth it to me for the ones who listen.

[#24]

William, I honestly do not understand why you post this, and multiple times to the same people. Have you ever read the top post and followed every link? You must not have done so, because the Academy is just a part of what's in the post. Do you understand it is for resources for Upwork and Wes, and that everything in the Academy is contained? It's not a link to my personal story or a way to get people to be impressed. Nor am I an agency or farmer looking for disciples.

What is the point of posting to the Academy when it only covers a portion of the information freelancers require? I just don’t understand your actions, But, hey, I have asked you sincere, polite, and relevant questions, and you never, ever, respond. Point taken.

[#25]

You need to go back to the top and read it and follow every link. You are at high risk of being scammed and losing everything. Everything you need to know about Upwork and scams is contained in the top post.

Typing is a flooded field. To get jobs, you will need to find more skills or offer something different to stand out in the crowd. "Copy paste" is not a skill. Translation is also a crowded field - full of people using translator programs. Your skills must be top-notch in order to compete.

Before you apply or even look at jobs, learn and follow the rules. Pay special attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags on scams from Wes. It's up to you if you are successful and safe. Be safe.

[#26]

Mehul,

Please complete your Upwork Profile. Click the Academy link on the top of this page for instructions and  helpful tips.