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]

I would probably add back in part of your list. There is nothing wrong with having a list, as long as it is not taking up a major part of the profile.

Some people use only two skills in the title. However, I know highly successful people who have additional words, along with the title skills, who have clients contacting them.

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

I would suggest trying what you find comfortable and giving it some time to see if the results change. While there are excellent reasons to have a complete profile, there are those with poor profiles who still earn a lot of money. Although there are Upwork recommendations, profiles need to be unique. I don't mean weirdly so, but if everyone makes their profile identical, it will look like the chatbots have taken over completely.

I like the way you speak to the client and tell them what you can do. You have put so much thought and effort into your profile, I sincerely commend you.

[#3]

Thank you Jeanne. I think I will add back some (not all) of my skills to my profile that I want to be my primary focus.

Also, thank you for your compliment.  I avoid the use of Chat GPT or other similar tools to write my profile as my  proposals. On rare occasions, I would use MS Word to check my grammar.  I prefer a real person's response rather than a well polished, perfectly written proposals done by a tool like Chat GPT. I want mine to have that personal touch.

Again, thank you.

[#4]

Same 🙂

[#5]

Eddie, as a fellow Texan, more than happy to respond.

• I would create a short 1 minute video of you telling clients how you can help them with their WP needs.
• Your title starts well and you may want to add what benefit you provide from your WP effort to the client.
• You might want to spend time on the first sentences in your profile to show how you can help a client. Basically, what is the primary reason someone needs to hire you beyond just building a WP site?
• You might want to create a bulleted list of your specific skills in your overview and/or include a testimonial.

Overall you have a good portfolio and history so most of this is just tweaking what you have.

Note, I created a free tool at Pouncer.ai that provides AI-powered suggestions on how to optimize your Upwork Profile. There is no cost and I created it to help other freelancers optimize their profile. Hope it helps.

P.S. If you look at my profile, it is horrible but I work to manage our agency account on Upwork so I focus on dealing with my partner's profile and not my own (he is the real talent, I just help him). 

[#6]

Thank you Sean for the tips.  I never really thought about doing a video, but I guess I should put on my game face and give it a try.  Again, thank you.

[#7]

I think we need to update our profile every month,every client done project? lol I am a newbie

[#8]

Ricky,

It's only necessary to update your Profile as the Upwork algos change or your Skills, etc. need to be updated.

Please update your Profile to Public so we can review for you.

[#9]

My job feed isn't showing me any new jobs from 10 days & showing jobs only posted 4 hrs ago. 

I refresh it many times, even clear all caches and cookies as well and restart my system but problem remain the same. 

What i will do to solve such issue.

Regards,

Zohaib S.

[#10]

This update solved my problem thanks 

[#11]

Do not keep changing your profile. Set aside time to work on it only until you are satisfied. Then leave it alone and perhaps check back in a few weeks to see if you still like it. Some freelancers like to change their profile yearly or so, just to keep it fresh.

Because you are new, you need to read and follow all of Upwork's rules, because you are at risk of being scammed. Go back to the top post, read it and follow every link. Pay special attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags on Scams from Wes. New and inexperienced freelancers are at high risk of being scammed. It's critical you learn how to do business safely. It's up to you to protect yourself because no one, including Upwork, will do it for you. The biggest mistake freelancers make is going outside of Upwork for any reason, even to talk to a client before an Upwork contract is in place.

You can leave your profile private if you wish. This is not the review my profile thread.

[#12]

My job feed isn't showing me any new jobs from 10 days & showing jobs only posted 4 hrs ago. 

I refresh it many times, even clear all caches and cookies as well and restart my system but problem remain the same. What i will do to solve such issue.

Regards,

Zohaib S.

[#13]

I have this happen occasionally. I switch around with different searches, and then it comes back. Hope it works for you.

[#14]

Try fidling with skills you are searching for, or the countries you are interested in.

If I search USA only - I get a lot of days with blank jlistings!

Remember that this is always a roll of the dice waiting for jobs to post. There are cycles to the buyers pool of needs.  IE: Wedding videogtapers starve until spring sort of cycle.

Akin this to E-bay or Etsy or even Amazon. If you sell the ABC Widget - you dont get ANY orders until someone in the world wants to BUY tthe ABC WIDGET!!! -

The rest of your time, you mow the lawn.

[#15]

This update really solved most of my problems, thanks so much for the update 

[#16]

Give me dollers for work

[#17]

Your post comes across as demanding and rude. Additionally, this is not the place to look for work. You need to go back to the top post, read it and follow every link. With your empty profile and no marketable skills, you will not succeed. What is "Pythan", for instance?

All you will find here are scammers. If you want to freelance, use the Upwork resources in the top post.

Freelancing means you are responsible for everything, from getting a job to completing one. You have to have marketable skills, and I am not seeing any. If you have marketable skills, then learn how to use the platform. If you do not, then you would be better off to find an employer. I tell you this, not to be mean, but because you are not going to find jobs with your current profile, but you will be scammed.

[#18]

Old proverb -> Let the buyer beware.

In this business-> Let the freelancer beware too!

[#19]

Scammer!

[#20]

Well, we don't know that. But we do know that they did not follow the advice at the top to use Upwork resources, and don't use the platform correctly.

[#21]

You are interested in free launching? Or free lunching? Or free learning? **Edited for Community Guidelines** brah? Pythan??? 

I'm expert in Anakenda.

[#22]

my client ask me / How does 4:30 est work for you? / what does it mean ? and what should i respond ?

[#23]

The client is asking if 4:30 eastern time zone works for you. You should respond with a yes if that time works for you.

[#24]

Est means Eastern Standard Time.

[#25]

Ciao scusami ma non so come scrivere nella chat comune oggi mi è capitato questo ho svolto un lavoro di traduzione e scrittura ,prima mi hanno detto che mi pagavano tramite swift e poi mi arriva questa email ,ovviamente io ho risposto che non associo il mio account in nessun sistema a me sconosciuto ,io penso che non vogliono pagarmi ...puoi aiutarmi ? questa è il testo della mail ......Hello, Your Payment  To Your BANK ACCOUNT is currently on pending as your account has not been linked to our Payment Server) You will be required to link your account as this should ensure that payment to our workers are been secured. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LINK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO THE COMPANY RECOMMEND PAYMENT SYSTEM.

Have you ever downloaded a mobile app and had to provide documents or other personal information to verify your identity?

If so, you have likely completed what is known as a Know Your Customer (KYC) check.

It may seem like a few extra steps, but they're in place for a reason - to safeguard your information from bad actors.

ACCOUNT LINKING is a due diligence standard for organizations in the financial services sector. 

This process helps prevent fraud, Below is an invoice of your payment cheque issued out from RHI to your BANK ACCOUNT via  NORDATSTADGLOBAL ONLINE BANKING HOW TO LINK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO COMPANY RECOMMEND PAYMENT SYSTEM 

1.AN IDENTITY CARD OF RECIPIENT WHICH IS YOU

2.A LINKING FEE OF $120 IS REQUIRED 

3.MOBILE PHONE NUMBER 

NOTE: This $120 Linking fee will be refunded alongside with your payment

Kindly contact the Company Project Director via the link

[#26]

You should write in English in this forum. Anyway (FYI, below is the same old stuff people write to newbies scammed):

Ti consiglio di non usare Upwork se non hai solide competenze e se non sei disposto a imparare le regole. Quella in cui ti sei imbattuto è una truffa vecchia come il mondo  Leggi qui https://community.upwork.com/t5/Community-Blog/Top-Red-Flags-for-Scams-From-Community-Member-Wes-C/b... e non cercare lavoro finché non hai seguito i corsi Academy di Upwork. Ma tieni presente che qui ormai è pieno di truffatori, non è un eldorado. Rischi di perdere soldi invece di guadagnarli