I finally got my first real client!

[lucycodex]

So I have been writing on other sites for a while with little issue, but I was having a hard time getting Upwork to work for me. Thankfully, I recently got my first real client, which I hope will get me some good feedback. 

Because of that, I purchase the Upwork Pro account, and everything seems to be working out. I will be working hard to make Upwork a significant source of income alongside my others, but one thing makes me curious:

After you got a few reviews under your belt, do you still seek out clients, or do clients actively seek out you instead? I have seen this on other sites, where I had to pitch to clients until I get a few good reviews, and then the clients will start coming to me faster than I can pitch to them. Is that the case on Upwork?

[datasciencewonk]

Just a quick note, Upwork's TOS doesn't allow for writing "Erotic" content. You might want to remove that from your profile.

1.1: 

• Seeking, offering, or endorsing illegal, obscene, or pornographic services or activities, including services (i) that would violate the intellectual property rights, including copyrights, of another person, entity, service, product, or website or (ii) that would involve the creation, review, or editing of pornographic, erotic, obscene, or sexually explicit material;

Invites depend on several factors which are largely predicated on the demand in your niche (though, based on almost two years of navigating through the forums, you'll likely receive invites, at some point, that do not match what you're offering) as well as Upwork's FL profile rotation system. 

At any rate, pick through everything carefully. While I'm all for people setting their rates wherever they want, low rates tend to attract a certain population of clients who are problematic. The operative words here are "tend to."

[lucycodex]

"Just a quick note, Upwork's TOS doesn't allow for writing "Erotic" content. You might want to remove that from your profile."

I apologize, I did not know. Usually, erotic writing is allowed on other sites I frequent, so I just assumed. 

". While I'm all for people setting their rates wherever they want, low rates tend to attract a certain population of clients who are problematic. The operative words here are "tend to.""

Yeah, I have already gotten plenty of invites from people who want work that has nothing to do with writing or work for less than 1 cent per word. I decline all of those. Rarely do I get an offer for anything significant. That is why I want wondering if that gets better over time.

[datasciencewonk]

That is why I want wondering if that gets better over time.

Yes and no. There are times when I receive invites directly associated with the skillset I'm advertising. But, other times, I'm receiving invites to create advertising campaigns (absolutely not my "lane" so to speak). I explicitly state my writing niche and still receive invites that aren't within that scope. Meh. Par for the course. Though, I will say, that as I've raised my rate there's been a distinct "better client" trend.

And even with the applicable invites, I'm extremely conscientious about client-freelancer fit (I've learned the hard way). 

[wendy_writes]

Echoing and applauding Kat's sage advice.

[goldenphoenix89]

Thank you for your advice.

I too am new here. Hopefully, I'll find my job soon as well. Finding client-freelancer fit is very difficult here @ upwork. 

[lucycodex]

I agree. I freelance on another site, as well as on my own, and I would say that freelancing on Upwork is very similar to sending pitches on writing job boards. 

Upwork tends to be harder to get to work, and much less straightforward. When it comes finding clients that fit your desires and pay scale, good luck! The vast majority of people who want work want it for dirt cheap. I had to take a massive paycut just to diversify here and try to work my way back up to higher paying clients. 

This is why I think Upwork should branch their search results, allowing for people to find higher paying jobs per word (for writers) instead of having to dig through the cesspool to try to find a writing job that pays 3 cents per word or more. 

As well as a way to branch off search results between long-term and short-term clients. It's hard to get good reviews when the only clients that will hire you want you to stay on writing for them for months. Not to say that is in any way bad, as it is not. But if you want reviews, shorter-term clients are best. 

Finding a job here is also more difficult, as many clients are extremely vague in their job descriptions. It's not until after you get an interview that you realize that the client wants 4,000 words for a 10$ budget. 

I can go on, but I will stop here. Upwork isn't awful, but the fact that you have to sift through the dirt to find the diamonds can be rather irritating. I am hoping I find more clients who offer decent prices as time goes on.