Five Helpful Tips To Make Freelance Money on Upwork

Exploring The Upwork Freelance Community

Upwork is the world’s largest remote talent platform where freelancers can find work in design, writing, sales & marketing, customer service, and many other fields.

It’s a website where businesses can find workers, and workers can find work. If you’re a freelancer, or someone trying to start their own copywriting career, it is one of the best marketplaces for connecting with clients and building your portfolio.

Upwork is ideal if you are working in a new field or just starting out. You could build a resume to then show to future clients as you grow. Upwork allows you to build up valuable experience without always having to randomly pitch clients.

How To Make Money On Upwork

Upwork can be a good place to potentially build an income through your writing and other creative gigs.

Like we mentioned before, Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers that specialize in fields such as content and copy writing, graphic design, and web development. This site will help you locate projects, communicate with potential clients, and get paid when the work is completed.

Whether you are looking for the odd job, or consistent work, it can usually be found on Upwork.

This site is a great place for beginners, or for those needing to earn a few extra bucks on the site. However, as a freelance marketplace, it usually does not pay as much as clients you find through other means from word of mouth, to LinkedIn. This can be a turnoff for some, but for those looking for work to build a portfolio, get experience, or earn money directly, this can be a good thing.

Upwork makes it easier to find potential work. Just be careful about which type of jobs you want to apply for. Upwork has the power to suspend or cancel your account if you are accepting jobs you can not complete. Only find jobs that you can do. As you build your experience on Upwork, you can get more jobs that pay better, eventually moving beyond Upwork if you choose to.

Excelling Tips On How To Make Money On Upwork:

Here are a few times on how to make money on Upwork. Remember, choose your jobs wisely and always be professional, timely, and productive. Here are some tips that we’ve used before, working on Upwork:

1. Make your Upwork profile professional and truthful
   1. Your Upwork profile serves the same purpose as your resume for potential employers. You will not find work without one.
   1. Fill out your profile in Upwork and indicate the job type(s) you’d like to do, your skills, and your level of expertise.
   1. Even though clients will just take your word for it, be honest. You don’t want to overpromise and under deliver. Prospective clients are looking for particular jobs, and the more precise you are, the better. Also Upwork is serious about its terms and conditions, so professionalism is always a good thing.
2. Embrace your Membership Plan
   1. There are two different plans you can join in Upwork:
      1. Basic
      1. Plus
         1. Basic
            1. This plan is free.
            1. You’d have to pay to connect with prospective clients.
            1. $.15 is charged every time you “Connect” with a client.
         1. Plus
            1. This plan will cost you $14.99 per month.
            1. It includes everything in the basic plan and also includes:
               1. 70 connects per month.
               1. Access to what price competitors have bid for a job.
               1. Keeping earnings confidential.
               1. Your profile will never be hidden when not used.
3. Get linked with genuine employers
   1. Using your “connect”, you will pitch proposals for jobs in your areas of skills and/or expertise.
   1. Be sure to send introductory letters, desired fees, and examples of work when asked.
   1. As needed, familiarize yourself with the potential employer’s reputation.
4. Agree on a price and begin your work
   1. Upwork will take a percentage of your earnings.
   1. This is calculated on a sliding scale based on the total amount you bill with a client over time.
   1. Upwork till take:
      1. 20% for the first $500 you bill your client.
      1. 10% for total billings with a client between $500.01 and $10,000.
      1. 5% for total billings with a client that exceed $10,000.
5. Get your money!
   1. Your payment can securely be sent through PayPal, direct deposit or wire transfer.
   1. Hourly projects are billed weekly.
   1. You will be paid 10 days after the billing period ends.
   1. Upwork has a dispute process if you think you were not fairly compensated.

Can You Make A Living On Upwork?

Some writers starting out as freelancers state that it is “impossible” to find jobs with Upwork. While there is a lot of competition out there, which sometimes can make it more difficult, IT IS entirely possible.

Here are are a few pointers on how to start “making a living” on upwork:

1. Start by accepting small jobs you are assigned.
   1. Jobs add up, and experience builds.
   1. The more jobs you do the better.
   1. This adds to your resume and portfolio for clients and opportunities outside of Upwork as well.
2. Try to gain more stars in your Upwork rating from your very first gigs
   1. Produce quality work in a timely manner and most clients will leave good reviews.
3. Continue to do small jobs in order to build up your reputation.
4. Look for progressive part-time writing jobs where you work a couple of hours every week. These can add up.
5. Aim to land long-term clients that will keep you for at least a year.
6. Within time you will notice that clients will start asking you if you want to do jobs. For some writers, this turns into long-term full hires.

How Much Money Can You Make On Upwork?

You’re probably asking, “How much money could I potentially be making on Upwork?” Many writers have a misconception of Upwork that they don’t pay enough, while others think it is a place to outsource tasks to people overseas for a “cheaper” rate.

Upwork is an excellent platform where you can jumpstart your career, add side-income, or build a strong portfolio both on and off Upwork. For some, this includes a “full-time income” on Upwork.

So how much can you make on upwork? Potentially? Many freelance writers begin by landing small projects that can potentially pay a few hundred dollars at a time. Some freelance writers that work hard have reported to be making $1,000 – $3,000 a week within a few weeks! But, keep in mind that everyone’s experience varies, and stand-out examples aren’t typical ones. It is possible, though, and it’s a great way to get started right now.

Here are some key points you should learn in order to potentially make decent money on Upwork:

• Start small jobs, then scale up to bigger ones.
• New freelancers should start charging a rate of $20 to $35 per hour.
  • Of course, this is up to you and the client. Depending on circumstance and experience, you may want to charge less or more.  It’s definitely something you want to keep an eye on on Upwork, and google for more information.
• Start out with fixed priced jobs.
• Include cover letters and client testimonials, as they occur.
• English is what most clients use on Upwork. If you speak English, make sure to let the clients know, or show through communication, that you are an English speaker, and that you can ensure quality communication.

Enhance Your Freelance Income Potential With Upwork

Upwork is an ecosystem. Every client and freelancer in Upwork serves a purpose. Finding work! Remember that clients who pay low rates will help you in the long-run by giving you good reviews and more business. They will help you build your resume.

If you are a freelancer who has the right mindset, and uses Upwork the right way, you have good money making potential. The idea that there is this fixed “pie” of clients and money on Upwork, and that we’re all competing for little slivers of it, is totally untrue. If you are honest, work hard, work timely, and are professional, there is opportunity.

The pie is AlWAYS growing. How big of a piece do you want?

Feel free to contact us here at Copywriter Brain if you need assistance on how to boost your career and build money making potential on Upwork.