Freelancing is getting more traction than ever as people now are not in favour of the traditional 9 to 5 grind. The online job platforms give you the flexibility of work hours thus millions of people have shifted to these platforms to earn their livelihood. But is it possible for a newbie to make money online without having experience?
Well, the question that we often get to hear from the freelance beginners is ‘How to make money on Upwork with no experience’; they ask the same question for Fiverr and other freelance platforms as well.
Now that more and more people are shifting to online platforms and are struggling to survive, we have crafted this blog to help you know how to make money on Upwork with no experience. Keep reading to get all the essentials required for a successful Upwork journey.
How to make money on Upwork with no experience?
Thousands of new freelancers join Upwork on daily basis but very few of them succeed in making money from Upwork. There are several reasons for the failure of newbie freelancers; some come up with low-demand skills, a few fail to create good profiles, while many simply fail because of poor communication skills or not being consistent.
Here we have provided all the essential factors you need to consider while starting your journey to make money from Upwork.
1. Polish your skills
The freelance markets are developed with an aim to buy and sell skills and if you don’t have any in-demand skills to present you may fail to earn money from Upwork.
Before starting your Freelance journey think of the skills you can offer, are you good at writing? Do you know how to design catchy pamphlets and logos? Can you develop a website? Or do you know the art of UI UX designing or digital marketing? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, congratulations you are having one of the in-demand skills of Upwork.
Now that you have the skill to sell on Upwork, check your skill level. Do you know the basics of this skill or do you have complete command over it? As a newbie, it might be difficult for you to meet the expectations of your clients, so, make sure you have a hold over the skills you are trying to sell on Upwork.
Look for free online certifications to add value to your skills. Having mentioned the certifications on your profile will enhance the credibility of your profile.
2. Create a professional-looking profile
After deciding what skills you want to sell, it is now time to create a profile on Upwork. With a platform you let your potential clients get an idea about your abilities.
One way you can create a winning Upwork profile is to look for the expert profiles of your industry. For example, if you want to offer content writing skills, search for top-rated content writers. Doing so will give you an idea about what a winning profile on Upwork looks like.
Below are the essentials you need to consider while getting started to earn money on Upwork.
1. Write a precise description of what you do. The description must be precise but it must reveal all your skills.
2. Upload a profile picture where your face must be easily identifiable.
3. Add your educational history in detail
4. List down your experience.
5. Create a portfolio to justify your skills. You can keep updating your portfolio as you complete your projects on Upwork.
3. How to get approved on Upwork?
As the number of freelancers is growing exponentially on Upwork, it has now become quite difficult to get your profile approved. However, the secret to getting easily approved on Upwork is to target a niche.
In your Upwork category mention, a unique niche, and your profile will get accepted instantly. For example, if you are mentioning ‘Content Writer’, in your Upwork category there is a possibility that your request might get rejected as there already is a huge force selling this service.
So, the idea is to select a unique niche in your Upwork category to get your profile approved fast on Upwork.
Once you have created a noteworthy Upwork profile, it is now time to reach your clients.
4. How to get my first job on Upwork?
According to several freelancers, getting your first job on Upwork is the most difficult task, but once you get your first job, you start your exciting journey of earning money from Upwork.
Following are a few tips to get your first job instantly on Upwork:
1. While you are just beginning your Upwork journey, keep your ego aside and bid for low-paid jobs. Accept the fact that you have to have a well-established profile in order to get bigger projects and the working a to build your profile is to start with smaller projects.
2. Be honest with your clients. Let them know that you are willing to do their task for a smaller fee as it’s just your first job. You can also request them for a review once you complete the task because profile reviews help you get more clients.
3. Keep bidding actively for projects and stay consistent.
4. In order to make money from Upwork, you have to stay active on the platform. The longer you take to respond to your client’s queries the longer it will take for you to build your profile. So, the way to get more jobs is to stay responsive.
5. Another pro tip to get your first job fast on Upwork is to write catchy proposals. A proposal is what gives the client an idea about what you can offer. So, while writing your proposals, first make sure that you have gone through the job description thoroughly. Once you fully understand the job description, explain how you are going to provide the solution.
6. To hunt for a job on Upwork, it is essential to bid for the projects as soon as possible. The longer you take to apply for the job, the higher will be the competition and the lesser will be your chances of getting hired. So, apply for the most recent jobs.
7. Once your proposal gets accepted, it is now time to appear for an interview. This is the most crucial step of hunting for a job so, you have to prepare well. Invest in your hardware including the microphone and webcam so that you don’t face any interruptions during the interview.
8. Before appearing for the job interview take notes about how you are going to provide solutions to your client. Work on your communication skills if you are not good at communicating.
9. Finding out about your client’s aim behind this project can also be of great help to hunt for the job. The idea here is, to understand what the client wants you to deliver.
10. Once you complete the project, you can politely ask the client to post a review on your profile or simply rate your profile. Every rating counts when you apply for a job to make money from Upwork.
Also, Read: How to Earn Money from YouTube?
How to create a winning profile on Upwork?
There are multiple tactics that top-rated freelancers on Upwork follow to keep their profile at the top. Below we have revealed a few tips you can count on to develop a winning profile to earn money from Upwork.
Add relevant work samples on your profile to earn money from Upwork
To create a winning profile on Upwork, it is essential to provide work samples as it enables your client to get an idea about what you are capable of. Also, adding work samples doesn’t mean including dozens of projects, add a few projects that are relevant and are done perfectly.
The Upwork beginners who haven’t done any projects in past can create a few samples just to showcase their skills. For example, a content writer can create their portfolio on ‘Medium’ by writing articles. You can also submit guest posts to websites because published work is always better to add to your portfolio. Similarly, a web developer can create a website on WordPress to showcase their skills to the clients.
You can even create a specific portfolio for the job you are going to apply for. It adds value to your proposal and the client will surely find it fascinating.
Add an introductory video to earn money from Upwork
Another way you can increase the chances to earn money on Upwork is by adding an introductory video. As the famous saying goes ‘an image is worth a thousand words and for a video double the figure.
Adding a video can give you an edge as this feature is an infrequently utilized one. This introductory video must contain your brief introduction, what you are capable of delivering to your clients, and your work experience. You can also talk about the type of projects you are looking for and that you can cater to well.
Note that, your video must not be too lengthy. A 30 sec to 1 min video is perfect to soar the chances of winning the jobs to earn money from Upwork.
Execute keywords in your job title to earn money from Upwork
Executing keywords in your job title helps you get found easily by your potential clients. This again increases the chance of your getting hired fast.
While writing your description, think of the keywords that your potential client might use. Also, try to mention the benefits of the skills that you are selling. Adding the details of the software and tools that you are using will be a plus.
So, the idea here is to target a niche using the keywords and tell your clients what returns they are going to get by hiring you for the project.
Apply for selective jobs to earn money from Upwork
Applying to every job that you come across on the job feed is never a good idea. If you want to earn money from Upwork, you have to understand that not every job is suited to you. Instead of pouring proposals limitlessly, be selective and apply for the jobs that best fit your skills.
As a newbie freelancer, you must not rush to apply for jobs that pay well, instead focus on small projects that are expected to complete in a timely manner so that you can boast some five-star reviews.
Check for the client’s history before applying for a job
Another important aspect that you must consider while applying for a job is to check the client’s history. Assess the below factors to land on the right project to earn money from Upwork:
1. If a client has given bad reviews to the majority of freelancers previously, there are chances that you may also get a negative review, so don’t aim for such jobs. Getting a negative review right at the start of your career might make it difficult for you to get more jobs.
2. Check if the client is having a verified payment method or not. If the client has not verified the payment method, it means they have not set up a way to pay freelancers yet, so it might be risky to apply for such jobs. Such clients may not pay you at the end of the project.
3. While finalizing a job on Upwork, aim for clients who may give you the second job as well. Also, look for clients who are willing to hire you for the long term.
Once you have found the most relevant job, simply submit the proposal. Don’t forget to add an actionable step at the end of the proposal. For example, you can add a phrase like, “Let’s schedule a call to discuss the project in more detail”, or “You may please contact me for any queries”. Doing so will increase the chances of your getting hired for the project.
FAQs
Q.1 Is Upwork good for beginners?
Yes, Upwork is one of the best platforms to generate income online. Upwork has a community of millions of freelancers and employers. If you are a freelance enthusiast, you can kickstart your journey to earning money from Upwork.
Q.2 Is Upwork a good way to make online?
Yes, it is the most popular freelance platform if you want to make money online. Millions of freelancers are relying on Upwork as their basic way of earning and are earning millions of dollars. It is also quite easier to get jobs on Upwork if you are skilled.
Q.3 How much can I make from Upwork?
The Upwork freelancers are earning an average of $20 per hour. It means you make enough money from Upwork.
Q. 4 What are the best Upwork jobs for beginners?
As a beginner on Upwork you can do the following jobs:
- Become a content writer
- Count on a data entry job
- Transcriptions
- Social media marketing’
Q.5 How long does it take to start making money on Upwork?
You can start to earn money on Upwork right after signing up on the platform. It all depends on how you apply for the jobs and what skills you are offering. If you are offering a unique skill you can earn a lot of money on Upwork.
The Takeaway
Hopefully, you have got your answer to ‘How to make money on Upwork with no experience’. Following the information provided here, you can kickstart your freelance journey to earn money on Upwork.
