Is Upwork Good For Beginners? 10 Secret Things About The Platform

I’ve been working on the Upwork platform for half a decade, and I can tell you how much it works for newbies and anyone looking to give freelance a shot. 

In all those years, I’ve also taken time to study and understand the highflyers on Upwork and some of their recipes for success. 

It turns out that earning your first big dollar on the platform can be pretty straightforward. 

But you might be asking, “how are you sure of anyone’s success on Upwork, given the millions of people that apply to the platform every month?”. 

I’ll admit, it’s such a thoughtful consideration, but you don’t have to worry about it. The growing population of freelancers on Upwork is the exact reason for your improved chances of earning big on the platform. 

More people working on Upwork means a massive demand for freelance services. 

With that, you could land a job more quickly since the customer now has the option to do so. So, if you’re asking, “is Upwork good for beginners?” then your answer is yes.

However, there’s a significant condition you must note. 

First, stay with me here: while Upwork is a lucrative freelance platform, success and clients wouldn’t get handed to you on a platter. 

You’ve got to have the proper position and structure to pull the positive results. 

Unfortunately, not many people realize that fact nor try to apply it. 

That’s why it’s no surprise that some naive freelancers fall by the wayside shortly after starting. 

It would be best to have the proper know-how – secrets, and you might call them – to get the most from Upwork.

Luckily, I’ve got some of them for you in this piece. 

They’ve gotten condensed to ten of the most concise, unbridled tips that can help anyone asking, “does Upwork work for beginners?”.

Your Upwork Profile Picture – The Silent Killer

We’ve all accepted profile pictures to be standard for online interactions with other people. 

However, there’s a big secret to Upwork Profile pictures: it could make or mar your earning chances in a blink of an eye.

Consider this: how easily do you think a stranger would part with his money with someone they’ve only met on the internet? The reality is that clients would only hire you when they feel they can trust you. 

So here’s the kicker: your profile picture builds that trust or kills it instantly.

Therefore, you’ve got to make the right choices. Try to make the picture look as professional as you can. 

White backgrounds that correctly highlight your face are an excellent idea. 

Also, avoid using stock photos and abstract images, which discourage clients quickly. 

Make an Introductory Video Is Upwork Good For Beginners?

I can tell you that many people don’t know what the Upwork introductory video is and how it could assist them in making the best first impression on clients. 

The truth is, it’s more convenient and can convince clients to hire you more quickly. 

The best part is that you don’t have to make an introductory video longer than a minute. 

Also, if you aren’t comfortable in front of the camera, you could make a montage of your previous works and customer reviews. 

Have a Catchy Proposal Template

As a freelancer, you’d agree with me that time is money, and you’d be wasting time drawing up a new proposal every time you wish to apply for a job on Upwork. 

A smarter way to go is to have a proposal template on hand: not just any template, but an excellent, high-yield one. 

The secret is having your thoughts laid out in short successive paragraphs. 

No client has the time to read wordy proposals. 

Also, try not to repeat the information you already have on your profile overview page. 

Give Each Application a Unique Proposal

After getting a great proposal template, the next thing to do is to use it to make unique proposals unique to each application. 

Clients love and appreciate it when a freelancer shows enough knowledge about the job at hand in their recommendations. 

It’s best to read other content like Upwork Proposal Mistakes That Stop you From Getting Hired, as they give you a clearer picture of what to avoid when writing a new proposal.

You could also personalize the address. Mention the client’s first name or company, and you’d sound more natural than most other proposals. 

Do your research on the task and explain how you can help the client achieve their future goal in clear terms. 

Prioritize Short Term Job Offers

I’ve had new freelancers get confused about why they aren’t getting any successful applications. 

Little did they know that there’s a difference between each job offer. 

They could either be short-term or long-term.

The long-term projects would often require a higher experience level, and the chances of having a newbie on board are slimmer. 

But on the other hand, short-term job offers are more open to beginners. So, what’s more, you can use them to build your profile and experience for a bigger gig.

Lower Your Rates for Your First Reviews

The harsh reality about starting on Upwork has to work hard to get your first customer review. 

To an Upwork client, a newbie is always a wildcard on whom they’d take a gamble. 

Lowering your rates might be an excellent way to improve your chances and get a client to trust you.

The strategy would get you your first sets of reviews, even when you’ve only recently browsed “what is Upwork” or heard about it for the first time. 

Then, when you’ve got enough, you can review your rates later. 

Go All Out To Fulfil your Client’s Expectations

Upwork jobs are only about completing a task and getting paid for most freelancers. 

However, you can take things further by impressing your clients. 

All it takes is for you to study their needs and expectations and fulfill them. 

You could go beyond the job description and give meaningful additions if you feel extra.

You might not realize it at first, but this secret builds so much customer retention, which is what any Upwork beginner needs.

Find Out About Your Client’s Hourly Rates

This next tip is for Upwork freelancers who have gotten their first few reviews. 

There’s the temptation to continue to go after the lower-paying jobs that brought you the reviews in the first place.

However, that’s not how to work on Upwork, as it might only stagnate your chances of increasing your earnings. 

What you should do instead is to pick your subsequent clients by their hourly rates.

Please spend a few more time assessing the hourly rates on each job description, as it indicates a good-paying person or otherwise. 

Your Upwork Niche – Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Anyone advising you on life matters would probably tell you not to put your eggs in one basket. 

However, that’s not how Upwork works. 

The metaphor doesn’t apply on Upwork and is quite the opposite on the platform.

You must pick a niche in which you want to work with your profile. 

Then, focus all your skills and resources on that niche for a better result. From experience, I know that Upwork profiles that apply for jobs in various niches are likely not going to get them. 

Clients strongly believe that a “jack of all trades is the master of none.”

It would be best to focus on what niche you want to get remembered for, and that niche should also be reflected in your profile title.

Look Beyond Upwork Is Upwork Good For Beginners?

After all, is said and done, you can start making money on Upwork once you follow the right steps. 

But what’s next? Indeed, many freelancers have gotten stuck in completing tasks repeatedly without a long-term plan for Upwork and their clients. 

However, it could help if you had a plan for the future beyond the platform itself. 

Some of the best Upwork jobs for beginners aren’t even on the platform. The key is building relationships with clients, up to the point where they can trust you enough to give you a contract elsewhere.

Be careful, though, as Upwork wouldn’t allow messages that contain personal information or hints that you’re about to move out of the platform with a client. 

I think hosting a video call to address the new changes is a great idea, and you can discuss with the client to a greater length about working in a new environment with higher pay. 

Wrapping Up On Is Upwork Good For Beginners? 10 Secret Things About The Platform

Upwork is a great place to spread your freelance wings. It’s a lovely experience, and I’m sure you’ll reach a similar conclusion once you start earning. 

However, you might need to go the extra mile, given how competitive the platform is these days.

Some secrets could give you an edge, some of which I highlighted above.

Following them could help you get started on Upwork and lead you to a successful freelancing career.