What is Upwork?
Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers in fields like writing, graphic design, web development, marketing and many other categories of online work. The site helps professionals find projects, communicate with clients and get paid.
Is Upwork a legit way to make money?
If you’re a new freelancer, or just beginning an online side hustle, you can rack up valuable experience without always having to pitch clients cold on Upwork. That makes it legit. But the site is full of new workers who are willing to take work for a lower rate, which can impact your earning potential. That means, as it does with any online business or side hustle, it’ll likely take time, dedication and skill to earn big.
Overall, Upwork makes it easier to look for jobs and make money, but think carefully about which gigs you want to apply for.
How to get Upwork jobs
Joining Upwork is a straightforward process, but once you’re in, you’ll need to sell yourself.
Setup up a robust profile
Your profile serves the same purpose as a general résumé for prospective employers. You can’t get work without one, and that’s where you’ll start when you sign up.
Profile essentials include:
- A title that spotlights your skills.
- Your headshot.
- A profile write-up about yourself.
- Your hourly rate.
- Relevant skills.
- Service categories.
Standing out is the name of the game in such a vast marketplace of freelancers. Put some thought into your profile title and overview to give prospective clients a good sense of what you can offer. Enhance your profile with examples of your work in the portfolio section.
Upwork will typically approve your profile within 48 hours, assuming the information is verifiable and accurate. Then you can get working.
Contact potential clients with “Connects”
Upwork offers two membership plans for freelancers: Basic and Plus.
Freelancer Basic is the default free plan. The Basic plan comes with 10 free “Connects” each month, the platform’s internal tokens, which are used to contact clients. You can also pay $0.15 for additional Connects, which are sold in bundles or custom amounts.
Search for jobs on the site, and use your Connects to submit proposals. Proposals include an introductory letter, your desired fee and answers to questions the client included in the posting. You can also send examples of any work you think would be relevant.
Freelancer Plus is the paid plan for those going all in on Upwork freelancing. This plan is $14.99 a month and gets you 80 Connects per month, along with a few other perks that might appeal to more dedicated freelancers.
If someone reaches out to you, you don’t have to use any Connects. The more robust your profile looks, the more likely you are to receive job offers from potential clients.
Win a gig and get to work
To get hired, clients will send you a contract to initiate the project. You’ll work with your client, keeping them informed through the platform as you complete the work. Once the work delivered is approved, you’ll be paid by direct deposit, PayPal or one of the other available payment methods.