Upwork Tips For Beginners: How To Land Your First Clients In 2024

The 5 essential steps to take as a beginner to succeed online

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by Upwork, don’t worry; we’ve researched the most popular and successful Upwork freelancers to discover their secrets.

This comprehensive guide offers newcomers to Upwork advice on everything from creating a profile to crafting winning bids and securing their first job.

Learn how to find targeted, potential clients and build strong relationships to help you thrive as an independent professional on Upwork.

Upwork Tips for Beginners: How to Land Your First Clients in 2024

This guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to launch your freelance career on Upwork and secure that first all-important prospective client.

With gig economy trends indicating that freelance work is becoming an important component of the work landscape, you need to know how to find clients.

To teach you the best Upwork tips for beginners, we’ve broken the process down into the following five easy steps:

Step 1: Understanding Upwork

Before you start trying to find clients on Upwork, you need to know exactly what the platform is and how it works.

To get money in your bank account quickly, you'll need to get your first few reviews quickly, which can lead to further job invitations.

The best gig economy jobs are available on the Upwork platform, and you need to know exactly what they are.

What Is Upwork?

Upwork is a platform that connects freelancers with prospective clients who offer freelance gigs such as writing, design, or programming.

In the gig economy, Upwork provides the perfect digital marketplace, linking companies and customers with freelancers for either long-term or short-term projects.

It is customized to fit the demands of both clients and independent contractors with projects open for bids posted regularly by prospective clients.

These jobs or projects contain requirements for the freelancers to meet, such as experience levels, payment rate, hours required, and other project-related details.

Upwork is the largest online marketplace in the world, with over 3.5 million jobs posted annually and a $1 billion gross worth.

There are 4.5 million clients on the platform and over 10 million freelancers currently enrolled and competing for their first job.

How Does Upwork Work?

The basic structure used to get work on Upwork sees freelancers submit proposals for client projects, after which contact is made and a deal struck.

Upwork has everything you need, whether you're searching for full-time, part-time, or project-based work.

It's arguably the quickest and most straightforward method of communicating with customers worldwide.

Posting a project or applying for a job doesn't cost anything for clients or freelancers, but the site takes a percentage of an independent professional's earnings.

To put it briefly, freelancers only have to spend a small amount of their compensation to start working and get paid via PayPal or direct debit.

Current gig economy statistics indicate that freelancers and independent contractors account for 39% of the U.S. workforce, with the number increasing each year.

That is why you need to understand the full Upwork process to take advantage of the opportunities it affords you.

The Upwork Process

• Project Posting – Clients outline their project requirements, budget, and timeline and choose to make the project public or invite specific freelancers to submit proposals.
• Proposal Submission – Freelancers browse projects and submit proposals detailing their approach, qualifications, and proposed rates using tokens called "Connects," while clients review proposals and select a freelancer.
• Project Completion and Payment – Once a client chooses a freelancer, funds are deposited into escrow, the freelancer completes the project, and upon client approval, the funds are released.

Upwork's Fee Structure

Upwork charges clients a fixed service fee based on the total project cost, with projects exceeding $5,000 attracting a 3% charge.

For projects costing less than $5,000, a tiered system is in place in which freelancers are charged on a per-proposal basis.

Finding Your First Potential Client

While Upwork is one of the biggest gig economy companies, it is not the only one offering contract job opportunities.

Upwork offers a variety of different projects, so securing your first client can feel daunting, but the platform provides resources and tools to help freelancers.

Crafting a compelling Upwork profile that showcases your skills and experience is the best way to attract a client’s attention, along with a professional proposal.

Strategically applying to projects that align with your expertise and address the client's specific needs will significantly increase your chances of landing your first project.

Top Upwork Tips for Beginners Getting Started as Freelancers 

There are three critical things you must do to supercharge your ability to land clients, keep them happy, and get further projects from them.

• Be professional.
• Communicate often.
• Master time management. 

Essential Soft Skills for Upwork Freelancers

While having a good skill set is undoubtedly helpful for getting short-term jobs on Upwork, other factors are also crucial for success.

Professionalism

Professionalism on Upwork means having a well-designed profile that successfully highlights your abilities and experience and includes a polished headshot.

Your title must describe your specialty and must be clear and succinct, with a well-written synopsis that outlines your value proposition.

Freelancers can further establish their trustworthiness by connecting their social media profiles, portfolios, and even previous employment experience with Upwork.

Projecting professionalism requires several essential ingredients, like always meeting deadlines, producing high-quality work on time, and following clear communication guidelines.

Communication

Successful client relationships are built on effective communication, which includes being quick to answer questions from clients and participating fully in project conversations.

You must provide clients with regular updates on the status of their projects on Upwork, even if they have not strictly asked for it.

Making sure your speech is grammatically correct, succinct, and clear is also crucial as it gives clients confidence in your abilities.

Upwork provides video conferencing, file sharing, and a simple chat system for freelancers to use to streamline communication.

Also, a brief email of gratitude following the submission of a proposal or a simple "thank you" for winning a project goes a long way.

To establish oneself as a trustworthy and dedicated freelancer on gig economy platforms, perform small additional acts to help secure your reputation as a professional.

Time Management

You are effectively your own boss when you work as a freelancer, which means that producing high-quality work and meeting deadlines requires good time management.

To keep organized and make sure tasks are completed on time, make use of Upwork's tools, such as milestones and project trackers.

Many freelancers achieve a healthy work-life balance using time management strategies, including scheduling and task prioritization, along with desktop apps like Toggl.

You can cut project costs and even increase your marketability to clients by efficiently managing your time and completing tasks on schedule.

Acquiring these soft skills will help you to get your first Upwork clients and also open doors for you to create successful, long-lasting relationships.

You can also enjoy various gig worker tax deductions if you pay for courses to teach you how to better manage your time.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Upwork Profile

Registering and creating an account on Upwork.com is as simple as clicking the "Sign Up" button and selecting "I'm a freelancer seeking employment."

How to Create an Upwork Account

You can use your Google or Apple account to access the website if you want to eliminate the need to remember another username and password.

One can also create a distinct login that isn't associated with any other services by using your preferred email address.

Crafting a Compelling Profile

Your profile image has the same impact on people's perceptions of you as it does in real life, so include one with you smiling.

Potential clients will find you more credible and honest if your profile picture is nice and realistic, with an approachable, pleasant look.

Steer clear of utilizing Google Photos because Upwork offers chat, video calls, and phone conversations that will catch you out.

Even though logos appear professional, it's still important to build a relationship with the client, which is made easier when they can see your face.

Choose a profile picture without a distracting background, and crop it to the right size so that it is seen clearly in the profile section.

Optimize Your Bio

Aim to write it like a sales page, being mindful of keywords and search engine optimization so that you’re easier to find.

Make sure that you define your niche and then optimize your profile for that niche, including specific information, experience, and qualifications.

Complete your profile to the fullest so that Upwork can highlight it and show it to more prospective customers searching for your skills.

Provide work samples that demonstrate your abilities to potential clients and consider creating a video to include in your bio.

Your ability to include pertinent information that confirms why gig work is a fit for you makes a big difference to potential clients.

Step 3: Finding Your First Project

After adding contact details, experience, and skills to your profile (including a video also helps), you can search Upwork for your first project.

Use the search box located at the top of every page to look through available short-term jobs using keywords to narrow down your search.

Specify your skill set and the kinds of projects you're interested in working on as well as the possible clients you would like to engage with.

Consider what terminology they would choose when discussing their project or outlining the kind of knowledge they require.

For instance, even though you work as a front-end developer, someone unfamiliar with the field may claim they need a "web designer" or "web developer."

Incorporate the terms you generate into the search phrases you already have to enjoy the best chance of finding the ideal job.

Focus on lower-paying jobs first, as they are easier to secure, and you need to get as many positive reviews and high ratings as possible.

Upwork's Search Functionality

To effectively search for projects, use Upwork's filters and keywords and then refine your search results even further by using Upwork's criteria.

These criteria include:

• Degree of experience
• The type of job
• The extent of experience a client is seeking
• Define the parameters for the fixed-price budget or hourly rate

Also, check on how many proposals a prospective customer has previously gotten for their projects and aim for the Featured Job banner.

Featured Jobs are paid projects submitted by highly motivated clients who want their jobs to be noticed and usually guarantee faster responses.

Whether you’re providing accounting services for startups or graphics design services, Upwork is the place to find these gigs.

Step 4: Standing Out From the Crowd

Your proposal must be tailored to the specific client and job you are applying for as templated proposals are easy to spot and get disregarded.

Make a distinct proposition every time, making sure to go over the project's content in its entirety; then read it once more for clarity.

Provide a thorough response to any questions that are posed in the project and give specific reasons for your application for this particular job.

Winning New Clients With a Stand-Out Proposal

Show the client that you are dedicated to the work by expressing your enthusiasm for the same industry or your interest in the organization.

Make sure the length of your cover letter matches that of the job description – you shouldn’t apply to the job posting with a one- or two-sentence cover letter.

Alternatively, writing 1–2 pages for a project description that just consists of a few phrases will most likely be a waste of time.

Make sure to use your best, most pertinent work or samples as an example of what you can produce for your potential job.

The Goal Is to Grab Attention

The goal of the cover letter is to get the customer's attention and intrigue the customer rather than the job, as jobs are normally discussed first before a choice is made.

Include a line similar to: "I worked on a related project. It's being sent to you as an attachment. You can message me if you have any queries." 

Never utilize a pre-written cover letter; instead, describe how you are the best choice for the job, citing specific examples pertinent to the job.

Step 5: Landing Your Initial Clients

To stand the best chance of quickly securing jobs on Upwork, you must apply for new projects that fit your skills and experience.

We consider Upwork the best freelance website to start your online career, but you must play to your strengths to take advantage of its opportunities.

Applying for the Right Projects

When you research the selection of your niche, you will see the types of jobs that suit your area of expertise.

Make sure that you only apply for jobs that match those search criteria as your profile will be optimized to attract those types of different clients.

Utilize Sufficient Connects to Top the List of Applicants

On Upwork, Connects are an invaluable resource that can be obtained both for free and through purchasing them.

Connects are allocated during the application process to ensure that you get the best chance of being seen.

However, it helps to be strategic to maximize the benefits of your Connects, so only use maximum tokens if you’re sure of being number one in the queue.

Also, go over each job posting to make sure your qualifications and experience are a perfect fit and make sure it hasn't been filled before.

Avoid bothering the customer with your LinkedIn or X profile – your application’s job is to make contact and get a meeting.

Establish Rapport

However, establish a rapport with clients by requesting further project details in the cover letter – for instance, a website link.

To prevent the employer from becoming agitated while he attempts to read the proposal, break it up into short paragraphs.

Do not repeat what has already been said; only add pertinent details that are directly relevant to the job specifics.

Provide them with the reasons they should hire you in the proposal because that is why they are reading it!

To make the proposal feel more personal and not a template, address it with the name of the business or the client.

Provide employment history and experience relevant to the position you're applying for as it reassures employers that you can complete the job.

Crafting Compelling Cover Letters 

Your cover letter must be personalized and engaging, especially if you have little experience to back up your application.

Upwork provides guidelines on how to create a cover letter and advises users to pick an appropriate format and style for your correspondence.

Make your cover letter specific to each application and don’t try to include too many details – just cover the basics.

You should ideally try to talk to the customer on the phone or via an online meeting on Zoom, Google Chat, or Microsoft Teams.

In a recent survey, 64% of businesses struggle with engaging content online, which means that face-to-face contact is crucial when closing deals.

Make sure that you demonstrate that you fully comprehend the job description and incorporate some individuality to make you memorable.

You can do this by highlighting your accomplishments and any relevant educational or previous work experience and avoiding using any buzzwords.

Summary

Once you have selected your niche, your profile must be optimized to attract only clients looking for that specific type of job.

Make a great first impression by including a professional headshot with a single-color background and no distracting elements to take the attention away from you.

Craft a personalized proposal and include a cover letter that shows that you have read the job requirements and ask clarifying questions.

Your professionalism will help you stand out from the crowd and will give you the best chance of securing a job on Upwork very quickly.