Avoid these Common Top Mistakes on Upwork

When I started off on Upwork in May 2015, I wasn't serious about making a living online and was stuck on the idea of "white collar" nonsense.

I had just secured a 'great' job with a local airline and life was good. Or was it?

Fast forward, to 2020, when COVID hit and everything came to a standstill, and we were off work for months. So I went back to the old Upwork profile, and revamped it a bit but didn't do much until 2021 when the sad realization of people being let go hit me. 

Although I was luckily not fired, I promised myself to never again allow myself to get into such a state of despair and so I went fully head-on on Upwork and had to make it work.

But it was not until 3 months later that I got some positive responses and got hired. I was quickly fully booked with 5 clients, making over $1k per week (not bad for a beginner), earning a Top-rated badge, and later on, said goodbye to my employer!

Since then, I have coached over 200+ beginner freelancers to get started online and make Upwork a success bridge to #makingmoneyonline and open other streams of passive income.

Do you want to scale up on Upwork and stand out from the crowd?

Then don't fall into the trap of these common Upwork mistakes:

1. Failure to Fully Optimize Your Profile

Having a poorly optimized profile with little or no information about your skills, experience, and portfolio can be a turn-off to potential clients. 

Do not underestimate the importance of your Upwork profile, as it's the first thing clients see when they search for potential hires.

Solution:

• To avoid this mistake, you should invest time in researching what other successful freelancers in your niche have done.
• Create a comprehensive profile that highlights your skills, experience, and portfolio. 
• Also, make sure to have a professional profile picture and a well-written summary that effectively showcases your unique value proposition.

2. Not setting up your rates properly

Setting a rate that is too low can make you appear less experienced or unprofessional while setting a rate that is too high can discourage potential clients.

Many freelancers either ask for too little or are too intimidated to ask for what they're worth. This can result in low pay and missed opportunities for higher-paying projects.

Solution:

• Research and understand the industry standard rate for your specific skill set.
• Be prepared with a well-articulated argument for why you're worth the rate you're asking for.
• Be confident, but also flexible. Be willing to compromise in certain areas, but also be firm on what you're not willing to budge on.
• Be professional and courteous in your negotiation approach. You want to maintain a positive relationship with your clients, even if the negotiation doesn't go exactly as you hoped.
• Remember that negotiating is a normal and expected part of doing business. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and your worth.

3. Poor communication

Communication is a crucial aspect of any Upwork project and can make or break the success of the collaboration. Whether it's initial communication when a client invites you for a discovery call, or with an ongoing project, failure to communicate with clients risks missed opportunities, misunderstandings, missed deadlines, and negative feedback, which can hurt their reputation and future prospects.

Solution:

It's important to establish clear communication channels and to be responsive to clients' messages. It's also important to keep clients informed throughout the project, providing updates on progress, addressing any concerns, and seeking clarification when necessary. Good communication also involves active listening, which means taking the time to understand the client's needs and goals.

By establishing clear and consistent communication, you can build trust and credibility with your clients, and ultimately increase the chances of a successful project outcome.

4. Not Writing Oustanding Proposals

A well-written proposal (cover letter) can be the difference between landing a project or being passed over for someone else.

A proposal is essentially a sales pitch and it is the first point of contact between a freelancer and a client. A poorly written or generic proposal can quickly turn off a potential client, leading to missed opportunities and a lower chance of securing the job.

Solution:

To avoid this mistake, you need to take the time to create high-quality, tailored proposals that effectively communicate your value and demonstrate your understanding of the client's needs and how you can solve their problem.

Highlight your skills, experience, and past successes, and be sure to communicate your unique value proposition in a concise and clear way.

5. Not bidding Consistently

Not consistently bidding on Upwork is another common mistake many freelancers make. Not bidding regularly can lead to loss of opportunities and lower visibility in the platform.

Upwork's algorithm tends to favor active users, and neglecting to bid regularly can result in the platform forgetting you exist. In fact, you risk Upwork putting your profile to 'Private'.

Solution:

Here are some solutions to avoid this mistake:

• Set a weekly or monthly bidding goal: Decide on the number of projects you want to bid on each week or month, and stick to it. This will ensure that you are always visible to clients and that you have regular opportunities to win work.
• Bid on projects that fit your skillset: Make sure to only bid on projects that fit your skillset, and that you are confident you can deliver. This will increase your chances of winning the project and help you build a positive reputation on the platform.
• Write compelling proposals: Take the time to write compelling proposals that showcase your skills and experience. The more attractive your proposals are, the more likely you are to win projects.

6. Violating Upwork's Terms of Service

Not following Upwork's terms of service is another common mistake made by many freelancers on the platform.

Upwork has a set of guidelines and rules that must be followed in order to use the platform effectively and avoid any suspensions and termination of your account.

Some common violations include bidding on projects that are not a good match for your skills or experience, spamming clients, and sharing contacts before a contract starts.

Solution:

Thoroughly review and understand Upwork's terms of service before creating your profile and bidding on projects. Make sure to only bid on projects that are a good match for your skills and experience, and always deliver high-quality work and communicate effectively with clients. It's also important to stay up-to-date with any changes or updates to the terms of service and to take any warnings or penalties seriously. By following Upwork's terms of service and adhering to their guidelines, you can protect your reputation, build long-term relationships with clients, and increase your chances of success on the platform.

7. Not asking for feedback or testimonials

This is another common mistake made by many freelancers on Upwork.

Feedback and testimonials serve as social proof of your skills, experience, and ability to deliver high-quality work, and are a crucial factor in attracting new clients and increasing your chances of success on the platform.

Solution:

To avoid this mistake, it's important to regularly ask for feedback on eligible ongoing contracts and testimonials from completed projects.

This can be done by sending a follow-up email after completing a project, asking for a review on Upwork, or simply asking the client directly.

Additionally, make sure to include a clear call-to-action in your request, such as a request to leave a review on your profile or to write a testimonial that you can include in your portfolio. By regularly getting feedback and testimonials from clients, you can build a strong reputation, increase your credibility, and ultimately, improve your chances of success on the platform.

Conclusion:

These common mistakes made on Upwork can greatly impact the success of freelancers on the platform.

From neglecting to follow Upwork's terms of service, not getting feedback and testimonials, neglecting to communicate effectively with clients, and not consistently bidding, these mistakes can hinder the growth and success of freelancers on Upwork.

However, by being aware of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, freelancers can set themselves up for success on Upwork and build a successful freelance career.

Whether it's by carefully following Upwork's terms of service, consistently bidding on new projects, or actively seeking out feedback and testimonials from clients, taking these steps can make a big impact on a freelancer's success on Upwork.