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9 Best Resume Writing Services for Hire in 2024

• 9 Best Freelance Resume Writers for Hire
• Perfect your resume. A professional resume writer can rewrite your resume or create a new one from scratch with the layout and keywords recruiters look for.
• Make a cover letter and/or LinkedIn profile. Resume writers for hire also often offer cover letter and LinkedIn optimization services. If you want, you can get a complete package from the same professional writer, meaning everything will flow nicely.
• Land more interviews. With an optimized resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, you’ll have a much better chance of impressing recruiters and making it to the interview stage.

1. John I. – Expert Resume Writing Delivered in 24 Hours

2. Bcpatchesco – ATS-compliant Resumes from a Communications Expert

3. Artbyritzy – Get a Resume in 1 Day For Just $5

4. Sabina A. – Pro Resume Writing & Review From a Marketing Expert

5. Mayam_writes95 – Professional CEO Resume for Just $10

6. Harvardcv – Get a Professional CV in Under 24 Hours

7. Trixie Shane M. – Affordable Business and Legal Resumes

8. Robynneresumes – Resume, Cover Letter, & a LinkedIn Profile From a Professional Writer

9. Microsoftly – Tech Resume Writing From a Software Engineer

• How to Hire a Freelance Resume Writer on Fiverr

• What to Look For in a Freelance Resume Writer
• Writing an ATS-compliant resume. Big companies use ATS (applicant tracking system) software to filter out resumes that don’t have the right format or use keywords that match the job description. Hiring a resume service ensures your resume will stand out from the crowd and reach the recruiter’s hands.
• Designing a custom resume template. Formatting is key to making your resume look professional and easy-to-read. On average, recruiters look at a resume for 6-7 seconds (which isn’t long at all!), so you want your key skills and experiences to stand out cleanly.
• Writing a cover letter. Not every job application requires a cover letter, but you will certainly improve your chances of getting hired by including one. A well-written cover letter can impress recruiters and put you ahead of the competition.
• LinkedIn optimization. Some of the resume writers I picked offer LinkedIn optimization services, too. Optimizing your profile will put you in the searchlights of companies looking to hire, widening your net and giving you more opportunities to connect.
• Pro Writing and/or Industry Experience. You need an experienced writer who comprehends the secrets of crafting an effective resume in any field. However, a resume writer who has held a position in your industry has not only successfully secured a job there but also possesses the knowledge to assist you.

• Are You a Freelance Resume Writer Looking to Sell Your Services?

• Land Your Dream Job With a Professional Resume Writer

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The Best Upwork Resume Writer

We’re going to tell you why Ultmeche is the best upwork resume writer. It’s a bold thing to say, but it’s true.

At Ultmeche, we use clear cut and effective frameworks such as:

• Keyword optimization
• Clear and concise formatting
• Business impact implementation
• Technical “hard” skills
• No “soft skills”

All of these frameworks leading to more interviews, more job offers, and more money in your pocket. See the Best Resume Format you can use in 2023 .

Nowadays, to move up in the corporate ladder, you need to be job hopping to get better offers elsewhere. Otherwise, you’re going to be stuck with the annual merit increase that the company gives you, which you have no control over. Also, you should expect a small amount, such as 3%.

And if any of those resonate with you, then you’re in luck.

To diversify and expand our career services business to get our clients more money and more pay, Ultmeche has recently started on Upwork.

Additionally, Ultmeche provides career services as a resume writer on Fiverr .

Table of Contents

What is Upwork?

Upwork is a platform in which you can hire freelancers and consultants online. Services that you are able to purchase on upwork include those such as resume writing. It’s similar to Fiverr, which is another freelance/consulting based site.

Many use services such as Fiverr or Upwork for resumes, content writing, photoshopping, video editing, and more.

What is the difference between Fiverr and Upwork?

Besides a completely different user interface, the 2 applications are very similar.

Ultmeche provides career services such as resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, and linkedin optimization for both Fiverr and Upwork platforms.

As we have stated, Ultmeche is the best upwork resume writer for the reasons mentioned above.

Career Services Offered on Upwork

Our project snapshot on Upwork currently consists of resumes writing, cover letters, linkedin optimization, and mock interviews.

Check us out on Upwork to view our career services.

Why are our services so expensive?

We admit, our services are expensive, starting at least at $100 per service.

There’s a reason for it though.

We want to ensure a quality service for each customer. The high price reflects the value of our work and our commitment to you as career service providers.

And frankly, if you find our services too expensive, well then there are plenty of other providers at a cheaper cost.

But we do warn you that the frameworks that other companies or resume writers use won’t be up to par with our standards. You’ll see alot less emphasis of business impact and instead they’ll focus on corporate jargon and soft skills.

Advantages of using ULTMECHE as an Upwork Resume Writer

The advantage of going with ULTMECHE as an Upwork resume writer lies in the clear cut frameworks that we use. These frameworks are highly proven and effective at landing you more interviews and jobs.

We know the pain of submitting hundreds of job applications to hear nothing back.

Based on hundreds of hours of testing with different resume formats, font sizes, and use of keywords, we’ve cracked the code.

We are going to crack the code for you too.

Disadvantages of using ULTMECHE as an Upwork Resume Writer

We’ll admit, straight up, that we come from an engineering background. That means our Upwork resume writing services are best used for those in the engineering industry, even though we advertise that we do resumes for those in healthcare, business, finance, accounting, etc.

That doesn’t mean we haven’t done resumes for backgrounds such as healthcare, business, and finance though.

On the contrary, we’ve still been able to effectively craft an award winning resume for our clients and landed them jobs in the big industry such as Deloitte, Kaiser, Boeing, SpaceX, etc.

The problem with other resume writers on Upwork

The real big problem with going to other resume writers is, the overall customer experience will suck. We know how stressful it is looking for a job. Looking for a job also comes with a ton of uncertainty, which a lot of people can’t handle.

We’ll make you certain that your job search is in good hands through our Upwork resume writing services.

The other big problem with other resume writers on Upwork is that they focus on soft skills and corporate jargon.

Hint, if any resume writers focus on these type of frameworks, you need to look into another resume provider.

Trust us on this.

Even if you don’t go with us, that’s fine, but make sure that you don’t go with any that:

• Asks you about your soft skills
• Emphasizes soft skills such as “ability to multitask” and “ability to work in a fast paced environment”
• Uses a profile summary or an objective statement in their resumes
• Do not focus on keyword optimization
• Don’t know what ATS compliance is
• Do not use any form of quantitative results or accomplishments to showcase business impact

We beg of you, for your sake, that you read each of the 6 bulletpoints and make sure that you have everything covered.

You don’t want to go through the job search for months, let alone years.

What people are saying about ULTMECHE

We have a ton of positive reviews on Fiverr, as people love our work.

We don’t have too many reviews on Upwork yet, as we have just began offering our career consulting services on there.

Closing thoughts on ULTMECHE as an Upwork resume writer

Ultmeche is one of the best choices, if not the best choice to use as an Upwork resume writer.

The frameworks that we use come second to none.

Even all the so called “prestigious” or “top-rated” resume writers out there will use the frameworks that we use.

We understand that we’re a bit expensive, but this is going to be an investment in your career.

An investment in your career that could net you tens of thousands of dollars in pay increases.

All for a merely few hundred bucks at the most.

It’s a no brainer.

And if you don’t want to go on Upwork, you can check out some of our services directly below and order through this site. (It’s cheaper)

Our Services

About the author

Kazuyoshi Fujimoto, PE Founder | Engineering Career Coach | Principal Mechanical Engineer

Kazu oversees all of ultmeche’s engineering services. He provides consulting such as resume reviews, rewrites, mock interviews, and all services career related. Additionally, Kazu performs consulting work regarding Oil & Gas, Automotive, and Aerospace & Defense. Kazu is licensed as a professional engineer in the state of California and has 9+ years of experience in Oil & Gas, Automotive, and Aerospace & Defense.

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11 Upwork Profile Tips to Win More Jobs (with Examples!)

A polished and complete profile is essential to being a successful freelancer on Upwork. Your Upwork profile acts as your resume, portfolio, and introduction for potential clients. It’s also your opportunity to show unique services you offer, and what makes you a better choice over the competition.

You want to make sure your Upwork profile is as complete as possible so that clients can easily see whether you would be a good fit. Having a professional profile will also increase your chances of reaching the ‘Rising Talent’ and ‘Top Rated’ statuses.

In this article, we will give you our top 11 Upwork profile tips to make your profile stand out and increase your chances of winning jobs.

1. Get Verified

The blue verification checkmark is an absolute must-have for your Upwork profile. This checkmark is Upwork’s ID Verification Badge, and it shows potential clients that you are a real person.

To get the ID Verification Badge , you can go into your account settings to apply. You will need to provide a valid government-issued ID (a driver’s license works if you’re in the US). You’ll also be required to schedule a quick video call with a member of Upwork’s team. On the call, they’ll ask you a few questions to verify it’s really you.

After you complete those two steps, you should get a notification that your identity verification is complete, and you should have a blue checkmark next to your name.

2. Use a Professional Profile Photo

The easiest Upwork profile tip with the biggest impact is to have a professional profile photo. Your photo doesn’t have to be from a professional photoshoot. However, you want the photo to be a headshot that shows your face clearly (no blurry photos or weird angles!), and that has a clean background.

Your profile photo is the first impression a client has of you, so it’s important to make it look professional.

3. Use Every Part of Your Profile for Keywords

A tip to keep in mind as you build your Upwork profile is to include keywords for your industry in as many places as possible.

Your profile includes a headline, description, skillsets, and a portfolio – you want to include keywords in all of these places.

The goal is to optimize your Upwork profile for search. You want potential clients to be able to find you!

For example, do you specialize in designing investor pitch decks? In this case, the keyword “investor” would differentiate you from designers making other types of decks.

Or do you specialize in a particular software or platform? If you’re an email marketer, using “Klaviyo” as a keyword would be much more effective than just using “email marketer”.

4. Make Your Upwork Profile Easy to Read

Another general tip to keep in mind throughout building your profile is to keep it short and sweet. Information should be broken up and easy to read.

Time is money, and clients don’t have the time to look through confusing or messy profiles. In most cases, they will simply click away.

5. Focus on Keywords in Your Headline

Your headline on Upwork is your chance to quickly let clients know what you do and what you specialize in.

One of our main tips is to make your headline as specific as possible to target your niche.

Let’s take a look at the two Upwork profiles below to demonstrate what makes a compelling headline:

In this example, we have two different headlines:

“Fortune 500 BI & Consumer Brands Expert”

“Data Analytics Consultant”

These two freelancers likely do similar work, but “Fortune 500 BI & Consumer Brands Expert” is much more attention-grabbing for two reasons:

• It tells you what type of companies the freelancers has done work for (Fortune 500), and implies that he has extensive experience.
• It tells you the areas he specializes in (BI & Consumer Brands).

This freelancer goes into further detail about the analytics work he does in his profile, but when a client is looking through job applicants, his strong headline is what will initially get their attention.

 6. Write a Client-Focused Description

With Upwork profile descriptions, lists are the best way to go. They are a quick and easy way for clients to view the services you provide, what tools you use, and your experience.

Truthfully, no one cares what school you went to, what made you interested in writing, or what age you discovered your love of graphic design.

Clients want to know how you can help them and what you can provide (so cut out the fluff!).

7. Show Your Strongest Work in Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is hands down the most important part of your Upwork profile, so treat it as such. While your headline and description are useful to clients, it’s your portfolio that will ultimately land you more jobs on Upwork.

How should your Upwork portfolio be set up?

Whether it’s writing, graphic design, or data visualization, be sure that you’re giving examples of your best work. You don’t need to include every piece of work you’ve ever done – just the strongest examples (or examples that show the variety of work you can do).

Within each portfolio piece, be sure to describe the project, the type of work, and the tools you used. Remember, you want to include keywords here too! Also be sure to select all of the “Skills and deliverables” tags that are relevant to each project. These will help you rank in search as well.

8. Include an Intro Video

Although I haven’t found a profile video to be necessary to be successful on Upwork, it can be a good way to set yourself apart in your profile. Intro videos can also give clients a better idea of what it would be like to work with you.

For some niches, an intro video might be essential. For example, if you are a voiceover artist or a verbal translator, a profile video would be a great opportunity to give potential clients an intro to your skills.

9.  Include Other Background Info

On your Upwork profile, you also have the option to add extra information like your education, work experience, and any certifications you have. While this information won’t make or break your profile, filling it out will give potential clients a general overview of your past experience.

10. Get Inspired by Top Profiles

If you feel like you’ve done your best to build an Upwork profile that stands out, but you still aren’t getting clients, it may be a good idea to look at the profiles of Upwork’s top talent.

You can use the search bar to look for other talent in your niche, see how much they’ve earned, and view their profiles.

Try to break down the profiles of other successful freelancers, and see if you can pick out commonalities between them. For example:

• What do you notice first about their profiles?
• Are they using a specific keyword?
• Do they write their descriptions in a certain way?
• What type of work examples are they including in their portfolios?

Take notes and implement some of these into your own profile.

11. Get Client Reviews

Our final Upwork profile tip is to start collecting client reviews.

After each completed job, be sure to let your clients know that you enjoyed working with them. If they’ve enjoyed working with you as well, ask them to leave you a review once the contract is closed.

Accumulating those 5-star reviews from clients is what will truly make your profile stand out from others.

People love to see from others that you’re a trustworthy and hard working freelancer!

Upwork Profile: Bottom Line

Your profile is the most important key to a successful freelancing career on Upwork. Hopefully by implementing these 11 Upwork profile tips, you’ll be able to improve your Upwork profile and land more clients!

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3 Upwork Bio Examples to Win Jobs

By Biron Clark

Published: November 2, 2023

Freelancers

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Your professional bio in your Upwork profile is critical for landing jobs as a freelancer. Clients use it to decide who to interview, and they also invite freelancers to interview directly after finding them in search results…

…So if you create an Upwork profile that gets seen and clicked in search results, you’ll start getting interviews without having to even send out proposals!

To help you write your own overview for Upwork, I’m going to share 3 of the best Upwork profile examples to land jobs (including one that I personally used to make tens of thousands of dollars).

Proven Upwork Profile Examples

First, we’re going to look at an Upwork profile example from my own personal profile, from when I was working as a freelance copywriter. I earned tens of thousands of dollars on Upwork after quitting my job as a recruiter but before this website earned enough to support me full-time.

(My Upwork profile says $10,000+ earned, but I made FAR more because I’d usually work directly with each client through PayPal or Stripe after the first project on Upwork. So it was more like $30,000 earned with this profile! )

And for the first time EVER, I’m sharing my exact Upwork profile word-for-word. From the headline down to the Call to Action at the end.

Here it is, and then I’ll walk you through why this is an effective profile step-by-step after:

Upwork Profile Example #1: (Freelance Copywriter/Marketing Consultant)

I’ll share a screenshot of the full example below, and then we’ll go piece-by-piece and look at why each section is effective. So check out this profile example and then scroll down for the reasons it worked.

Breakdown of Why This is a Good Upwork Profile Example:

Now that you’ve seen the full example profile above, let’s go through each numbered point in the screenshot and talk about why this profile worked well on Upwork.

1. A results-driven headline

Instead of putting a boring, generic job title, like “Marketing Consultant” or “Sales Page Copywriter”, I focused 100% on the result I provide. I wrote it like I’m selling a product, focusing on exactly what my ideal client wants! They want to boost conversions and sales, and they need help doing it via their emails, advertisements, etc. So that’s exactly what I address in the headline to get more clicks and get more interviews.

2. An eye-catching testimonial

Next, I started the body of my Upwork profile with a testimonial showing a past result I’ve gotten for a  client. If clients see you’ve gotten results for other companies, they’ll immediately think, “great, this person can help me too.”

This is much better than starting off with something generic like, “Hi, I’m ___ and I do ___.” The WORST way to start your Upwork profile is by saying “I” or “I am” or “I do.” Why? Because that’s what almost everyone else is doing, and the client cares about themselves, not you. They just want the result! Most profiles start like this, and it’s not going to attract many clients: “Hi! My name is Jeff and I am a web designer.” So avoid that, and start your profile differently.

Start with “You”, or “Let me help you do ___”, etc., or a testimonial like in my Upwork profile example above.

3. Introducing yourself

After you’ve got your attention, THEN you can talk about what you do and how you’ll help them.  Introduce yourself and what you do. Most people do this at the very start of their profile. Big mistake. You need to catch the reader’s attention first by talking about them and their needs, or showing what you’ve done for past clients (I did this with a testimonial).

4. Show your expertise and what you’ll do for them

After you introduce yourself, you can go into more detail about what you specialize in. You want to make yourself seem like an expert. What are you BEST at? If you try to appeal to everyone, you’ll appeal to no one. You need to make your Upwork profile focused and laser-targeted! The biggest mistake I see newbie freelancers make is thinking they’re limiting themselves by narrowing down their service offering. You’re not losing out on clients by doing this, you’re losing out on clients by being too broad and general.

Imagine you have a problem with mice in your apartment. Are you going to hire a general home repairman? Or are you going to hire a mouse and pest expert?  That’s how your clients are thinking, too. They want the EXPERT with a narrow focus. So make the middle sections of your profile all about showing your expertise. Talk about why you’re an expert at what you do, who you’ve worked for, who you’ve studied, and what results you’ve gotten for past clients.

5. Scarcity/exclusivity

Showing that you only work with a certain type of client can help you land more jobs on Upwork. Don’t be afraid to show who you can work with, and who you cannot. Having standards and requirements makes you more desirable.

I’ll give you an example…

I just got in contact with a freelancer recently for help with this website- Career Sidekick , and she said, “I’ll take a closer look tomorrow and give you a heads up in case we’re not a good fit.”

That made me want to work with her far more… because it adds exclusivity. Now instead of worrying about whether I should hire her, I’m thinking, “Ohh, I hope she thinks my project is a good fit. I don’t want to get rejected.” So that’s the power of showing clients you have certain guidelines in terms of who you work with.  Make them prove to YOU that you should work with them. If you do this, you’ll transform yourself from the seller to the buyer. They’ll be trying to convince you to work with them .

This is a powerful way to turn more freelance job interviews into offers, too.

6. Call to Action

Finally, you should end your Upwork profile with a “Call to Action.” Tell them what to do next. You’d be amazed how many people will do something simply because you ask in a clear, direct way. So think of the one single action you want them to take, and ask for it.

In the example above, I’m asking them to contact me and provide details about their project so I can determine if it’s a good fit to work together. (This is also adding more exclusivity/scarcity, from step #5 above).

Those are all the steps I used in my Upwork profile to get interviews and get clients as a copywriter! Now let’s look at another full Upwork profile example from another freelancer in a different niche…

Upwork Profile Example #2 (Graphic Designer/Illustrator)

Breakdown of this Upwork Profile Example:

1. Clear, direct headline showing area of specialization (with some great keywords to show up in search results, too)

I don’t like this as much as my headline in the first Upwork profile example we looked at, because this is more of a job title rather than a product or result the client gets. But it’s still a good Upwork profile headline – it shows what this person specializes in, and adds some good keywords to the profile.

If this were my profile, I’d try to make it more like a product or a result the client will get. For example, instead of, “Graphic Designer + Illustrator,” I might say, “Graphic Designs and Illustrations to Make Your Brand Stand Out”.

2. Social proof 

This profile does a great job of starting off in a unique way that will grab attention. We looked at this concept in profile example #1 earlier in this article, too. Remember – the WORST thing you can do is start off with, “Hi, my name is ___ and I do ___.” That’s what everyone’s doing.

So this person is naming some big clients they’ve helped and is making it clear exactly how they helped them. If you don’t have permission to use past clients’ names, you could say, “Multiple international corporations with 10,000-20,000 employees have trusted me to ___.” If you haven’t helped any big clients but have worked with many smaller clients, you could say, “More than 50 small businesses have trusted me to help them do ___.”

3. More results and proof

There’s no better way to show you’ll get great results for your next client than by showing what you did for past clients. This Upwork profile does a great job of showing specific, tangible results. Getting featured on Buzzfeed. Getting 300K+ pins on Pinterest.

Now the reader is thinking, “maybe this person can do that for me, too.”

4. Call to action

This “Call to Action,” could actually be made a lot stronger. I’ll show you how I’d change it… I’d recommend saying something much more direct like, “Send me a message with some information about your goals and what you’re looking for help with. From there, I can answer any questions you have, and we can discuss your project in detail.”

That’s an example of a stronger way to end your Upwork profile to get more inquiries.

Upwork Profile Example #3 (Email Lead Generation/Sales Copywriter)

This is another Upwork profile from a copywriter. Since copywriters are experts in writing words that persuade/sell, it’s no surprise that some of the best Upwork profile examples come from this niche.

Let’s look at the full screenshot example, and then we’ll go step-by-step through each piece below.

1. Clear, direct headline with keywords

This is another Upwork profile headline that does a good job of showing what this freelancer specializes in and what they offer. I still might try to make it more results-focused. Something like, “Get more leads and sales. Email lead generation and copywriting.” That turns the headline into a product or result, which is what the client really wants and is thinking about as they browse Upwork.

2. Make it all about their needs

This Upwork profile does a GREAT job of focusing on the client’s needs from the start. Read the first few words… “More of your emails…” It’s immediately about their business and their situation, not about the freelancer. That’s the right way to begin your profile on Upwork.

3. Show what you’ll do for them

After addressing their needs/problems, THEN you can talk about yourself . This profile finally talks about, “I”, but not until the third paragraph. That’s how to do it! And this profile still manages to keep the focus on the client even while talking about how they can help. The 3 bullets are all about the client’s goals, not about the freelancer. Nobody cares about the “what” or “how”, they just want a result. This is an example of how to speak to that in your profile.

Also notice the unique formatting. By using unique symbols, graphics, or basic emojis (like checkmarks, red X’s to signify problems/mistakes, etc.), you’ll grab the reader’s attention and get your profile read instead of skimmed over!

This Upwork profile could improve one thing: The Call to action. It doesn’t really ask the reader to take a specific action, which is a lost opportunity. I’d improve this by saying something like, “If the results above sound interesting, contact me and we’ll set up a time to talk about your project and goals!”

Final Tip: Focus on What Clients See Before Clicking Your Upwork Profile

When you submit an Upwork proposal for a job, clients see a few things before clicking your profile. And they can use this to “archive” you (not good), “short-list” you (good), or click to view your whole profile to read more or invite you to interview (very good).

So work hard on the following pieces, because these are what potential clients see before they decide whether to click on your profile:

• Your headline
• The first paragraph of your Upwork profile
• Your Upwork profile photo
• Your job success score

These were all vital in helping me earn thousands per month on Upwork when I was freelancing. If you read through the three Upwork profile examples earlier in this article, you should have a good idea of how to handle the first two items on that list.

For your photo, make sure you’re smiling and look trustworthy, competent and professional. It doesn’t need to be “stiff” (like a suit and tie), but you should look neat and professional.

And to keep a high job success score, make sure you always go above and beyond what a client expects. Communicate well and set realistic expectations. And offer a generous revision policy.

I recommend offering to continue revising a project until they’re satisfied. This doesn’t mean letting a client add to the scope of the project or get “free” extra work. But if the project is to write a sales page, and they’re not happy with it when you email over the file, revise it and re-submit.

I found that very few clients abused or took advantage of a revision policy like this , and it ensured nobody left me a bad review or left unhappy with what I delivered. My job success score was always 100% because of this.

If you follow these steps and model your Upwork profile like the 3 examples above, you’ll get more interviews and clients immediately.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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12 good high income skills to learn in 2024, is upwork worth it review for freelancers, is freelancing worth it (pros and cons), top freelance careers for 2024, finding a job after self employment: tips for resumes, interviews and more, how to start freelance writing (no experience needed), the best side hustles for introverts (16 ideas), 2 thoughts on “3 upwork bio examples to win jobs”.

Thank you so much for your articles. I enjoy reading them and applying them though I’m yet to receive any job interviews. How would do I write my profile without previous freelance experience and company recommendation?

Great post ever, Could you please tell me what should I do if I have no portfolio on Upwork?

Comments are closed.

How to Apply for Upwork Writing Jobs (+ Online Freelance Writing Tips)

Jenni Sisson, Contributor

• Updated December 06, 2023

Whether you’re looking to kick off a full-time freelance writing career or just make a few bucks writing articles on the side, Upwork can take you there. 

Upwork is one of the best ways to gain access to a steady stream of freelance writing jobs — even if you don’t have any writing experience or connections in the industry. 

We covered many of the basics in our guide to getting your first job on Upwork , so in this article we’ll focus exclusively on using the site to find good-paying freelance writing opportunities. 

We’ve also compiled a suite of resources that are helpful for beginning freelance writers, which you can find at the end of the post (or you can jump directly to that section ).

Read through this material in its entirety and you’ll learn…

• How to find freelance writing jobs on Upwork.
• How to choose the right jobs to apply for.
• How to carve out a niche for yourself.
• How to identify what Upwork clients actually want.
• How to craft winning proposals.

And you’ll know exactly how to get your first client. 

Much of what’s covered below is based on my own first-hand experience applying for Upwork writing jobs.

Table of Contents

My Experience

Everyone’s freelance writing journey is different, but few are linear. So while your experience may be a bit different than mine, from what I’ve seen, my zero-to-writer story is pretty typical.

How I Became a Freelance Writer

Prior to registering with Upwork, I’d never had a paid writing job . 

The closest job I’d had to a writer was an 18-month stint as an in-house editor at a research firm where we published reports on healthcare technology.

I got that gig almost by accident. Instead of firing me for being a terrible secretary, the kind executive team gave me a second chance in the editing department. Unfortunately, more than half of that 18-month stint was part-time, so I eventually had to look for another opportunity.

Prior to that role, a good portion of my editing portfolio was comprised of pro bono pieces — things like sprucing up resumes, revising personal memoirs or editing medical school cover letters as favors for friends and family members. 

I tried to land other full-time editing and writing jobs, but because I had no formal education in those subjects and a limited resume, I was turned down for every single one of them. 

So in an act of desperation to get out of a dead-end job working the night shift at a local motel, I decided to give freelance writing on Upwork shot. 

Getting My First Contract 

Getting my first contract for a writing job was far and away the hardest part of my freelancing career. 

Convincing myself that I was a good enough writer and editor to make it as a freelancer, when I’d been turned down many times before, was tough. 

On days when impostor syndrome made me think I was crazy for trying to start a freelance writing career, I told myself, “I can’t be the worst writer out there. If others can do this, then why not me?” 

It took me a month and several proposals to get my first gig on Upwork. 

Even after I got that first five-star review, subsequent jobs were slow in coming. In the beginning, I was getting replies to one out of every 10 or 15 proposals I sent — and only about half of those clients actually hired me. 

But as I got more jobs and more good reviews, gigs became easier to land.

I got a better feel for which jobs I was qualified for and which ones were over my head or outside my wheelhouse. 

Plus, I learned not to waste my time on jobs that already had dozens of applicants, and to focus my efforts on assignments I could complete quickly and confidently.

Pro Tip : Search for terms like “new to Upwork,” “24 hours,” or “urgent” in the search bar. Some clients don’t mind working with newbies and will state that in the text of the job post (hoping to get the work at below market rates). Others are looking for a quick turnaround and are less-than-picky about who does the work. These posts are great finds for landing a first gig.

Building a Niched Portfolio  

I knew from the start that I wanted to niche down and write personal finance articles.

My husband and I had managed to get out of debt and cash-flowed a master’s degree — all with three kids, a single sub-average income and a few side hustles. 

This experience planted a passion in me for personal finance. It was because of the knowledge I acquired from books, blogs and podcasts that my family made it through that lean period. So I wanted to help spread the knowledge I’d gained to others through my writing.

A few Google searches (and a vague sense of Dave Ramsey’s net worth) confirmed that the personal finance niche had plenty of clients with deep enough pockets to pay for blog writers.

In the first few months, I had to take whatever work I could get. But I applied to as many personal-finance-related gigs as I could. 

I had started my own personal finance blog (even though nobody read it at the time), so I included articles I had written on personal finance in my proposals. 

Recommended resource : How to Create a Freelance Portfolio Website .

Incidentally, no one seemed to care that I hadn’t been paid to write those articles.

I also focused on related “next door” niches to personal finance, like real estate, entrepreneurship and technology. Not only did these force me to hone my research skills and broaden my knowledge base, they also kept things interesting by changing up the subject matter of my writing from time to time.

After a year of curating a personal-finance-centered portfolio, I started receiving invites to apply for jobs writing personal finance articles — more than I could comfortably handle.

I now have the luxury of only taking on jobs that are inside my niche or interesting enough to stretch beyond it.

Related reading : How to find your ideal freelancing niche . 

Raising My Rates  

Raising your rates is scary, since you are the only one justifying your worth to the client (who understandably wants to pay as little for your services as possible). 

I’m a frugal person by nature, so raising my rates cut against the grain for me. I want to pay the least amount I can for things, so I assume others do too. I feared that clients would see my higher rates as greedy or presumptuous.

What’s more, early on I had a client that decided to stop working with me, stating that I was charging too much for my articles — even though I hadn’t changed my rates since we initially started working together. 

That terrified me, because at the time it was my steadiest and highest-paying client. That conversation kept me working for a lower rate for longer than I probably should have.

But no client lasts forever. 

As clients turned over and I pursued new ones, I eventually got gutsy and bid for higher rates, just to see what would happen. I was surprised how quickly I inched my per-hour and per-word rate up. 

In less than a year, I replaced the part-time income I was making at the motel and was able to work whenever and wherever I wanted. 

I’m no longer afraid to pass on a job if the rate is too low, as I have learned to value my own time and expertise — which turned out to be worth much more than my canceling client was willing to pay. 

But keep this important point in mind: to get there, I had to be willing to start low. If you have no experience and a limited portfolio, you’re more than likely going to have to take a handful of jobs that pay less than you’re worth.

Just don’t fall into the trap of feeling like you need to keep working at those rates forever .

Pro Tip: As we outline in our guide to freelance writing rates , it’s extremely difficult to determine an industry-wide “going rate” for freelance writing. You have to find a happy balance between the price you’re willing to work for and the value the client places on your work. A piece that’s worth $20 to one client may be worth $120 to another. 

Five Things You Need

Getting started as a freelance writer is truly the hardest part of your career. And while starting is difficult, it isn’t complicated. 

Here’s a list of the basics you need before you’re ready to hang up your shingle. 

#1. A published writing sample under your own name (in any topic)

Published articles with your byline give you a lot of credibility as a writer. 

Even if what you’ve written is completely unrelated to the job post, published writing carries far more weight than a random Word document attached to your proposal (which the client doesn’t even know for sure that you wrote).

Plus, they serve as a legitimizing factor: if you’ve been published elsewhere, the client is more likely to see you as an established writer — and they’ll feel safer entrusting their project to you.

You can still get freelance jobs without having any published work, so if you’re brand new to writing, don’t despair. But if you have anything published already, it will give you a leg up. 

This is why many freelancers have their own blogs; they serve as a professional credential. 

If you don’t think starting a blog is right for you, it’s absolutely worthwhile to find a couple of blogs or websites that will publish your article (with a byline), even if they don’t pay you for it. And it’s especially helpful if they’re in the niche you want to target as a freelancer.

#2. A writing sample (published or unpublished) related to the job you’re applying for

The first question on a client’s mind is: “Can this person produce the type and quality of work I need?” 

By showing them you’ve done something similar in the past, you answer that question for them.

This is important, because getting the job isn’t always just about your writing skill. Every niche has its own vocabulary and nuances, and clients prefer to hire people who can write with clarity and authority about their particular topic.

The sample doesn’t have to be identical to the job post, but it should have a similar style, tone, content and/or format of the work the client is looking for — and it should be in the same niche if at all possible.

Be sure to point out the similarities in your cover letter, as clients get a lot of applications and tend to only skim samples. 

#3. A complete Upwork profile

Paint a picture of who you are and establish your brand by fully completing your Upwork profile. 

Part of this means uploading a nice headshot. It doesn’t have to be a professional photo, but it shouldn’t be a social media selfie either. 

Digital first impressions are important, so read through this Upwork guide that runs down a few tips for choosing an effective profile photo .

Be sure to fill out your work history and upload some samples — the more, the better. 

Remember, your goal here is to instill confidence that you’re a professional who can get the job done. Most of the time, the client isn’t going to comb over your profile and samples — but if they click through and see that your portfolio looks empty, or if it seems like you haven’t paid much attention to it, that can be a red flag. 

Upwork also says that adding an introductory video to your profile can help you win more contracts . 

The video below goes into more detail about why your Upwork profile is so important, and outlines four tips for winning more contracts as a beginner on the platform.

#4. A complete LinkedIn profile

Once you apply for a job, the client can see your last name. As part of their due diligence, clients often search for you on LinkedIn. This tells them a lot about you, and it can be another chance to sell yourself and your skills. 

On the other hand, an incomplete or unprofessional profile can be an instant turn-off. So it’s important to take the time to fill out the profile as completely as possible, including a good headshot and a full work history. 

However, it’s even more important to make sure that your profile focuses on the fact that you’re a writer.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” The same concept is true for online profiles and marketing yourself as a freelancer: you want potential clients to see you in the role they’re hiring for.

That doesn’t mean hiding from your past work history. Clients value all kinds of real-world experience — whether it’s working as an engineer or working the night shift at a hotel. 

Often, your professional experience gives you valuable insight into a specific field or niche that can help you win more clients and charge higher rates. 

For instance, a six-month stint in tech support and my year as a medical transcriptionist gave me just enough knowledge and exposure to the technology and healthcare industries to write about them, even though neither job had to do with writing.

So don’t hide your prior experience, even if you see them as less than ideal. But do tweak the language of your profile so that it frames you as a writer first and everything else second.

#5. Persistence

Breaking into this space takes time, patience and an unwillingness to quit.

So if it takes a while to get things going, remember that it’s normal for business to be slow in the beginning. Keep at it.

Even after your business gets rolling, you need to persist in learning and refining your craft if you want to stay competitive. 

So ask your clients for feedback and implement it. 

Five Steps for Writing a Good Upwork Proposal

Writing proposals takes a lot of time and effort — especially in the beginning, when your acceptance rate is low. 

But each proposal is an opportunity to introduce yourself, sell your skills and convince your client you can do the job. 

While it can be good to cast a wide net to get jobs, quality proposals will be more effective than sheer quantity. Treat each proposal as a one-sided job interview — that’s exactly what it is.

If you have no idea of what to put in your proposal, read on. The steps below will transform your proposals from forgettable to incredible.

Good Upwork Proposals Always Have…

• A custom cover letter.
• Links to relevant work samples.
• Error-free writing.
• A proposed rate or budget.
• A proposed deadline.
• An actionable next step.

Need more ideas to spruce up your proposals? Check out the additional suggestions in our comprehensive guide to landing your first job on Upwork , and go over some more advanced strategies in our guide to writing great freelance proposals .

Let’s dig into how to cover those bases.

Step #1: Research the Topic

If you don’t know a ton about the writing topic or industry of a job, at least take 10 minutes to Google some basic information. 

Often, this small amount of research will give you enough context to talk about the client’s project and get the ball rolling — and it’s more effort than 99% of applicants will expend.

Also, if the job post includes a link to a website, read that page to familiarize yourself with your potential client. 

Even without a link, you can sometimes figure out who they are by reading through their feedback or job posting history. A few minutes of sleuthing can sometimes give you enough information to deduce who you’re pitching to.

This is low-hanging fruit, but as I said earlier: many freelancers don’t even bother.

Step #2: Write a Custom Cover Letter

Of all the things in this article, this is the most important: customize every single cover letter every single time. No exceptions.

You can have a general template with paragraphs you cut and paste, but spend the time to tailor your references to the job post and the deliverables the client is asking for. (This is why it’s helpful if you can figure out exactly who the client is.)

Your cover letter is your one and only chance to showcase your skills and experience, and to explain why you’re the perfect freelancer for the job.

Subtly highlight the research you did in Step #1, and relate it to your past work or experience, if possible.

Here’s an example: 

“I’ve looked over your website, www.mycooltravelblog.com, and I noticed you always provide actionable steps the reader can take to identify the best possible use of travel points. I’ve done similar work when writing about cash-back shopping sites, where rates vary from site to site daily. Here are a couple of examples.” 

As I said earlier, the work doesn’t have to be identical to what the client needs, as long it demonstrates that you understand how to get this job done.

If you’re familiar with the job’s industry, drop enough lingo or references to convince the client of your expertise .

This strategy is especially helpful for specialized sectors like healthcare, automotive and technology. 

Pro Tip : Many job posts include a random word like banana, Bambi or paprika that you need to repeat in your cover letter to show that you read the whole post and can follow instructions (and yes, these are real examples). Pay close attention to these, as clients use them to weed out generic cover letters from their stack of submissions.  

Step #3: Highlight Your Writing Samples

Just like you, your writing samples need an introduction. 

Don’t just attach the files and call it done. Briefly explain the objective, tone and target audience of each piece, as well as the relevance to the client’s project.

Use this as an opportunity to talk about your processes. Did you conduct original research for the article? Was it heavily edited, or published as-is? Were you an editor, ghostwriter or the sole author? 

Give your client some context to paint a clear picture of your capabilities.

Step #4: Proofread Your Proposal

Cover letters or writing samples with typos and grammatical mistakes are automatic rejections for many clients. 

If you aren’t getting the interest you want, double-check your copy for errors. When your clients point out your errors, it’s horribly embarrassing (and yes, I say that from experience). 

Don’t be lazy. With the advent of spell-checking tools and Grammarly, professional writers have no excuse for delivering sloppy copy to clients. 

If you can’t be bothered to deliver a perfect proposal, your clients don’t have any reason to believe your writing will look any better.

And remember, this isn’t just a matter of them being curmudgeonly about grammar: the more editing your work needs, the more time they (or their editor or proofreader) will have to spend going over it prior to publication. And that costs money. 

Step #5: Suggest the Next Step

”Thanks for your consideration; I hope to hear from you soon” is not the next step. 

Instead of leaving the ball in the client’s court, make it easy for them to follow up with you. 

For example, if the natural progression of the conversation would be a video chat to discuss the project, suggest that. 

“I’m free Tuesday and Thursday of next week between 9 and 11 a.m. EST. Can we schedule a video chat to discuss the project in more detail?” 

The idea is to make it as easy as possible for the client to say “yes” so that you can keep moving the ball down the field until you’ve won the contract. 

Don’t be afraid to follow up . Clients get distracted. They get sick. They go on vacation. Their computers die. So if a client expresses interest but doesn’t reply for a while, that doesn’t mean it’s a ‘no.’ 

Keep in mind that hiring you is only one of a million things on their to-do list. If a client goes radio silent, politely follow up in a week and see if they still need the work.

What Upwork Clients Want

You can become a much more competitive candidate simply by putting yourself in your client’s shoes. When you know what your clients want, it takes the guesswork out of what to say to convince them that you’re perfect for the job.

#1 . Someone who will actually complete the work

Whoever said that 80% of life is just showing up was obviously a freelancer. 

It always shocks me how many clients have been ghosted by other freelancers. One of my clients had a freelancer abandon the work when it was ¾ completed! 

Complete the work on time and in full, and always let the client know that you’re open to criticism and to make changes after you submit your work. 

(Unsure if you can complete the work you agreed to? See #2, below.)

When your client knows she can rely on you, she’ll keep you in mind for future projects.

#2 . Clear and honest communication

Can’t make the deadline and need an extension? Need clarification on something? Want to know if your stuff hit the mark? Just ask!

In my experience, most clients are very helpful and ready to answer your questions. They realize that things come up and are willing to cooperate and find solutions to problems. 

Make good use of Upwork’s messaging feature — it’s the best way to communicate with your clients.

#3 . Someone who can do the job well

Don’t forget that most of the time, your client is hiring you without ever having seen or talked to you.

That’s quite the leap of faith, even for a small project! 

Do everything you can to assure your client that you’re competent in the skills you claim.

If you have industry-specific experience, state that loud and proud in your proposal. Drop names or lingo when appropriate so your client knows you’re qualified. 

Freelance Writing Resources

Here are links to some of the online freelancing resources we’ve put together, with a few comments about how you can use them to further your freelance writing career. 

• How to Get Your First Job on Upwork : A step-by-step guide to winning contracts on the largest freelance marketplace. 
• Seven Expert Upwork Tips : Some advanced tips and tricks for being successful on the platform.
• How to Make Money on Fiverr : The site doesn’t have as much long-term earning potential as Upwork, but it’s a great place for beginners to build a portfolio while learning how to freelance.
• How to Write Great Freelance Proposals : Some advanced tips and strategies for crafting killer proposals that win more contracts and command better rates.
• How to Create a Freelance Portfolio from Scratch : Learn what makes a great portfolio, and how to build one even if you have zero experience.
• How to Choose Your Ideal Freelance Niche : Learn why shrinking your pool of potential clients can help you make more money. 
• How to Become a Copywriter : This can be one of the most lucrative niches within freelance writing.
• Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners : A roundup of the best sites and strategies when you’re just getting started.
• Five Freelance Writing Sites That Pay Daily .

Upwork Writing Jobs FAQ

There isn’t one right answer for this, but no matter how new to Upwork you are, it should never be $0. (Working for free or just a good review is against Upwork’s policy.)  Writing a pro bono article for a friend’s blog, or writing an unpaid article for a website in your niche to fill out your portfolio or get a byline, is acceptable. But do this outside of Upwork. Even trial articles — ones where a client tests your skills to see if you’re a good fit — should result in some small compensation.  That said, when you’re looking for your very first gig, the amount you make should be less important than actually landing the job. Even if you only make $5, if you get a five-star review, higher-paying clients are more likely to hire you in the future.  If you have industry experience, there’s no need to sell yourself short, however. A good way to check if your bid is reasonable is to scan the budgets of jobs you’d like to get.  You can also get on Upwork as a client and search the profiles of other freelancers. Scan for those with similar experience to yours and see what they charge.  Premium Upwork subscribers can see the bid range on individual jobs, which should also give you a good idea of what to charge.

High-paying industries include technology, sales, business-to-business work and medical, but there are good-paying gigs in a variety of industries.  Regardless of what sector pays the most for articles, you’ll maximize your earnings by creating a niche in an area you know well and can write about over and over.  If you can become the go-to guy or gal in a particular area, you don’t have to appeal to a broad client base as your expertise becomes your selling point.  For example, food blogs as a sector might not pay super well, but you can rest assured that the articles written for Emeril’s or Rachel Ray’s sites do. If you don’t have expertise in a good-paying area, look for niches that border on ones you know. Take on articles that you know at least a little about, and practice researching to broaden your knowledge base.

Upwork’s Project Catalog was introduced in 2021. It’s a marketplace for fixed-priced gigs that functions identically to Fiverr; freelancers post a fixed-price jobs that clients can order on demand. For example, as a writer you might offer “A 10,000 word article on any topic for $1,000.”

Final Thoughts: Getting Started Can Take Time, But Don’t Give Up!

Like all businesses, a freelance career is built over time.

Luckily, sites like Upwork provide a plethora of paid writing opportunities every day for the freelancers with the hustle and skill to seize them. 

Expect hurdles, a disappointing number of rejections, and lowball offers in the beginning. These growing pains are normal. 

But if you’re taking the time and effort to create well-written samples for your portfolio, craft stellar proposals that showcase your skills, and communicate clearly with clients, your freelance career will grow and provide you with a steady income. 

Hi Jenni, really great article and a well-advised how to get started as a freelancer writer.

Just wanted to say thank you for this. 🙂

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How to Start Writing on UpWork With no Experience (10 Tips)

You can become a freelancer and start writing on Upwork with no experience, or degree.

According to ZipRecruiter, a freelance writer’s  average annual salary is $63,213 per year in the United States. Not too shabby, right? For all writers who want to let go of their corporate jobs and eventually move to freelance, hear me out. You can do it! Here you’ll find useful tips for beginners to jumpstart their freelance writing careers on Upwork, one of the biggest online job platforms on the planet.

10 Tips on How to Start Writing on Upwork with No Experience

1. identify your top skill(s).

If you want to excel in the freelancing industry, you need to identify and showcase your skills. For example, in writing, you need to have a creative mind, excellent communication skills, and working knowledge of one or more subjects. Your grammar and spelling should be impeccable, and your research skills should be on point. Upwork is a platform where there are innumerable writers. Having a niche or area of expertise can help set you apart from the competition. For instance, copywriters for B2B and B2C have an enormous demand currently. So, if this is your forte, then employers should know about it. Upwork allows you to customize your profile, so you can be particular about listing your skills and experience level.

2. Craft a winning profile

Focus on creating an Upwork profile that is a total winner! Potential clients will evaluate your qualifications first before signing you up for a job . They will not invite you for an interview or offer you a job off the bat without studying your profile first. So, it pays that you have a unique and strong one. So, once you’ve identified your skill set, promote yourself through your Upwork profile:

• Put up a one-line summary about your role/designation. Something like B2C Content Strategist, Technical Writer , etc.
• Next, have an interactive and engaging profile. Let your personality and work shine through your words.
• Add your educational background. You’d earn brownie points if your degree applies to the industry where your writing is most suitable.
• Include your work experience (if any). This is one of the most important things that your potential clients or employers will look at, so this section needs to be the finest. Add your website/portfolio link (if available) or add your LinkedIn profile link.

3. Be open to the idea of starting small

We all want to make it big (read, earn lots of money). However, when you look for writing projects, winning your first client could take a little more time than expected. If you are just starting and a client offers to hire you for less money than your ideal rate, I say, grab the opportunity! I am not saying that you work for a pittance or do something that is not worth your time and talent, just be willing to compromise a little and start small. Taking small jobs may be essential to earn your first positive feedback from satisfied clients. This will give you more credibility, which will strengthen your Upwork profile.

4. Spend some time identifying quality clients

With the rise of online freelancing platforms, there has been an upsurge in low-quality clients. By this, I mean clients who will pay you only half a dollar for a 500-word article. Brutal, but true. Beware of those ads that are looking for 10 freelancers in a single job post. Clients that do not have a particular niche will make you write about everything on earth. Stay away from them! As you start, pay attention to the job posts by clients. Stating a proper introduction, precise roles, and requirements, and clear budgetary details are some of the key identifiers of a quality client. I would also give more preference to clients from Western countries where the standard pay is a lot higher than in other parts of the world. Another thing to look out for is how much has this employer already spent on hiring Upwork freelancers.

5. Write a winning proposal

Once you find the ideal client, it’s time to send a proposal. “Upwork connects” are chargeable and therefore, must be spent wisely.

• Go through the job description with the utmost detail. In your proposal, try to include keywords from the job description (yes, they should be relevant).
• Sell yourself by pointing out how you’d be the best fit for the role without being arrogant.
• If you have relevant experiences (even college projects would work), mention them.
• If you have a past project that is similar to the client’s job, provide a link for them to view your work.
• Ensure the proposal is free of any grammatical and spelling errors. Imagine your client’s reaction when you’re applying for a writer’s job and they notice such oversights. Oops!

6. Maintain professionalism

As you land your first client, be careful about how you’re communicating. Do not start with an “OMG” or “LOL” before they do. Be professional and formal, especially when it’s your first project. Work with utmost honesty and respect and be firm about your rates and timelines. Always deliver on time! Your goal should be to impress the client. Also, do not shy away from asking for feedback or reviews on your project.

7. Remain active on Upwork

If you want to make money via Upwork on a serious note, you must be active consistently. Building a profile alone will not help you gain visibility or win clients. How fast you respond to interview invitations or queries will also reflect your professionalism and eagerness to work. To get into freelance writing or any other freelance jobs, you have to keep sending proposals and always be on the hunt to look out for good-quality clients. Also, your Upwork profile should always be up to date.

8. Keep building your portfolio

The more projects you complete, the more credible you’ll appear to potential clients. Keep adding completed projects to your portfolio, whether it’s on Upwork or your pursuits. If you’re a beginner with no experience, there is one sure-fire way to build a writing portfolio – start a blog for free. Write content based on your niche/interests and add such items to your portfolio. Remember, your portfolio would stand as proof of your credibility and skills. Always request feedback/testimonials from clients you work with. This will help you earn potential clients later.

9. Connect with fellow freelancers

There are several  freelance writing forums, groups, and communities  that you can find online. Here’s where you can meet like-minded people and other freelancers. A few great examples are  Freelance Writer’s Den ,  Blogging Boost , and  Writers Write Group . Not only can other freelancers help you overcome “writer’s block” , but they can also send clients your way. Nothing like it, right? As you get started on Upwork, remember that networking is wealth.

10. Don’t show desperation

As I said earlier, winning your first client on Upwork as a newbie can be difficult. It’s okay if companies are passing up on your proposals right now. The freelancing journey may entail prolonged waiting time and a string of rejections. But hang in there, your efforts will eventually bear fruits. Do not be too desperate in your proposals or opt for low-quality clients for the sake of earning some money . Keep your head held high as you wait for the right one. Related article: How To Become a Freelance Writer With No Experience

Final Thoughts

Writing on Upwork with no experience is possible. Just follow the above tips and tricks and you’re ready to sail through your freelancing journey . It’s okay if you need to wait to earn your first client, just be patient. Remember that most fruit-bearing trees take some time to grow before they yield crops. But once they do, it will go on for many seasons. Next up, please check the best sites with freelance writing jobs for teens, and find a paying gig for you or someone you know. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on how to turn your phone into a writing tool .

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Upwork Profile Kit: Examples, Template & Guide

I was fortunate enough to start freelancing on Upwork 'early'. Back when there wasn't much of a vetting process. Back when competition was slimmer, and getting a few early reviews for cheap gigs was still a relatively straightforward process.

Over the years, I built up a strong profile--100% Job Success, and Expert-Vetted--which honestly made all the difference. When applying to gigs with a strong profile behind you, response rates are incredibly high and you start receiving offers in your inbox simply from people discovering you in search.

If you're just starting out, it can be difficult to know how the Upwork game works and which factors are worth optimizing. So in this post I'm outlining some of the most important factors that made a difference in my own profile setup, and sharing a few examples to help you plan and manage your own.

So then, let's start at the beginning: with your job title.

What title should I put in Upwork?

If you're used to working in company roles, you'll be tempted to treat this section like your LinkedIn job history or resume. You might write: 'Senior Copywriter' or 'Junior Designer'.

But the world of Upwork is a little different. It's much more akin to the world of search engines and social media--and that means the headline needs to stand out and pull people in.

When an applicant (you) applies to a job, the very first thing a client will see is the Title headline in bold, with a short snippet of your proposal text.

The headline should tell them:

• What outcomes your create for your ideal clients;
• What deliverables you are skilled in producing; and
• And who your ideal clients are.

I'll pick on my own title for the sake of this example. It reads:

"Positioning & Marketing Strategist for Early Stage Ventures"

This was specific enough in the job role description (positioning and marketing strategy) to attract the types of roles I was interested in, and very specific in the types of teams and companies that I wanted to work with (early stage ventures).

Note how this differs from what might have been a more traditional job title: e.g. 'Head of Marketing' or 'Strategy Consultant'.

What should I write in the Upwork description?

Then we move on to the Upwork description--and this is where we have a lot more flexibility. I tend to treat this as 'a letter to my ideal client'.

I want this section to deter the 'wrong types of clients', while attracting a very small percentage of prospects to my style of working. It should be an indication of:

• How you think about your work;
• How you got to working on the things you work on today;
• What a typical project that you work on looks and feels like;
• What you're hoping to achieve through your work.

Once again, let's pick on my own Upwork description:

"I came to marketing with a background in Psychology and Literature. That is, with an interest in understanding people, and structuring compelling stories.

Since then, I've learned that compelling business stories aren't architected in strategic meetings; not on whiteboards (virtual or physical) or in moments of deep, personal insight (eureka!); they are built in dialogue with users.

We arrive at the best version of our story and offering through doing. Through hypothesis, experimentation and learning. This is marketing. A game of efficient learning; no, efficiency as an art form. And there are plenty of ways for it to go wrong.

From brand consulting to serving as CMO of a fast-growing London-based tech startup (Tevent): of all the efficiency questions I've faced, there's one that is glossed over time and time again: "Which game are we really playing in?"

Call it product-market fit. Call it positioning strategy. Call it whatever you like: this is where I now focus my time and energies.

I work with teams interested in developing clarity on who they are, what they offer (truly), and how it fits with their competitors, customers, and allies. If that sounds like you and yours, I'd be very interested to learn more and see if there's a good fit."

Throughout, I try to give an impression of how I think about marketing strategy, some experiences along the way that got me there, and what I hope to achieve for my clients.

Note that this is quite different from a professional bio simply walking through one's career history. It is, rather, a story that should lead the right prospect to believe that you are the perfect person to work with for their specific project.

How do I write an Upwork cover letter?

The Upwork cover letter is an opportunity to further elaborate on the work you do, and how you might be able to help a specific client.

When responding to a job posting, I usually start by reading through the project description carefully. I then take some time to research the company (if it's not one that I'm already familiar with).

With that information in hand, I then write a cover letter that is specific to that company and that project. In other words, I don't have a 'boilerplate' Upwork cover letter that I simply copy and paste into each job application; though I do have a few template cover letters that have been refined over many applications, and I tailor this structure to meet specific jobs.

Here's a sample from a Cover letter template I would use to apply for marketing strategy jobs:

" Hello There,

Thanks for sharing. Some quick background on me. I've worked as a marketing consultant and executive for companies across industries; I primarily focus, however, on marketing and positioning strategy for startup and online ventures.

Most recently, I served as ____________ with ____________________; I left that role so that I could return to consulting, working in shorter sprints where I feel I can have the most direct impact. Based on what you've described, I offer a 12-month marketing strategy & roadmap (see decks attached) that would be a good place to start. Typically, this means starting with a review of the market, key competitors, user personas and considering relevant positioning factors--then using this information to decide which marketing channels actually make sense to invest in, and what successful messaging across those platforms might look like.

I offer this at a fixed price of $X,XXXUSD, and the target turnaround is within X weeks from kick-off. As I mentioned, I prefer to work in focused sprints, so if this style is suitable to your team's current needs, then I recommend the X-week strategy sprint outlined above. I've attached summary decks from two recent marketing strategy projects (client-sensitive info removed) for your reference, both were outcomes of a X-week sprint.

Let me know of any questions, and I look forward to learning more.

Kind regards,"

Upwork Profile examples

We've already walked through the main elements of my Upwork profile. Let's take a quick look at a few other examples.

First, (imaginary) Upwork freelancer Jannet Walsh:

"I'm a multi-faceted writer, editor and content strategist with more than 10 years of experience crafting compelling content for both B2B and B2C brands.

Whether it's a website refresh, creating or editing blog posts, developing email campaigns or anything in between, I have a knack for helping brands find their voice and tell their story in a way that resonates with their audience.

Most recently, I served as the Content Manager for a B2B SaaS company where I was responsible for all aspects of content creation and strategy. In this role, I led a team of writers, managed our editorial calendar and worked closely with our sales and marketing teams to ensure our content was aligned with our business goals.

Prior to that, I spent several years working in the agency world where I had the opportunity to collaborate with some big-name clients like Dell, IBM and Oracle on a variety of content projects."

In her Upwork profile, Jannet does an excellent job of highlighting her content strategy experience, as well as her ability to lead a team of writers - both of which are relevant to the type of work she is hoping to attract.

Next, Upwork freelancer copywriter and editor Leah Knobler:

"I'm a freelance writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience crafting compelling content for both B2B and B2C brands. I have a knack for taking complex topics and making them easy to understand for the average reader.

Most recently, I served as the managing editor for a B2C website where I was responsible for all aspects of content creation and strategy. In this role, I managed a team of writers, oversaw our editorial calendar and worked closely with our sales and marketing teams to ensure our content was aligned with our business goals.

Leah's Upwork profile is very similar to Jannet's, but there are a few key differences. Leah focuses more on her editing experience than her content strategy experience. She also highlights her ability to work with big-name brands - which could be appealing to companies looking for a freelancer with that type of experience.

Finally, Upwork freelancer resume writer and career coach Laura DeCarlo:

"I'm a certified professional resume writer (CPRW) and career coach with more than 15 years of experience helping job seekers at all levels land the jobs they want.

I am passionate about helping people tell their story in a way that highlights their unique strengths and accomplishments. I believe that everyone has a unique story to tell, and I'm dedicated to helping my clients communicate theirs in the most effective way possible.

Most recently, I served as the Director of Career Services for a national resume writing company where I was responsible for all aspects of client satisfaction and quality control. In this role, I oversaw a team of resume writers and career coaches, managed our quality assurance process and worked closely with our sales and marketing teams to ensure our clients were getting the best possible service.

Prior to that, I spent several years working in the staffing industry where I had the opportunity to place candidates at all levels with some of the biggest names in the business."

Laura's Upwork profile is very different from Jannet's and Leah's. Laura focuses on her experience as a resume writer and career coach, rather than on her content writing or editing experience. She also highlights her experience working in the staffing industry, which could be appealing to companies looking for a freelancer with that type of experience.

While all three of these Upwork profiles are well-written and provide relevant information about the freelancers' skills and experience, they each have a slightly different focus. Jannet focuses on her content strategy and management experience, Leah focuses on her editing experience and ability to work with big-name brands, and Laura focuses on her experience as a resume writer and career coach.

When you're creating your Upwork profile, think about the type of work you want to attract and make sure your profile is focused accordingly. Highlighting the right skills and experiences will help you attract the types of clients you're looking for.

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