Do you want to learn how to make money on Upwork for beginners?

Upwork is a popular platform that connects freelancers with small businesses, large corporations, and solo entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, marketer, or another type of freelancer, you can find all sorts of freelance jobs on the platform.

I’ve personally found several short-term gigs on Upwork, and I also landed my long-term marketing position there, which I continue to work at today.

In this article, I’ll go over things like:

• How to get started on Upwork
• Ways to make money on Upwork
• How to land jobs as a beginner
• Best jobs on the platform

Recommended reading: 20 Of The Best Entry Level Work From Home Jobs

Best Ways To Make Money On Upwork

Below is how to make money on Upwork.

What is Upwork?

Upwork is a freelancing platform that connects freelancers with businesses. Businesses either post one-time jobs, short-term jobs, or long-term jobs. The platform is user-friendly and makes it easy to filter through jobs by pay, number of hours per week, and the experience needed.

The platform facilitates everything, including hiring, communication, time-tracking, and payment. 

It’s also one of the best places to look for stay-at-home jobs!

How to get started on Upwork

If you’ve never been on Upwork before, it’ll take around an hour to create a compelling profile that highlights your skills, experience, and creative portfolio. You’ll want to write a profile that showcases your skills and the value you can give to clients.

The most important part of Upwork is applying for jobs. Essentially, businesses will list jobs that they’re hiring freelancers for and the listing will include details on the job, including skills, experience, and hours needed. 

Your first gig on Upwork will be the hardest to get, but that’s completely normal. This is because you’re still learning how to use the platform and don’t have any testimonials yet as an Upwork freelancer. But things will get easier after you complete your first gig, start receiving referrals, and get the hang of freelancing on the platform!

What’s great about Upwork is that, for many gigs, all you need to get started is a laptop! Click here to see some affordable options to begin with.

How To Make Money On Upwork

There are tons of ways to make money on Upwork, and this greatly varies on your skills and the type of work you want. You can find jobs on Upwork either through one-time projects or long-term contracts. You can also sell services at an hourly rate or as fixed-price projects. 

Here’s a list of skills and job opportunities that can help you earn money on Upwork.

1. Freelance writing 

Freelance writing is one of the most common ways to make money on Upwork, as businesses and solo entrepreneurs are constantly looking for people to create content for their companies.

Freelance writers may write:

• Blog posts
• Website copy
• Social media content
• Email newsletters
• Product descriptions

To find jobs in freelance writing on Upwork, you’ll go to “find jobs” and use keywords like writing, content writer, social media content, and copywriting. 

Recommended reading: 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!)

2. Translation 

A freelance translator is a self-employed professional who provides translation services for written content or converting text from one language to another.

Translators usually work for clients like businesses, publishers, and law firms, and help with documents, websites, books, marketing materials, etc. Translators usually specialize in a niche like legal translation, medical translation, technical translation, books, etc.

To find jobs on Upwork, you’ll want to create a detailed profile showcasing your language pairs, areas of expertise, and any relevant certifications or degrees you have. You should also include samples of your work to showcase your experience and ability to translate complex texts. 

To find freelance translation jobs, use keywords like freelance translator, translation services, or English to [language] translator.

3. Graphic design 

Graphic designers are in charge of many tasks, such as:

• Creating social media graphics (such as Pinterest pins)
• Brand identity
• Design layouts for websites
• Graphics for print
• Editing photos and illustrations

Graphic design jobs are one of the most common jobs on Upwork. Companies are constantly hiring graphic designers for both one-time jobs and long-term work.

On your profile, I recommend that you include relevant skills and certifications you have, such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and other design tools. Your profile should show the best examples of your previous work to showcase your skills and style. 

When applying for jobs, search keywords like graphic design, Canva, Pinterest pins, and Adobe.

4. Website design 

Website design is another common freelancing job on Upwork.

If you’re skilled in platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or custom HTML/CSS, UX/UI design, you will find work on Upwork. Your profile should show past examples of your website work so clients can see your design style to see if it’s what they are looking for.

As a website designer, it’s also nice to gain skills in areas like SEO, e-commerce, or web animations to make you a more marketable designer.

To find jobs on Upwork, use keywords like website designer, web design, UX/UI design, WordPress, etc.

5. Social media management 

I specialize in social media management, so this is my bread and butter. Finding jobs doing this on Upwork is incredibly easy, but the hard part is sending the best proposal to land the job.

To make money as a social media manager on Upwork, your profile needs to highlight your experience in managing social media profiles like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc. You’ll also want to highlight your skills in content creation, scheduling, analytics, and strategy. 

You can use search keywords like social media manager, social media management, social media marketing, or content creator.

6. SEO 

SEO (search engine optimization) is a common job on Upwork that can be high-paying because it takes a lot of technical skill.

To make money as a freelance SEO specialist, you should know how to optimize websites for search engines, on-page and off-page SEO, link building, keyword research, and analytics.

Your Upwork profile should showcase successful SEO campaigns, proof of improved search rankings, and detailed case studies of your past work. All of this is going to build trust with future clients and help you land jobs. SEO takes constant continued education, and skills can be expanded into different areas like technical SEO, local SEO, or content marketing. 

You can use search terms like SEO specialist, SEO expert, SEO content writer, and search engine optimization to find jobs.

7. Virtual assistance

Virtual assistant jobs include all types of tasks, making it one of the best freelancing jobs to get into as a beginner on Upwork. I am a virtual assistant (for the website you are reading right now!), and I think it’s a great way to make money online.

Tasks may include answering emails, scheduling, customer service, data entry, and social media management. Your profile will benefit from showing different types of tasks you can do and showcasing your ability to deliver high-quality work.

As a virtual assistant, it’s helpful to expand your skill set in areas like project management tools, online research, and customer relationship management.

You can use search terms like virtual assistant, admin support, executive assistant, remote assistant, or personal assistant. 

Recommended reading: Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

8. Data analysis and research

Data analysis and research consist of many tasks like data collection, data analysis, research, and report writing.

To find jobs on Upwork in this field, your profile must reflect your expertise in data analysis, statistical methods, data visualization, and research techniques. I recommend that you also the highlight skills that you have in tools such as Excel, SQL, Python, R, or Tableau, and include any relevant certifications or degrees that you have. 

Search for jobs with keywords like data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization. 

9. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping jobs are abundant on Upwork as solo entrepreneurs and businesses are looking for someone with financial record expertise.

Your profile should highlight your expertise in financial record keeping, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, tax prep, and proficiency in software like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks.

I also think it’s wise to include any certifications that you may have, like Certified Bookkeeper or Certified Public Accountant to build your credibility. 

You can use search terms like QuickBooks, CPA, accountant, bookkeeper, or bookkeeping to search for jobs on Upwork.

10. Video editing

If you’re a video editor and knowledgeable in software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, you’ll have an easy time finding jobs on Upwork.

These jobs require skills where clients need help with video editing, sound design, color grading, or creating engaging content for social media platforms. 

You can use search terms like Adobe, Final Cut Pro, video editor, motion graphics, or animation to find jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to make money on Upwork.

Can you really make money on Upwork?

Yes, you can really make money on Upwork! I make money on Upwork with both short-term and long-term projects. Upwork makes it possible to find jobs that are flexible and can typically be done on your schedule. The hardest part about making money on Upwork is finding jobs in the beginning because you won’t have any jobs completed or reviews on your profile. This makes it harder to stand out, which is why it’s important to find quick one-time jobs so you can build your reviews and ratings.

How do beginners make money on Upwork?

Beginners on Upwork need to focus on a few key strategies to establish themselves on the platform. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Start small with entry-level jobs
• Set competitive rates and increase your rates as you get reviews
• Submit the very best proposals for jobs
• Deliver high-quality work and communicate well with clients
• Build a portfolio of projects you can do, even if you weren’t paid for them

These are all things that I have done!

How much can I earn from Upwork as a beginner?

As a beginner on Upwork, the amount of money you can earn will vary depending on the demand for your skills, the amount of time you dedicate to the platform, and how effectively you market yourself to jobs. 

On average, beginners typically get paid $10-$30 per hour, depending on the field. Jobs in areas like data entry and customer service pay the lowest, while jobs in technical fields like web development or graphic design can earn you higher rates. 

For one-time project jobs, beginners can earn anywhere from $50 to $500 per project, depending on the complexity and length of the job.

What are the best Upwork jobs for beginners?

For beginners, the best jobs on Upwork are the ones highest in demand and easiest to learn. Some examples of these jobs include:

• Data entry
• Virtual assistance
• Writing
• Customer support
• Transcription
• Social media management
• Online tutoring
• Proofreading
• Basic graphic design

How much does it cost to sell on Upwork? What is the Upwork fee?

Upwork makes money by charging freelancers a service fee based on a percentage of their earnings, charging freelancers to pay for connects, and charging job posters a fee based on payments made to freelancers (depending on the client’s plan).

Currently, Upwork charges 20% on the first $500 billed with a client, 10% on billings between $500-$10,000 with a client, and 5% on billings over $10,000 with the same client.

To apply for jobs, freelancers need “connects,” which are virtual tokens used for submitting proposals. I actually like that Upwork does it this way. If jobs were free to apply to, potential clients would get swamped with hundreds if not thousands of job offers, making it impossible to find a job.

I’ve found that most jobs require around 10–15 Connects to apply. The number of Connects needed tends to increase based on the job’s potential, such as higher pay, longer hours, or greater project scope.

Why am I not getting jobs on Upwork?

If you’re not getting jobs on Upwork, it might be because your profile or job applications need some work. I recommend that you make sure your profile is fully filled out with a nice photo, a short bio about what you can do, and some examples of your work. When applying for jobs, don’t send the same message to everyone. Instead, write each application personally to show you understand the job and can help with what the client needs. Starting with smaller jobs can help you get positive reviews (whenever you finish an Upwork job, make sure you ask your clients for feedback and for them to leave a review), making it easier to get hired for bigger jobs later.

How To Make Money On Upwork For Beginners – Summary

I hope you enjoyed my article on how to make money on Upwork.

To sum it up, Upwork is a great place to make money from home by freelancing. Whether you’re just getting started or already have some skills, you can find jobs in areas like writing, graphic design, and social media management. The key to success on Upwork is creating a strong profile, applying for jobs that fit your skills, and doing great work so clients leave good reviews.

I know of people who work full-time from Upwork jobs, making it easy to find remote work in your field. While it may take time to build a client base, you can get started finding quick jobs to earn money and build reviews.

I have personally found new clients on Upwork, and I’m currently working in a long-term position I found there as well. So, I know the Upwork platform really works!

Are you interested in making money on Upwork?

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