How I Win High-Paying Clients on UpWork (2024)

How I Win High-Paying Clients on UpWork (2)

I won’t beat around the bush: most of my current income comes from clients I’ve found through UpWork, not from my new business. But finding and winning projects on this growing platform can be a real you-know-what show. In this article I’ve put together below my top tips on how I find and win clients.

I love the clients that I’m working with at the moment, the wide-ranging projects that I’m working on and, most of all, I love being able to create my own schedule.

Whatever your reasons for going freelance, if you’ve already given it a go then you know it can be tough to find good quality and high-paying gigs.

So how do I find high-paying clients? Most of them have come from the global freelancing platform, UpWork.

As someone who’s had a lot of success from the platform, here’s how I’ve found quality and enjoyable income through UpWork:

Get 5 star ratings and positive feedback

This is the most important factor if you are just starting out. Even if this means taking a few low paying jobs to begin with, make it your mission to get several 5 star reviews on your profile. These will go a long way to give you traction to get more clients, and to start charging higher rates. Just like when I look up reviews on Amazon — if there aren’t any reviews, I’m a bit hesitant. Your potential clients feel the same way.

When you’re new, max out your proposal connects

I believe you get 60 connects when you first sign up, that refresh once a month. In the beginning I quickly ran out but over time these don’t matter nearly as much since clients will start reaching out to you directly.

Experiment

If you’re not sure what to apply to, UpWork is a great opportunity to try new things. Pick one or two examples of quality work you’ve done (and enjoyed doing!) and can show as an example to a client. Use these examples to find similar projects that require similar skills. Upload these examples onto your UpWork portfolio.

Be quick

UpWork is a time-sensitive platform and there are many other qualified freelancers on it that are all vying to win the same proposals that you are. If a client messages you, try to…

How I Win High-Paying Clients on UpWork (2024)

FAQs

How do you win clients on Upwork? ›

Highlight your relevant skills and experience, demonstrate your understanding of the client's needs, and explain how you can add value to their project. Provide Social Proof: If you have previous work experience or positive client feedback outside of Upwork, include it in your profile or proposal.

How do you get the most money on Upwork? ›

  1. Deliver your best work every time.
  2. Be active on Upwork.
  3. Optimize your profile.
  4. Find your niche.
  5. Optimize your proposals.
  6. Boost your proposal for jobs to stand out.
  7. Show off your best work.
  8. Ask clients for feedback.

What is the highest paid skill on Upwork? ›

What are the best freelance jobs in 2023?
NumberPositionAverage Daily Income
1Software Developer150 USD
2Designer100 USD
3Public Relations Specialist125 USD
4Content Marketer100 USD
6 more rows
Jul 21, 2023

How to get high paying clients as a freelancer? ›

How to Get High-Paying Clients? 9 Proven Ideas
  1. Know Your Strengths. ...
  2. Get Clear on Your Ideal Client. ...
  3. Create a Portfolio Website. ...
  4. Let Them Find You. ...
  5. Be Active in Your Community. ...
  6. Demonstrate Social Proof. ...
  7. Sell Value Not Price. ...
  8. Create a Strong Support System.

How do you win your first bid on UpWork? ›

Top six Tips to bid on UpWork
  1. Tip 1: The Early Bird Gets The Worm.
  2. Tip 2: Maintain Your Profile.
  3. Tip 3: Have Good Samples.
  4. Tip 4: Don't Copy and Paste your Proposals.
  5. Tip 5: Make Your Proposal a Sponsored Proposal.
  6. Tip 6: Follow Up.

Why am I not getting clients on UpWork? ›

Request feedback from clients promptly after completing a job to enhance your profile. An incomplete or poorly crafted profile may discourage clients. Fill out all sections, showcase relevant skills, and add a professional portfolio. Make sure your profile is tailored to the specific services you offer.

What sells most on Upwork? ›

Upwork's Top 10 Most In-Demand Design & Creative Skills for 2023:
  • Graphic Design.
  • Video Editing.
  • Illustration.
  • 3D Animation.
  • Presentation Design.
  • Image Editing.
  • Cartoons & Comics.
  • Product & Industrial Design.
Jan 18, 2023

What is the most wanted job on Upwork? ›

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — March 19, 2024 — Upwork (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world's work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent, today announced the most in-demand skills that organizations are expected to seek from skilled professionals in 2024.
  • Data Analytics.
  • Machine Learning.
  • Data Visualization.
Mar 19, 2024

Can I make a living off Upwork? ›

That means, as it does with any online business or side hustle, it'll likely take time, dedication and skill to earn big. Overall, Upwork makes it easier to look for jobs and make money, but think carefully about which gigs you want to apply for.

What remote work pays the most? ›

Now, let's get into this exciting list of remote jobs that pay up to $300,000 or more a year:
  • Enterprise SaaS Sales. SaaS means software as a service. ...
  • Patent Attorney. ...
  • PR Director. ...
  • Business Development Manager. ...
  • Technical Support Manager.
Mar 14, 2024

How much does the average person make on Upwork? ›

The estimated total pay range for a Freelancer at Upwork is $63K–$117K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Freelancer base salary at Upwork is $84K per year. The average additional pay is $0 per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.

What are the easiest jobs on Upwork? ›

Content Writing
  • Content Writing.
  • Resume Writing Jobs.
  • Proposal Writing Jobs.
  • Remote Personal Trainer Jobs.

How to attract clients on Upwork? ›

- Highlight any relevant experience and education in your profile. - Select skills on your profile that align with your expertise. Be specific and choose skills that potential clients are likely to search for. - When sending proposals, tailor each one to the specific job you're applying for.

Who is highest earning freelancers on Upwork? ›

Highest Paid Upwork Freelancers: Top Earners on Upwork
  • Ihar K. — UX/UI Design Extraordinaire. ...
  • GUICHENG Q. — Engineering Guru. ...
  • Sudhanshu Kumar K. — Full Stack Developer Extraordinaire. ...
  • Aldwin Tagart A. — Graphic Design Maven. ...
  • Mariusz O. — Graphic Design Virtuoso. ...
  • Giorgi N. ...
  • Guoxin C. ...
  • Sergey G.
Sep 5, 2023

Can freelancers become millionaires? ›

Anthony Agreste, owner and creative director at Mediaperk, has made over $1 million on Upwork through his creative and design work. He began freelancing right out of college to earn side money and has been using Upwork to find freelance work for the past 14 years.

How do you win clients? ›

6 Ways to Win New Clients
  1. Define your ideal client. ...
  2. Hang out where your clients hang out. ...
  3. Have an online social media strategy. ...
  4. Ask your clients for referrals. ...
  5. Align with other businesses that serve your ideal client. ...
  6. Pay attention to the details.

How to get noticed on Upwork? ›

Optimize Your Upwork Profile

A well-crafted profile is key to getting noticed. Fill out every section with as much detail as possible, using high-performing freelancers in your field as inspiration. Experiment with your profile title and hourly rate to find the best combination for attracting the right clients.

How do you boost outbid on Upwork? ›

Boost Outbid means other freelancers has outbid your boosted proposal. If during the auction you are outbid, your proposal will no longer be shown as boosted (it will still be visible, just lower on the list).

How do I get my first client? ›

8 Ways to Find Your First Customers
  1. Make a list. ...
  2. Look for referrals. ...
  3. Work your network. ...
  4. Show it off. ...
  5. Attend industry events. ...
  6. Team up with other business owners. ...
  7. Build an online presence. ...
  8. Spread the word on social.
Aug 5, 2019

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