Are you a freelancer looking to create a perfect freelancer profile on UpWork in 2023? Then, Look no further.
In this blog post, we’ll provide you with all the details and guide you need to create a successful freelancer profile that stands out among the competition.
Before you get started on Upwork and create your profile, it’s important to pick the right skill for your freelance business. Upwork is frequently rejecting freelancers these days as often, there is a surplus of certain skills and not enough of others. Don’t get your profile rejected.
Choose a skill that is in high demand (learn a new skill if need be) and create an Upwork profile based on this skill.
So, here’s what you should include in your UpWork freelancer profile.
How To Create a Perfect Freelancer Profile On UpWork
The first thing you need to do when starting on Upwork is to ensure that you create the right type of profile.
There are two types of profiles on Upwork; the Client profile and the Freelancer profile. As a freelancer looking for work, the correct profile will be Freelancer, so click on the ‘Work as freelancer’ button.
Fill in the details of your name and email address.
Ready to learn more about getting started on Upwork? Let’s begin by walking through each step of the sign-up process.
STEP 1. Go to Upwork.com and click on “Sign Up”.
Start on Upwork by clicking on the “Sign Up” button in the top right corner.
STEP 2. Sign up using your email address.
I don’t advise registering or signing with Apple or your Google Account.
STEP 3. Add your personal information.
Finish this first part of setting up your account by adding a few more details:
- Your first and last name
- A password for your account
- Your location
Once you’re ready, click on “Create My Account” to move on to the next part: Creating your Upwork profile.
There are two ways to connect with clients on Upwork:
1. They find you through your profile or in Project Catalog (a marketplace for projects you’ve predefined)
2. You approach them by submitting a proposal for their job posting
In either case, you’ll need a freelancer profile that presents your business, highlights your experience, and attracts your interest. We’ll look into your profile in full detail later—you may always return to edit and refine it.
For the time being, let’s go through the basic information you’ll want to include.
STEP 4. Start your Upwork profile by explaining about the work you do.
Before you can start applying for job posts on Upwork, you need to complete at least 60% of your profile:
- A photo of yourself
- Your title
- Your overview
- Work history
- At least one skill tag
However, I recommend completing 100% of your profile! But you don’t need to do it all in one day. In fact, you’ll probably refine it on a regular basis.
The first two sections prompt you for information about the services you offer:
- Your overall category of work
- The particular skills you specialize in
- The level of experience you have
You can choose up to four work categories. I suggest picking the strongest, most specialized, and/or most in-demand. While the categories you select will impact how clients find your profile, you can apply to job postings in any category.
Highlight as many as 10 skills (You can check here from the Upwork’s extensive list ).
As you begin typing a skill, Upwork will recommend matching skills from a defined list. These skills will appear on your profile—you may rearrange them as you like—and will assist clients in determining whether you have the expertise required for their projects.
On the next screen, click on the option that most accurately describes your level of expertise: Entry level, intermediate, or expert.
STEP 5. Highlight your educational background.
This section summarizes your formal education. If you choose to add entries here, all the details are optional except the institution.
I suggest including the following:
- The degree earned, even if you haven’t completed it. (The trick is just add you have a degree even if you don’t have one)
- The area of study
- Additional details, such as awards or recognitions received, or extracurricular activities (i.e. teams, clubs) you were involved in.
STEP 6. Highlight your past work experience.
Your past work experience can help build credibility with a potential client—particularly when you’re new to Upwork. It can emphasize not just your level of expertise but industries or subjects areas you may already be familiar with.
You may want to include:
- Companies you’ve worked with in the past
- Projects completed before joining Upwork
- Projects you can share from other freelancing sites
STEP 7. Add your language proficiency.
Upwork operates in English and you’re required to indicate your English proficiency in your profile. But businesses on Upwork come from all over the world and often do business in other languages, so be sure to indicate any other languages you might speak.
While language skills are self-assessed, try to be as accurate as possible so you set the right expectation with potential clients.
STEP 8. Set your hourly rate
If the question about setting your rates sparks anxiety, keep these two things in mind:
- You can adjust your overall rate at any time
- You can customize your rate every time you submit a proposal
- One common mistake new freelancers on Upwork often make is to base their rate on their salary as an employee. While that may be a starting point, it doesn’t account for costs you’re now responsible for, such as equipment you rely on, your home office setup, taxes and professional fees, or ongoing skills training.
You may find it helpful to start at one rate then adjust it as you build your reputation through completed projects and client feedback, improve your understanding of the value you offer to long-term clients, and get a better sense of the effort each client project requires.
Figuring out the right price for your services can be challenging. Because if you ask for the wrong price, clients will never even consider hiring you.
In the beginning, the best way to figure out the right price is to go look at popular freelance marketplaces and see what other freelancers in your niche or industry are charging.
Since you’re new, it’s not fair to charge the same prices as experienced freelancers.
Instead, you should try to figure out a middle ground where you can offer a competitive price over experienced freelancers without making yourself seem cheap.
STEP 9. Indicate your title and overview
A great title and overview can make a difference to the responses you get from clients since they’re among the first things they will see. Let’s start by thinking about what clients will see in search results: It’s basically an ad for your services.
Your headline should describe your job title. So, try to be as specific as possible to make it easier for your client to understand what you do.
What can you do to help entice potential clients to click through and look at your full freelancer profile? Here are a few ideas:
Keep your title short. Get the most important information across as quickly as possible.
Be specific and include keywords that potential clients may search for.
Make your first sentence count. Your whole bio can be a critical tool to convert new clients, but the very beginning will be the most visible.
Your overview should be one or two short paragraphs:
This is my profession, this is how much experience I have, these are the kinds of projects I want to take on, this is what I can do for you. Short, sweet, and done.”
STEP 10. Upload A Professional Photo.
Don’t even think about using a selfie or a really weird close-up webcam photo as your profile picture. That’s a mistake most amateur freelancers make.
If you can, go to a studio and get a photograph taken by a professional. It’ll be worth it.
Upwork’s Terms of Use include a few requirements for profile photos. For example:
- It can’t be blank
- Your face must be clearly visible
- You can’t use a logo or caricature
STEP 11. Add your contact details
Upwork will need a bit more detail to help verify your identity, including your address and phone number.
STEP 12. Preview your profile before submitting
You’re just about finished! Review your freelancer profile information one more time before submitting it.
Note that, you won’t be able to start submitting proposals right away.
Trust is essential on Upwork and it’s important that people are who they say they are. So later on upwork will need to verify your identity using:
- Valid government-issued ID
- An online visual verification
In most cases, this process takes about 10 minutes—just follow the prompts in your account.
Finally, it’s important to stay active on Upwork. Regularly update your profile, post in relevant forums, and participate in online discussions. This will help you stay top of mind and make sure your profile stands out from the crowd.
By following these tips, you can create a perfect freelancer profile on UpWork in 2023.
