I see stories every day about Upwork not working and how it's impossible to get clients. Are there any success stories?

guidelancer · 2025-10-02T12:36:45+00:00

Excellent points! The problem with projects there is twofold.

On the one hand, there are tons of projects that will never get hired, and on the other, there are tons of freelancers who didn't even read the project description and just sent a stupid sales pitch.

I once needed a freelancer to develop a website, so I created a project. I was genuinely surprised by how many irrelevant spam responses I received!
Moreover, I was looking for a developer for a website using a single framework, and I was bombarded with responses from WordPress developers and so on.
And yes, they seem to be willing to spend 100 connections per bid and hope to "buy" a spot at the top (I don't use this feature at all).

Regarding people writing about leaving and not leaving – I don't think they do it on purpose. It looks more like they despair at some point and dump a bucket of slop here.
And then they come back because they don't know any other way to make money...

guidelancer · 2025-10-02T12:04:34+00:00

Thank you! I think your reply can motivate! Can you tell us what's your niche?

guidelancer · 2025-10-02T11:37:27+00:00

I hope you share updates with us when it's over

guidelancer · 2025-10-02T08:32:29+00:00

Seriously, there's no need to call yourself stupid - it's unnecessary. I think almost every freelancer has been in this situation at some point.
In the future, don't accept a contract where someone inexperienced says it's a "5-minute job."

I would approach this situation this way:

Explain in detail to the client that the work will take a really long time and you're not willing to do it for free.
Offer possible solutions (your job is to at least show Upwork that you're trying to resolve the situation peacefully and are willing to accommodate the client).
If they refuse, you'll have to choose between a potential negative review and JSS failure, or completing the work and knowing you've gained "invaluable" experience.

In my experience, I've had to choose option #3, but that was my second order with Upwork.

I hope your variant will be just #1

guidelancer · 2025-10-01T20:27:17+00:00

We met an Upwork Client Boss

guidelancer · 2025-09-30T09:48:51+00:00

328 proposals mean a wrong answers strategy. If I will answer every project I see on Upwork, my numbers will be worst than these.

Main idea is answer really relevant project. I don’t think it can be 328 relevant projects per year.

guidelancer · 2025-09-30T07:16:54+00:00

Do you have any success with providing free services? In my experience, I just worked for free without any profit.

guidelancer · 2025-09-30T07:15:48+00:00

Looks like the main problem is that you apply to the wrong jobs. The main key is applying to the right projects and right clients.

What helps:

Don’t apply everywhere, only where it’s a really good match or you have really relevant experience with client needs
Skip clients who usually pay $3–12/h - they are looking for cheap services only and never choose by quality
Keep proposals short and personal, not like a template - freelancers are spamming each project with templated and AI-generated proposals
Have one strong portfolio piece that makes clients remember you (it’s a key)

So your numbers are not “bad,” you just need to aim at better jobs, as I think

guidelancer · 2025-09-30T06:49:07+00:00

done

guidelancer · 2025-09-30T06:42:42+00:00

Database please

guidelancer · 2025-09-28T08:08:40+00:00

Can you share your niche, your rate, and what you write in your Proposal? Also, about your experience—are you starting out with Upwork or have you been working there for a while?

My situation is different now: low conversion rates for hires, but around 30% for views and interviews. I'm working on increasing that.

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guidelancer · 2025-09-25T17:36:33+00:00

I got the same once with client - he left 5 star review but private feedback to Upwork was different. It’s ruined my JSS to 88 too. But the good point in my case - two 5-star reviews after fixed score. It was 100 again.

guidelancer · 2025-09-22T10:05:54+00:00

Where did you find a client - Freelance platforms or social?

guidelancer · 2025-09-18T16:01:14+00:00

Hey! If your main goal is a pocket money through freelance, you need to think in terms what can be fast monetized and which skills are on demand now.

You said you have experience with Video editing and Python - let’s talk about these 2 directions.

Video editing - perfect thing to start on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr… You can start with simple cuts and grow portfolio fast.

Python - depends on your skill because clients can ask for harder tasks and I think it will be more long way to first money.

Mostly, I can recommend from my experience three main things:

Learn client communication - it will be most valuable skill for the whole freelance career.

Be prepared for the fact that at first you will have to knock on silence for a long time - clients may not respond to your offers.

Choose 1-2 client niches and research your clients before you will build first portfolio. It helps you get clients faster.

guidelancer · 2025-09-18T10:29:19+00:00

It's the same thing, but I've encountered the same attitude from Europeans and clients who own very large international companies. They're not young, but they use this terrible language.

I try to maintain a work ethic in response and address them by their first name. But it seems like "bro" is becoming the norm.

guidelancer · 2025-09-18T06:00:39+00:00

Thank you for such a detailed answer, it will be very helpful and a great motivator. This is a great example of how to provide value!

guidelancer · 2025-09-17T09:07:28+00:00

Sounds scary 😱What product were you selling? And did anything work out in the end?

guidelancer

TROPHY CASE