Get Your FIRST JOB on Upwork (With This ONE Thing)

Summary

The video script details a freelancer's journey from starting with no clients or portfolio on Upwork to earning over half a million dollars. It emphasizes the importance of proof—either through testimonials and reviews (social proof) or work samples (physical proof)—to secure the first clients. The speaker shares strategies for beginners, such as creating a portfolio with non-paid work to showcase skills and offering services for free or at a low cost to gain testimonials. The script also discusses the transition from being a creative to a strategic consultant, using personal experience as an example, and encourages building a portfolio to increase the chances of securing initial clients.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting on Upwork with no prior clients or portfolio can be challenging, but a strategic approach can help secure the first few jobs.
• 💼 Having a 100% job success score and an 'Expert Vetted' badge on your profile can significantly boost your credibility on Upwork.
• 📈 The speaker earned $400,000 in just two years by leveraging a strategic approach to finding clients on Upwork.
• 🔍 To convince clients to hire you, it's crucial to provide proof of your skills, which many freelancers overlook.
• 🎥 For visual content creators, creating proof of skills can be as simple as showcasing personal projects or samples of your work.
• 📊 Proof can come in two forms: social proof (testimonials and reviews) and physical proof (actual work samples).
• 💡 Offering a coupon or doing initial work for free can help build a portfolio and gain testimonials, which are essential for attracting clients.
• 📈 For strategy-based freelancers, demonstrating the ability to achieve results for clients is key, even if it starts with creative work.
• 📊 As a consultant, using graphs and data from past projects to show the impact of your work is a powerful form of physical proof.
• 🔗 Building a portfolio with testimonials and visual examples is essential for beginners to show potential clients that you're capable, even without prior paid clients.
• 🔄 Breaking the cycle of 'I'll have proof once I have clients' by proactively creating a portfolio and seeking testimonials is crucial for getting started on Upwork.

Q & A

What is the speaker's experience on Upwork?

The speaker has earned over five hundred thousand dollars on Upwork, with four hundred thousand of that earned in just the last two years. They have a 100% job success score and an expert vetted badge on their profile.

What challenges did the speaker face when they first started on Upwork?

Initially, the speaker had no previous clients, no portfolio, no paid gigs, and no testimonials and reviews, making it difficult to find their first clients.

What is the key thing that many freelancers overlook when trying to get their first job on Upwork?

Many freelancers overlook the need for proof of their skills, which is crucial for convincing clients to hire them.

How did the speaker get their first freelance job as a video editor?

The speaker got their first freelance job by submitting proof of videos they've edited in their proposals, even though these videos were not from paid gigs but were edited for fun.

What are the two forms of proof that can help freelancers get their first clients?

The two forms of proof are social proof through testimonials and reviews, and physical proof through actual work samples.

What strategy does the speaker suggest for a graphic designer to get their first few clients?

The speaker suggests offering a coupon to a few people or businesses to do work for free in exchange for a sample of their work and a testimonial.

How can freelancers who offer strategy-based services prove their capabilities?

Freelancers offering strategy-based services can prove their capabilities by showing results they've achieved for businesses, even if they started as technicians or creatives.

What does the speaker suggest for consultants to include in their portfolio to show their impact?

The speaker suggests including graphs from clients showing how their audiences or website traffic grew during the time the consultant was working with them.

Why is it important for freelancers to get testimonials and reviews early in their career?

Testimonials and reviews are important because they provide social proof, which helps to convince potential clients of the freelancer's capabilities and reduces the client's perceived risk in hiring them.

What advice does the speaker give to freelancers who are struggling to get their first clients?

The speaker advises freelancers to create a portfolio of proof, including testimonials and visual examples of their work, even if it's not from previously paying clients, to increase their chances of getting hired.