The top rated badge on Upwork comes with some prestige and perks that can help you land more jobs and make more money as a freelancer or virtual assistant. This badge not only guarantees that the freelancer has completed 250 successful jobs, but it also allows them to access top clients who are looking to hire the best freelancers on Upwork. But how do you get this top rated badge? What’s involved in earning this prestigious title? Here’s how to get the top rated badge on Upwork faster than you might expect.
Create killer profiles:
As an upwork freelancer, having the right profile is crucial to success. Whether you're looking for your first client or trying to grow your freelancing business, it's time to ramp up that profile with these insider tips.
1) Boost your credentials. In addition to skills, freelance rates and expertise areas, also mention your education and awards/distinctions you have attained in your professional field of work. Hint: If you're new, use this as an opportunity to list additional skills that you plan on cultivating - like graphic design.
2) Showcase past work samples. Your portfolio will not only be a powerful selling tool for yourself but it will also show potential clients how you can solve their problems. Here are some simple ways to make your portfolio stand out:
- Use video where possible instead of just text or images.
- Include testimonials about your work. A few sentences about how well you executed their project and what they loved about working with you can go a long way!
- Optimize your portfolio so that it matches the language of the jobs that you want to apply for. For example, if there are 10 positions available but most require HTML knowledge while yours only requires CSS, then optimize those portfolios accordingly. That way when employers see them they'll know exactly what they're getting into!
Create killer proposals:
Successful freelancers know that quality proposals can make or break your chances of landing high-paying clients. First impressions are everything, and sloppy proposals tend to be turned down right away. When writing freelance proposals, you want to get straight to the point. After introducing yourself and letting your potential client know what you’re selling, give them a good idea of what you can offer them in return for their payment. Make sure that you cover any potential concerns they might have as well as any other information that might interest them. Include anything that will set you apart from other freelancers like specialized skills, prior experience, or unique qualities. Tailor your proposal so it speaks directly to the specific needs of this particular client, not just dumping a template on them. Once you’ve crafted an amazing proposal, don’t forget to follow up with an email once every few days following up with your previous proposal!
Be customer focused:
As you start to improve your skills and be more successful, it will come time to decide whether or not you want to apply for freelancer badges. The elite badges can set you apart and open up opportunities that would have been unavailable before. Here are some things to keep in mind as you work towards earning this coveted designation:
- Make sure that you're having positive interactions with your clients and have established clear guidelines in your contracts, like deadlines and turnaround times, so they know what they're getting into when hiring you. - Provide excellent customer service by responding quickly, checking in with them regularly, following through on your commitments promptly without fail, and being honest about changes made along the way.
Communicate effectively:
It takes dedication and perseverance to become an upwork freelancer. Unlike in other freelancing marketplaces, for example, Fiverr, where a high rating is given for offering any type of service for only $5, such tactics don't work with upwork. You must offer high quality work that goes above and beyond what is expected by hiring professionals. After receiving five requests from clients in 30 days or fewer you'll have the option of submitting a proposal as 'new'. That would allow you one chance at being selected as an employee because after that you're permanently established in their system and your rating will not be changeable. To move your chances of getting an hourly contract it's advised that after fulfilling each gig you submit feedback regardless if it was positive or negative. They want to know about how well you performed so they can make sure they are awarding contracts accordingly. Another good tip is to read all of the information on a job posting before accepting it. When reviewing jobs just make sure that you agree with the statement I am willing to complete this job within X hours before committing yourself since some bids might require more time than others depending on factors like difficulty level, language barriers, etc.
Outline what you expect from clients:
It's worth noting that this is the contract I always use for new clients, as it covers all our bases, provides clear communication about expectations, and leaves me free to focus on my craft.
1. You may cancel your project in one hour after signing this contract with no penalty. 2. If you cancel your project in more than one hour after signing this contract, you will be charged 50% of hours spent. 3. If we have not finished your project by any means before cancelling it with more than one hour prior notice (I will make every effort possible), then you are only responsible for 50% of total charges due at that time. 4.
The golden rule for getting more clients on Upwork:
No matter how many great skills you have, you're not going to be very successful as an upwork freelancer if you don't understand the rules. For example, it's essential that you find clients that give great feedback. That way, not only will your average rating increase but so will your pay per hour. Plus, one of the secrets for getting more and better projects is finding those jobs with stellar reviews and multiple awards. Why? Because then the client has proved they know what they're doing. They've been vetted by their peers and are just the kind of person you want to work with.
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