Your Upwork profile is your CV on Upwork; it must be done properly. It is where you showcase your skills and past experiences for everyone to see; hence, it should be crafted with due diligence.
So, how do you craft a good one? Well, I believe the answer is simple — check what successful freelancers in your niche are using, then model yours after theirs.
Let’s say you are a web developer who wants to get started on Upwork. How are you going to do it?
Go to the search box, and click on “jobs” to change the “jobs” to “talent.” Once you have chosen “talent,” input the title you want to search for.
Let’s use the filters at the left to narrow our search to top freelancers.
You can tweak your filters even more depending on what you are looking for. You can also repeat the same searches for different niches.
However, there are a few points that I want to point out. These include:
Versions of profiles
Many freelancers update their profiles frequently, so you might not be seeing the first versions of their profiles; hence, your discretion is highly advised.
Check their recent job activity
You should prioritize freelancers who have been getting constant recent jobs. As for top freelancers who haven’t gotten many recent jobs, their profile style might either be outdated or they haven’t applied to new jobs as they could be tied down to long-term lucrative contracts.
Plagiarism
Avoid plagiarism at all costs. You can use their profiles as guides but don’t plagiarize their profiles. Always make sure you stand out.
Your portfolio is very important
Your portfolio section in your profile should be treated with utmost importance. Don’t play with it. You can even be adding them to your proposals! So, make sure it is well done!
Video introduction
If you can do a proper and high-quality video introduction, then you should; however, I don’t know how effective it is! Even if you will, make sure it contains only relevant information about how you can help your clients and your previous experience.
Relevant details
Avoid including irrelevant information anywhere in your profile. Your profile is your sales pitch! Sell yourself and make your potential profile viewers know you are highly capable.
Boost your profile
I don’t know how effective this is. If you have enough Upwork Connects, you can tinker with it to see if it will be advantageous to you.
Model after many profiles
Before you decide on what profile to model yours after, you should check out a few excellent profiles. You can then choose to model after one that you like or combine across many profiles to craft an even better profile for yourself.
A good profile isn’t everything
You see, having a good profile is just a piece of the puzzle. There are so many things you need to get right if you want to be getting constant jobs on Upwork.
Availability badge
I don’t know how effective this is. If you have enough Connects, you can tinker with it to see if it will be advantageous to you. However, Upwork recommends that only those with several profile views use this option.
Note: When applying for a job, your proposal is much more important than your profile; hence, you shouldn’t place too much hope on your profile. However, having a properly crafted Upwork profile is still much better and advantageous than when it is poorly crafted.
Conclusion
Unlike cover letters or proposals in which you can’t see what top freelancers in your niche are using, Upwork profiles of top freelancers can easily be found; so, you should not miss out on learning from their profiles.