Is Upwork Worth It?

Is Upwork Worth It?

Is Upwork Worth It?

Are you a Freelancer or an Employer? It depends on how worth it is based from your role in Upwork, but here are my insights on how worth it is.

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In this article, I will discuss both, so you will have a better understanding if Upwork is worth it.

 

Upwork as a Freelancer

I personally started in Upwork. Actually, it was oDesk back then. When I was starting to do online jobs, I had so many doubts about the platform but that is normal especially this kind of platform is very new.

But, if you look at the time today, digital work is growing so fast. Upwork being one of the best freelancing websites, says they have over 12 million registered freelancers and more than 5 million registered clients.

 

So, is Upwork worth it? 

 

My answer will be, YES! Of course! 

 

If you wanted to start working online, Upwork is the best to get started.

 

All you need is to sign up, get your profile approved and start applying for jobs.

 

The only disadvantage, you also got a lot of competitors. Working online now, there’s really a lot of competition, anywhere you at. That’s reality!

 

Take note of these reminders even if you are just starting out…

1. Know Your Worth

You have to know how much is your service worth. Do not price yourself too low and of course don’t offer free work just to attract potential clients. Set a pricing for your services in an hourly basis. And if you will be going to work for fixed pricing, assess your client’s needs before giving the price.

2. Compete with Confidence

Compete with complete confidence on what you can do. Show your potential clients that you are providing a real and better deals. Build trust and respect on each job you handle. Do not just compete with your pricing, compete with your skills and resources.

3. All The Best

In every job posted in Upwork, clients have their own criteria based on Upwork. You don’t need to make it as a checklist to be able to qualify. Read the description, understand what they need and don’t be afraid to start communicating by sending your application. There are times that clients don’t know how much the budget should they need and often times they are categorizing it in different aspects. Most of the time all they need is someone who can do the job with exemption to the rule, and could do more than what it needs to be delivered. So always be at your best and do not restrain from applying for these jobs that you know you could be of great help.

ASENSO TIP 101:

If you are seeking for online job, I recommend this online course, VA Bootcamp. This online course is one of the digital courses that I took and helped me build my own online success. They will teach you all the needs on getting started, the skills you need to know to get your first online job, how to find and land jobs with direct foreign clients and more of these Work-From-Home strategies. As a reader of this blog, here’s a 10% discount coupon – SARAHB10. [Full Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, which means that I earn a commission if you do end up purchasing. It’s at NO extra cost to you.]

Upwork as an Employer

I also do hiring for tasks that I could no longer do when my load is full. And I actually use Upwork to hire these people do work for me. And besides, I also wanted to know how it feels to be an employer.

 

So why in Upwork?

 

Well, as an employer, all you need is to create your account, create a job posting, make sure you have enough credits to pay your freelancer, sit back and relax while freelancers comes in to apply for the job you posted; and finally, filter it based on your need and your project is good to go.

 

Simple right? But that’s not just that.

 

You also need to remember things so you would not end up hiring incompetent candidates for your next project.

 

Try to make these things keep in mind before creating job posts and hiring candidates:

1. The Price is Right

Low quality work results are usually priced at $2 to $5 per hour rates, there are some that  give this as a starting price to attract clients even they can do better than this price and they are just starting out. If quality work is a big deal for you, then provide a realistic budget for your project so high quality freelancers will also apply for you.

2. Detailed Project

Do not just post what you need. Discuss everything you need. Describe the project in detail including skill requirements, how long do you need the job to get done, and it’s categorization. Sometimes, other clients can’t categorize it accurately, and result to irrelevant proposals. Make sure you are giving accurate details and needs, so you can attract potential freelancers who can do the job.

3. Create Rules

When I was hired by my client, the number 1 thing that he likes about my proposal is that I follow the rules. What rules? When creating a job post, you have to include in your description on how you want your freelancers to respond. Either, put a specific phrase in the subject line, or replying to the job post with the first word, or call me with the name you want to be called. These are simple rules that you need for your freelancers to follow. In this way you can filter out those freelancers who cannot follow simple rules like these.

ASENSO TIP 101:

If you are hiring freelancers to do the job for you, you would also want to keep things on track. It’s not bad to track them from time to time, but there’s an easy way for you to manage all your freelancers and get a real time insight on what they are currently working on and how long does it take to complete their task. I use TimeDoctor for my client, and this is very helpful for both of us. Atleast, he is up to date to what is happening with my project to them. Try Time Doctor free for 30 days! [Full Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, which means that I earn a commission if you do end up purchasing. It’s at NO extra cost to you.]

Now, let’s go back to our question here. Is Upwork worth it? 

Definitely, YES!

 

Upwork is worth it, the place where you can start working online or hiring people, the place you can find great talents and/or generous clients. As their company says, there are 12 million registered freelancers and more than 5 million registered clients. One of the best digital marketplaces.

If you want to know how I earned my first $75 in Upwork, I have shared it in my Show and Tell video, watch the episode in this link here.

SAT 001: How I earn from $0 to $75 to $500+ online

SAT 001: How I earn from $0 to $75 to $500+ online

SAT 001: How I earn from $0 to $75 to $500+ online

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE

From NOTHING to Full-time Freelancer, I am able to create my own online journey.

I’ve been a Full-time Freelancer since November 2016 but I discovered this Work-From-Home opportunity since 2012.

I’ve worked from a corporate job including BPO before I finally landed to this job.

It was not easy at first. It’s not like you just resign from your full-time job then start working from home.

We have to consider a lot of things before we finally commit.

In my case, it was not my choice to be laid off to my corporate job. I am not prepared. I don’t know where to start as I never worked for it as Full-time.

I was grateful then because I have done things ahead of time and transition with being a Freelancer becomes successful.

I just needed this one more step for me to be able to survive in this industry.

Watch the video above, and learn with my experiences as I earn from nothing to becoming a Full-time Freelancer. This is My Online Journey.

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Full Transcript

How I earn from 0 to 75 to 500 plus dollar online. This is episode number one of Show and Tell.

This video is actually about my online journey, how I started and what I have invested to be here on where I am right now. I hope at the end of this video it will also be helpful for you to start your own online journey.

This is the timeline of my online journey.

2012 when I get interested and started working online. I register in Odesk and has been verified. Odesk is now called Upwork, it’s a freelancing platform we’re all virtual employees around the world bid for one job post.

I failed and had no income.

Why because I don’t have my own computer. I need to go to a computer shop to check on my emails and to respond with my employers. The next month, I invested for a desktop and still no luck. I decided to work for a BPO company.

2015 I got interested again to work online. With my desktop and my pocket Wi-Fi, I invest 2 to 4 hours of my time applying in Upwork formerly known as Odesk and finally I got my first job. It’s a one-time fixed project.

The task is to convert a manual to presentation basically copy pasting from PDF to PowerPoint so I earned my first $75 from that project but then again became busy so I forgot about working online.

2016 when I invested for my own laptop, from leaving my three-year BPO company to work for an IT Consultancy company to losing my job in November 2016 it’s like an open door for me to start working online again.

I am very determined and passionate to work online. So the next month, because I am passionate I upgrade my pocket Wi-Fi to an unlimited Broadband.

Serious and motivated to find my career in online. Days and months passed by still I had no luck. Of course, never give up so I had a deal with the Lord.

I pray to God that I will enjoy my three months vacation from December to January to February and will find a work again on March 1st.

I used every hour of the day to study and then I decided to enroll for an online course. I enrolled in a Virtual Assistant Bootcamp to increase my knowledge. I am the kind of person that I want to learn new things from the experts.

After several attempts of application in freelancing platforms like Upwork, Onlinejobs.ph and Fiverr, Guru.com, GoLance, Freelancer.com so finally I got another task. And that project cost $85 per website.

At least I am able to pay for our Monthly Bills and Rentals, monthly expenses in house but still short-term projects is not enough. What I need is a company that is full time for stable income to pay my Monthly expenses.

Finally last February 2017 while having a side job for a data encoding project, I received an email where I got an exam, initial interview and final interview and luckily I passed. In the email stated that I will be going to start on the March 1st.

One week before our trip to Iloilo, God answered that prayer. At least I can go home with new work on the March 1st. Truly God is an amazing God with perfect timings and until now I am engaged for that company as of this day.

Now you see my online journey, and I have takeaways for you before you decide to work online.

There are three investment that you need to be able to start.

First investment, of course, it’s a Laptop or a Desktop.

It actually depends on your personality. If you are an on-the-go freelancer then go for a laptop. If you are happy staying at home you can have a desktop. That depends with you. It’s better to have your own. Learn from my experience, applying jobs online are unpredictable. You should have your own, so that you can respond on your employers at your own time.

For the second investment, Internet

Actually we have lots of choices for the internet connection but you have to choose it right. When I decided to upgrade from Pocket Wi-Fi to unlimited broadband, it’s because the data usage allowance are not enough for  me to respond on my applications and perform my tasks. It is easily consumed, the 10 to 15 gb because less than a week, it’s fully consumed.

That is the reason why I switched from limited data to unlimited data. I first used Sky Broadband with 3 mbps. Then this year 2018, I upgrade to 25 mbps. Which is still affordable for me.

There is actually other options that you can research that depends on you. For me, this is what I currently use. Of course, for some unfortunate events, we sometimes lose internet connection, so we needed back-up.

For me, my solution is to invest for a prepaid Wi-Fi so I go with Globe At Home prepaid Wi-Fi so I can just load it up if I needed back-up.

Disclaimer: I am not an affiliate or employee of these companies. I just shared these because I use them and they’re useful form for me.

For our last investment, the most important investment that you need to start working online is Time.

Yes Time! Time to apply for jobs, Time to respond and communicate with your employers and mostly Time to study and learn new things. While I am applying for online jobs, I enroll in Virtual Assistant Bootcamp.

It’s an online course. Even if I am not a starter in online jobs, I am the kind of person who still want to learn MORE. I actually found new learnings from this online course.

The Work From Home Roadmap Team is continually progressing to be a better mentors for Filipinos who want to start working online. They will actually help and guide you side by side to be a successful and world-class virtual employees. If you are interested to learn and trained by experts, they have FREE online courses.

I will provide the link in a description box for the links on the online courses. For transparency purposes, I am an affiliate of this online courses. Meaning if you click on the links and you purchase, I get a commission but don’t worry that’s NO additional cost to you. I am just sharing this because for me, the Virtual Assistant Bootcamp has been useful in my online journey. That’s why I recommend it.

Please do not spend any money on these courses unless you feel you need them or they will help you achieve your own goals.

To recap, to be able to start working online and earn from 0 to $75 to $500 online you have to invest for these three (3).

Your own Laptop or Desktop.

Your Unlimited Internet for Unlimited work and of course,

Time – Time to start your own online journey.

Thank you for watching and I hope you found value on this episode. If you liked it click on the like button. If you have comments, recommendations and questions just comment it below and if you are still unsubscribed, please click on the SUBSCRIBE button and the bell icon to notify you on my
next episode.

This is Sarah Borja, this is Show-And-Tell Episode Number 1 and see you on my next episode.

I have shared where and how I started to become a Full-time Freelancer.

It’s a blessing that my decision works well in the future of my journey.

You may also be thinking of Working-From-Home today, it’s not yet too late. As long as you wanted to start, prepare yourself ahead.

Always remember – Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plansLord, “plans to prosper

Thanks for Watching!

For more Show and Tell videos like this, subscribe to YouTube Channel and click the bell icon for notifications. You can also follow us on Facebook.

TODAY'S TOPIC:

Work From Home

Work From Home is the new job of modern OFW (Online Filipino Worker). Serving foreign clients while you work in the comfort of your own home.

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How I started working online

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My 3 Investment Tips

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The Training that introduced me to become a World-class Virtual Assistant

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My Journey To Work From Home Job

My Journey To Work From Home Job

My Journey To Work From Home Job

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

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November 2016 when my project ended on my IT Consultancy job. Since it was November, I thought that it would be hard for me to apply for another job. There’s a possibility of working on the next holidays if I would be hired. I will not have enough leave credits. I cannot take it to not be with my family during those precious days of the year.

 

Then I decided to take a break. I thought of resting for the next 3-4 months since I am also preparing for a conference in Iloilo for February 2017. Time goes by, I enjoyed my rest days and forgot how exhausted I am every time I go to work from Quezon City to BGC. I did enjoy each day staying at home but of course sometimes I still gets bored especially when you think of where to get and provide budget for the things you need to pay for the month. Since I experienced working part time online, I researched for new ways on how to work online.

 

Onlinejobs.ph is one of the new mediums that I saw that could be something promising for work from home jobs. I updated my profile, completed and verified it. Started to submit cover letters, answer applications that I know I can do the job. January 2017, I got my first job but it was only part-time. My client compensate well since the job was just a copy-paste but I earned $85 per task, which I got 3 tasks. I did really survived during those time. Until then last week of January 2017, when I applied for “Business Analytics Manager” position. Got really interested on the description and all skills needed matched my skills though I am still willing to learn for some. After submission of application, they responded after a day. I took an online application (Answered questions in Google Form), then was selected to proceed to the next step for an interview with the Analytics Manager, then after a week I was selected as one of the 3 successful applicants to be interviewed by the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of the company.

 

1st week of February 2017 has been a roller coaster of emotions during the whole time of the application. It’s one of the online jobs I really prayed for. Aside from the desire of staying at home for work and want to learn more of the business, it was also the time that my budget is running out so bad. 2nd week of February 2017, just before our conference, the Lord granted my prayers. They emailed me the job offer and it is all well compensated. I decided to start on the 1st day of March and the rest is history.

 

Everything happens for a reason, no matter how many failed submitted applications, there is always one successful treasure waiting for the right time with the right person. Never give up on the desires of your heart and never forget to pray for it, for the Lord will grant those prayers in His perfect time.

Thanks to Onlinejobs.ph for I had found the best journey to my online career.

 

ASENSO TIP 101:

For those of you looking for an advanced strategies to start working from home, make sure to check out VA Bootcamp course. This course that I took that helped me grow my freelancing career. [Full Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, which means that I earn a commission if you do end up purchasing. It’s at NO extra cost to you.]

Anyways, I’ve also shared my journey on how I earn my first $85 in OnlineJobsPH in one of my Show and Tell videos, here is the link for that episode.

Want to hire best Filipino Freelancers? Find your next rockstar freelancer that will match your business needs, find them here.

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