When it comes to applying for jobs on Upwork or similar gig sites, sometimes it feels like throwing your resume into the wind. Is anyone even going to see it? What makes me different from the other 1000+ freelancers who applied?
The truth is, with the gig economy, there are a lot more people out there applying for gigs than ever before. That means that being a freelancer is competitive business. You need to be on top of your game to beat out the competition. Whether you’ve been doing this for years or are just starting out, it’s always worth getting an expert’s opinion.
Here is some advice from the folks who know best on how to land that next gig.
Be Authentic
Abby Forman and her team at Fiverr brainstormed some helpful tips for achieving success on their platform. First and foremost, they suggest keeping it real. It’s important to use a profile picture to put a face to your name, an accurate account of your professional background, education and skills, and be sure to fill out the website section for additional credibility for Fiverr’s moderation team.
In the same vein, the support team at Guru offered similar advice to gaining traction with employers.
“Create a great profile that will attract employers – help clients get to know you as easy as possible by providing a profile that has character. Upload a quality profile photo (logos are OK but not as effective.) Introduce yourself and your company, and spell out what you can do for employers by adding services. Remember to include keywords so your services show up for relevant searches.”
Optimize, Optimize, Optimize
Being a freelancer in today’s market is harder than ever. Not only are there a ton of freelancers out there already, but you must compete with them on a content level as well. You can have the greatest work, but if it’s impossible to find it you won’t get hired.
Forman and her team suggest putting out as much relevant information about your work as you can. Have a clear, concise title describing exactly what you’re offering and incorporate relevant keywords as well. This way, if folks search for your kind of project, you’re more likely to come up. And don’t forget to include images in your gallery (especially one of yourself for credibility) because images catch a person’s eye. Snagging gigs as a freelancer isn’t much different than attracting eyes on social media. Pictures are important tools!
On Upwork or any other platform, it is crucial to distinguish yourself from the other creators. Be clear about what you offer, what you bring to the table and what the expectations are. If you lay bare all of your requirements up front, utilizing a FAQ section for example, you’re less likely to have misunderstandings. The better you are to work with, the more likely you’ll get hired again.
Always Be Learning
When you’re a freelancer there isn’t time to sit back and enjoy the ride. You always need to be learning and growing so you can offer the very best work every time. Learning can mean taking courses online, reading up on the latest news in your industry or attending seminars. Whatever you can do to continue growing, do it!
For success on Fiverr, Forman suggests this course as your “number one choice.”
“This course is based on the experience of top Fiverr Sellers as well as a deep understanding of the marketplace and all of the tools that are available for you on the platform,” she wrote.
Additionally, there are other courses on Fiverr specific to certain skills like Photoshop, Google ads, and social media.
Guru’s blog is also a great resource for learning. For example, the support team at Guru has written a post outlining how to write a winning project proposal.
Put Yourself Out There
Beyond their website, Guru’s support team offers some advice on freelancing itself, which can be a lonely endeavor. It emphasizes the importance of getting out and becoming part of the community.
“As a freelancer, you miss out on all kinds of opportunities if you never leave the house. For example, networking events can be a great way to find partners for big projects, or for meeting new clients. Sometimes it’s just nice to meet other freelancers and share horror stories, too. What’s more, if you spend all your time in your house, your home and work life can dangerously fuse, leading to all kinds of problems. A great way to overcome this is to join a co-working space, if only for a couple of days a week.”
