Key Tips for Starting Freelancing on Upwork in 2025

Today we’ll talk about the key tips a newbie freelancer needs to keep in mind when starting their freelancing career on Upwork. The fact is that starting a freelancing career on Upwork has become very challenging these days. It’s highly competitive and clients have different options for different types of gig that they are looking for. 

Taking into consideration the fact that a lot has changed in the freelancing world, the strategies to win jobs have also undergone some updates. And below we share the key tips that can help you start freelancing on Upwork in 2025. 

Key Tips

Tip #1 Your Profile is Who You Are

Your first task is to keep in mind that you are not coming in half-asked in making your profile, portfolio and projects. This is the rule of 3Ps (profile+portfolio+projects) that you need to remember. 

Make sure they look awesome before you send any proposal. Otherwise you’ll just waste your connects because clients hire based on your skills, previous experience and talent that’s represented on your profile. 

Tip #2: Proposals Cost Money

Proposals cost money, meaning you use connects to apply for jobs on Upwork. And those connects are for sale. Each month you buy connects to send out proposals. So, applying for jobs is not free and you have to buy connects to keep on sending new proposals. That’s why refer to your proposals seriously. 

Take care about how they look, what information they include and how strong they are. If you send poor proposals, you may lose money. Soon, you’ll realize that it gets expensive for you to work on the platform. 

Tip #3: Use of AI

Although you may think that AI can help you in freelancing, many clients just hate the use of AI in certain fields such as content creation, translation, copywriting, etc. It’s better to rely on your own skills, imagination and creativity while creating a new product. 

AI usually uses the info inside the Internet including social media, articles and the like but the client who’s after a unique piece, will definitely require your talent and your own overview. That’s why, try to be fair and provide a high quality result. 

On the other hand, for some clients it’s important that their freelancer is well-aware of the use of AI. Nowadays many are looking for freelancers who can use different AI tools. So, you should enrich your AI skills whatever your field of freelancing. Make sure you can offer skills that are in demand NOW. 

Tip #4: Never GIve Up

Despite the fact that it takes some time for you to win your first job, you shouldn't give up. Yes, it’s a bit difficult, sometimes disappointing but only those who have enough patience succeed. Nothing goes smooth at first but once you start, you become more and more requested on this platform. 

Summing Up

Check the video below to learn more about the key tips to start freelancing in 2025.