This submit might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. See our affiliate disclosure for extra.
I wasn’t sure that being a “top-rated” Upwork freelancer would make a distinction. I figured that everybody on that platform is handled the identical means. Nevertheless it seems that being an Upwork top-rated freelancer makes extra of an affect than you would possibly anticipate.
My enterprise has develop into extra viable since I grew to become an Upwork top-rated freelancer. I’ve loved loads of advantages for being top-rated:
- It prices much less for me to arrange a Featured Jobs posting.
- I get quicker funds on my hourly contracts.
- I get invites from Expertise Specialists who need me to ship proposals for varied jobs.
- It’s additionally simpler for me to search out new jobs due to the Job Digest emails made accessible to top-rated freelancers.
- My top-rated badge exhibits people who I’m reliable, as I’ve gathered years of constructive evaluations and suggestions from my shoppers, together with one-off and recurring clients.
Having a top-rated badge is crucial for anybody who needs to be on Upwork. Having such a badge exhibits folks you have got a constructive monitor report. Folks shall be extra more likely to belief you after they know you’ve been doing all of your work the fitting means for years.
This information is about how you can develop into top-rated on Upwork. You’ll study many issues you are able to do to succeed on this excellent platform.
How Do You Obtain High-Rated Standing on Upwork?
Turning into a freelancer on Upwork is simple, as Upwork may help you join a plan that matches your wants. Upwork additionally gives a easy search interface.
Upwork has posted a number of particular necessities for turning into a top-rated Upwork freelancer on its web site. Right here’s a have a look at what Upwork is asking from its customers:
- Customers should have a Job Success Rating of at the very least 90%.
- You’ll additionally want to take care of a excessive Job Success Rating for an prolonged interval. This level entails a rating of 90% or higher for 13 of the final 16 weeks or sustaining Rising Expertise standing.
- Your profile on Upwork should even be full.
- Your availability must be listed in your profile.
- There must be no account holds in your account.
- You must have earned at the very least $1,000 with Upwork previously twelve months.
- Your first job with Upwork ought to have come at the very least ninety days in the past.
- You should have been energetic on Upwork inside the previous 90 days.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at how one can develop into an Upwork top-rated consumer and qualify for the advantages you deserve.
Job Success Rating of 90% or Extra
The very first thing you have to develop into an Upwork top-rated freelancer is a excessive Job Success Rating. This rating function is a part of what makes Upwork completely different from different web sites prefer it.
However what is that this rating all about, and how will you enhance it?
The Job Success Rating is a measure of how happy shoppers are together with your work on Upwork. It displays buyer suggestions, job outcomes, and different components.
Upwork calculates your Job Success Rating with a easy calculation:
- The variety of unfavorable contract outcomes is subtracted from the profitable contract outcomes you have got.
- The result’s divided by the whole variety of outcomes in your profile.
Your rating is calculated each two weeks. Your profile will embrace scores for the previous six, twelve, and 24 months. Your Trending JSS may also present your common scores for the previous six months and the final three months added collectively after which divided in half.
You’ll be able to enhance your Job Success Rating with a number of steps:
- Be well mannered and immediate towards your consumer, so your buyer shall be extra more likely to depart constructive suggestions.
- Make certain your work is of the absolute best high quality. Let your shoppers see your skills at work whereas exhibiting how distinctive you’re.
- Be very particular when finishing your work. At all times comply with no matter directions your shoppers present. Be keen to ask for additional particulars if in case you have questions on these directions.
- Be able to deal with no matter disputes or considerations your shoppers have about your work. Resolve no matter issues they’ve as quickly as attainable.
- Meet no matter deadlines folks impose. Your clients will anticipate you’ll ship your work on time.
- Be open to your consumer. Make your self accessible on the Upwork platform. Test your account occasionally to see what messages persons are leaving, and reply to them as quickly as attainable.
Make Certain Your First Upwork Job Was At Least 90 Days In the past
The following a part of being an Upwork top-rated freelancer is to have sufficient expertise on the platform. Your first Upwork job ought to have been at the very least 90 days in the past.
However why is Upwork so involved about this level?
Upwork needs to make sure its customers actively try to search out work on its platform. It should give rankings to people who find themselves extra energetic and have been constant in getting jobs. Folks with extra initiatives below their belts shall be extra more likely to obtain rankings.
I get that this generally is a irritating problem, however discovering your first job on Upwork is simpler to handle than you anticipate. You’ll be able to stick to smaller jobs initially and stick to the shoppers that provide the greatest suggestions. You’ll even have a better time discovering jobs after you full your profile.
Preserve a Excessive JSS Or Rising Expertise Standing
The following solution to attain top-rated freelancer standing on Upwork is to take care of a excessive Job Success Rating or JSS. You should both have a JSS of 90% or extra or preserve Rising Expertise standing for at the very least 13 of the final 16 weeks.
Rising Expertise standing is the second-best standing you possibly can attain on Upwork behind a top-rated rating. Rising Expertise members are professionals with good backgrounds who’ve had early success on the platform. They’ve expertise of their industries and are beginning to present their skills to happy shoppers.
You’ll want to take care of Rising Expertise standing lengthy sufficient to succeed in a top-rated rating. You are able to do many issues to qualify for a Rising Expertise badge and keep there:
- Be certain your profile is totally full.
- At all times end your duties on time and primarily based on the directions your shoppers request.
- Submit common proposals to initiatives that fit your expertise.
- Replace your availability standing as crucial.
- Stay current on Upwork by being energetic previously 90 days.
- Conform to Upwork’s Phrases of Service.
Full Your Profile
The following step for turning into an Upwork top-rated freelancer is to finish your profile on the location. Your profile will function particulars on your self and your expertise. This function is one a part of utilizing Upwork I take pleasure in, because it permits me to be extra private towards my shoppers.
Half of your profile will cowl the next:
- A profile photograph of your self
- An summary of your self
- A number of employment historical past listings
- A number of ability tags
Your profile shall be 50% full while you embrace all 4 of these items in your profile.
You’ll be able to then end the remaining half of your profile by together with a mix of those:
- As much as 4 portfolio gadgets; every will cowl 5% of your profile
- As much as two employment historical past gadgets, with every being value 10% of your profile
- Further ability tags
- Schooling historical past
- A profile video
- A number of extra linked accounts
- Certification information
- One extra Different Expertise merchandise protecting different related work initiatives you’ve accomplished
Test the “Profile Completeness” itemizing in your account to see far you’re in finishing your profile.
$1,000 Earnings Within the Final 12 Months
You have to be energetic sufficient on Upwork to the place you’ve earned at the very least $1,000 from Upwork initiatives within the final twelve months. You’ll be able to set your hourly charge for work on Upwork by reviewing the providers you present and factoring your bills into your work. You would additionally overview your potential annual wage and what number of hours it will take so that you can get there.
Don’t overlook to incorporate the worth you provide in your work. Incorporate your normal expertise and talents into your worth. Individuals are keen to pay extra for staff who’ve extra capabilities.
You is likely to be inquisitive about whether or not you need to wait twelve months to develop into top-rated. The excellent news is you possibly can attain that standing sooner for those who earn $1,000 quickly sufficient and preserve your 90% or increased JSS or Rising Expertise standing for 13 of the final 16 weeks after reaching the $1,000 mark.
Up-To-Date Availability
One motive I maintain top-rated freelancer standing on Upwork includes how I preserve common availability on the location. Upwork cares about this as a result of they need to guarantee folks on the platform are routinely accessible for duties. Upwork needs its shoppers to be assured they’ll discover many staff on the platform who may help at any level.
Your availability is a list of how a lot work you possibly can full. You’ll be able to state one of many following:
- You might be open for at the very least 30 hours per week.
- You can be found for lower than 30 hours per week.
- You might be open as wanted and keen to take heed to shoppers’ gives.
You’ll be able to replace your Upwork availability by going to the Discover Work part in your Upwork panel and clicking the Hours Per Week part in your my Profile panel. You’ll be able to then state whether or not you can be found or unavailable and checklist what number of hours you possibly can work in per week. Be certain you retain this up to date as crucial.
Have No Latest Account Holds
One other a part of why I’m a top-rated Upwork freelancer includes how I’m all the time trustworthy and direct with my shoppers. Upwork significantly values belief, and I would like my shoppers to belief me with the work I full.
My honesty and promptness have helped me keep away from account holds. You’ll be able to attain top-rated freelancer standing on Upwork by having an account in good standing with no holds.
An account maintain happens when you don’t adjust to Upwork’s Phrases of Service. Your maintain will limit you from accessing your account for a sure interval. The timing will differ primarily based on the severity of your actions and what number of different holds you’ve had previously.
Upwork imposes these account holds to make sure its customers keep trustworthy and accountable.
The easiest way to keep away from account holds is to know what triggers these holds. A few of the issues that may trigger Upwork to carry or restrict your account embrace:
- Receiving funds from shoppers exterior of the Upwork system
- Sharing your accounts with others, inflicting uncertainty amongst shoppers over who’s on an account
- Not performing primarily based on the phrases of your contracts
- Utilizing a number of logins when getting on Upwork
- Sharing contact info, together with making it the place you’re speaking with shoppers exterior Upwork
- Harassment of shoppers
- Spamming shoppers
- Pressuring shoppers into providing you with constructive suggestions
Make sure to keep away from these points to maintain your self from entering into an account maintain.
Staying Energetic on Upwork Within the Final 90 Days
The final solution to develop into an Upwork top-rated freelancer is to remain energetic on the Upwork platform. You should have accomplished sufficient exercise on the Upwork platform over the previous 90 days to realize top-rated standing.
A few of the issues on Upwork that depend as exercise embrace:
- Proposing work
- Accepting work invites
- Incomes cash by means of your work
Conclusion
My work on Upwork has been very productive, as I’ve used the platform to search out many roles and construct constructive relationships with my shoppers. My capability to remain energetic, comply with Upwork’s guidelines, and set an affordable pay charge has helped me develop into widespread right here.
You could be as profitable on Upwork as I’ve while you have a look at what you’re doing right here and plan accordingly. Be certain you full an intensive profile and that you just comply with all of the directions and desires your shoppers have on Upwork. Don’t overlook to comply with Upwork’s phrases of use to enhance your possibilities of success. All these measures will make sure you take pleasure in all the things the Upwork platform gives.
Hold the dialog going…
Over 10,000 of us are having each day conversations over in our free Fb group and we would like to see you there. Be a part of us!
Written by Michael Fox
Contributor at Millo.co
Michael Fox is a author primarily based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. He’s a graduate of North Carolina State College and holds greater than fifteen years of writing expertise.
At Millo, we try to publish solely the most effective, most reliable and dependable content material for freelancers. You’ll be able to be taught extra by reviewing our editorial coverage.