In 2016, I signed up for Upwork, desperately hoping that I could figure out a way to earn at least $1,000 per month as a freelance writer.

I had no professional writing experience and honestly didn’t see why anyone would want to hire me to write for them. So naturally, I turned to Google to help me figure it out.

And this is where I got really, really lucky because I came across a post about someone who had earned over $100,000 as a copywriter on Upwork. His story really gave me hope and helped me believe that I, too, could earn over $100,000 as a freelance writer.

Upwork regularly updates your profile and shows how much you’ve made on the platform. And just recently, I noticed that I’ve earned over $100,000 just from my Upwork jobs.

5 Things I Learned From Landing Upwork Jobs

In the interest of full disclosure, this is not an annual income. I earned this money over the past three and a half years I’ve been freelancing on Upwork.

Even still, Upwork continues to make up a nice percentage of my monthly income. And it feels like a pretty big milestone to me.

So I want to use this blog post to talk about five things I’ve learned from earning over $100,000 from Upwork.

1. You have to do what works for you

If I’m being really honest, sometimes I feel embarrassed talking about my success with Upwork.

In spite of the fact that it’s one of the best freelancing strategies I’ve used, I occasionally start to feel like I shouldn’t write about it on this blog.

Why? Because so many other freelancer writers look down on people who apply for Upwork jobs.

I’ve heard other freelancers say that you can’t build a “real” business if you’re looking for work in Upwork.

A writer I respect said you should never listen to a freelancing coach who recommends applying for Upwork jobs.

So sometimes I feel like I won’t be taken seriously as a writer if I admit to using platforms like Upwork.

But at the end of the day, I can’t pay my bills with other people’s opinions, and neither can you. Find what works for you and stick with it, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

2. Be willing to start small

Sometimes I’ll stop and think about the fact that that within three years, I went from making $8/hour at Starbucks to consistently earning between $10,000-$12,000 per month as a freelance writer.

It honestly still blows my mind! There is no typical job you can find that will lead to that kind of salary increase!

But here’s the thing - I never started expecting to make $10,000 a month overnight. I was willing to start small and work my way up.

In the beginning, I never had an attitude about writing $20 blog posts. I was just so happy someone actually wanted to pay me money to write for them!

Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I am NOT saying you should accept pennies for your work forever. But if you’re brand new and have zero samples, be willing to start small.

There’s nothing wrong with accepting a job for the experience or taking lower-paying work because you know it will lead to better opportunities down the road.

3. Consistency is the only way to create real results

This point goes hand-in-hand with my previous point. A lot of people love to talk about hustle and how hard work is the best way to achieve your goals.

And on some level, I suppose that’s true. But for me, my BEST results have come from the things I’ve stuck with consistently.

A lot of people are surprised when they download the Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide and see that I only recommend sending 3 proposals per days. Shouldn’t you send 10-20 for the best results?

If you think you can stick with that then go for it. But in my experience, 3 proposals per day is very manageable and most people can stick with it over the long haul.

I would rather you send 3 proposals a day for the next year then try to send 20 proposals per day and give up after a week.

4. The best freelancers are not necessarily the best writers

Often, people will come to me because they want to be freelance writers but they’re worried their writing skills aren’t strong enough.

But I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

The best-paid freelance writers are not necessarily the best writers.

The best-paid freelance writers are the ones who know how to meet deadlines, can answer their emails within a reasonable timeframe, and deliver excellent customer service.

You do need a certain level of writing ability if you want to get hired. But if you can’t keep your clients happy then I can almost guarantee you’re not going to make much money.

I am not the best writer but I am a damn good freelancer. If you want to learn more about this topic, I recommend checking out this blog post.

5. You have to stay focused on your long-term goals

I know how exciting it is when you first decide you want to pursue freelance writing. But know that it’s only a matter of time before you become disenchanted with it.

Choosing to pursue freelancing is by far one of the best decisions I’ve ever made but there are plenty of challenges that come with it. I go through funks where I don’t feel like looking for work and my assignments take 10x as long as they should.

And occasionally, I still lose clients or have clients that don’t like my writing. I currently have a client that owes me more than $900 and I don’t think I’m ever going to receive payment on the job. (Thankfully, non-payment from clients is the exception, not the rule!)

My point is, if you stick with anything long enough it’s going to suck at least part of the time. That’s why you need to stay focused on your long-term goals and the kind of life you want to live.

For me, that includes creating a lifestyle where I can earn a high income while still being present for my husband and kids. Most workdays, I take my kids to the pool at 1:00 in the afternoon. That’s possible because I’ve built a solid freelancing business.

(Side note: I’m actually writing this blog post draft in the notes app on my phone while sitting by the pool.)

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I want to leave you with it’s that I don’t care if you look for work on Upwork or not.

Too many freelancers get caught up in looking for the best marketing strategy.

At the end of the day, it’s about believing in yourself, staying consistent, and delivering value to your clients.

However, I do think Upwork is a great place for new freelancers to start. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, then I want to invite you to attend my FREE Upwork training.

My webinar, How to Use Upwork as a Freelance Writer, will teach you five key steps to getting started on Upwork. So if you’re interested in kickstarting your business and finding more clients, you won’t want to miss this training!

You can sign up here:

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