How To Get Top Rated On UpWork Guaranteed
It only took me three months to become Top Rated on UpWork, get better jobs, earn more money, and reduce the amount of money that UpWork takes from its freelancer. So how did I do it? I’ll share 7 tips that will get you to Top Rated fast. Plus - if you follow these tips - you will be able to become rising talent and get a 100% success rating within no time!
1. Create a Portfolio
Creating a portfolio is an important step to become Top Rated on Upwork
This step is really important - yet so many seem to not put the time in to create a good portfolio. Before you have earned yourself the reputation of many clients, having a solid portfolio is the number one thing that gives you credibility.
It’s also important to create a portfolio so that you can get Top Rated on UpWork because this is part of the platform. If UpWork asks you to fill out a thing, or add information - do it all! This is the fastest and easiest way to get Top Rated on Upwork (apart from successfully completing jobs).
Create a portfolio - it can even be previous school projects
Tailor the portfolio to the work you want to do - if you want to edit videos, upload videos you have edited for fun, or for work!
2. Get work to increase your stats
Apply for jobs to become Top Rated on UpWork
The first thing you want to do is apply for jobs. Why? Because the more jobs you have successfully completed, the more money you will earn, the more reviews you will have and the better stats your profile will show to potential clients.
When I first started I applied to all kinds of jobs - even really low budget ones. Why? Because it was worth it to build credibility and create a recent portfolio of my abilities. It also increases your statistics, such as success rate, income, and response rate - which makes this the key point to becoming Top Rated on Upwork.
Pro Tip! Building a track record is one of the most important things you can do to get Top Rated on UpWork.
Start slowly, and work your way up. Think about it as a new career, working yourself up the ladder. If you do this hard work in the beginning, you will soon be able to charge more, and apply for expert jobs, since that is what your resume shows!
Apply for ten jobs a day - this way you will build your success rate fast
Apply to low budget jobs - this is the easiest way to build credibility for new clients
Work your way up - as you get more and more jobs, start asking for more money to improve your UpWork statistics
3. Complete your UpWork Profile
Enter as many skills as you can, even if you are just starting out
This is the fun part! My tip to you is: Don’t start with this, do it once you have applied for a few jobs and gotten to know the platform.
In the beginning, yes, it’s important that your profile looks okay - but don’t spend more hours on your profile than on applying for jobs. Remember that your profile matters less than your applications and work!
Completing your profile is one of the most important things to get Top Rated on UpWork. It means you are playing the game and more importantly - following the steps that UpWork wants you to follow. Fill out all the details, even if you only speak one language - fill out that language! Get where I’m going with this?
Pro Tip! Try to get testimonials from past clients, co workers, or employers. This is very easy to do with their LinkedIn feature. All you have to do is request a testimonial from one of your LinkedIn contacts and it will feature on your profile. Great for when you’re just getting started!
Lastly, get a professional looking headshot. I really started to notice a difference when I updated my headshot to a more professional looking one. You really don’t have to pay for one, just take a nice photo where you look presentable and professional! This is really important for high end clients, and for your confidence as a freelancer to show.
Getting a professional headshot really helped me get to Top Rated on UpWork
Complete your profile - but remember to start with applying for jobs
Fill out every single item on the list - if you can add something, do it!
Get testimonials from past clients, co workers, or employers - this will make getting new clients a whole lot easier
Get a professional looking headshot - if you look confident, clients will believe in you
4. Make sure your clients are happy
Once you have a track record of happy clients you can start applying for higher paid jobs
If you’re clients aren’t happy, you will not become top rated on UpWork. Your clients are the secret step between you and that Top Rated badge!
Getting happy clients mean you will get a 100% job success score, and that is important for both Rising Talent Badge, and getting Top Rated.
Pro Tip! Always reply within 24 hours. Communication is key to ensure your clients are happy.
Having happy clients also means that you can start charging a higher rate, and that is how you become Top Rated on Upwork. Higher earning freelancers look more professional, are more trusted, and get more jobs. And you earn more money!
Ensure that your clients are happy - happy clients is the easiest way to get more work on UpWork
Work towards a 100% job success score - this will help you to get Top Rated on UpWork
Always reply to your clients within 24 hours - this will keep your reply rate up
5. Long Term Clients
Ask previous clients for testimonials via LinkedIn
To become Top Rated on Upwork you need long term clients. There is no getting around that. So how do you get long term clients? You take care of the ones you have, and more often than not, they will ask you to complete another job for them, and then another one. And the more consistent the work - the better.
If you get a client that you really get along with, see if you can offer other services to them. See if you can proof read, write, and edit, instead of just one. Make yourself valuable to the client to create good relationships that lead to better job security.
Take care of the clients you have - they might turn into long term clients
Offer your services to your clients - make yourself valuable to them
Build relationships - if a client trusts you they are more likely to hire you again
6. Consistency
Consistency is ultimately the thing that will get you Top Rated on Upwork because you need to show consistent work and consistent abilities to get the Top Rated Badge.
If you give up, or stop taking care of your clients, or stop applying for jobs - you will not have the work record or the income to show that you are working towards the Top Rated Badge.
Consistency is key to get Top Rated - and it’s required on all areas
7. Find your niche
Once you’ve gotten this far it’s time to find your niche - or niches!
In my experience on UpWork, clients really tend to hire people with a proven track record in that specific niche. So find your niche - and work in it to perfect and improve your talents. And remember that how to get top rated on UpWork depends on your success at working.
Pro Tip! A niche will make clients think that you are highly skilled in that niche, and they will be more likely to hire you.
Having a proven track record in your niche will help in creating your brand as a business owner, and as a freelancer.
Choose one or several niches - there are pro’s and con’s to choosing one or several, choose what works best for you
Try to find work in your niches - this will make you look more skilled in your area, making clients more likely to hire you
8. Don’t be discouraged
UpWork is a really competitive platform, which makes it even more important to don’t get discouraged by other people’s success, or when you don’t get a job you applied for.
I for sure spent too much time being discouraged on UpWork, but in reality I could’ve saved myself all that stress and worry, since getting top rated on UpWork is about time and consistency. You can’t get there over night, but you can top rated in just a few months!
Try to not compare yourself with other freelancers - we all have our skills, and focus on your skills instead
UpWork is really competitive - if you show consistency and talent, clients will find you
Follow these steps and let me know how it goes! If you want to hear more about my experience on UpWork you can watch my video here.
