THE FIRST MISTAKE I MADE ON UPWORK THAT YOU SHOULD AVOID.
SENDING PROPOSALS AND WASTING MY CONNECT ON JOBS I HAVE ZERO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY😂.
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That was my first mistake. I wish I knew better then, I wasted a lot of connects back then. This is usually the first advice I give to people who want to signup on Upwork and I am giving it to you freely. Apart from having a great Upwork profile, NEVER apply for a job that you do not know about. Especially if you aren’t planning to outsource. Just let it go! Those fixed prices of $1000 are tempting, very tempting! Hahaha! But don’t try it YET until you have learned about it!
I have reviewed lots of proposals that the seller will state "I need this job badly, I need money" etc but the truth, nobody will ever give you a job for YOU. As long as it’s a paid service, buyers will always buy your package because of themselves first. It can be because of the "low fee they will pay", 'your wide experience they need" etc. Have this at the back of your mind, IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU, IT IS ABOUT THEM. You either tally your proposal to show how you are the best candidate for the job or just let it go.
Back to me, when I started upwork, I was moved by the money first.
Hahaha!!! Just like most people starting freelancing (I’m still moved by the money😂 though, but I have the skill to back it up with now). I will see some job descriptions that I am 100% sure I cannot do with a price of $1000 and I will apply for it. Of course, I wasn’t picked and it never occurred to me to outsource instead. So one day, I saw a job description on Upwork far from what I usually do. I decided to send a proposal and the client accepted, send me an offer and I accepted it. Note the word "that wasn’t my niche and I have zero knowledge about it". I decided to go for it, " how hard can it be right"? and send the finished work to him.
He was so angry and disappointed, asked me to return his money or he will give me bad feedback, etc (I seriously do not 100% fault myself, I submitted his work earlier and asked him to review it so that I could do the necessary adjustment but he took close to 17 days before he replied). I was sad and didn’t need the feedback, so I refunded him. This was my 3 work on Upwork.
That was when I understood that, it isn’t about me, it’s about him. Never do a job that you do not have a talent for especially when you’re just starting. It drains you emotionally and wastes your time. Better outsource for it or just focus on your niches, there are lots of amazing jobs out there, relax, you will see a better offer.
Have you read my previous articles on freelancing sites and different skills you can monetize? You don’t want to miss the amazing stuff inside the two articles.
© Bukola Adimula (Ghostwriter/blog writer)
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