One of my Upwork One on One Mentorship student just crossed $30,000 in earnings 😁
James is one of my students who makes me very proud.
This milestone was a target I set for him this year. Told him he must end the year with at least $30,000 in earnings on Upwork and we took it one step at a time.
Lo and behold he did. See 👇🏻
If you are a beginner trying to get your first freelance client, there is a simple structure you should follow.
Step 1: Skill
You need a skill an in-demand skill that people are already paying for.
Without a clear skill, it becomes difficult to position yourself for opportunities.
Step 2: You need to be clear on the type of clients you want to work with.
You need to know your target audience.
These are the clients you want to work with based on your skill.
They are clients who will benefit the most from your service as a freelancer and at the same time help you grow as a freelancer.
Step 3: Portfolio
You need to build your portfolio.
Your portfolio should reflect the type of clients you want to work with.
Build it around the work you want to be hired for.
Step 4: Always do consistent outreach while applying for jobs.
You can reach out through LinkedIn, connect with recruiters or hiring managers, and send them a direct message.
I also recommend Upwork for beginners. I still use Upwork till today. Always reach out with your proposal on Upwork-clients want to see if you can do what they are looking for.
Both platforms require you to clearly show what you can do and how you can help.
Step 5: Consistency
Getting your first client is not a one-time action.
It comes from repeating the process consistently until results start to show.
Don’t only do it twice in a month and expect results. You need to do consistently.
So if you have your skill, clear positioning, portfolio, and consistent outreach, you will definitely get your first client.
Websites where you can find remote jobs
Remote jobs are spread across different platforms, and each one gives you access to different types of jobs.
Here are the websites you can check:
• LinkedIn
You can get jobs on LinkedIn. Companies post job opportunities there and candidates apply directly.
• Wellfound
Wellfound has a lot of startup jobs. You can see different jobs you are looking for on Wellfound.
When you search on Wellfound, you will see companies actively hiring.
If you are in Nigeria, don’t limit yourself to only looking for jobs in one country. Look for jobs everywhere.
Once you see a job you are interested in on Wellfound, take the company name and search it on LinkedIn.
Then reach out to the person that is hiring.
• Y Combinator
Y Combinator also provides job opportunities, but you need to sign up before you start applying.
There are lots of job opportunities on the website.
These are some of the platforms you can start with when looking for remote jobs.
Reviews matter more than most freelancers realize.
Reviews are what past clients say about your work after you finish projects for them.
On most platforms, those reviews stay on your profile and affect how new clients see you.
This is why reviews are powerful.
Clients often judge freelancers based on their reviews before deciding to work with them.
That is why every job you take should be handled properly.
Make sure you understand the work clearly and always deliver quality work.
I have seen a case where a freelancer was struggling to get jobs.
He was sending proposals but not getting hired.
So he went back to check what was different between him and the freelancers getting hired.
And he noticed one thing-reviews.
He noticed that the freelancers getting more jobs had 5-star reviews on their profiles, which he didn’t have.
Not because they were more skilled than him, but because they had more proof of their work.
That was the difference.
Good reviews can lead to getting more jobs.
So if you are starting out in freelancing, or you are already in it, do not ignore your reviews.
They are not just feedback.
They are proof of your work.
And they help new clients choose you before you even speak to them.
Some freelancers send proposal after proposal and still don’t get hired.
Have you ever looked back at one of your old proposals and wondered why it didn’t get a response?
One thing I’ve noticed is this:
Many freelancers spend too much time talking about themselves instead of focusing on the client.
Now go back to your last proposal and read it again properly.
To see the main problem.
Is this proposal about the client or is it mostly about me?
A lot of freelancers don’t realize they are making this mistake.
In their proposal, they talk about:
• Their skills
• Their experience
• Their certificates
But the client is not looking for a biography.
The client is thinking:
Can this person solve my problem?
That is why many proposals get ignored.
Not because freelancers are not skilled.
But because the proposal does not clearly show understanding of the client’s needs.
So what should you do instead?
Make your proposals simple and clear.
Show that you understand what the client wants and explain how you can help.
Before you send your next proposal, go through it again and make sure one thing is clear:
It is not about you. It is about how you can help them.
If someone asks you to show proof of your skills today, what would you show them?
The truth is, what you can show them is your work samples.
Work samples are proof of your skills.
Clients want to see evidence of your ability before they trust you with a project.
Now this is what you need to understand about work samples.
If you don’t have clients yet, you do not need to wait for a client before you are expected to have work samples.
Create them yourself.
Treat your work samples like real client work because this is what clients will use to judge your ability.
For example:
• If you are a writer, write articles and blog posts.
• If you are a designer, design logos, posters, and social media designs.
• If you are a video editor, edit practice videos and use them as examples of your work.
Now this is what you should avoid when creating work samples:
• Don’t copy other people’s work. You can take inspiration by studying how others present their work, but don’t copy.
• Don’t create samples that are not related to your skill.
• Don’t rush them just to have something ready.
• Don’t ignore quality because it is not paid work.
Work samples are not only important for beginners.
Even experienced freelancers use them to attract new opportunities and show their skills.
Your work samples should represent your best work because they often create the first impression people have of your abilities.
The better your work samples are, the easier it becomes for people to understand your value.
Do you really have work samples or are you still building them?
If you are trying to get your first client on LinkedIn as a freelancer or digital beginner, stop and read this carefully.
Take a moment and look at your LinkedIn profile like a client is seeing it for the first time.
Be honest with yourself.
Would your profile actually convince someone to trust you or hire you?
Most beginners are making small mistakes without realizing it:
unclear headline that does not explain what they do
no clear direction of skill or service
no proof of what they can actually do
no activity that shows consistency
Now here is what you should focus on instead.
Make your profile simple and clear.
Let people instantly understand what you are learning, what you can do, or what service you are building toward.
Show small proof of your work, even if you are still learning.
And most importantly, start showing up consistently instead of waiting to be ready.
LinkedIn does not reward perfection. It rewards clarity, consistency, and effort.
Fix your profile, show your direction, and start engaging.
That alone can change how people see you.
A lot of beginners think getting jobs on Upwork is only about skill, but there is more to it than that.
Your proposal gets you seen.
Your profile gets you trusted.
And your work gets you hired.
On Upwork, clients post jobs and freelancers apply for them, but clients are usually receiving proposals from many people at the same time.
That is why your proposal matters.
Once a client notices you, the next thing they check is your profile.
Your profile helps clients decide whether they can trust you enough to work with you.
But even after getting the job, your actual work still matters the most.
Because the quality of your work is what helps you get good reviews, repeat clients, and more opportunities on Upwork.
That is why succeeding on Upwork is not just about applying for jobs randomly.
You need good proposals, a strong profile, and quality work.
@OMath_Creative Start by choosing one skill and focus on getting better at it.
Learn the basics, practice consistently, create work samples, and keep improving.
Fiverr takes time, so focus on building your skill first. The orders will come as you improve.
Fiverr is not a quick-money platform.
A lot of people think once they create a Fiverr account and publish a gig, clients will start coming in immediately.
But that is not how it works.
On Fiverr, you need to understand that skill and patience matter. Fiverr does not reward people instantly it takes time.
For example, in copywriting, clients are not going to hire someone who cannot write better than what they can already write themselves.
The same applies to any skill on Fiverr-design, writing, video editing, or digital services.
If your skill is not strong enough, no amount of gig setup will bring consistent orders.
That is why many beginners struggle. They focus on creating gigs instead of building the skill behind the gig.
On Fiverr, your skill is what sells you, not just your account or profile.
Anthropic has confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Pending completion of SEC review, this gives us the option to pursue an initial public offering.
Read more: https://t.co/onGZAhRLvD
Getting a job on Upwork is not random. It follows a clear system.
Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms in the world, and still one of the best places to make money online in 2026.
Clients from different countries use it to hire freelancers from all over the world.
Before you start, you need to understand how Upwork actually works.
On Upwork, clients post jobs explaining what they need, and freelancers send proposals to apply.
There are thousands of jobs posted on Upwork every day.
As a freelancer, you start by searching for a job you want to do.
When you find a job, you apply by sending a proposal to the client.
Your proposal matters because clients receive many proposals from different freelancers at the same time.
So your proposal must stand out.
When a client opens your proposal, they will see your profile, photo, skill tags, rates, location, job success score, and the first few lines of your cover letter.
This is why your profile is very important.
In your cover letter, do not repeat what is already on your profile. Instead, focus directly on the client and what they need.
Once a client is interested in you, they will go to your profile.
Another important part of Upwork is your work samples.
Clients want proof of what you can do, not just what you say you can do.
So do not wait until you get a job before you start building your work samples. Start by creating samples that show your skills.
Strong work samples can help you win jobs.
Also, reviews matter a lot on Upwork.
A good review increases your chances of getting more jobs. That is why every job you take should be handled properly.
Make sure you understand the job before applying, and always deliver quality work.
On Upwork, a strong profile, clear proposals, and good work samples are what increase your chances of getting hired.