Have you been pondering on the question “is Upwork legit?” Well, if you are a freelancing newbie or professional planning to join Upwork for the first time, in this post I will address everything you need to know before freelancing on Upwork. So that you can rightly decide if you want to be an Upwork freelancer or not.
What is Upwork? Does it really work?
Upwork is one of the biggest freelancing platforms. It is a marketplace that connects freelancers to individual clients, companies, agencies, and organizations looking for their services. So if it connects freelancers to prospective clients, can just anyone sign up on Upwork?
How does Upwork work for freelancers?
To get started, you can sign up on the Upwork official website, or download the Upwork mobile app. Once your account is approved by the platform you have to setup your profile and include your skills and portfolio.
When you are done with this, you will find jobs on the “Find Work tab” then apply for the job you want using your connect. The client then goes through the applications and chooses the freelancer whose credentials best suit the job.
The challenge most freelancers encounter during their Upwork registration, is getting their account approved but this is certainly doable, whether you are a newbie or a professional, if you follow Upwork procedure, your account will be approved. Once your account is up and running, ensure that you complete any Upwork project you land so that clients can give you good reviews which help to build your Upwork reputation.
What kind of jobs can you get on Upwork?
Upwork offers over 100,000 jobs in different fields. Depending on your skill, you can be an Upwork web developer, an Upwork graphic designer, an Upwork virtual assistant, an Upwork freelance writer, etc.
Can people on Upwork be trusted or not?
As with any other freelancing site, you are likely to run into scams on Upwork. However, Upwork agency did well to put up measures that ensure your security as a freelancer. For instance, Upwork get paid system offers a secure way for freelancers to receive payment on the platform. Also, Upwork uses Upwork escrow to ensure that you get paid when you deliver any fixed project.
Is Upwork a reliable source of income?
Upwork is not some investment platform or some get rich quick Ponzi scheme. It is a place where you work and get paid so yes you can rely on Upwork but once you are regularly landing clients, try looking for jobs in other places.
How much can you make on Upwork?
The amount you can make on Upwork depends on factors like your field and skill, and how you set your personal rate. However, to give you a clue, a graphic designer can earn around $30 to 100 hourly, while a C++ developer can earn up to 4k with a fixed rate budget.
How can you identify scam on Upwork?
There are red flags you should be looking out for from clients one of them is a client asking for your credit card details and another is a client asking you to sign up on an entirely different size. Upwork site is designed in a way that you can start and finish a job on the platform so do well to report such clients or go to the Upwork help center when you are not sure what to do.
Upwork vs Fiverr for beginners
Fiverr is a good Upwork alternative. The major difference between Upwork and Fiverr is that Fiverr is more beginner friendly to freelancers. Unlike Upwork, freelancers are more passive in the pre-contract stages. They are called sellers on the site and it’s the clients that shop for them.
Upwork vs Fiverr vs freelancer.com
On freelancer.com, freelancers are also passive just like Fiverr but freelancer.com do not offer as many job opportunities as Upwork and Fiverr. Also, Upwork pricing for freelancers is different from that of Freelancer.com and freelancer.com offer a unique contest earning feature that Fiverr and Upwork do not have. Despite their differences, the three platforms aim to provide a marketplace where freelancers and clients can connect and do business.
Is Upwork for me?
Well, you are in a better position to answer that question. All I can do is provide the information above to help you make an informed decision. Start by reading Upwork’s terms and conditions and if you’ve decided to try it out, do not let Upwork haters discourage you.
Final say
Are you still asking if Upwork is legit? Could your next question be “is Upwork legit in Nigeria?” Well, Upwork is legit, and it is legit in Nigeria. There are thousands of successful freelancers on Upwork and you too can be one of them.
Further Read:
How to Get Your First Job on Upwork [Beginner’s Guide]
Upwork readiness test answers 2022
How to write Upwork profile overview
