Short answer: It can be.
If you approach Upwork like a business, choose jobs carefully, and treat each proposal as a targeted pitch, you can turn Upwork into a rewarding opportunity. It’s not a guaranteed source of income, though, and getting started takes persistence.
But freelancers who learn how to position their skills, evaluate opportunities, and communicate value can use it to find clients and build a track record.
What makes Upwork worth considering?
Upwork brings clients and independent professionals together in one marketplace. You can search for projects, introduce yourself to potential clients, agree on a scope, and build a work history as you complete jobs. For a new freelancer, that framework can make it easier to test an offer and build experience.
The challenge is standing out. A profile alone rarely does the whole job. You need a clear service, a profile that speaks to the clients you want, and proposals that show you understand the project. You also need to account for the cost of applying, including Connects, and decide whether a particular opportunity is worth that investment.
What Erica’s community teaches about getting started
Erica Nall, a Top 1% freelancer, teaches practical steps to find and win work on Upwork. In the FREELANCE with ERICA Classroom, the 10 Days to Paid Upwork Challenge covers setting up a profile, finding suitable jobs, writing proposals, following up, handling a first contract, earning a review, tracking proposal activity, creating sample work, and planning following steps.
The lessons favor a thoughtful process over sending generic applications:
- Choose jobs that fit your skills and goals.
- Check the client and the opportunity before spending Connects.
- Lead with a specific hook that answers the client’s need.
- Make the next step easy for the client.
- Track applications and responses so you can revise based on what happens.
- Set boundaries, clarify scope, and check in early rather than over-delivering blindly.
Members can also access profile reviews, proposal templates, a proposal tracker, Q&A and training replays, a searchable FAQ library, and community feedback. The broader Classroom includes training on moving from first jobs toward Top Rated status and building longer-term client relationships.
A real beginner case study, with realistic expectations
In a Day 6 case study, Erica walks through her son River’s early experience. He had no previous freelancing experience. After sending 15 proposals, he received messages from three potential clients and landed an $85 contract.
The lesson also covers how he evaluated client fit, set limits around video calls, tailored his proposal, and checked a small sample of work with the client before completing the larger task.
That is an example, not a promise or typical-results guarantee. Your outcome can differ based on your skills, niche, profile, proposal quality, available jobs, timing, and effort. You may spend time and money applying before you land work, and some applications will not receive a response.
So, is Upwork worth it for you?
Upwork may be worth testing if you have a service clients need, can describe it clearly, and can consistently research and apply to suitable jobs. It may be a poor fit if you expect immediate income, want guaranteed clients, or cannot set aside time and a reasonable budget for your search.
Give yourself a defined trial period. Choose a focused service, improve your profile, apply selectively, track your activity, and review the evidence after a few weeks. If the right conversations aren’t happening, adjust your positioning or proposal strategy before sending more applications.
I am a proud member of the community
I have been a member of Erica’s community for several months now. Admittedly, I didn’t jump right in and start doing what the training presented. It took me a few months to get used to how it worked, and I was a bit of a lurker in the community. But now I set aside some time every day.
I’ve made progress by getting people to view my proposals, and I’ve had people reach out to me specifically for jobs based on my profile. Those are some of the best jobs to get, as you don’t even need to submit proposals for them.
When you interact with the community, someone with experience getting jobs on Upwork will always be ready to provide great advice. Erica also chimes in after members. This is by design, as she does not want to monopolize the conversations (since she is the expert). She covers all of this in her training (which is superb!)
Learn Erica’s step-by-step approach
Want guidance as you build your Upwork profile and pursue your first clients? Explore FREELANCE with ERICA, where Erica teaches freelancers how to position their skills, find relevant jobs, write stronger proposals, and grow beyond their first contract.
Explore FREELANCE with ERICA →
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link. If you join through it, the publisher may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on the program’s described instruction and community; your results are your own and are not guaranteed.