I’m looking for someone who actually uses Upwork to answer a basic question. It’s nothing private, just a general thing I want to know.

[Chonessah]

Hello,

I want to start doing Social Media Management on Upwork. I’m new and don’t have much experience, but I’m ready to work hard. How often do you usually get reviews? Do people on Upwork give feedback as easily as Fiverr?

Is it like Fiverr, where you finish one project—like managing social media for a week or a month—and then get a 3, 4, or 5-star review?

Also, how long does it usually take to reach about 18–20 reviews?

I mean people on Upwork who seem like they’re from another planet, offering fixed-price projects, like $45 for a week of social media management. The pay is really low, but I’m not doing it for money—I just want the review or testimonial.

So my question is: if I do these low-paying jobs, will I actually get testimonials? How quickly do clients usually leave them on Upwork?

Thanks!

 

[Batersch]

Hi Alex,

I don’t think doing the cheapest jobs will really help you. If you get a lot of reviews from very low-paying tasks, later you might only get offers in that same low price range.

I hope this advice helps!
Thank you.

 

[Chonessah]

Hi Alex,

I don’t think doing the cheapest jobs will really help you. If you get a lot of reviews from very low-paying tasks, later you might only get offers in that same low price range.

I hope this advice helps!
Thank you.

Hi, thanks! I need to build a portfolio first, and I want your thoughts on my plan. I’m thinking about charging around $4 an hour and taking lots of small fixed jobs, like $15, $25, $35, or $45. The goal is to get reviews and show my work.


After I have a good portfolio and feedback, I want to move to LinkedIn and offer Social Media Manager work for about $320 each time, for around 10–14 hours a month. That’s my main goal. Do you think I could use the portfolio I make on Upwork to sell my services on LinkedIn after about 7 months to a year?

Do you think charging really low at first could cause trouble later? What if people on LinkedIn see that I used to charge about $4 an hour? I’ve been learning about freelancing, and I heard that it’s okay to ask new clients for higher pay since they don’t know what you charged before. Is that true?

 

[ClownFly]

Hi, thanks! I need to build a portfolio first, and I want your thoughts on my plan. I’m thinking about charging around $4 an hour and taking lots of small fixed jobs, like $15, $25, $35, or $45. The goal is to get reviews and show my work.


After I have a good portfolio and feedback, I want to move to LinkedIn and offer Social Media Manager work for about $320 each time, for around 10–14 hours a month. That’s my main goal. Do you think I could use the portfolio I make on Upwork to sell my services on LinkedIn after about 7 months to a year?

Do you think charging really low at first could cause trouble later? What if people on LinkedIn see that I used to charge about $4 an hour? I’ve been learning about freelancing, and I heard that it’s okay to ask new clients for higher pay since they don’t know what you charged before. Is that true?

If no one knows you yet, charging less than normal can help you get your first reviews. Just tell clients that your price is lower for now and kindly ask them to leave a good review if they like your work.

 

[Chonessah]

If no one knows you yet, charging less than normal can help you get your first reviews. Just tell clients that your price is lower for now and kindly ask them to leave a good review if they like your work.

When you say “unknown,” do you mean in real life, like in my own town, or do you mean online, like on LinkedIn? I’m doing this work mainly to get reviews and build a portfolio.


In my country, around $320 is a normal price, and that’s what I want to charge, either here or in other English-speaking places like the US, the UK, or Australia. Do you think this plan can work both locally and on LinkedIn?


I only need fewer than 12 clients to live okay where I am, so I don’t think I’d affect the market much. Since I’m from a lower-income country, I know people won’t pay something like $1,450, which seems common in the US.

If I send people to my Upwork page to prove my work is real, will my old low prices hurt me a lot?


Can I just tell them that those were my old rates, and this is my new price now? I’ve learned a lot since then, so my new rate is about $320. If they don’t like it, they can choose someone else. Is that enough to show my work and let the right clients decide?


Thanks.