If you asked me 5 years ago if I was going to be where I am today, my answer would have been simply No!
The life of an international writer is so different from where I come from in Pakistan, and it didn’t make sense how I would end up in this new venture.
But nothing came easily to me, and the journey from being a school principal to an exceptional freelance writer on Upwork (formerly known as Elance-oDesk) has not been easy at all.
My name is Nazish, and I belong to a remote village in Pakistan. It was the end of April, and I was on corona leaves for two weeks. So, I started planning what was next for me! I decided that since I had always wanted to work from home and be a writer, I would give it a try and see if I could make it happen. Then if not, at least I would know! Well…I did try! 🙂
So, here’s my story about how I went from ‘No Wifi’ to Top-Rated Writer on Upwork!
You can learn as much as you want, but at the end of the day, if you’re writing isn’t good enough, no one will hire you. There are tons of people out there with way more experience than me who still struggle to get jobs writing on Upwork.
It’s definitely not something I ever expected to make my full-time living doing, but here I am in 2022, and that’s exactly what I do – earn $1K+ per month just writing on Upwork. In this story, I want to tell you how I did it.
The Challenge
How could a person with a medical background without any technical skills or work experience possibly land TOP-rated gigs on a site like Upwork, where professionals charge $100s per hour for their services? What I was doing differently than thousands of other freelancers? And how could you replicate it? Was there even anything special about my story at all? Would anyone care to read about my journey online as a freelance writer?
Perhaps, Yes!!!
I started differently. How?
I started my online venture from a mobile hotspot and later was among the TOP 10% of the writers on the platform within 6 months.
No Wifi, No Laptop
When you have no wifi and no laptop, it forces you to think differently. When there’s nothing else around, your creativity just takes off. Writing under these conditions will teach you a lot about yourself and how to work in situations that are far less than ideal.
Sometimes it feels like things are out of our control. But often, with just a little bit of hard work and creativity, we can still achieve great things without any backup or resources at all.
I had no wifi and laptop when I started writing. It was really hard for me because I didn’t have any backup or resources at all.
But with my curiosity and creativity, I just wrote articles without even thinking about it. And now I am a top-rated writer on Upwork!
It wasn’t difficult for me to get my first client, so my hard work paid off after some time. I strongly believe, with a little bit of perseverance, you can achieve anything you want in life! I hope you can learn something from my experience.
The Solution
I borrowed a laptop and started working during covid-19 with “Mobile’s Hotspot.” The internet connection was slow, but I didn’t care until I was able to get good work done there, but it wasn’t ideal for my needs.
In fact, there were several times when I had no choice but to keep my spirits high. Of course, I was aiming to fly high.
The Grind
It’s not easy being a freelancer, especially on an international platform. It takes time to build up a reputation and get clients – especially if you don’t have anyone who can vouch for you or your work. The trick is making sure your bidding skills are so strong that you win jobs, even when there aren’t any reviews yet.
I made my Upwork Profile on 11 December 2020 and was lucky enough to get my first project on the same day.
However, it took me several months before I started getting regular projects from them. In fact, it wasn’t until almost 5 days that I got my first five-star review!
My first project was for $60, where I wrote 2000 words for a cleaning company in the USA. I was over the moon as within the next 5 days, I won another 3 high ticket clients.
The next project was $150. I was assigned a project to write 20 short articles (of a few hundred words) about ECO-FRIENDLY Environmental Company.
The next project in December was $1500, where I was asked to write about 60 ANIMALS descriptions for Grade 1 & 2. The client was from Norway and was looking for a WRITER for their 3D learning app. So I applied, and they replied, that’s how I started my first ever big project. And then the story goes on.
So here are a few tips which helped me win projects even without any reviews:
- Write a good cover letter with a link to your profile/published work. Make sure you write about yourself in your cover letter as well, so you can add some personal touch to it (I usually mention something about MY RELATED EXPERIENCE as well).
- Provide the best possible samples with your application. You should always try to provide the best samples if you want to get hired by anyone.
- Apply for projects which are relevant to your skillset.
- Bid low initially and then raise it once the client starts replying to your bids so that you can win the project easily (this is especially helpful when you don’t have any reviews yet).
- Don’t give up! It took me almost 3 months to build a regular income stream and almost 6 months before I became the TOP RATED WRITER on UPWORK.
- Finally, never stop learning new things and keep improving your skillset.
“This is one of my favorite quotes: Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do” – Steve Jobs
How Hard Work Pays Off
When it comes to landing top freelance writing gigs, you’ll need hard work and dedication. But those aren’t enough. There are plenty of other writers out there with talent, skill, and willingness to work. To stand out as a freelance writer in a crowded market, you have to bring something extra to every job and every relationship you build along your career path. You have to be relentless about exceeding expectations—and working hard is a key part of that equation.
When I wasn’t getting a response on my “cover letters,” I started offering 300-500 words FREE samples of my work. I won many projects after offering FREE SAMPLE; it built up my portfolio and helped me build my confidence as I was getting a response on almost every project.
One day, I was instantly hired after a FREE SAMPLE. The client was a professional COACH and Trainer from Ireland. She liked my writing style and was looking for a writer for 3 COURSES. She was willing to pay $900 for 3 short courses and asked if I would be interested in doing it. It’s not a lot of money, but it was quite a good start for me.
You can see her review afterward:
My Personal Life
Before pursuing freelancing part-time, I had a good career in teaching. (Though I’m still a full-time educational head)
I pursued freelancing part-time with my teaching job, which was very tough for me. I used to travel 15 km every day (one way). I belong to a remote village in Pakistan, where there’s no wifi, and I had to use my mobile’s hotspot. (Though I purchased mobile wifi later)
So, I had to depend on a 3G network, which cost me a lot of money. So, after one and half years in a part-time freelancing business, I still continued my full-time job and didn’t decide to take up freelancing full-time.
Freelance Career
Freelancing can be tricky, but it is a great way to build your brand and experience in your niche. To get started, you need to think about what you can offer clients.
Are you a writer? Or an editor? Or perhaps a full-service project manager who does research, copywriting, and media planning for every assignment? This will help shape your profile.
Then, you’ll want to create a portfolio that shows off your best work. You’ll also need to include links to social profiles or other online assets showcasing your work. The more complete and professional your profile is, the more likely clients will be to hire you.
Finally, it’s important to network with other freelancers in your field and participate in forums and communities where people discuss topics related to freelance writing (such as LinkedIn & Facebook). This will help you build relationships with potential clients who might need someone like you.
Freelancing Tips for Newbies
Starting a career as a freelancer can be both exciting and terrifying. If you’re about to break into freelance writing, here are some of my top tips for making your first year successful. Don’t feel like you have to take them all—it’s okay if you only follow one or two! But hopefully, they’ll help ease your transition into freelance life.
- Start small: There is no need to jump right in with big clients and high-paying projects. It’s best to start slow by finding smaller clients who will pay less but still provide an opportunity for you to hone your skills. As you grow more experienced, taking on bigger and better opportunities will be easier.
- Get organized: Freelancing means working when and where you want, which can lead to a lot of distractions if you’re not careful! Set aside time each day or week for freelancing work so that it becomes part of your routine. That way, you won’t be tempted to skip out on work in favor of other things (like watching Netflix). You should also keep all important documents—contracts, invoices, etc.—in one place so that they are easy to access when needed. This will save you a lot of headaches down the road.
- Don’t get discouraged: There will be times when it feels like no one wants to hire you or pay what you think is fair compensation for your work. But remember that there is always someone else who needs your services, even if they aren’t looking right now. So if one client doesn’t want to pay what you think is fair, find another who does—and make sure their offer is worth accepting before signing any contracts!
- Stay positive: It can be hard to stay motivated and positive as a freelancer. But try not to compare yourself with other writers or let rejection get you down too much. Remember that many of your clients are just as nervous about hiring a new writer as you are about working with them for the first time!
- Be professional: You may not have an office job anymore, but that doesn’t mean you should slack off in terms of professionalism. Always respond promptly to emails and invoices, meet deadlines (or at least communicate delays), and treat your clients respectfully. This will help build trust between you and your clients, which is key to making long-term business relationships.
- Network: The freelance world can feel pretty isolating sometimes, especially if you don’t know anyone else who works independently. But it’s important to remember that there are lots of other freelancers out there—and many of them are eager to make connections with new writers! So join forums and social media groups where other freelancers hang out and get involved in your local writing community. This will help you make friends and build your network, which will lead to more opportunities down the road.
- Learn as much as possible: You may have been a top student in school or college, but the learning doesn’t stop once you opt for freelancing! There are always new tools and strategies to learn. Take classes, read books and blogs, and do whatever else it takes to keep your skills sharp. Your clients will appreciate your commitment to constant improvement.
- Don’t give up: Freelancing can be challenging at times—especially when you’re just starting out. But don’t give up too quickly if things aren’t going well.
Services I Offer as a Freelance writer on Upwork
Upwork is a global freelance employment marketplace where businesses can hire freelancers in over 250 work categories. It’s free to post jobs. The fees are paid by businesses when a freelancer accepts an offer or completes a project.
I offer
- Copywriting,
- SEO Content Writing,
- Technical Writing Services.
My specialty is writing content for “Real Estate” websites and blogs. Moreover, I have over 3 years of experience writing content for digital marketing campaigns.
I am a non-native English speaker with excellent command of grammar and punctuation. In addition, I have experience in writing for various fields such as digital marketing, AI, technology, finance, education, marketing, health, blockchain, business & fitness, etc.
My work is always delivered before the deadline, and if my clients are not satisfied with my work, then there will be no charge for that particular project. I can write at any level of complexity and manage tight deadlines. Moreover, my writing is error-free as well as SEO optimized. My work has always been appreciated by clients because it is fresh, original, and compelling.
I have a Master’s degree in English Literature along with a 2 YEARS of “Native ENGLISH COURSE.” My academic background has given me an edge over other writers because I am able to write content that not only appeals to readers but also helps businesses grow online.
I am very dedicated towards my work and hence deliver quality content within deadline.
Till today, I have earned 15k+ on Upwork by completing 71 projects with renowned COMPANIES worldwide. I aim to be “Top rated Plus” on the platform with a 98% job success score.
My Freelance Writing Tips for New Writers
- -Always be genuine in your work.
- -Consistency is key; try to keep a solid pace of posting every week. No skipping a day if you can help it!
- -Take some time off, don’t burn yourself out. If you feel burnt out, take a week or two off and come back fresh!
- -If you want to be a good writer, read a lot! Read other people’s work and try and learn from them.
- -If you want to write for multiple sites, make sure your content is 100% unique for each site.
- -Don’t be afraid of rejection! It’s just part of being an entrepreneur. Learn how to handle it and move on!
My Future Goals
My future goals are to build an agency on Upwork and make it TOP-RATED. I want to build a team of writers who are passionate about their work and can provide quality content for potential clients. My long-term goals are to start my own business in writing. With my experience, I know there is no better way than starting your own business. There are many options, but you have to choose what suits you best.
Bottom Line:
It took me less than years, but I learned a lot along the way. The journey can be lonely at times, and there’s a lot of hard work involved. But, if you want it badly enough and are willing to learn how to write well and often, then anything is possible!
Never give up, and always remember that your success is in your hands. No one else will make you succeed; it’s all up to you.
You can do it! Just keep pushing forward, learn how to write well, network with others, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!
https://www.nazishmohsin.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazishseocontentwriter