Insider Upwork Review for Freelance Writers

Let’s face it… Upwork is an easy starting point for freelance writers. The sheer amount of writing jobs that are posted on a daily basis, in a wide range of topics and skillsets, makes it an attractive choice. As a matter of fact, when we started our freelance writing journey (our story), we found a great client that we still work with to this day! 

However, there are many writers that will tell you to stay far away from “content mills” since they do not value writers based on the pay provided. What is a content mill or writing mill? That is a term used by freelance writers that describes any website or platform, like Upwork, that pays very low rates for sub-par content. Now, although this term can be accurate for many jobs on Upwork, it does not apply for the entire platform (based on our personal experience, as well as the success stories from other freelance writers).

Due to its popularity, we receive and read a whole bunch of questions regarding Upwork. Here are some common ones:

• How do clients choose a freelance writer on Upwork?
• Is Upwork worth it for making money writing?
• What are the fees for writing on Upwork?
• How much should I bid on Upwork projects?
• What’s the best way to earn a good profit as a writer on Upwork?

For one, it is the largest platform available for freelancers, with a growing list of small businesses up to Fortune 500 companies hiring remote workers. With writing jobs updated constantly, there is a very real opportunity to build relationships with some amazing clients. In addition, there are jobs, especially for U.S. based writers, that will pay a fair rate depending on the skills and type of writing that is required. We have also been able to receive invitations, repeat business, and referrals from Upwork customers.

Although there are writing jobs galore, there are tons of low paying projects that are not worth your time. As an example, you will see projects looking for 2000 word articles for a budget of $50 (well under $0.5 per word). Searching for, and filtering through projects like this takes time and can become frustrating. We found that using the advanced search options will help minimize those results. 

As for fees, Upwork takes 20% of the project (whether it is your hourly billings or total cost of the job) for anything under $500 for that ONE particular client. Once you surpass the $500 limit, the fee drops to 10% of billings. So, let’s say you get hired for a $250 writing job. After the 20% Upwork fee, you would receive $200. If you got another project from that same client for $300, you now passed the $500 tier and that $300 job would incur a 10% fee (you would receive $270 of that $300). This encourages you to work with the same clients over time. 

The 20% fee is hard for many freelance writers to swallow. On the other hand, Upwork is providing you with consistent leads, a very user-friendly platform to bid on jobs, submit hours, collect payments, and communicate with clients. If you are looking for jobs on your own you have to take into consideration the # of hours it would take to find jobs through your website, marketing, and business development. All of those aspects also cost money so when you get a $250 on your own, although you receive that $250, your operating expenses will lower that profit.