In the competitive world of freelancing on Upwork, every detail matters. Your portfolio isn't just a splash of color on your profile; it's a testament to your capabilities, your experiences, and your dedication to your craft.
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Without it, not only do you miss out on showcasing your best work, but Upwork itself might hinder your profile's growth.
Here at GigRadar, we understand the nuances of Upwork and how to navigate them to your advantage!
๐ Why is Having a Portfolio on Upwork Important?
๐ Showcase Work: It's not just about listing skills; it's about proving them. Your portfolio showcases the application of these skills to real-world projects.
๐ Upwork Skills Representation: Did you know that each portfolio item can emphasize up to 15 skills? It's not just about showcasing; it's about strategic positioning, which affects how you rank on Upwork.
๐ Profile Completeness: That tiny 5% contribution from your portfolio can be the difference between getting recognized with a Top Rated badge or being left in the shadows. What is Upwork Profile Completeness?
๐ค How to create an Upwork portfolio item?
Once you've decided to add an item, the process is straightforward. Yet, the format matters:
๐ Gallery Format: Ideal for visual works. Carousel. Like Instagram.
๐ Case Study: Provides a comprehensive view of a project, highlighting challenges, processes, and results. Upwork suggests dividing your case into 'Project Task/Challenge' and 'Project Solution', with the Challenge being the first thing your lead will see. Additionally, the Case Study template requires you to specify the role you played in it.
๐ก Hint for Agencies about specifying the role : Yes, we know that most of your projects were completed by the entire team, and this portfolio item could be placed on all of your Upwork profiles.
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For this thing, itโs better to use tricky microcopywriting and describe the role as your specialized profile or title says: if youโre a front-end developer, then write that you were responsible for the front-end.
๐ Classic: A general format that fits most project types. Can be adapted for both visual and text-heavy projects.
๐ก Many of you have PDF presentations, each of which has a logical flow. This is perfect for less work! Simply cut your presentation into slides and place them as scrolling Classic Upwork portfolio items.
โ๏ธ What to include in your portfolio?
๐ Skills: Yes, I'm starting with the topic of Upwork Skills, and for a very good reason. It's absolutely critical. Many of our clients overlook its significance. However, your Lead Reply Rate and Invitation Rate are heavily influenced by your skills!
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They can be found in your All Work and Specialized Profiles, your Work History (shoutout to completed contracts!), and, of course, in your portfolio. While there's a limit to the number of skills you can add to the aforementioned sections, the number of portfolio cases you can include is unlimited.
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Remember, though, that you can only list 15 skills. So:
Make full use of this section and list all 15 skills.
Select the skills most frequently required for the jobs you're targeting
๐งฉ Snippets: Instead of displaying an entire project, select the best parts. This might be a highlight from a report, a short clip from a longer video, or code snippets.
๐คณ Screenshots: Capture images of your work. This could be a page from a blog you've authored, a design you've crafted, or a snippet from a meticulously organized spreadsheet.
๐ Results: Showcase your accomplishments using simple charts or visuals. Consider a before-and-after comparison or a bar chart demonstrating growth. For Digital Marketing, this is a must-have. After all, data drives the world.
๐ฌ Testimonials: Obtain commendations from those you've collaborated with. Present their feedback attractively for others to view. Video testimonials have a stronger impact, so consider adding links to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
๐ Your Own PDF: Often, your PDFs already contain concise information that represents a specific case or all your services. Simply segment it into slides and embed as graphics.
โ When Your Portfolio Items Are Under an NDA:
This is a frequent predicament for software developers. However, you can negotiate with clients to utilize snippets of your code or screenshots of the front-end you've developed. Propose blurring out any sensitive parts of the work. Elaborate on all the technical nuances, but anonymize the specifics. Always remember, your portfolio should market you as a professional.
What if I'm New and Lack a Portfolio or Testimonials?
No worries! Here are some slightly mischievous hints:
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๐ฌ Video Testimonial!
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โDid you know you can commission a video testimonial on Fiverr for $50? Someone can produce a video extolling your "fictional" achievements. Just script it well!
It's not the most ethical advice, but sometimes, you need a starting point, and this could serve as a springboard. As they say, "Fake it till you make it." That's a mantra for many in today's era.
๐บ Convert your skill into a portfolio item:
Utilize these three Upwork portfolio slots to delve deeper into your services. Like here:
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๐For budding designers, consider:
Branding
Mobile Design
Logo Creation
๐ Developers might opt for:
General Web Development
Landing Page Creation
MVP Development
๐ Digital Marketers can explore:
SEO
SMM
Backlinks
Detail each service thoroughly, incorporate all 15 relevant skills, and select an engaging thumbnail as a visual for your portfolio-service item.
๐ Refreshing
As a freelancer or agency, you're always evolving and improving. Your portfolio should mirror this growth.
โ Outdated items that no longer reflect your best should be rejuvenated or replaced.
A best practice is to add a new portfolio item every two months. This ensures your profile remains fresh and aligned with Upwork's algorithms
๐คจ I'll be doing this for Upwork only?...
It's tempting to be brief, especially when you have a vast portfolio. However, a detailed case study offers numerous advantages:
โก Versatility: A well-detailed case study isn't just for Upwork. You can feature it on platforms like Clutch.
โก SEO Benefits: If you run a personal website, a detailed case study can be optimized for search engines, driving organic traffic your way.
โก Diverse Platform Use: Platforms similar to Upwork also value detailed descriptions. It saves you time when branching out.
โก Social Media Showcase: Platforms like LinkedIn are perfect for showcasing detailed case studies, allowing potential clients to see your work's depth and breadth.
๐ Whereโs Your Portfolio Displayed?
Your portfolio is prominently displayed on your profile. But did you know that each portfolio could be attached to each specialized profile on Upwork?
๐ก Tip for Designers: First impressions last. On Upwork, the first portfolio item becomes your banner when potential clients search:
It's paramount to place your absolute best case at the front across all of your specialized profiles:
From the perspective of the client, who is exploring Client's Dashboard on Upwork, the category "Design" was chosen:
From the perspective of the client, who is exploring Client's Dashboard on Upwork, the category "Web Development" was chosen. Sorry, guys :(
When the job is posted and the client is exploring ranked freelancers to invite them to apply to his job:
๐ Formatting or Writing Your Portfolio Item
Crafting content for your portfolio isn't just for Sardor AI's algorithms. Your potential clients are reading, assessing, and judging.
๐ธ Short but Significant: It's a balance. You want to capture attention but also provide enough detail to showcase your expertise.
๐ธ Readable & Engaging: Use simple language, active voice, and compelling narratives. Your client should be engaged, not overwhelmed.
๐ฏ Time-saving Formatting Tips
Modern problems require modern solutions. With the advancements in AI, tools like ChatGPT can help format your existing case studies, saving you time and ensuring optimization.
Lack of Time for Formatting an Existing Portfolio?
Use this prompt for ChatGPT (GPT-4 preferably) to format your existing portfolio:
"Revamp the provided case study information into an engaging narrative using the following formatting:
Main Title:
If a project title is present, use bold Unicode to make it pop.
Format: ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ (Use a random, relevant emoji)
Subheaders:
For primary sections or focal points, use Unicode bold, paired with a random but relevant emoji for emphasis.
Format: ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ (Use a random, relevant emoji)
Paragraphs:
Break the narrative into easily digestible paragraphs. Use random but relevant emojis at the beginning of pivotal sentences to draw attention.
Bullet Points or Lists:
If lists or essential points are present, kick them off with varied, relevant emojis for visual appeal and easy scanning.
Team or Role Breakdown:
If a team or role breakdown is present in the text, opt for a combo of bullets and random but relevant emojis.
Tech Stack or Key Tools:
If a tech stack or key tools section is present in the text, make each one stand out with a random but relevant emoji.
Conclusion or Outcome:
Highlight outcomes with emojis that denote success or growth. (Use a random, relevant emoji)
Additional Features or Points:
For any extra points, features, or unique selling points, use a combination of different random but relevant emojis and text for added zest.
Ensure a flowing narrative, using varied and relevant emojis where they naturally boost the content's appeal. If a section like 'team size' or 'tech stack' is not present in the original text, skip that part in the revamp."
Starting From Scratch?
No portfolio or case study yet? No problem.
Begin with a single descriptive sentence about a project you've worked on. Modern Language Learning Models (LLM) like ChatGPT can take that and craft a comprehensive article for your portfolio.
Just pick your brief description and use this prompt for ChatGPT:
"Given the following brief description, please generate a detailed case study that covers background, challenges, solutions, and outcomes:
Project Title: {User-Provided Title}
Brief Description: {User-Provided Vague Description}
Category/Industry: {User-Provided Category/Industry}
Key Technologies or Tools (if any): {User-Provided Technologies or Tools}"}
You can see here:
good description, which is well-formatted;
nice graphic (which obviously has been a PDF-presentation before);
all relevant skills;
link to the project.
๐ Bad portfolio example:
Feels like yours? Roll back and create a better one!
๐จ Attachments and Visuals for Your Upwork Portfolio
Understanding the content suitable for your portfolio case is one aspect, but it's equally essential to know the ins and outs of the attachments. Here's what Upwork specifies:
๐น Images: Accepts .jpg, .gif, .png, with a maximum size of 10 MB and no dimension exceeding 4000 px.
๐น Videos: Formats like .mp4, .mov, .webm, .ogm, ogv are accepted. They should be under 100 MB, and you can add up to 2 videos, each not exceeding 60 seconds.
๐น Audio: Use formats like .mp3, .wav but keep them under 10 MB. You can add up to 20 files.
๐น Document: Only .pdf is allowed, with a size not exceeding 10 MB.
While the images inside the portfolio can vary in size, extreme dimensions like 50x50 or 5000x5000px aren't advisable.
๐ Thumbnail Dimensions:
The thumbnail is more than just an image; it's the first impression. It's the main picture that a potential client sees when they're browsing for professionals, and it's prominently displayed on your profile.
Based on GigRadar's recommendations:
โ Use 795x595px for individual freelancer profiles;
โ Opt for 960x720px for agency profiles.
Even though the uploading process for both agencies and freelancers is similar, the thumbnail sizes differ. It's a nuance worth noting when designing your visuals.
๐ Crafting an Engaging Thumbnail:
Aim for a visually appealing representation. No one is going to be attracted to a pixelated screenshot from PHPMyAdmin dated back to 2010.
Ensure your thumbnail is:
๐๐ฝ Reflective of your company's brand colors.
๐๐ฝ Clear with the project title.
๐๐ฝ Indicative of the project type.
๐๐ฝ Featuring a concise visual snapshot of the project.
๐๐ฝ Enhanced with engaging graphics or icons.
๐ก Inspiring Thumbnail Examples:
For Web Development:
For Design:
With the right approach, your Upwork portfolio becomes more than a display โ it's a testament to your skills, experiences, and commitment to quality.
Remember, it's not just about showcasing your past but also about building your future on the platform. Every detail counts.