Transform your profile from overlooked to in-demand with these simple strategies that helped one freelancer increase job invites from one to six per week
Freelance low/no-code AI automation and integration specialist Favour Nwachukwu transformed her success as a freelancer on Upwork by following proven profile optimisation techniques. After implementing these changes, she shared on social media how she went from receiving barely one job invite per week to 2-6 weekly invites, plus up to three direct messages from potential clients.
Here’s how she did it.
1. Take the time to create a profile title that pops
Favour, also known by her handle @favoritetechgal, suggests your profile headline serves two crucial purposes. First, it acts as an SEO boost that helps your profile appear in relevant searches when clients are looking for freelancers. Second, it creates the vital first impression that shows potential clients you understand their needs from the moment they see your name.
The most effective way to create a powerful title is to start by browsing job descriptions in your field. As you read through these postings, take note of recurring keywords and phrases that employers use repeatedly. Once you’ve gathered this information, you can sprinkle these terms into your headline naturally, ensuring your profile speaks the same language as your ideal clients.
2. Write a client-focused overview
Favour sees your profile description representing your biggest opportunity to connect with potential clients, but many freelancers waste this space by talking about themselves instead of addressing client needs. Rather than starting with phrases like “I am an expert in website development,” try something more compelling like “I can help you grow your customer list with irresistible landing pages.”
The key difference? Where you place your focus. Clients don’t care about the technical details of how you work—they care about the results you can deliver. This means your overview should lead with their biggest challenge, emphasise the outcomes you provide, and demonstrate how you solve their specific problems.
When writing this section, don’t forget to weave in those strategic keywords you discovered during your title research. You can also use professional emojis (i.e. arrows) sparingly to improve visual appeal, and consider making important keywords bold to enhance searchability within your description.
3. How to show your best work
When it comes to showcasing your work, quality consistently trumps quantity. Many freelancers make the mistake of including every project they’ve ever completed, thinking that more examples will impress clients. However, this approach often waters down the impact of your strongest work.
Instead, focus on curating your very best examples, with particular focus on your recent projects that show you’re active and current in your field.
For those of you who are coming back to work, choose those projects in your portfolio that will be most useful for the clients or projects you want to work with now. Have an old hard copy magazine issue with a design or article you produced? Create it into a digital asset by scanning it.
Favour says even if your work isn’t inherently visual, you can make it more compelling by adding detailed descriptions that explain the specific challenge you faced and how you solved it. Consider including screenshots, graphics, or other visual elements that help potential clients understand the value you delivered.
4. How to master Upwork’s keyword system
While many of Favour’s tips are transferable to other freelancer platforms and professional platforms, such as LinkedIn or your own website, she explains how understanding how Upwork actually works can give you a significant advantage over other freelancers.
The platform functions much like a search engine, using the content in your profile title, description, and skills to match you with relevant opportunities. This means that strategic keyword placement isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for getting discovered by the right clients.
The most effective approach to keyword research involves diving into job listings within your niche. For example, start by searching for roles like “Executive Assistant” or whatever matches your speciality, then carefully review the required skills across multiple job posts. As you do this, you’ll begin to notice patterns in the language employers use and the specific terms that appear repeatedly.
Create a comprehensive list of these frequently mentioned skills and keywords, repeating this research process until you have thorough coverage of your field’s terminology. Once you’ve compiled this valuable keyword list, you can strategically integrate these terms throughout your profile, including your title and description, skills section, work history descriptions, and portfolio item descriptions.
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5. Avoid keyword stuffing penalties
While keywords are undoubtedly important for getting discovered on Upwork, there’s a fine line between strategic optimisation and obvious manipulation. Upwork’s algorithm has become sophisticated enough to detect and penalise profiles that engage in blatant keyword stuffing, which can actually hurt your visibility rather than help it.
The secret to smart keyword integration is using variations of your main terms and incorporating them into natural, readable sentences. Rather than cramming keywords awkwardly into your profile, spread them thoughtfully across different sections and focus on relevance over sheer quantity. This approach not only keeps you in the algorithm’s good graces but also creates a more professional, trustworthy impression for the human clients who read your profile.
Quick action steps
Getting started with these profile improvements doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Begin by conducting an honest audit of your current title. Does it actually include client-focused keywords that speak to what your ideal clients are searching for? Next, take a critical look at your overview and rewrite it to focus on client outcomes rather than your personal experience and qualifications.
Your portfolio deserves similar attention. Review your current examples and keep only your strongest, most recent work that truly represents your capabilities. Invest at least 30 minutes in researching keywords by analysing job posts in your field, taking notes on the language and terms that appear most frequently. Finally, update all sections of your profile to integrate these keywords naturally throughout your content.
You can follow Favour on X @favoritetechgal or LinkedIn
