4 Upwork Mistakes That 91% of Freelancers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Most freelancers make at least one of these mistakes on Upwork. Some make all four. The result is lost connects, ignored proposals, and missed chances.

Once you know what these mistakes are and how to fix them, you’ll have a clear edge. At Vollna, we help freelancers catch these issues early, improve their Upwork process, and attract more clients regularly.

Let’s break them down, one by one.

1. The Proposal Mistake That Can Get You Banned

Many freelancers start with no reviews. To build trust, they include a link to their portfolio or another freelancing platform, like Freelancer.com, in their proposal. This seems logical, right?

Unfortunately, it goes against Upwork’s Terms of Service (Section 3.5). Promoting any external product, service, or platform, even linking your work history, can result in warnings or even account suspension.

How to fix it:

• Never add external links in proposals or messages unless specifically allowed.
• Show your skills through Upwork’s own portfolio and profile sections.
• Use client-centered language in your proposals, not just resumes pasted into a message box.

Pro tip: Vollna can help you create smarter, compliant proposal templates that focus on the client’s project needs, without guesswork.

2. A Profile Mistake That Keeps Clients From Clicking

At first, your profile is typically the weakest part of your Upwork presence. It’s rushed, vague, or made without real examples. The outcome? Clients skip it, without even looking at your proposal.

Most freelancers don’t realize: your profile headline, success metrics, and first two lines of your overview show up in search previews. That’s what encourages clicks.

How to fix it:

• Study profiles of freelancers making over $100K. (Use the “Find Talent” page and search your skill while filtering by earnings.)
• Look at their headlines, intros, and how they present their results, not tasks.
• Model your structure after theirs while remaining unique.

3. A Bad Review That Nearly Ended a Freelance Career

You land a job. Communication seems fine. Then the contract closes suddenly, and you receive a 2-star review, even though you did the work. It’s one of the most stressful experiences on Upwork.

This happened to a freelancer who had only 5-star reviews until one bad experience with a disorganized client. The client disappeared, gave no warning, and left a bad rating due to their own delays. The damage was done immediately.

How to fix it:

• Before accepting a job, check the client's history. Look for red flags: low average ratings, unclear scopes, or poor communication feedback.
• Request a short video or voice call before starting to confirm expectations and working style.
• If you’re Top Rated, use Upwork’s feedback removal option if necessary, but don't depend on it.

With Vollna, you can identify risky jobs in advance using smart filters based on client behavior, budget patterns, and job frequency.

4. A Job Search Strategy That Wastes Hours (and Connects)

Typing your skill into the job search bar isn’t enough. Many jobs are mislabeled or titled differently. Even worse, most freelancers don’t use saved searches, filters, or automation, so they see jobs too late.

How to fix it:

1. Use advanced search: Look by title, add variations (e.g., “SQL Server,” “MSSQL”), and try different phrases.
2. Set hourly and fixed-rate minimums to filter out low-paying listings.
3. Save your search, click the three-dot menu, and copy the RSS feed URL.
4. Set up a Zapier automation to send new job alerts to your email or Slack right away.

This simple setup gives you an advantage over most freelancers, who may see the job 20 to 30 minutes later. In those early moments, clients often decide whom they’ll interview.

Or skip the setup entirely: Vollna provides real-time job alerts, instant filters, and automation, all without needing to manually configure RSS, Zapier, or Slack.

Final Tip: Show Clients You’re Thinking Ahead

For example, a freelancer with under $400 in earnings stood out, not by experience, but by strategy. Their proposal:

• Asked better questions than others
• Shared a clear roadmap (not fluff)
• Matched the client’s language

That’s what made the difference. Even if you’re new, you can succeed if you approach projects as a partner, not just a task-taker.

Conclusion

Success on Upwork isn’t about luck. It’s about process. Most freelancers keep making these same four mistakes. But once you avoid them, improve your profile, and act quickly on new jobs, things change rapidly.

And you don’t have to figure this out alone. Vollna provides you with the tools to:

• Track your proposal response and view rates
• Get immediate alerts for high-paying jobs
• Check client behavior before applying
• Use improved proposal templates tailored to job type

Ready to stop guessing and start getting hired? Let Vollna help you reach your goals faster.