Jetjacky:
Hi, guys!

So, I have been doing some research on Upwork about lots of things regarding freelancers, and I have come to realize certain things. One of them, which leads to my concern is that, several clients have been pissed finding out that their hired freelancer lied about their name, location, or stuff like that. Some hit up freelancers who claim they are in the UK, but it turns out that they are in India or some other region. Bummer. (Just google it)

I have also tried researching how Nigerian Upwork freelancers are fairing on the platform and the data I received is really conflicting and for the most part, discouraging. I have also come across some community threads with some Nigerians defending the platform as being supportive and fair to Nigerians, yet most of those defenders have not really been active on the platform.

So, I want to hear from you.

How is working on the platform as a Nigerian like for you, as writer, programmer, etc? Mostly writers, since you guys need to compete with those born or in native English-speaking countries?

Are you able to secure gigs like every other day, week, or month?

Can you easily up you raise there like up to 0.05/word or $50/hour and still secure great jobs whenever?

I have seen several accounts who their great days was in 2019 or 2017 and some who have two to three works per year, and some who only have two jobs on their account. I have also seen those who have been on it for years, like way back to 2014? With lots of completed projects, but in the recent years, lesser works too with some having bad pays, for those who agree to disclose the sum.

So, please, help me out here. How is it like for you operating your Nigerian Upwork account and is it worth it?

Thanks for your time,
Jet.

naijacutee:
Caveat: I'm Nigerian and on Upwork, but I don't live in Nigeria so I don't know if my advice counts.

From my experience as a black person on Upwork, I get around 1 out of 4 jobs I bid for. So basically, if I want a job I bid for 4.

I charge $35 an hour (I jumped from $7/ hour to $35/ hour after I woke up and realised my worth) and clients have no issues paying me my fees. If they can't afford it then no problems.

naijacutee:
Caveat: I'm Nigerian and on Upwork, but I don't live in Nigeria so I don't know if my advice counts.

From my experience as a black person on Upwork, I get around 1 out of 4 jobs I bid for. So basically, if I want a job I bid for 4.

I charge $35 an hour (I jumped from $7/ hour to $35/ hour after I woke up and realised my worth) and clients have no issues paying me my fees. If they can't afford it then no problems.

meetme01:


To be candid, it's not easy to get jobs on Upwork has a Nigerian. Clients just want the work done but they are aware of our infrastructural deficiency. It takes extra work to proof you are capable of fixing it within the allocated time. I work on only one niche (data entry and data mining), I give samples and make sure my proposal is tailored towards the job. Still, nothing to show for my time and expenses.

I have been working there since 2018. I got verified last year. Till date, I have earned $130 including Upwork charges. This year alone, I have spent over $30 to buy coins and yet, no job.

Upwork is no play group at all especially for Nigerians.. Nigerian factor is embedded

meetme01:


To be candid, it's not easy to get jobs on Upwork has a Nigerian. Clients just want the work done but they are aware of our infrastructural deficiency. It takes extra work to proof you are capable of fixing it within the allocated time. I work on only one niche (data entry and data mining), I give samples and make sure my proposal is tailored towards the job. Still, nothing to show for my time and expenses.

I have been working there since 2018. I got verified last year. Till date, I have earned $130 including Upwork charges. This year alone, I have spent over $30 to buy coins and yet, no job.

Upwork is no play group at all especially for Nigerians.. Nigerian factor is embedded

Zikar:


I'm really interested in your case. Could it be your niche or your country? Because I won't lie to you $130 since 2018 is extremely small.

meetme01:


The niche has a lot jobs on Upwork like others. I am 24hrs online with uninterrupted power via Solar. I send proposals as early as possible to jobs I can handle. My portal has the verification mark. It's my country I suggest. It's a turn off for many clients.

The way forward, I have thought of many but since it's business, Upwork cannot because of my country change their policy.

To me, hustle continues.

meetme01:


Your present abode is where you chose not Nigeria. It works better like that..

stagger:
I have never considered the Nigerian factor to be a limitation. It is all in the mind.

Your world is what you make it to be. If you cannot operate from Nigeria on Upwork, consider moving to another location in Africa.

meetme01:


To be candid, it's not easy to get jobs on Upwork has a Nigerian. Clients just want the work done but they are aware of our infrastructural deficiency. It takes extra work to proof you are capable of fixing it within the allocated time. I work on only one niche (data entry and data mining), I give samples and make sure my proposal is tailored towards the job. Still, nothing to show for my time and expenses.

I have been working there since 2018. I got verified last year. Till date, I have earned $130 including Upwork charges. This year alone, I have spent over $30 to buy coins and yet, no job.

Upwork is no play group at all especially for Nigerians.. Nigerian factor is embedded

naijacutee:


I think your problems might be the way you're bidding. I learnt to adjust my bids and put customers problems first.

Let me help you. Paste the recent job you bidded for ans your proposal and I will troubleshoot it for you.

stagger:
I have never considered the Nigerian factor to be a limitation. It is all in the mind.

Your world is what you make it to be. If you cannot operate from Nigeria on Upwork, consider moving to another location in Africa.

naijacutee:


I think your problems might be the way you're bidding. I learnt to adjust my bids and put customers problems first.

Let me help you. Paste the recent job you bidded for ans your proposal and I will troubleshoot it for you.

Jetjacky:
Hi, guys!

So, I have been doing some research on Upwork about lots of things regarding freelancers, and I have come to realize certain things. One of them, which leads to my concern is that, several clients have been pissed finding out that their hired freelancer lied about their name, location, or stuff like that. Some hit up freelancers who claim they are in the UK, but it turns out that they are in India or some other region. Bummer. (Just google it)

I have also tried researching how Nigerian Upwork freelancers are fairing on the platform and the data I received is really conflicting and for the most part, discouraging. I have also come across some community threads with some Nigerians defending the platform as being supportive and fair to Nigerians, yet most of those defenders have not really been active on the platform.

So, I want to hear from you.

How is working on the platform as a Nigerian like for you, as writer, programmer, etc? Mostly writers, since you guys need to compete with those born or in native English-speaking countries?

Are you able to secure gigs like every other day, week, or month?

Can you easily up you raise there like up to 0.05/word or $50/hour and still secure great jobs whenever?

I have seen several accounts who their great days was in 2019 or 2017 and some who have two to three works per year, and some who only have two jobs on their account. I have also seen those who have been on it for years, like way back to 2014? With lots of completed projects, but in the recent years, lesser works too with some having bad pays, for those who agree to disclose the sum.

So, please, help me out here. How is it like for you operating your Nigerian Upwork account and is it worth it?

Thanks for your time,
Jet.

Zikar:


Change your country.

VictorBode:



I charge $30/hr on upwork and being a Nigerian has zero effect.

The problem is most people dont know how to send proposals and optimize their profiles.

I'm also on fiverr too and still doing fine.

What people dont know is that Nigeria is better than so many countries.

VictorBode:



I charge $30/hr on upwork and being a Nigerian has zero effect.

The problem is most people dont know how to send proposals and optimize their profiles.

I'm also on fiverr too and still doing fine.

What people dont know is that Nigeria is better than so many countries.

Jetjacky:
then how do you conduct video interviews with clients? That can seriously up your money if you can.

meetme01:
naijacutee.. Sent on a dead thread. Kindly review. Thanka

Zikar:


You don't have a problem with video interviews as long as you put your real picture.

meetme01:


To be candid, it's not easy to get jobs on Upwork has a Nigerian. Clients just want the work done but they are aware of our infrastructural deficiency. It takes extra work to proof you are capable of fixing it within the allocated time. I work on only one niche (data entry and data mining), I give samples and make sure my proposal is tailored towards the job. Still, nothing to show for my time and expenses.

I have been working there since 2018. I got verified last year. Till date, I have earned $130 including Upwork charges. This year alone, I have spent over $30 to buy coins and yet, no job.

Upwork is no play group at all especially for Nigerians.. Nigerian factor is embedded

naijacutee:


Please share the rationale for doing that as I'm a bit confused. Why not put it on the relevant thread to keep the conversation relevant? You don't need to add any personal identifying information. Just copy & paste the relevant sections (i.e job ad, proposal) and I will review. Also it would be of benefit to people here.

U1:


Bro, I'd advise that you consider acquiring new skills or fine-tuning the ones you already have to enable you shift to another niche. The data entry category is inundated, more so than the writing category.

I started with web research, data collection, and data entry many years ago. But I had to learn a bit about writing to enable me transition to writing. The competition from the Indians was fierce, in terms of delivery time and cost.

I still do writing on Upwork today, if available. I mostly write how-to's and content addressing specific phenomena or topics (e.g. "What are cash discounting programs?" ). I don't do ad copies and the like because they require more than just ability to write IMHO.

There is competition in writing as well, but I think it's a bit better than data entry.

I have always flown the Nigerian flag and that hasn't really hindered me from getting jobs. The only downside I see, being a non-native, is that you usually get paid less - the more reason I have been trying to reduce the time I spend on such jobs.

However, this country could have told harder on me were it not mainly for those freelance jobs I get now and then.

Jetjacky:
which location do you operate from? Nigeria or somewhere else?

stagger:


Account was opened and has run from Nigeria since. But I have more permanent gigs direct with some companies so I do Upwork rarely now. But my experience has been that if you are good, the employers are colour-blind. They do not care where you come from.

One of the gigs I do now with a company in Europe involves a team of 5 persons from around the world. I am the highest paid in a team that features two Europeans.

naijacutee:


Please share the rationale for doing that as I'm a bit confused. Why not put it on the relevant thread to keep the conversation relevant? You don't need to add any personal identifying information. Just copy & paste the relevant sections (i.e job ad, proposal) and I will review. Also it would be of benefit to people here.

Jetjacky:
please explain further. This is really interesting.

I hope the Upwork account is Nigerian? Do you also do writing gigs on it?


On a different topic, I just created a fiver account a month ago. Do you know how I can get my first few clients? I have got nothing yet.

VictorBode:


Yes the upwork account is Nigerian. I'm a copywriter. So I write all kinds of ad copies and emails...

Once you're good. Clients will pay you and leave a great review and come back for more jobs.

The best tips are quality work and good personal connections.

https://www.fiverr.com/drcopywriting?

For Fiverr, it's about optimizing your profile, arranging your gigs in packages and using keywords.