How to Make Money on Freelance Sites Like Upwork, Freelancer, or Taskbucks (Without Spending a Dime)

To begin with, it is important to understand that earning money requires resources. And while most of us don’t count our smartphones or that old junior school laptop as a big investment, they still are, in a sense. They may not cost us anything right now, but they’re tools we rely on, and that’s worth something.

Your investments don’t always have to be money. It can be skills, time, effort, tools, or even your network. But there's an old saying that makes it clear: you can only earn money when you have something of value to exchange for it. That’s the hard truth many people try to avoid.

Some might argue — and not wrongly — that you can start with what you already have, like your smartphone, and take on small jobs. And yes, that's true. But even that comes with its kind of cost. You’ll still need to invest time into building your profile, making it stand out among thousands of other freelancers, and figuring out how to attract the right kind of jobs.

And let’s not even talk about the services you’re offering online — because those right there require skill. It’s not just about showing up and getting paid but about knowing something and doing it well enough to prove that you can deliver. If you don’t have a skill right now, then that’s your starting point — learn one. Free resources are everywhere, but they still need your attention, your time, and your willingness to sit down and get better at something.

If you’re starting with nothing but your phone, be ready to put in the work.

Now, let’s break it down.

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Freelancing has become one of the prime entrepreneurship skills in the 21st-century market. This form of business is lucrative, tasking and self-employable, offering freelancers the opportunity to sell their ideas, products and services in any area of choice. Also, as a result of its unconventionality, there is a free space

TechloyEmmanuel Umahi

7 Steps to Make Money on Freelance Sites

Step 1: Identify What You Can Offer — Right Now

You don’t need to be an expert. But you do need to offer something useful — no matter how basic. Look around at the simplest tasks online:

• Typing work
• Transcription
• Basic graphic design
• Social media content writing
• Virtual assistant tasks like email sorting or calendar updates

Even data entry. These are all things that don’t require a degree or years of experience. What they need is reliability — someone who shows up and delivers.

If you’re not sure what you can offer yet, start with what you already know how to do — even if it feels small. Then, look for ways to improve that skill on YouTube, Google, or free platforms like Coursera, Alison, or even Twitter threads.

Step 2: Set Up Your Profile Properly

Whether it’s Upwork or Freelancer, your profile is your digital storefront. And if it looks half-done, nobody's stopping to look inside.

That means:

• Write a short, clean description of what you do
• Upload a decent profile photo — not blurry, not weirdly cropped
• Highlight what you can help with, not just who you are
• Add any relevant experiences, even if it’s informal

And don’t stress about being new. You can literally say:

"I may be new to Upwork, but I’ve been helping small business owners with admin tasks for over a year now."

That builds trust. It shows you’re not just winging it.

Step 3: Start Small — Focus on Entry-Level Jobs and Volume

In the beginning, you’re not chasing the big gigs. You’re chasing momentum. You want jobs you can deliver quickly and use to rack up good reviews. That could be:

• A 1-hour transcription
• A quick data sorting task
• A short Canva design for someone’s social post

Don’t waste your time bidding on $200 jobs when you don’t even have $10 jobs on your record yet. Once you get 2–3 positive reviews, your credibility shifts — clients start seeing you as trustworthy. That’s when better-paying offers come in.

Step 4: Write Custom Proposals Every Time

Copy-pasting proposals is a NO.

Every job post is different — your proposal should reflect that. Keep it short, but personal. Mention something specific from the job post, and tell them how you’d solve their problem. For example:

“Hi [Client Name], I see you’re looking for someone to clean up a spreadsheet with over 200 entries. I’ve done similar work recently for a small business client and I can help you organize, format, and error-check your data within 24 hours.”

That’s it. You don't need to sound desperate or exaggerate things. Just show them you understand what they need.

Step 5: Communicate Like a Pro

The moment a client replies, you’re in.

Now don’t ruin it by being slow or vague. Respond clearly. Ask questions if you’re not sure. Don’t disappear. These little things turn one-time jobs into repeat gigs.

And always meet your deadline — or better yet, deliver earlier if you can. That one move alone puts you ahead of 80% of freelancers on the platform.

Step 6: Keep Improving Your Skills on the Side

Every job you do gives you feedback — directly or indirectly. Use it. If a client says, “Thanks, but the formatting was a bit off,” go fix that for next time. Watch videos, study free resources, and take small courses if you can later.

The goal is to go from “basic tasks” to “specialized services” over time. That’s where the real money is.

Step 7: Build, Don’t Rush

The biggest mistake new freelancers make is expecting too much, too soon.

If you’re putting in the work, sending good proposals, delivering on time, learning as you go, things will pick up. Maybe slow at first, but consistent. You’ll start seeing $5 jobs turn into $20, then $50, and eventually recurring clients.

That’s the long game. And it’s how you go from “trying to make money online” to actually building a freelance career, even if you started with nothing but a smartphone and some grit.

Conclusion

Freelancing isn't a quick way to become wealthy. You’re not going to sign up today and cash out tomorrow. Platforms like Upwork or Freelancer don’t work like that. They reward consistency, professionalism, and value. So if you're coming in with nothing but a smartphone, you need to be prepared to put in the work.

And yes, it’s possible to start freelancing without spending a dime. But don’t confuse free with easy. There’s still work involved. There’s still learning involved. There’s still growth involved. What you’re not paying in cash, you’re paying in time and effort.

So if you’re serious about making money online without spending, be ready to invest the resources you do have. Because in the end, freelancing pays those who show up, offer value, and keep at it, whether you started with a MacBook or just your mom’s old Android phone.