#1.) Offering to do Free Work For Clients If a client asks you to do any work for free, say no. It violates Upwork’s TOS and even if it’s a small test the client asks you to complete for free, Upwork could ban you. I have a friend who was banned from Upwork after earning over $30,000 because he offered a free trial to a potential client. Instead, simply inform the client that it breaks Upwork’s TOS and tell them to fund a small contract. Then tell them that the funds won’t be released to you unless they approve of your work. #2.) Sending Contact Info to Clients You can’t send contact info to clients unless you’ve already signed a contract with them on Upwork. No emails No phone numbers No external zoom meetings. This includes sending them anything that contains your contact info. Such as a google drive link with your portfolio, which also includes a way to contact you. If you want to schedule a meeting with a client, you can use Upwork’s integration with Zoom. (see image attached). #3.) Plugging External Tools into Your Upwork Account There are sites that automate the proposal applying process, these can get you banned from Upwork and are not worth the risk. Upwork doesn’t allow for ANY external plug ins. Avoid these things and you’ll safely close clients on Upwork. Cheers, Nico

You might remember seeing this post (screenshot attached) 10 days ago, launching a giveaway for lifetime access to our premium community, and today we've chosen the winner. @Edin Durak has won LIFETIME access to our premium community. He'll have 1 on 1 support from me, access to all 50+ sections of our classroom, and access to weekly group coaching calls. Congrats Edin!

I’m curious about the experience of working with an agency on platforms like Upwork. Are there any special benefits to joining an agency, or do they generally take a larger percentage of the earnings? Additionally, when applying for a job through an agency, do they require you to specify which members of the agency will be working on the project? For landing the first job through an agency, is it advisable to reduce the hourly rate to break the ice and build a track record? Also, are there any additional questions worth considering, like whether two accounts can log into an agency account simultaneously or how task management is handled? Nico, what's your view of this?

On this Upwork job post (https://www.upwork.com/jobs/~021833534868540815071), the client has good reviews. However, for some reason, the job description and the added questions seem suspicious. The client initially listed the project price as $500, but it's actually a test project for $5. If you do well on the test, they claim they will continue to provide projects regularly. I wanted to check the reviews, and they confirm it's a classic scam where the client blocks freelancers after they complete their work. Key Notes: - Read the job description carefully and watch for inconsistencies in the project scope and payment structure. - Always check the client’s reviews for patterns of non-payment or blocking freelancers. - Payment verification does not guarantee safety. Even clients with verified payment methods can still engage in fraudulent behavior. - Avoid accepting "test projects" for a fraction of the actual project price, especially when the reward is vague or conditional. - Trust your instincts if something feels off or if communication seems unclear.