Tips & Tricks

Let me be honest—until recently, I underestimated the power of LinkedIn. As a freelancer, I always thought my portfolio spoke louder than my profile. But after making some serious upgrades in early 2025, the results blew me away. Profile views skyrocketed, connection requests poured in, and yes, clients started contacting me.

If you’re still treating LinkedIn like an online resume, it’s time for a shift. Here are 20 steps I followed (and recommend) to turn your LinkedIn profile into a powerful personal brand tool in 2025.

1. Start with a Professional Yet Approachable Profile Photo

I invested in a high-quality headshot with good lighting and a neutral background. It’s not about glamour—just being clear, confident, and friendly. People want to see you.

2. Use a Branded Background Banner

I designed a simple banner using Canva that shows what I do (freelance web development + eco-blogging). It sets the tone even before someone reads my headline.

3. Nail Your Headline with Keywords + Value

Instead of just saying “Freelancer,” I went with:
“Freelance Web Developer | PHP, MySQL, SEO | Helping Small Businesses Go Digital”
It includes what I do and who I help.

4. Update Your Location for Searchability

Sounds small, but updating my location to reflect where my clients are (or where I want to get work) helped me appear in more local search results.

5. Customize Your LinkedIn URL

I edited my profile URL to something simple like linkedin.com/in/debasisfreelancer—easy to share and more professional on resumes or email signatures.

6. Write a First-Person, Story-Driven ‘About’ Section

I made this deeply personal, sharing how I started freelancing, why I shifted into sustainable tech, and what motivates me. It’s like a mini blog post, and people read it.

7. List Only Relevant Experiences with Clear Outcomes

I focused on projects that relate to what I want more of. I included metrics wherever possible—like “Built a user management system in PHP that supports 1,000+ users.”

8. Use Rich Media to Show Your Work

Under each experience, I uploaded screenshots of projects, PDF case studies, and links to live websites. Visuals make a big difference.

9. Highlight Key Skills for 2025

LinkedIn’s skills section got smarter in 2025. I chose skills that align with both trends and my actual expertise, like “AI Integration in Web Apps” and “Sustainable Web Design.”

10. Request Specific, Story-Based Recommendations

I messaged past clients and asked for recommendations that spoke to a particular project. The more specific the testimonial, the more believable it feels.

11. Add a Featured Section

This is a game changer. I used it to showcase:

• My blog on eco-friendly tech
• A standout client project
• My lead magnet: a free PDF checklist for small businesses going digital

12. Turn on Creator Mode

I enabled Creator Mode to highlight my topics (like #freelancing, #webdevelopment, #greenweb). It helps build my niche identity and adds a Follow button.

13. Regularly Post Value-Driven Content

Every week, I post tips, personal wins, and occasional mistakes with what I learned. It builds trust, visibility, and shows I’m active in my niche.

14. Engage (Don’t Just Scroll)

I comment thoughtfully on posts by industry leaders and freelancers I admire. Not spammy, just genuine engagement. This alone brought some solid leads.

15. Add Licenses and Certifications

Even if it’s a free Udemy course or a Google Digital Garage badge, it adds credibility. I listed ones relevant to what I offer now, not everything I’ve ever done.

16. Reorder Sections Strategically

LinkedIn lets you drag sections. I moved my Featured and About sections right to the top, then Experience, then Recommendations.

17. Optimize for Mobile Viewing

Most people view LinkedIn on their phone. I tested my profile layout, summaries, and bullet points for mobile readability.

18. Update Your Open to Work Settings (Even if You’re Not Job Hunting)

I turned this on, but made it visible only to recruiters. It triggered more profile views from people scouting freelancers for contracts.

19. Add Volunteer Work or Causes You Care About

I listed my work in the sustainable tech space and eco-blogging. It connects me with like-minded people and potential partners.

20. Track What’s Working

I pay attention to which posts perform well, who’s viewing my profile, and where my leads come from. This helped me refine my keywords and posting style.

My Final Thoughts:

Your LinkedIn profile in 2025 shouldn’t just say who you are—it should show what you can do and why it matters. These 20 steps helped me go from invisible to visible, and I hope they help you too.

If you’ve been putting off your LinkedIn makeover, maybe today’s the day to take the first step.

Let me know which tip helped you the most—or if you have one I should add!

Upwork is one of the Best and most Popular Freelancing platforms. It’s formerly known as Odesk, but later in 2013-2014, Elance and Odesk, both Freelancing companies, got Merged and formed a New company in 2015, which is known as Upwork. I started my Freelancing Career on Odesk around 2009, and after clearing all the tests at that time on Odesk I got my first Project in 2010 by an Italian company… I was super excited at that time. During those times, I faced several problems in finding the right job because no one was there to guide me on how to manage my Profile and how to apply for any Project professionally.

My Upwork Profile

But by the grace of God, till now I have successfully completed 60 Big Projects and have 10,000 hrs of Work experience on Upwork. Today I thought, why don’t I write a post on this particular topic, like how a Beginner will shape up his/her freelance profile to attract more clients and get more projects, and build a successful Freelance career on Upwork.

A standout profile is crucial if you’re a freelancer looking to land more clients on Upwork. With thousands of professionals competing in every category, your profile must impress the Upwork algorithm and potential clients. In this blog post, we’ll share proven tips to help you optimize your Upwork profile for visibility, credibility, and conversions.

1. Choose a Clear and Specific Job Title

Your Upwork Title should instantly tell clients what you do and who you help. Avoid generic terms like “Freelancer” or “Hardworking Professional.” Instead, get specific:

✅ Good: WordPress Developer | E-commerce Specialist with WooCommerce Experience
❌ Bad: Web Developer

Use relevant keywords naturally to help your profile rank in search results. It doesn’t mean you stuff only keywords instead of adding some details about yourself. If you do this, then Upwork treats it as a Spam Profile.

2. Write a Client-Focused Overview

Your overview is your pitch. Focus on how you can help solve the client’s problems. Start with a strong hook, include measurable results, and use industry-specific terms clients are likely to search for.

Example Format:

• Brief intro with your niche
• Mention years of experience
• Specific results or value you provide
• Call to action (e.g., “Let’s connect to discuss your project!”)

Additionally, you can SEO optimize your profile in a natural way by including phrases like “Upwork freelancer,” “expert [skill],” or “hire [your service] on Upwork.”

3. Use a Professional Profile Photo

A clear, friendly headshot builds trust. Ensure:

• Bright lighting
• Clean background
• Eye contact and a smile
• Dress appropriately for your industry

The Important Thing: Profiles with real, professional photos get up to 5x more invites.

4. Highlight Your Top Skills

Upwork allows you to select up to 15 skills—choose wisely. These help match you with relevant job posts and influence how you show up in searches.

Today’s Tips:

• Use tools like Upwork’s “Trending Skills” to stay current.
• Match skills with keywords used in your niche’s most successful profiles.

5. Showcase a Strong Portfolio

Even if you’re just starting, include work samples, mockups, or case studies. A good portfolio demonstrates your ability and builds trust instantly.

Portfolio Tips:

• Use descriptive titles and results-based captions.
• Include testimonials if available.
• Align samples with your desired clients.

6. Take Relevant Upwork Skill Tests (Optional but Strategic)

Though no longer required, well-scored tests still boost credibility, especially for new freelancers. Choose tests relevant to your niche or industry. Try your best to pass these tests and secure a good % to attract more Customers because these days competition is so high, so it will be a big challenge for New Freelancers to Get Projects on Upwork.

7. Set a Competitive Yet Realistic Rate

Research freelancers in your category with similar experience. Setting your rate too low might suggest low quality, while too high may reduce interest if you’re new.

Tip: Start slightly lower to gain traction, then raise your rate as you build reviews and long-term clients. Try to Big as less as Possible in the beginning. Once you get your first job, try to complete it before time, and always be responsive to clients and try to get good feedback and reviews from them. Once you get a few projects, try to increase your Hourly rate.

8. Earn Great Reviews Early On

Reviews are gold. Focus on small, manageable projects initially, and deliver exceptional results. Communicate, meet deadlines, and go the extra mile to earn 5-star ratings.

9. Stay Active and Responsive

Upwork’s algorithm favors active freelancers. Log in regularly, apply to relevant jobs, and respond to invitations quickly.

Pro Tip: Set your profile to “Available” and keep your response time under 24 hours to improve visibility. Whether you get work or not but don’t be disheartened and try to be active every day, because Upwork Crawler checks which profiles are active and which are not active. It keeps pushing those active profiles up in the search results.

10. Use Keywords Wisely Throughout Your Profile

Don’t overstuff, but do include relevant SEO keywords like:

• [Your skill] expert
• Best [service] freelancer
• Hire a [niche] professional
• Upwork [your service]

This helps your profile rank higher in both Upwork search and Google indexing.

Bonus Tip: Customize Your Proposals to Win More Jobs

A great profile gets attention, but a tailored proposal seals the deal. Address the client by name, refer to their job post, and offer a clear plan to solve their problem.

My Final Thoughts

Creating a standout Upwork profile is more than just listing skills—it’s about building a compelling personal brand that resonates with your ideal clients. With a polished, SEO-optimized profile, you’ll not only rank higher but convert more visitors into paying clients.

Looking to grow your freelancing career?
Subscribe to our newsletter for more Upwork tips, freelance hacks, and SEO strategies that work in 2025 and beyond. If you can drop your email ID with your question in this Blog Post comment box, I will help you.

Thanks.