Gaining traction for a new income stream?

[Richard]

Hello everyone.

I want to gain traction to explore more income streams. To add more context, I'm a young recent college grad striving to live the dream and do what I love.

I want to use UpWork to get clients, experience, and a new stream of money. I'm being patient, because it's only been a week.

I ran out of credits, and I cant apply for anymore openings. I have a decent cover letter, a short sampling of work, and some had some interviews that led to nothing- for now.

How do I change my approach? What do you recommend?

I'm willing to provide more info.

 

[CCarter]

This is a pretty vague inquiry - and I read it multiple times to try and figure out what you are requesting.

I want to use UpWork to get clients, experience, and a new stream of money. I'm being patient, because it's only been a week.

What service are you offering? You said "clients", yet do not provide what you do. Do you walk dogs for clients? Walk their cats? Are you a airplane pilot that helps students become better pilots? Do you want to help translate websites into Spanish or Aramaic? - Cause those 4 ALL fit your request of what could be your "service".

I think the reason it's hard for you to get "openings" is because your communication skills aren't up to par.

striving to live the dream and do what I love

What's the dream life for you? What do you love to do? - This is pretty vague - do you believe servicing clients is the dream job - you'll get this from UpWork?

The harsh truth is your communication skills aren't there - and if you cannot convey a message properly people will always pass on you versus someone else that can.

 

[Richard]

I have a background in multimedia, since I graduated from a top-non ivy school in Journalism. I want to pursue an entrepreneurial venture that's going to allow me to utilize my multimedia skills.

What service are you offering?

I want to offer a content creation service. The fact that I've got a background in multimedia realm makes content creation an appealing option for me right now.

What exactly does content creation entail exactly? I'll be offering (not limited to) videography, video editing, and content writing to clients.

What type of clients would want to pay me for content creation? I don't have a niche yet. This has proven to be challenging. I'm using UpWork as a start to gain more traction as I mentioned earlier. Currently, I'm open to pivoting to some other venture if this doesn't work at all. I'm open to your feedback.

Content creation isn't my end goal- far from it. I see myself as flexible, and open to new ideas. Overall, I'm viewing content creation as a stepping stone that'll lead to more income, opportunities, and entrepreneurial experience.

Walk their cats?

This is actually funny.

I think the reason it's hard for you to get "openings" is because your communication skills aren't up to par

Maybe you're right, and I'm open to getting more feedback from you. Always willing to learn.

What's the dream life for you? What do you love to do? - This is pretty vague - do you believe servicing clients is the dream job - you'll get this from UpWork?

I was vague again when I wrote "trying to live the dream life." Allow me to clarify that I'm referring specifically to the business/income area of my life. I don't think telling you I want to live in Ibiza for six months will prove to be fruitful for this conversation.

In terms of the business area of my life, I want be my own boss, and not get stuck working a job that just pays the bills and restricts my overall freedom. I view entrepreneurship as the best means to living an ideal life style- however I define it.

What made me think this way? Reading books, lots of books. For example, the 4-hour work week is one book that made me think I'd benefit greatly from becoming an entrepreneur. I've also changed my mindset since graduating, and I want to be on a much more profitable path making millions one day.

What do I love doing? Work that excites me. I enjoy videography, and creating content when It fulfills that requirement. For instance, filming an awesome party/event, and marketing it on social media. Not only would it be fun, I'd get paid good money in an ideal scenario.

I want your honest feedback. Thanks again for taking the time to write your initial post.

 

[Ryuzaki]

I think you'd do well to create a website for your "agency" or personalized with yourself as your brand, and let that showcase your capabilities. If you're going to focus on providing great media experiences, you need to prove that you're capable.

And as a buyer on Upwork, I don't want to see some long, text-based resume full of links to various sites. I'd like a link to your website and that be it. My eyes need to be impressed.

This may seem silly but go to http://kim.com. Kim Dot Com's website is a media event, it's one page that looks amazing and is chock full of bigger-than-life colors, sounds, images, and moving pictures. That's how you need to present yourself, I think. I guarantee you, with this level of presentation, you get offers on the application credits or however it works.

From there, the sky is the limit. Some of the biggest marketing companies in the world work on commercials and the print ads and online ads that go with the full-court press. At that point you're just climbing the ladder, getting better, and getting higher paying clients that extend your reach even further.

 

[Richard]

This may seem silly but go to KIM DOT COM

Nice site. Thanks for your feedback.
I think I need to create a site on Square Space. Also, create a LinkedIn Portfolio.

From there, the sky is the limit.

Right on. To clarify, what are some of my first actionable steps? I'm willing to do it now.

WHAT CONFUSES ME

I think I'm confused on my overall vision, and perhaps you can help.

For example, Kim got started doing MegaUpload. I'll get started with..... a site that'll be used for UpWork? Then a full scale marketing agency?

I don't know this has proven to be very challenging, but I'm not complaining. All I know is I need that $ to roll in.

Thank you again.

Edit: I found the crash course on BUSO. Words can't describe the sense of relief I experienced.

Thank you for what you're doing. Grateful to have found this place, man.

 

[janus]

Gave you a like to help you move into the main community... you seem like what we're about.
Still, take ccarter/ryuzaki's advice to heart, its free gold.

 

[Rec]

There's already a lot of good advice in this thread, but I would also add that there are a few things you can do to help yourself out.
1). Many hiring will not consider anyone without some feedback under their belt or a decent portfolio. I could write a book on some of the issues I've run into and most of them had 10+ good reviews. You could always write a few articles for members here on BUSO, and ask that it goes through Upwork. I'd help you out, but can PM yet as I'm also still new here.
2). You need to come across as professional, dependable, and have a structure in place. The last thing I want when hiring a contractor is spending an hour managing them, when i could have wrote the article myself quicker. How you do this will be unique to you.

The other advice in the thread is very good and I'd follow that. I hope this helps.

 

[darkzerothree]

For example, Kim got started doing MegaUpload.

holy, no...

Kim dotcom started waaayyy before https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Dotcom

What I think you are lacking is focus.
Are you doing video or content writing?

Decide.

 

[dmajor1111]

There are lot's of ways to start building your brand as a content creator besides upwork. You can even start on Fiverr, where you won't struggle to get gigs, but you'll have to take lower pay to start until you get a lot of positive ratings and reviews.

There are also writing services that are easy to sign up for such as iwriter, or of course forums online where you can post your services. It take time to build your name, and as you said it's only been a week. If you keep your branding consistent across multiple platforms and maintain your quality, people will discover you.

 

[Flow]

First of all, on Upwork, you want your profile to be the best it can possibly be. You obviously don't have any feedback yet, but what else can you change? What tests can you take that are relevant to multimedia? Get as many high scores as you can on those tests.

You then want to make your profile stand out from everyone else who is applying to the same jobs as you. Learn some basic copywriting and tell people on your profile how you can help THEM. How is videography, video editing or content writing going to help the people you work for? Is it going to make their customers jaws drool at how great you make their products look? Are your content writing skills going to captivate their audience and get prospects interested in the businesses that you write for? Think how it will benefit the people who hire you and their customers.

You say you haven't chosen a niche yet, but you should at least decide what the main skill you want to focus on is. Videography and video editing is a good combo, but choose either video or writing. Make yourself a specialist in your field. If you love filming, then stick with that and get good at it.

Now when you're applying to jobs, you want to make the application personalised to the potential client and their job post as much as possible. Put yourself in their shoes and work out WHY they want someone to video their hotel for them. Maybe they want something amazing to put on their website to help them get new customers. Maybe they just want someone to edit their wedding video for the memories.

Just think about what's in it for them, they don't care about where you went to college or how many times you've read 4HWW. They care about how your skills and experience are relevant to the problem they want to solve right now. Coming from this mindset will set you apart from 90% of everyone on Upwork sending the same copy & pasted application to everyone they can find.

And one more thing - cut your rate in half until you get some feedback. No one wants to pay full price for someone with zero trust signals.