Most freelancers are aware of the importance of maintaining a good profile on UpWork. A complete and detailed profile not only gives you a better chance of being hired, but also helps you to command higher rates. One of the key elements of a strong profile is the Connects balance.
For those who are new to UpWork, Connects are basically the currency that allows you to submit proposals for projects. You get 60 Connects per month for free, and each additional Connect costs $0.15. Therefore, if you want to submit proposals for more than 60 projects per month, you need to purchase additional Connects.
While some freelancers are happy to pay for additional Connects, others look for ways to get them for free. After all, every little saving helps when you’re running a business! Here are a few tips on how to get free Connects on UpWork:
1) Complete your profile 100%
One of the easiest ways to get extra Connects is simply to complete your profile 100%. When you do this, UpWork will give you 10 extra Connects as a reward.
2) Get Top Rated status
If you’re consistently getting good feedback from clients and maintaining a high job success score, you may be able to achieve Top Rated status. Once you reach this level, you’ll receive an additional 15 free Connects each month.
3) Refer friends
UpWork has a referral program whereby you can earn free Connects by referring other freelancers to the platform. For every person that you refer who completes their profile and gets hired for their first job, you’ll receive 20 free Connects. You can find your referral link in the “Referrals” section of your account settings.
4) Take advantage of special offers
From time to time, UpWork may run special offers whereby you can earn freeConnects. For example, they recently ran an offer giving away 30 freeConnects to anyone who completed certain tasks, such as taking a quiz or connecting their PayPal account. Keep an eye on the UpWork blog and emails for details of any such offers.
5) Stay active on UpWork
Another way to earn bonus Connects is simply by being active on UpWork. This means regularly logging in, submitting proposals, working on projects, etc. The more active you are, the more likely you are to earn bonusConnects through the platform’s activity-based algorithm.
Conclusion: There are several ways that freelancers can get free connects on UpWork including completing their profile 100%, becoming top rated, referring friends and taking advantage of special offers from UpWork.
