How to enhance your freelancer profile

Wondering how to enhance your Upwork freelancer profile beyond the essentials? Learn how to add details that can help you stand out to clients.

In this article

• How do I add a portfolio item?
• How do I edit a portfolio item?
• What formats and sizes are allowed for portfolio items?
• Best practices for freelancer portfolios
• How do I add a video overview to my profile?
• How do I add other languages to my profile?
• How do I add certifications to my profile?
• How do I add professional licenses to my profile?
• How do I add other experiences to my profile?
• How do I link a social account to my profile?

How do I add a portfolio item?

1. Find the portfolio section on your profile and choose the (+) button
2. Fill in the details of the project:
   • Title (up to 70 characters)
   • Role (up to 100 characters)
   • Project description (up to 600 characters)
   • Skills & deliverables (up to five skill tags): This helps clients understand the skills you're demonstrating in this project
   • Related Upwork jobs (optional): Add work from past Upwork contracts to your portfolio for added credibility. We notify your past clients when you do so, which allows them to review the link and reach out if they have any concerns about it being shared. The portfolio item will be added once the client approves it, or after three days pass
3. Add the content that highlights the work you have done. This may include:
   • Images
   • Video
   • Audio
   • Documents
   • Links to external sites
4. Preview your project to make sure everything looks as intended
5. At any point during this process, choose Save as draft to save your progress. You can find your draft portfolio items in the Drafts tab in the portfolio section on your profile. Drafts are not visible to clients
6. Once you are satisfied with your project, select Publish. This makes the portfolio item visible to clients

How do I edit a portfolio item?

You can edit a published portfolio item by selecting the pencil icon. If you link a related Upwork contract, the client is notified of the edit. This allows clients to review the item and reach out if they have any concerns. Clients have three days to accept or reject the link before it's published.

What formats and sizes are allowed for portfolio items?

The following file formats and file sizes are supported for portfolio upload:

A note about images: Recommended dimensions are 1000px width by 750px height. The minimum is 400px width by 300px height, with a maximum of 4000px width by 4000px height.

Best practices for freelancer portfolios

• Be selective and show your best work, rather than everything you have ever created
• Highlight skills & technologies used
• Keep your portfolio updated — as you complete new projects, remove examples that are outdated or irrelevant
• Avoid sharing contact details. Like the rest of your profile, posting contact info isn't allowed in your portfolio. That means these files (and linked sites) can't include your email address, phone number, or any other contact information

How do I add a video overview to my profile?

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the Video introduction option in the sidebar
2. Select the + sign to add a video
3. Paste your YouTube video link into the box and select Save

Guidelines for profile videos

• Be sure to upload your video to YouTube
• Disable monetization via YouTube (no ads on your video)
• Adhere to all other Upwork Terms of Service

Pro tip: Learn more about creating a great introductory video here.

How do I add other languages to my profile?

You can help your profile stand out by listing all the languages in which you feel comfortable communicating. You can also verify that you're proficient in English if it's not your native language.

How to add a language (other than English)

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the Languages section in the sidebar
2. Choose the + button to add a language
3. Enter the name of the language and specify your proficiency
4. Choose the Save button

How to verify that you are fluent in English if it is not your native language

• Take an Upwork-approved test from a third-party provider, which includes IELTS - English Proficiency Exam, Cambridge, and Duolingo tests, and add your certificate from the test
• Get rated by three clients when they end their contracts. When your contract ends, we ask your client to rate your English proficiency. Note: We take only the first three distinct clients' feedback for evaluating your English proficiency.

How do I add certifications to my profile?

Certifications earned outside of Upwork are a great way to show off your skills and qualifications.

Learn how to add them here.

How do I add professional licenses to my profile?

Learn how to add a professional license to your profile here.

How do I add other experiences to my profile?

The Other experiences section is where you can add anything that doesn't easily fit into the other sections of your profile but is relevant to the types of projects you seek through Upwork. This could include personal interests, research projects, informal education, or any background information that helps support your expertise or marketability. Your experiences will be listed in alphabetical order.

To add other experiences to your freelancer profile

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the Other experiences section
2. Select the + button
3. Enter a subject and description
4. Choose the Save button

How do I link a social account to my profile?

You can link a number of different social media accounts to help you create a 100% complete profile.

Linking an account provides us with additional information that we can use to show you the right jobs. Don't worry, we will not post or interact with these sites on your behalf. 

To link a social account

1. In your profile, choose Profile Settings
2. Scroll down to Linked accounts to see the options and select the account you want to add
3. Enter your account details and follow the instructions to complete the process