How agencies and freelancers raise checks on Upwork
Not motivational. Not “believe in yourself”. Real mechanics.
The classic gradual rate growth
You raise the rate step by step. Boring. Works.
If you want faster speed, people do two moves:
a. warm clients. Clients who already trust you and do not panic when you change the number. You update the contract or you start the next project at the new rate.
b. higher rate in the contract, fewer hours billed
Yes. Same client budget. New public rate. You protect the relationship and you move your profile forward.
Cross bidding inside one agency
Different people's profiles. Different rates. Same job posts.
You intentionally apply from multiple profiles to the same jobs. You let the client choose. You watch what gets replies. Also possible for other A/B tests
Fixed prices are also okay.
I have agencies that raise checks exactly by playing with hourly and fixed.
If a client is not ok with your growth to 100 per hour, you do not push.
You split the work into fixed price packages.
You still calculate everything based on your hourly rate in your head.
But you sell it as clear fixed packages with clear scope.
And Upwork already has many protections for fixed price, so it is much easier to sell fixed now.
Two agencies
Two agencies is my favorite topic.
• it is plan B in case of a ban
• it is different niches
• it is a lot of A B tests
• it is different stats
• it is different rates
• most important, more leads from one channel
Two agencies, two niches
One agency can be design, another can be development.
This is for people who sell packages, not full custom end to end solutions.
Two agencies, competitors to each other
Basically clones, but with different rates.
What it gives you:
a. you take more from the market
b. the same client can reply to both agencies, and you can learn expectations or budget from one agency before you negotiate harder from the other
Consulting and Project Catalog
A lot of freelancers and agencies sell through expertise.
First they position as consultants in a niche.
Then they sell the service.
It works very well.
But you must work on the profile. Hard.
Good thing you follow me and you know how the algorithms work.
Maintenance
You do not have to raise checks only by increasing the hourly rate.
Who said subscriptions exist only in clubs or music.
Design, development, QA can also be maintenance.
Your task is to sell it in two moments:
presale
and the peak of client happiness
It is basically like insurance. Client pays in advance. You are on standby.
Advance payments let agencies plan expenses and team load.
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Hugs,
Tamara
marketing people said I need more personal touch🙄 soooo me and snow.
