u/dilawaizmehwish

Hey everyone! I’m a social media manager with 5+ years of experience, but I’m new to Upwork. So, beginner on the platform, not at the actual job 😅

I’d love to hear your honest experiences with Upwork in 2026, especially if you’ve recently started.

A few things I’m trying to figure out:

• What are the biggest do’s and don’ts for a new freelancer on upwork?
• How much did you spend on Connects before landing your first job, and how long did it take?
• Is boosting proposals worth it, or does it just burn through your budget faster?
• I already have clients outside Upwork. Is there any real benefit to bringing them onto the platform? Would that help build my profile enough to justify the fees?
• For social media managers, are you finding decent clients and rates?

Trying to set realistic expectations before applying