Profile views don't seem to tally with reality.
I've been getting more invites & direct messages (some leading to private contract offers), when my stats show zero profile views in recent days. Other times there is an overlap of invites & profile views.
Sidetrack: Upwork just introduced an 'Earn Connects' feature, which is based on your activity on the platform. You get more connects the more meaningful activities you undertake. One of them, 'Earn Money', seems to not be properly tracked; it doesn't register. Neither does ‘respond to an offer'.
My point here is that Upwork aren't particularly great at tracking platform activity. In short: I don't think the profile views stat functions properly / as below, there may be reasons this is not always the critical measure it might appear…
What does count
– Platform activity (even if Upwork are patchy at tracking it). Being active on the platform seems to be the most important factor to me in determining attracting views, tying up contracts, and getting down to work.
– Having a good, strong profile in which you do not undervalue yourself.
Stay steady on your rate. Human nature will sniff out when something doesn't seem right. Gotta respect ourselves in order for others to respect us in turn.
– Hone in & niche down
This doesn't mean ditch a load of skills. Just have a really clear headline and limit it to your main two skills & offerings. Write the rest of your profile around that, and introduce your other skills as supporting the headline ones.
– Hit big with the headline
And sell your experience (concisely) in the first two lines of your profile (this is seen in search results; and you might be directly contacted or invited as a result of those two lines without a profile view).
Structure & bullet-point skills & offerings or have short, clear, headlined paragraphs after your intro.
Use your profile to show how your mind functions. Be structured & clear.
And most of all, be active; be online, be available for consultations (create one or two of those), try to keep open, hourly contracts… again, you're active, and a client might well come back for more.
Build portfolio items… make videos… keep going, keep at it. Buy some connects & bid… it all makes you active = visible to the algo (even if it doesn't show up in your stats).
