**Portfolios in Search

What will clients see if I don’t have any items in my portfolio?

Thanks for your question. If you have not added any items to your portfolio yet there will be a blank space where your portfolio cover photo would appear. It’s your choice whether to add a portfolio to your Upwork profile, but doing so may help you win jobs. On average, freelancers with viewable portfolios are five times more likely to get hired!

Can I highlight different items in my portfolio?

Thanks for your question. Yes! The portfolio item you have listed first (with a cover image) will be the one showcased to clients in search results. However, you can change the order of the items in your portfolio at any time so that another project is in the first spot and appears in search results.

When are you going to improve the portfolio experience?

Thanks for reaching out. We plan to update this section in the near future so that freelancers can showcase their best work to clients more effectively. We will keep you posted!

What specializations are going to be affected with this launch?

Thanks for your question. Whether your portfolio cover photo appears alongside your profile in search results will depend on what keywords a client uses to search for freelancers. In most cases, when a client searches for a freelancer with skills like graphic design, photography, illustration, web design, etc. they will see the portfolio cover photo highlighted. For other skill searches where a portfolio isn’t as critical to a client, portfolio cover photos won’t be highlighted in search results (but your portfolio will still be visible when a client visits your profile).

I tried doing a search, and my portfolio cover photo didn’t appear.

Thanks for reaching out. To start, we are testing out including the portfolio cover photo when a client uses certain keywords and terms to search for a freelancer. A portfolio cover photo will not be featured for all search terms.

I’m an agency member. Will the portfolio item showing in search results be from my profile or from the agency profile?

Thanks for your question. The portfolio cover photo will be based on the first portfolio listed in your profile.

If I don’t have a portfolio on my Upwork profile will my profile no longer show up in search results?

Thanks for your question. This new feature does not affect your appearance in search results. While we know freelancers who include portfolios are five-times more likely to win a job, it is your choice whether to include a portfolio as part of your Upwork profile. If you have no portfolio, clients will see a blank space where your portfolio cover photo would appear in search results.

If I have both a specialized and a general profile, which portfolio item will show to clients in search results?

The portfolio image that shows in search results depends on whether you match the client’s search based on your general profile or based on your specialized profile. If the search pulls up your specialized profile, then the search result will display the first item from your specialized profile portfolio. If the search pulls up your general profile, the search result will display the first item from your general profile portfolio.

Freelancer search (Old):

Freelancer search (New):

Freelancer tile without portfolios:

In tandem with the launch of the updated search tiles, we’ll be running a contest to encourage freelancers to either refresh or add more items to their portfolios.

You can refer to the FAQs for more information on the contest.

When is the contest over?

Hi FIRSTNAME, the contest runs until March 5, 2019 at 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time (PDT TIME).

I don’t work in design. Can I still enter?

Hi FIRSTNAME, yes, all Upwork freelancers regardless of their specialty who have at least three portfolio projects with cover images in their portfolio can participate in the contest.

What kinds of things do I need to add to my portfolio to enter?

Hi FIRSTNAME, your profile needs to contain at least three portfolio projects with cover images.

What is the prize?

Hi FIRSTNAME, the winner will receive a $500 Amazon gift card.

How do I enter?

Hi FIRSTNAME, you need to submit your Upwork profile URL via email to contests@upwork.com by March 5, 2019 at 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time (PDT TIME). Remember that you need to have at least three portfolio projects with cover images in your portfolio to be eligible.

How is the winner selected?

Hi FIRSTNAME, the winner will be chosen in a random drawing of all eligible entries.

Did you get my entry?

Hi FIRSTNAME, thanks for entering the contest! If you emailed contests@upwork.com with a link to your profile, you should be all set. Good luck!

Did I win? [prior to the contest end date]

Hi FIRSTNAME, the contest runs until March 5, 2019 at at 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time (PDT TIME). If you’re the lucky winner, the team will reach out approximately ten business days after the end of the contest. Please see the Official Contest Rules [insert community post link] for more details.

Did I win? [after the contest end date]

Hi FIRSTNAME, per the Official Contest Rules, the winner will be notified approximately ten business days after the end of the contest. If you haven't received a notification by then, then your entry was not chosen. However, we truly appreciate your sharing your profile with us!

I’m from [insert city/country/place]. Can I enter the contest?

Hi FIRSTNAME, all Upwork freelancers who have at least three portfolio projects with cover images in their portfolios are welcome to participate in the contest.

How will I know if I’ve won? / Will you be publicly announcing the winner?

Hi FIRSTNAME, if you’re the lucky winner, the team will reach out approximately ten business days after the end of the contest. Please see the Official Contest Rules for details [insert rules link here]