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Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
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They told me to quit. I decided to prove them wrong.
I started from absolutely nothing.
No established reputation. No guaranteed clients. No shortcut to success.
At the beginning, I worked hard but saw very little in return. I sent proposals, waited for responses, faced rejection, and questioned whether all the effort was actually worth it.
And then came the advice:
“You should quit.”
“This isn’t working.”
“Find something else.”
For a moment, those words were difficult to ignore.
But I had made a decision, I wasn’t going to let a slow beginning define my ending. I kept going.
And most importantly, I kept showing up when the results weren’t showing up.
Eventually, the rejection turned into opportunities.
The opportunities turned into long-term clients.
The experience turned into expertise.
And today, I’m proud to have earned Top Rated Plus on Upwork. 🏆
But honestly, the badge isn’t my biggest achievement.
Not quitting is.
Because success often looks invisible before it becomes visible.
So if you’re building something from scratch and wondering whether you should give up, remember:
You don’t need everyone to believe in you. You just need to refuse to stop believing in the work you’re doing.
Keep going.
Your breakthrough might be closer than you think. 🚀
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
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When I moved from Upwork to Contra, I wasn’t sure whether I was making the right decision.
Now? I’m never going back.
Contra has given me more than a place to find work. It has connected me with clients who value my professional perspective, trust my expertise, and invest accordingly. It’s also given me visibility, community and the space to grow from an independent designer into a collaborative studio that’s continuing to expand.
So, if you’re just starting out on Contra, take this as your sign to keep going. Show up, share your work and give it time. You never know what it could grow into.
Wow...Thanks so much for this, Sydelle
I’m just starting out here and this has motivated me to do more.
Any tips on how to get better here, attract clients and all?
I’ve been taking on new projects for less than half of what I usually charge on Contra. Why?
Because I’ve been trying to understand the dynamics of the platform, especially the fundamental logic behind its “discovery score.”
For a long time, I turned down projects & inbound invites because they felt like an underpay. But I’m starting to look at it differently.
I’m essentially starting from 0 here on Contra. I have to build my way up, earn visibility, establish trust, collect the right kind of work, and eventually get back to the level I’m used to operating at.
I’ve done that before in my professional life. This time, I’m just learning how to do it on a new platform.
I'd only count the lower rate as an investment if those projects create something Contra actually scores, like a review or verified project. If they don't, half the fee is gone and the Discovery Score may stay right where it is.
Hey everyone
Curious question for the community, how long did it take you to land your first client on Contra?
Also, if you’ve already worked with clients here, drop a tip for people who are still waiting for that first project
Let’s make this a thread that actually helps others in the community get started faster 💪
It took me alot of time almost a year also it was just luck I got it from my content game randomly, since then I am again trying to understand how are they getting the leads from contra