I made almost $500000 on Upwork last year as a freelance SEO ... - msnNOW

• Sam Bazzi turned to Upwork full time in 2016 after health problems meant he needed more flexibility.
• The SEO consultant, who's used the platform on and off since the late 2000s, now makes six figures.
• He shares his tips for scaling a reliable sales pipeline and how he constructs Upwork proposals.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sam Bazzi, a 42-year-old marketing expert from Michigan. Insider has verified Bazzi's income with documentation. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I created my Upwork account as a freelance online-marketing consulting in 2008, but it was a side gig.

In 2016, my health was upended. I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, among other health concerns. At the time, I was a marketing consultant with a couple of local clients, but they often wanted me on-site some days.

When my health deteriorated, I went all in on Upwork. All my work on the platform was completely remote so I could still make an income around my doctor's appointments and from my bed, which wasn't an option with my other job.

My specialty is internet marketing. I help clients with pay-per-click landing pages, conversion-rate optimization, online ads, SEO, and more.

I started freelancing full time on Upwork in 2016

I began onboarding projects more aggressively in 2016. Clients list projects on Upwork they need help with and freelancers submit proposals to be hired.

I submitted more proposals and communicated my new availability to the clients I already...

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