Upwork Profile Not Visible in Search? My 30-Day Comeback Plan (2025)

I started freelancing back in 2011, when Upwork was still called oDesk. Over the years, I worked with clients worldwide and built a profile with a steady flow of projects and reviews. Any time someone searched for my name or digital marketing services—on Upwork or Google—my profile would show up.

Recently, after taking an extended break from freelancing, I returned to Upwork expecting to pick up where I left off. Instead, I hit a wall. Even with my profile set to “Public,” it’s now completely missing from both Upwork search and Google results. I’m not a new freelancer and I know my way around the platform, but this issue caught me off guard.

Right now, my profile is still invisible—no matter what I search or which links I use. This blog post is not a guide written in hindsight. It’s a real-time documentation of the exact process I’m following to regain visibility on Upwork and Google, step by step.

If you’re a freelancer facing the same situation, or you’re just curious about how Upwork handles inactive profiles, you’ll find the whole journey here: the challenges, the research, the expert tips, and a 30-day action plan I’m putting to the test. At the end of the month, I’ll post a follow-up with the results, updates, and screenshots—so you can see what works and what doesn’t.

The Problem: When Your Upwork Profile Goes Invisible

With new motivation to restart my freelance career, I logged into Upwork and did the first thing any professional would do—I searched for “Vijay Bhabhor” on the Upwork platform. To my surprise, my profile didn’t appear at all. I tried every possible combination: my full name, my city, my main services. No matter what, my Upwork profile simply wasn’t in the search results, even though my settings showed it as “Public.”

Not ready to give up, I turned to Google. I searched for “Vijay Bhabhor Upwork,” tried site:upwork.com with my name, and even entered my exact Upwork profile URL into Google’s search box. The result? Nothing. No snippet, no profile card, no mention of my Upwork presence. For all practical purposes, it was as if my Upwork profile never existed.

What made this even more confusing was that everything looked fine on my end:

My profile is 100% complete and set to “Public”
I have years of positive client feedback, completed contracts, and real work history
There were no notifications or warnings from Upwork about being hidden or delisted
I’m even on a paid plan, so there shouldn’t be any visibility limits

The impact is serious. If potential clients can’t find “Vijay Bhabhor” on Upwork or through Google, I lose out on new projects, referrals, and the trust that comes from years of honest work. For anyone who’s invested time building their freelance reputation, seeing it disappear from search is frustrating and discouraging.

As I go through this 30-day process, I’ll share screenshots showing exactly what appears in Upwork and Google search for “Vijay Bhabhor.” If you’re seeing the same thing with your own profile, you’re definitely not alone—and there is a path forward.

Why This Happens: The Real Reasons Profiles Get Hidden

It’s easy to assume something is broken when a profile goes missing, but the reality is more complicated. After some digging and research—plus talking with other freelancers who faced the same issue—I discovered several reasons why even a complete, public profile like mine can disappear from Upwork and Google search.

Upwork Automatically Hides Inactive Profiles:If you haven’t earned in a while or rarely send proposals, Upwork may quietly set your profile to “private” or reduce its visibility. Even if your settings say “Public,” you may be hidden from search until you show new activity. In my case the last job was done in 2021, and today we are July 2025, so a Long gap.
Profile Privacy Setting Can Switch:Long periods of inactivity sometimes trigger an automatic change from “Public” to “Private.” Unless you check, you might not notice this switch.
Noindex Tag Blocks Google:Upwork adds a <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag to profiles they want hidden from search engines—usually inactive or private profiles. When this tag is present, Google won’t index or show your profile, no matter how many links point to it. I have checked my site and found no issues. Here is screenshot for reference.
Lack of Recent Activity or Engagement:Upwork’s algorithms reward active freelancers. No proposals, contracts, or updates for months or years? Your profile’s search “rank” drops, making you invisible even to clients searching your skills or name.
No External Links:Google is more likely to ignore pages with no links from outside sources. If your Upwork profile isn’t mentioned or linked from your website, LinkedIn, or anywhere else, Google may never crawl or keep it indexed.

For freelancers like me, this means it’s not a glitch—it’s the result of how Upwork manages a massive number of user profiles and how Google chooses what to show. The good news? Once you understand why it happens, you can take specific steps to get back in search. That’s exactly what I’m documenting in this 30-day comeback.

My Upwork Track Record Before Inactivity

Before my break from Upwork, I invested years building my profile and reputation as a Google Ads and PPC specialist. My work spanned international clients, multiple categories, and both short-term and long-term projects. I always aimed for timely delivery, clear communication, and results that clients could see in their ad performance and ROI.

Here’s a look at some of my most recent and relevant feedback—still visible on my public profile:

Need PPC Expert for our website (Feb 2021) – “Great work done by Vijay, Gave us work on time and it was excellent. Would like to hire you again.” (5 stars)
Google Ads Expert (Dec 2019 – Jun 2020) – “Vijaykumar did a very good job in optimizing my PPC. Due to Covid we can’t continue the job at the moment.” (4.4 stars)
Google Ads Expert for International Lead Generation (Jun 2020) – “Thank you Vijay. Great work as always. You are very talented, hard working, and always on time.” (5 stars)
cafe catering marketing (Mar 2017 – May 2019) – “Vijay is a very skilled website developer/Adwords specialist… highly recommend.” (5 stars)
Adwords Campaign Audit (Mar 2019) – “Vijay is my favorite consultant when it comes to Adwords quick fix. Great job. Thanks.” (5 stars)

In total, I’ve completed more than 50 projects on Upwork, across PPC, SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, campaign audits, and marketing consulting. I’ve worked with startups, agencies, and established businesses. My feedback was always public and searchable—until now.

That’s why this situation isn’t just about beginners or low-activity accounts. If it can happen to a freelancer with years of history and positive reviews, it can happen to anyone. The next step is to see if my 30-day reactivation plan will bring my profile back into view.

My 30-Day Action Plan to Reactivate My Upwork Profile

Realizing that my “Vijay Bhabhor” Upwork profile was invisible, I decided to treat the comeback like any professional project—with a structured, week-by-week plan. Here’s my detailed roadmap, which you can adapt to your own freelance return. This time, I’m also investing in Upwork’s paid ads to increase visibility.

Week 1: Audit and Refresh Everything

Double-check profile visibility: Set to “Public” in Upwork settings.
Log out and check my profile using an incognito window. Inspect the source code for any noindex tag.
If hidden or private, contact Upwork Support for manual reactivation and visibility.
Update my summary, title, and skills with fresh, relevant keywords.
Upload a current, professional profile photo.

Week 2: Consistent Daily Proposals & Profile Activity

Send 2–3 targeted proposals every day (totaling 14–21 per week) for jobs in my core skills: Google Ads, PPC, Meta Ads, digital marketing.
Prioritize recent job postings with fewer proposals and clients with payment verified.
Add or update certifications, testimonials, and portfolio pieces—even if completed outside Upwork.
Respond promptly to all messages, invites, or follow-ups.
Activate a paid ads campaign on Upwork to further boost profile visibility.

Week 3: Build Authority and External Links

Add my Upwork profile link to my website’s “Hire Me” page, my LinkedIn, and relevant social profiles.
Mention or share my profile in professional groups, digital marketing communities, or as part of this case study blog.
Continue daily: send 1–2 high-quality proposals and update at least one part of my profile (skills, description, etc.).

Week 4: Monitor, Follow Up, and Secure a Win

Each week, search for “Vijay Bhabhor Upwork” on both Upwork and Google using incognito mode, and take screenshots of the results (or lack thereof).
Follow up with any leads, clarify project details, and aim to secure at least one contract (even a quick or low-budget job can help trigger reactivation signals).
Keep my paid Upwork ads running and adjust as needed based on impressions and clicks.
Document every major step and update for transparency and future analysis.

Action Checklist

[ ] Profile set to “Public,” no noindex tag
[ ] Summary, skills, and photo updated
[ ] 2–3 new proposals sent daily (target: 60–80 proposals in 30 days)
[ ] Paid Upwork ads campaign active
[ ] Profile linked from website and LinkedIn
[ ] Search results monitored and screenshots saved each week
[ ] At least one new contract or review secured
[ ] Results and process fully documented for next blog post

The plan combines daily proposal activity, regular profile updates, external authority signals, and the extra boost from paid Upwork ads. I’ll document the process as I go—if you’re trying the same, let’s compare notes. I’ll share all the results, including what worked and what didn’t, in my follow-up post at the end of this 30-day experiment.

What I’m Tracking for Results

A big part of this 30-day journey is transparency. I’m not just sharing tips—I’m recording the real impact of every action, so other freelancers can see what actually moves the needle.

Here’s exactly what I’ll be tracking each week:

Upwork Search Visibility: Does “Vijay Bhabhor” show up when searched on Upwork by name or skill?
Google Search Visibility: Is my profile indexed by Google? I’ll run site:upwork.com searches for “Vijay Bhabhor” and try direct profile link searches.
Profile Views & Impressions: Are profile views, proposal reads, or Upwork analytics improving over the month?
Client Responses: Am I getting replies, invites, or interview requests as proposal activity ramps up?
New Contracts or Reviews: Do I land at least one new contract or feedback during the process?
Paid Ads Performance: For transparency, I’ll track impressions and clicks from my Upwork paid ads campaign as well.

I’ll be saving weekly screenshots of search results, Upwork analytics, and any key changes. These will form the backbone of my follow-up blog post, where I’ll share the “before and after” along with honest insights for anyone trying to revive their own freelance profile.

Key Takeaways and Advice for Freelancers

Losing visibility on Upwork or Google after a period of inactivity can be discouraging, but it’s not the end of your freelance journey. Here are some important lessons and practical steps, based on what I’ve learned so far:

Inactivity Triggers “Hiding”: Even a strong work history won’t keep your profile visible if you’re not active. Regular updates and consistent proposal activity matter.
Profile Settings Aren’t Always Enough: Setting your profile to “Public” is necessary, but not always sufficient—algorithmic signals like recent jobs, reviews, and proposals are just as important.
External Authority Counts: Linking your Upwork profile from your website and LinkedIn can speed up Google indexing and show both platforms you’re serious about returning.
Paid Promotion Can Help: If you’re restarting after a break, investing in Upwork paid ads can increase your exposure while you rebuild organic activity.
Documentation Matters: Tracking your process with screenshots and notes not only helps you measure what’s working, but also creates a resource for others facing similar challenges.
Patience and Consistency Win: Visibility won’t return overnight. Consistent action over 30 days—or longer—sends the right signals to both Upwork and Google.

If you’re returning to Upwork after months or years away, don’t get discouraged by a lack of immediate results. Focus on daily effort, track your changes, and give the algorithms time to catch up. I’ll be sharing the complete results—successes, failures, and honest observations—in my follow-up post after this 30-day reactivation plan.

FAQ: Upwork Profile Visibility Issues

Why is my Upwork profile not showing in search?

If you’ve been inactive, haven’t earned on Upwork recently, or haven’t submitted proposals in a while, your profile may be hidden from Upwork search—even if it’s set to “Public.” Upwork’s algorithm favors active and recently engaged freelancers.

How long does it take to reactivate a hidden profile?

With consistent daily proposals, profile updates, and renewed activity, most freelancers see improved visibility in Upwork search within 2 to 4 weeks. Google indexing can also take several weeks after the profile becomes visible again.

Does having a paid plan guarantee visibility?

A paid plan helps with profile exposure and bidding, but it does not override Upwork’s inactivity rules or guarantee search visibility. Profile activity and recent contracts are still essential for full visibility.

Can external links help my profile get indexed in Google?

Yes. Adding your Upwork profile link to your website, LinkedIn, and social profiles gives Google extra signals to crawl and index your profile, but only if Upwork’s settings and robots.txt allow it.

Conclusion: The Comeback Starts Here

Losing your Upwork profile visibility after a long break isn’t just a technical glitch—it’s a reality for many freelancers who step away, even after years of building their reputation. As I’ve shown, this problem can affect anyone, regardless of history or reviews. But it can be fixed with a focused, consistent approach.

My goal with this blog is to provide a transparent, step-by-step roadmap—one I’m actively testing myself—to help other freelancers regain their Upwork and Google presence. If you’re facing a similar challenge, I hope these insights and the 30-day plan give you a realistic path forward.

Over the next month, I’ll continue documenting every step, from daily proposal activity to paid Upwork ads, and tracking whether these actions actually bring my profile (“Vijay Bhabhor”) back into search. Once 30 days are up, I’ll publish a follow-up post with before-and-after screenshots, analytics, and all the lessons learned.

If you’re experiencing the same issue—or just want to see what works—bookmark this page, share your own story in the comments, or connect with me directly. Let’s make the freelance comeback journey easier for everyone.