I made almost $500,000 on Upwork last year as a freelance SEO consultant — here's how

• 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.