Have dedicated a good chunk of time to UpWork. I think I'm a bit stumped right now.

I work as a translator and I think I have earned a pretty good reputation. Thing is, it's still as dull as it was when I started. I still have to apply to a bunch of jobs just to be denied. I've tried applying to translation agencies but they never get back to me, or they do but it never results in me getting hired. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong on UpWork or just failing as a freelancer, but it sucks. Any advice?