I'm also new, and aside from the SEO thing, I'm still figuring it out.
The best pieces of advice that I can give:
See second-level freelancers, even beginner-level freelancers with high sales and reviews; what worked for them probably would work for you.
Fill out the profile, and don't leave any bold spots; if you're a client, you would probably choose the freelancer with more data on the profile, especially a diverse set of gigs (some clients think they will be back, so they choose the one that can be a wildcard freelancer).
NEVER, EVER, EVER follow the top-rated freelancers. It's like you're a beginner football player who thinks he will be international if he copies Messi or CR7 moves.
Constantly update according to changes.