Boosted Proposals Negatively Impacting My Ability to Filter and Vet Freelancers

[#1]

As a client this feature is not helping me find the most qualified freelancers. It is really just negatively impacting my ability to adjust the filtering to show me the most recent applicants or to sort by other categories. When I try to filter by newest so I can see and respond to the most recent ones, it keeps the boosted proposals on top, even though I've already both shortlisted those two and responded, and so I have to scroll down even further to see new proposals. I don't care who has boosted their post. I am looking for the best fit, not who paid to annoy me in my filtering ability. 

I understand why freelancers would think this would be useful, but whether or not the proposal is boosted is not going to impact my vetting and selection of a consultant. I look at each of the proposals and vet them based on specific criteria. And where they show up in the list is not part of that criteria. I think most discerning clients would agree. When you force these boosted proposals on top, it means I have to scroll more and makes it harder for me to organize who I've looked at and who I haven't.

Please remove this feature and just let me select freelancers based on how I want to select them. Also, the best match is ridiculous still. I posted for a health coach, and I didn't select any skills related to business coaching, but none of the health coaches are best matches, and all of the business coaches are best matches. 

[#2]

According to Upwork, boosting only increases the chances of submitting a winning proposal by six percent on average, which means one additional winning proposal for every 16.5 proposals a freelancer boosts.

Assuming an average boost of 30 connects per proposal, that's a total connects cost of $74.25 (30 x 16.5 x $0.15) per winning proposal.

Assuming Upwork takes 10% of payments the freelancer receives on their "winning" proposal, the freelancer would need to make $82.50 just to break even.

Every freelancer who works in lower value jobs should do this calculation for themselves. I’d guess that clients with low value jobs are the most likely to focus on the Top 4 boosted proposals, thinking that it isn’t worth the trouble for them to go through the other 10 – 50+ proposals they receive, meaning low value freelancers have to pay a higher proportion of their income to boost their proposals in order to win such projects.

[#3]

I'm seeing 6's and above. Based on my estimated value of these projects the number of connects required to submit a proposal reflects no consistent relationship between the two.

I have tested boosting across a number of proposals, but have seen no discernible improvement in the number of successful proposals. 

[#4]

Both sides of UW need better filtering tools. They are way to general for me.

It could also use a more defined reporting system too!

This site is on the basic side and not as professional as they afvertise.

[#5]

This is really interesting to hear. I have only boosted once, and that was because only 10% of my proposals are being looked at. And I only apply for jobs that I am suitable for/have had plently of success with in 'the real world' so it seems like boosting is the only way to even be viewed.

Thanks