Boost Your Proposal to the Top of List (March 2022 Update): Questions & Feedback

[MichaelJ]

Today we’re reintroducing the boosted proposals feature with some changes. Read the announcement from James, Director of Product, here and let us know your thoughts about these updates in the comments below.

[9ae9194a]

You don't have to make boost, The boost will help you to be in the beginning of proposals.

I mean if someone made a boost let's say 3 connects and another one didn't make any boost the person who made the boost will be the first and the other person will be the second . It's look like the SEO in search engines.

[678a8752]

But it seems we cant send proposals unless you purchase extra Boost 

[9ae9194a]

No you can when you go to section boost your proposal you will see 'boost' button just don't click it .

But actually you may don't know that you have to spend some connects to make a proposal (the client decides this)

[d633930e]

I think You do not necessarily have to boost your proposal everytime. However, if you find a job that you feel you are a top candidate, You can boost. This would only allow quick/swift profile viewing and maybe response...

[d633930e]

I have boosted a proposal before and I got the Job. On the otherhand, I sent a proposal creating a solution to the client's problems without boosting profile and I got a response too. So I would not say boosting profile is 100% effective.... 

[ead6b094]

Who else thinks that the old way of bidding was good? I think boosting of posts just discouurages effort and first come basis.

[bd412c70]

Hi Sharon!

I think that a new way is much better as I use my connects wisely and have success in getting projects. Before, many freelancers with poor knowledge got projects as they are cheap. Now, you need to invest your money and efforts to highlight yourself from others and the efforts always pay out.

[4c5b9f71]

Sharon I would respectfully disagree with you on boosting/bidding  system.

In its sole form its pay to get to the top. A lot of freelancers who don't pay will not be able to take advantage because they can't afford it. 

Plus not all people hired are cheap, just most cases, to take a small statistic and make it an absolute and say that justifies a system where you pay to get an advantage is really off or unsound. 

Tbank you,

Marcelino 

[kdniazi]

You don't think previous bidding  method  was better then current connect based priority bids?

[calado-marco]

Hi Khandad

Actually i do. To me it it's just starting to look like a way to make the freelancers spend connects.

The current method is just a sort of "google's" search, when you pay for an SEO so that your link comes up first.

And that for me undermines the idea that the best freelancers get the job, i'ts pushing the bid's by paying for it, instead of relying on the freelancers portofolio/work quality.

[sahiramsiyag]

Give you valuable feedback on new boost system.

[calado-marco]

Hi Mike.

Andrea G just merged my post "Bid boosting does it work?" to the post " Boost Your Proposal to the Top of List (March 2022 Update): Questions &"

I understand why she did it, and it helps.

The thing is that when i posted it, my intention was to get a general idea of how is it working for other freelancers. Call it a "poll".

When she merged the two topics it defeated the purpose. It got lost in the sea of other answers so to say.

Is it possible to set it again to a single topic?

All the best and keep on the good work!

[asadkhalid3105]

Last 3 months.. Don't get any requests... what can I do now.

[anis_u_rehman]

I have this new boost proposal feature. Please disable it.

[borini]

The stupidest thing Upwork has ever done. I remember when I started on Upwork even though inexperienced, and didn't know how to write good proposals I still got responses and invites, but nowadays with the new boosting system, it's impossible to get a reply and not even talk about getting hired. I feel like the rich are getting richer in this case Upwork and the highest paying freelancers and we that are in the middle or just starting are just left to "die". I really hope someone from Upwork reads this and removes the boosting system because they will lose freelancers, I don't think most of us can afford to bid on 20 jobs daily and use 20 connects for every job, that's like 400 connects per day that's around 60-70$ per day. It's absurd and no one guarantees that you will get a reply or be hired. Shameful from Upwork.  😞

[sales_iksen]

Hello Christopher,
You have reintroduced the Proposal Booster feature with a slight change. The objective seems good that the more confident bidder of a job will boost his/her proposal with a higher number of booster connects.  But it'll only work if the RFP is genuine.

I have serious doubts about the genuineness of the RFP itself. It requires a good amount of research to prepare a killing proposal which is evident from the proposal itself. On top of it, it requires extra connects to prove the interest of the freelancers. That is also acceptable if the RFP is not spammed.

So my suggestion is that if the job is not offered to any freelancer, the connects including the booster connects be returned to the Freelancer.

[osama_reda77]

hello guys,

i hope u all are ok ..

i have a big issue with BOOST PROPOSAL FEATURE. i believe this is not a fair feature.

u have to pay more money to pay more connects to get a higher position in pidding.

this is totally wrong feature. 

this feature serves only the freelancer who can pay more money to get jobs. this is not related to how professional u are or how your work is good.

i really was enjoying working on this platform but i am not now.

i think i gotta search for a new platform where more transperancy is provided and i believe all freelancer who not believe in this feature should do the same.

i hope this post not to be deleted or ignored because it is  really big problem ..

waiting to hear your opinions..

thanks in advance.....

[27976d7e]

The whole concept of Upwork is unfair. The idea of 'connects' is bad and not ethical. 

Newcomers are likely to use the boost feature because they have no system rating on UpWork (only from the outside world). 

Just because someone is new and has boosted doesn't mean they are not professional or talented. I got one of my first decent jobs by lumping on a whole load of free connects onto a proposal. Maybe 30-40 connects and there was no way I paid for them (just free connects). And guess what, the client was a 100% happy with my work at the end. To win the job I did a sample of video graphics which took 15 minuets to complete, and added it to the proposal. (watermarked). That's how I won that job. Maybe I was lucky as well but I beat a top-rated freelancer to it. However, I think to myself,... well if I didn't boost, my propsal would have just been left at the bottom of the pile, many pages back. Is that fair to me? 

When I first signed up I was under the impression it was easy to get work. The problem UpWork and is too many freelancers de-valuing the work. In my case motion-graphics, video editing and image manipulation.

There are a lot of things UW could do to improve its service. 

It sounds a bit harsh, but I think UW should stop new memberships with certain trades. (just temporarily maybe),

Otherwise, the ocean is just going to get bigger and you are going to end up with a lot of unhappy freelancers. 

Maybe compartmentalise regions. It is unfair if a UK employer is exploiting foreign talent but not paying them a UK, US rate. And this prices out UK freelancers.  Although, some UK clients are more altruistic and pay ok.

The really bad thing about UpWork is the exploitative nature of it, and whilst I have had some pleasant clients to begin with, 

I have seen people have had very bad experiences with clients acting like D-heads. 

The boost fetaure is there to let people in, but I see clients and established freelancers don't like it. But there is a lot of other stuff not to like, which could be fixed. 😞

[osama_reda77]

i agree that Upwork has a lot of prbs which they gotta work on but the boosing prb is a huge one they gotta remove that system. 

if u are a professional and u have a good portfolio, u will get alot of work without paying much money for these connects

[miriam-ocampo]

Well, we have been discussing this for months (now that I don't get any jobs I have a lot of time to read these discussions), and short story: Upwork doesn't care, I guess it's working for them. 

[osama_reda77]

it is really working for them but we gotta do something 

[anis_u_rehman]

I am 100000000000% agreed with you.

I am also planning to leave this platform.

[abid_2243]

The Boost proposal is just benefiting upwork. It neithers benift the client nor freelancers. The one who throws more connects get recommended to the clients while the more experience and talented freelancers are ignored. There is no limit on how much you spend as freelancer and most of the times the connects are wasted on jobs which either expires or goes with out hiring. It's killing the platform and most of the freelancers are quitting on upwork as I know hundreds of my friends are moving to other alternatives, and so I am planning to do.

[nadalinna]

When I first saw this, I thought it is good idea so freelancers will choose carefully to which jobs they will bid and spend more connects if they really want that job. But after bidding for some jobs lately and nobody even contacted me, I saw in stats that just few of my proposals were viewed and most of my proposals were outbid. This is making me really nervous.

I am always sending proposals just for jobs I think I am almost perfect fit. I am Top Rated Plus, clients were usually at least considered me for the job or asked me something. It wasn't too hard to get a job. Couple years ago I was receiving many invitations and got most of my jobs through them, but not anymore. And now... I should play with connects like a kid, trying to outbid my competition? Hard-earned Top Rated Plus status doesn't mean anything anymore, really?

So, Upwork, are you serious?!? I feel like I am in Casino, not at some serious workplace.

[cvanem]

I agree with many of the negative statements made here regarding the Boost/Connect feature.  I have Top Rated Plus status and have earned over 200k on the Upwork platform.  I only send proposals for jobs that look like a good fit.  Lately I have noticed it is much harder to get a response on a proposal without boosting it and many of the jobs I bid on have boost bids of 60-350 connects.  If I boost one proposal bid, it completely wipes out my connect balance.  So I guess I am just supposed to buy as many connects as I can @ $3 for every 20 and boost every proposal that I write?

I understand how this helps Upworks bottom line and allows for a new revenue stream, but I think you are hurting the client/freelancer relationship in the long run. 

As a freelancer, I shouldn't have to pay money to apply for a job.   To boost each one of my proposals, I basically have to pay between $9-$50 to apply and boost a a single proposal.  This is riddiculous and will make freelancers start to look for different platforms and alternative solutions.

It seems that a freelancer's job history and reviews are no longer the deciding factor used by clients in determining who should be hired for a project.  In the long run, this is bad for all parties involved (client/freelancer/upwork).

Anyway, just came here to vent about the stupid boost feature.  At least give me an option to buy 1000 connects at a time if you are going to turn the platform into a casino.

[ajay_0618]

You know Chris the casino analogy is perfect!  Upwork wants to make as much money as possible and some **Edited for Community Guidelines**came up with this becuase they did not want to increase theu percentage from a job.  Leave Upwork in droves!

[arthurswebsites]

350 connects? That would explain a lot of things...

[iksovreli]

Please remove this awful boost connects system. Let the client choose according to the rating and not by money paid for proposal. You will have much more successfully finished projects and satisfied clients and as a result your income will increase (20% from each project) in the long run. Now you will (maybe) have quick income but you are loosing the most important what you have.., freelancers.

[luke715]

I am going to play devils advocate... 

The boost feature might be a chance for some freelancers to get business on upworks, like new freelancers that don't have a large amount of reviews or earnings, or freelancers that don't have absolutely perfect sucess scores. 

Lets face it, freelancing is a rat race regardless. The market only has enough room for some freelancers to get the jobs, and the rest are left way down the search results. Removing the feature wont make the market any less competitive or easier, in fact, it will  make it even harder. Without any other way to get noticed, you have to rely 100% on your skills and experience compared to others on an even ground, and you will most likely fail against the rest of the world. There will always been someone a little better, or more skilled than you. A 1k earnings freelancer is invisible to a client who has the option of freelancer with 200k earnings, top rated, and 260 reviews. You might say a freelancer with lower ratings/reviews deverves not to get hired compared to another freelancer. Fair enough, but it does contribute to the rat race issue.

Another thing to consider is the boost system may give people in developed countries some kind of advantage compared to the low rates offered from freelancers in india, russia, etc. People in the US will have more more to spend on boosted proposals, while others may not.  

 I don't  see the boost system as either good or bad. There has to be winners and losers either way. At the end of the day everyone is trying to make mony. Freelancers, clients, Upworks, etc. Maybe take advantage of the boost system before it gets taken down by the outrage.     

[srdjanprcovic]

Hi Mike,
Any news about this boost proposal feature finally being removed? 
The project should always go to the most competent and best freelancer with a good porfolio, not someone who is financially able to promote their work to the top?
I am not sure how this creates an even playing ground for the freelancers?

Thanks!

[zakia12]

This is a very bad update from Upwork. New freelancers are not getting a chance Boosted proposal working is like gambling, who spent more connects hi wins the job, Upwork is no longer natural We are going to leave upwork for another freelance platform

[ajay_0618]

Exactly Zakia!

[13ba0f3c]

Hello, I have sent to clients but they are not responding to me. Is the problem with my page or what? I need some advice please, thank you.

[81852f33]

We need sometimes to wait for the clients to accepted .same as mine I was been troubled to view my reports from the clients but some I seen the email from clients been accepted

[porshi2013]

Its totally unfiar to those who has tons of experience on upwork.Then why client should care about TR or TR plus and all these JSS jurgons.Past few days could'nt even applied by seeing its happeining as  people are throwing $10 worth of connects for 50 bucks jobs.Its rediculas. None of the previous markateplace has survived by doing this as it humiliates the platform talents over money and upwork seems falling into same trap.
Very dissapointed

[ff594628]

You don't have a thread for Proposals, so I'm posting here.

UpWork, fix the job-closing mechanism for clients after hiring

I have 190 proposals "active"(Submitted proposals).

Why?

Because clients don't understand what "close the job" mean after they decide to hire someone.

I would like to know how many of my proposals are still "available" and I'm in the "race" for securing them - it helps me schedule my time. How does that help clients? Because when they decide to interview/hire me, I can have a better understanding of what my future schedule can look like and adjust accordingly. OR I can get distracted/mismanage my time because of too many jobs that "suddenly" appear because I had no idea securing another job was viable.

So helping us, freelancers, know "what is still on the table" helps us bring a better experience for our clients.

And it seems pretty straightforward - do user testing a couple of variants of different phrasing "close this job" and implement the best result that represents what actually happened (so when there was one spot for hiring - the job is no longer available after one person was hired and disappears from Proposals and from the job listings).

That way, no freelancer has to lose any more time on a non-existing job.

UpWork seems to implement new changes just so that "freelancers can spend more time working and not looking for jobs" - those are quotes from the emails we get from UpWork. Well, here is a simple change where your system actually contradicts your goals by how it's understood by clients.

[ff594628]

** I will repost my additional answer **

The easiest solution:
There is already a system that allows to hire more than one freelancer for the job.

Make it mandatory that the client has to check that box - the job "state" would be clear - there is only one position available.

After hiring one person - the job would become AUTOMATICALLY hidden from job feed AND disappear from "Submitted proposals". You can create "Archived proposals" section (in the freelancer's "Proposal" section) - where a freelancer can view the job posting if they wanted to check something.

It's the most automatic solution.

I doesn't require you doing anything (those UpWork employees sending messages to clients to close jobs can go do other things) - it doesn't require the client to read any more messages from UpWrok staff about "admin" responsibilities they have no time for. There is also no need for any additional decision to be made on the client's part - the decision was made during creating of the job ad. If the client needs to reopen the job because the hired freelancer is not a great fit - they can copy the job posting or come back to the old job (visible to them in their profile) - and hire someone else from there.

[4c5b9f71]

Have the same experience, I sent a bunch if proposals in Feb, no response nor is the job closed. 

Many have opened the jobs but not interviewing or hiring anyone. 

I mostly have found success off this platform where I network with full time freelancers. 

[551c9066]

Hello Mike:

Dont know who came with this bidding idea - its useless activity to create war between freelancers to spend their connects unlimited - Upwork is only winner in whole process making huge $$$ on every single project post as freelancer wastes connects.

Some recommendation for healthy competition
a. First come First show proposals in client feed list is better way like before.
b. In case you want to keep this feature - keep it limited to first 3 freelancers.

c. Ideally every project should get max of 30 first proposal - algorithum should match most experienced freelancer to client requirements & show as per it in his/her feed.

Above recommendation will make it win.win enviornment for clients, freelancer & Upwork.

[8aea7a2a]

On board with this! Makes much more sense! Most practical and logical way.