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Anonymous-User
Not applicable

Any update on when the forced specialized profile mandate will end?

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 

40 REPLIES 40
prestonhunter
Community Member

re: "...yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out."

 

You are a site user.

 

Which websites and companies do you have a say in when it comes to which features and products are rolled out?

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

Yeah, that sounds cool and all but doesn't accurately describe the relationship here.

 

And to answer your question, literally any company. Even as small as ordering a product from a company. They are interested in my experience and input, everyone's experience and input. Usually, they use this data to make efficient decisions. I mean I understand this may be the best situation for Upwork, but there are many who have voiced their concern with this issue. I am simply asking when and if it will be over.  

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

To update your portfolio you need to make a specialized profile, I apologize for the lack of clarity. 

 

Also the annoying ad display on the profile page. 


Darrien T wrote:

To update your portfolio you need to make a specialized profile, I apologize for the lack of clarity. 

 

Also the annoying ad display on the profile page. 


What do you propose?
What do you want?

Is the specialized profile something that bothers you THAT much?
Why can't you update your portfolio without it?

How it relates to Q2 report revenues?

What ad display?

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

There are several threads on this issue

 

I would also like to add that I think specialized profiles are great, just not for everyone. I want to be able to update my portfolio without making a specialized profile (as do many others).

 

You have a specialized profile so the ad doesn't show for you.

 

Why can't I update my portfolio without it? Because the site will not allow me to do so. That is the reason I asked my original question.

 

 

 


Darrien T wrote:

There are several threads on this issue

 

I would also like to add that I think specialized profiles are great, just not for everyone. I want to be able to update my portfolio without making a specialized profile (as do many others).

 

You have a specialized profile so the ad doesn't show for you.

 

Why can't I update my portfolio without it? Because the site will not allow me to do so. That is the reason I asked my original question.

 

 

 


Was not aware.
Apologies for my scrutiny.


Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Well, it's not really "optional." You can keep your general profile as it is but as soon as you want to update your portfolio you are forced to create a specialized profile. If you don't want to do it the only option you have is to go back without updating.

 

I am sure at least 50% of people here don't need the specialized profile, and in my opinion it adds confusion for the client. Besides, some people have reported malfunctions. With this feature they are forcing people to do the opposite instead, what I would call a "diversified profile." In the community it has been said over and over again that clients look for specialists, not jacks of all trades. So now that this extra profile is kind of obligued people who don't need it are creating an extra profession, or a specialized profile which is virtually identical to the general one, to fulfill the requirement in order to update their portfolio. Also it looks as if the ones who have the extra profile have priority in searches over the ones who don't.

 

I hope Upwork take note of this, it's a mistake for applying something that was fine for IT freelancers to a wider pool that don't need it.


Darrien T wrote:

To update your portfolio you need to make a specialized profile, I apologize for the lack of clarity. 

 

Also the annoying ad display on the profile page. 


If it were just an ad, then that wouldn't be a problem.

The system has forcibly created a specialised profile for me several times. Really. I just open my profile and voilà, a specialised profile has been created for me. I never clicked on it or asked for it.

I've had to delete the specialised profile draft that was forcibly created for me, several times. 

 

I have refused to create a specialised profile.

 

I created it once, and noticed that response rates to my proposals tanked. Like literally, clients stopped responding to my proposals. Someone is about to tell me, how do you know that some other factors did not contribute to that outcome, why are you blaming specialised profiles for no reason at all?

Ans: I know. Literally every other factor was held constant; only specialised profile changed, so I knew it was the reason I had great difficulty landing a gig that time.

 

Shortly after I deleted the specialised profile, I landed quite a couple of gigs.

End of story.

 

I am NOT creating a specialised profile.

I'll do just fine without it.

 

Though I still don't get how all this concerns Upwork Q2 earnings report?

It is a valid issue, irrespective of whether the Q2 earnings were published or not.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

Was just a thought I had while reading through the report. A "wow we the freelancers carry the burden (of course we would not be able to if there were no clients here) for Upwork and are still not able to simple things like update out profiles without creating a new profile.

 

In the report (Page 9) there is a bit of gloating of the new "portfolio search feature". The feature sounds great but seems of though it would hurt those of us who chose not to created I specialized profile (making us unable to update our portfolio).

Darrien, I understand your frustration about the specialized profile, but you totally shot yourself in the foot with that "we make money for Upwork so we should have a say" rhetoric. It doesn't work like that. The products on the shelves in your local supermarket make money for the supermarket, they still don't get to vote on stuff...

 


Darrien T wrote: Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter

Other than memberships and connects, 100% of the revenue comes from clients. It is also 100% irrelevant when it comes to the way profiles are set up.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable


Petra R wrote

Other than memberships and connects, 100% of the revenue comes from clients. It is also 100% irrelevant when it comes to the way profiles are set up.

Can you please explain how this is true? Are you saying because they bring the money to the site?

Also, this grocery store argument. I do agree it is somewhat valid. I'm not the shot caller here, I'm not even a big fish. But what I can tell you (not the mention the other arguments myself and other have presented) is that in my local grocery store I have asked them to store a particular item which has been stocked every week with a very limited amount of buyers that are not me. Why? I guess because they want me shopping with them and not the chain a mile down the road. It does not take up that much shelf space and is mutually beneficial to both parties. Upwork has a pretty stronghold on the freelancer market at the moment so they can get away with a lot of this stuff, I understand. But how hard would it be to just let people who do not want specialized profiles not have them? Would this cause any harm?

 

"0% say" might not have made the most sense in context. I just asked if there were any updates and made a slick(true) comment. What I really don't appreciate is the lack of transparency. No updates on this issue. No responses from Upwork in this thread. 

 

I'm sure if someone who does have a say, let's say someone on the board; if they were aware of the amount of freelancer here (at least in the American market) who disapprove of this practice of this tactic, I'm sure they would want to do something about it (unless there is monetary gain in specialized profiles, which there very well may be). 

 

I understand that Upwork can do what they want. I can take it or leave it. I simply asked if there was any update as to when the mandate will be over. 

 

 

 


have presented) is that in my local grocery store I have asked them to store a particular item which has been stocked every week with a very limited amount of buyers that are not me. Why? I guess because they want me

But try that at Walmart.  Upwork is not your local grocery store, in this particular venue, they are Walmart.  I am not sure there is the equivalent of your local grocery store.

 

To extend your analogy, I don't think of myself as Upwork's customer, I am an outside distributor stocking my wares.  They have rules on where I stock them, how I stock them, and can choose not to allow me to stock them.  The best thing about Upwork compared to some of the others is I at least get to set my own sale price.  They need me but if I act up they will certainly replace me.

 

If they add a feature it is because they think it will help them with the customers, even if it upsets the stockers.   You know why?   Because they have millions of them.

 

Forcing specialized profiles would be dumb, which by the way I think was a bug and I think it was fixed or I don't understand the steps you went through to make it happen.  It would dumb, but it is their thing to do.  The only thing I can really do is choose not to use Upwork.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

My local store is a chain store. I'm not sure what region of the country you are in, and what chains you are familiar with but it as a Safeway.

 

Nowhere am I make demands, I know my role here. I just think it would be smart to take into consideration the concerns and issues you "site users", "customer", or "distributors are having.

 

I said maybe it is helping them, simply asking when and if it will be over. I do not want to be passive and let them easily forget about the issue at hand. 

 

I replied to another one of your post with a screenshot of another thread, this is definitely by design.  


I replied to another one of your post with a screenshot of another thread, this is definitely by design.  


Yep, I boned it.  I saw the word portfolio and though profile.  

 

That is dumb.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

No problem man. It's easy to ignore if it's not something you need or are checking for. I just hope they take care of it.


Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview. I am not interested in this feature and never will be. Many are not happy with this arm-twisting tactic by Upwork.

Thanks to all for the explanation.  How dumb.  I only do one thing and I do it quite well.  I guess my portfolio and profile will continue to age, much like myself.


Mary W wrote:

Thanks to all for the explanation.  How dumb.  I only do one thing and I do it quite well.  I guess my portfolio and profile will continue to age, much like myself.


I only do one thing and do it well, too. So we'll both just age along with our profiles, until we're ready to walk off into the sunset. Yes, everything thing they've done this year falls under the dumb umbrella.

lysis10
Community Member


Virginia F wrote:

Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview. I am not interested in this feature and never will be. Many are not happy with this arm-twisting tactic by Upwork.


hahahahahaha Ima sit on my old school profile and call it classic Upwork profile.

 

I really aint changing anything until they fix the bugs. And because I'm lazy. Mainly because I'm lazy.

mtngigi
Community Member



Jennifer M wrote:

Virginia F wrote:

Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview. I am not interested in this feature and never will be. Many are not happy with this arm-twisting tactic by Upwork.


hahahahahaha Ima sit on my old school profile and call it classic Upwork profile.

 

I really aint changing anything until they fix the bugs. And because I'm lazy. Mainly because I'm lazy.


Haha indeed. But I bet if you tried to add the word "classic" (great idea, by the way), you'd get sucked in and would have to create a specialized program.

a_lipsey
Community Member


Jennifer M wrote:


hahahahahaha Ima sit on my old school profile and call it classic Upwork profile.

 

I really aint changing anything until they fix the bugs. And because I'm lazy. Mainly because I'm lazy.


You're my spirit animal. UpWork Classic ftw. 

florydev
Community Member


Jennifer M wrote:

Virginia F wrote:

Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview. I am not interested in this feature and never will be. Many are not happy with this arm-twisting tactic by Upwork.


hahahahahaha Ima sit on my old school profile and call it classic Upwork profile.

 

I really aint changing anything until they fix the bugs. And because I'm lazy. Mainly because I'm lazy.


Totally a bug not a feature I am guessing as well.  I just edited mine and it did not force me to make a specialized profile.

 

I am still on Upwork classic as well though.

 


Virginia F wrote:

Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview.


You had me worried for a moment, but fortunately this doesn't (yet?) affect profile overviews. I just edited mine to check.

 

I've hardly changed my portfolio since I joined Upwork, but I was planning to overhaul it. At least now I have an excuse not to bother!

florydev
Community Member


Virginia F wrote:

Mary W wrote:

I don't understand "forced specialized profile mandate".  I am quite sure this is optional.  I certainly don't need a specialized profile as the work I do is already specialized.


Mary,

 

Currently, all new profiles have to set up a specialized profile. Established profiles are forced into specialized profiles if we want to edit/add/made any changes to our portfolios or profile overview. I am not interested in this feature and never will be. Many are not happy with this arm-twisting tactic by Upwork.


Maybe I don't understand the steps to reproduce but I just edited and saved my profile and I have was not forced to create a specialized profile.  If that is everyone else's experience then it was a bug not a feature and it appears that it was fixed.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

 

Ah, lol, that PORTFOLIO.  My bad, I don't have a thing in mine because souce code is boring and I don't want to give anyone the impression I am a web designer.

for editing profile it's not mandatory. however, if you want to add items to portfolio - you need to create a specialized profile. being a graphic designer who specializes in print design and branding, it was very annoying to find out that I can't create a "print design specialized profile" - that category doesn't exist! and I can't update my current portfolio.


Preston H wrote:

re: "...yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out."

 

You are a site user.

 

Which websites and companies do you have a say in when it comes to which features and products are rolled out?


Preston H wrote:

re: "...yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out."

 

You are a site user.

 

Which websites and companies do you have a say in when it comes to which features and products are rolled out?



Clearly, you know nothing about marketing Practices. The OP has a valid point, in particular, about the specialized profiles and the irritating banner telling FL to create one. I also don't want nor need one, but can't amend my profile without opting in.

 

All successful websites and companies carefully monitor their customer/client base's response to new features and products that are rolled out. It's called customer/client experience and I'm sure Upwork is savvy enough to understand that. 

 

As a site user, you are an Upwork client. Once again, Upwork is not a god or a sacred deity that's beyond reproach and I'm sure as a business, those who make decisions know that. Likewise, freelancers aren't doormats. They contribute to Upwork's success so the freelancer experience does matter just as the client experience does. So I'm quite sure Upwork is and should be, willing to hear.

 

They might not jump to attention, but they'd be foolish to ignore mandatory specialized profiles if it doesn't suit all freelancers.

tlsanders
Community Member


Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 


Grocery stores typically derive 100% of their revenues from customer purchases. How often do you get to choose the products your grocery store orders, what hours they keep, or how the store is arranged?

If the original poster is disturbed by being unable to modify portfolios without creating custom profiles... Then I 100% agree with him.

 

I have no interest in creating a custom portfolio. But I want to be able to edit my portfolio for the singular Upwork portfolio page that I have.

Specialized profiles are cool (except we could use more than two). But forcing people who have no need of specialized profiles, because they do just one thing is stupid. **Edited for Community Guidelines**

 

It's an upworkism.

 

Every time, every fraking time they come with a good idea, they ruin it totally by adding something completely counterproductive and stupid. Every time.

 

 

-----------
"Where darkness shines like dazzling light"   —William Ashbless


Tiffany S wrote:

Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 


Grocery stores typically derive 100% of their revenues from customer purchases. How often do you get to choose the products your grocery store orders, what hours they keep, or how the store is arranged?

 

Pretty much constantly. In store surveys, emails asking for feedback about my 'user experience', letters wanting my input by asking me to complete a questionnaire...The things you mention don't just occur by accident, the most successful companies understand the importance of listening to the needs and demands of its customers - and act upon it.


 


Richard S wrote:

Tiffany S wrote:

Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 


Grocery stores typically derive 100% of their revenues from customer purchases. How often do you get to choose the products your grocery store orders, what hours they keep, or how the store is arranged?

 

Pretty much constantly. In store surveys, emails asking for feedback about my 'user experience', letters wanting my input by asking me to complete a questionnaire...The things you mention don't just occur by accident, the most successful companies understand the importance of listening to the needs and demands of its customers - and act upon it.


 


Whoever brings the money is the customer. FLs on UW are not the customers, we are the inventory. Where UW leadership falls short is not understanding as well as we do how to keep us fresh, how not to interfere with our packaging and presentation, how different segments of us contribute to (or undermine) UW's profitability and help support (or not) UW's brand integrity; and not listening to us enough about those things. 


Richard S wrote:

Tiffany S wrote:

Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 


Grocery stores typically derive 100% of their revenues from customer purchases. How often do you get to choose the products your grocery store orders, what hours they keep, or how the store is arranged?

 

Pretty much constantly. In store surveys, emails asking for feedback about my 'user experience', letters wanting my input by asking me to complete a questionnaire...The things you mention don't just occur by accident, the most successful companies understand the importance of listening to the needs and demands of its customers - and act upon it.


 


As a later and better analogy pointed out: We're not the buyers. We're the product.

[edited to add: Phyllis beat me to it.]


Douglas Michael M wrote:

Richard S wrote:

Tiffany S wrote:

Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.

 

 


Grocery stores typically derive 100% of their revenues from customer purchases. How often do you get to choose the products your grocery store orders, what hours they keep, or how the store is arranged?

 

Pretty much constantly. In store surveys, emails asking for feedback about my 'user experience', letters wanting my input by asking me to complete a questionnaire...The things you mention don't just occur by accident, the most successful companies understand the importance of listening to the needs and demands of its customers - and act upon it.


 


As a later and better analogy pointed out: We're not the buyers. We're the product.

[edited to add: Phyllis beat me to it.]

 

Perhaps I shouldn't have used 'customers' in my reply to Tiffany, I was simply trying to point out that a business that dosn't listen to it's (oh gawd what word should I use...), is almost certainly not helping itself.

 

Oh, and to also let her know that she is living in a different world to the one that I know. 


 

researchediting
Community Member


Darrien T wrote:

Q2 report says our service fees made up about 58% of revenues last quarter -- yet we have a 0% say in what features are rolled out.


The last time I looked at a quarterly report, "service fees" included Upwork's commission on our sales. If that's true, 58% is shockingly low.

Anonymous-User
Not applicable




Douglas Michael M wrote:

 

The last time I looked at a quarterly report, "service fees" included Upwork's commission on our sales. If that's true, 58% is shockingly low

Screen Shot 2019-08-08 at 3.59.03 PM.png


 

Anonymous-User
Not applicable

To be fair I really could have left that out, it is not entirely relevant. To me, it is just frustrating. I just want to have control over how I present MYSELF!

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