Re: Contacting a buyer

craig1401 · ‎07-06-2017

Hi all.

I am new to Upwork so apologies if this is something which has been answered before or something that is obvious and I've just totally missed it.

I have been looking to propose for different projects and thankfully have done so. Some of the projects I come across have extremely vague descriptions and a couple of times I have looked to see if I can contact the buyer before I place my proposal as there is nowhere near enough information to be able to provide an accurate quote.

Is there a contact or messaging feature that can be used so that questions about the project can be asked without sending an initial proposal?

Many Thanks

Craig

chrisskyes · ‎07-06-2017

Hello, Craig, I'm afraid there isn't.

The only way to contact them is to send a proposal.

Chris

prestonhunter · ‎07-06-2017

Not every job is meant for every freelancer.

If a job description seems too vague for you, just ignore it. There are other freelancers who know how to work with clients like that.

jcullinan · ‎07-06-2017

@Preston H wrote:
Not every job is meant for every freelancer.

If a job description seems too vague for you, just ignore it. There are other freelancers who know how to work with clients like that.

Seriously.

Some jobs aren't meant for ANY freelancer because some clients can't get it together enough to write even a full sentence of what they want done. Unless you know of freelancers who have mastered mind-reading-by-internet, there's no amount of "knowing how" that can get past a sentence fragment job description.

tlsanders · ‎07-06-2017

@Preston H wrote:
Not every job is meant for every freelancer.

If a job description seems too vague for you, just ignore it. There are other freelancers who know how to work with clients like that.

Preston, you say this a lot, but it doesn't necessarily apply outside your niche.

Imagine, for example, that a client posts a job saying "need someone to write a non-fiction book".

No amount of "knowing how to work with" a client allows me to know whether or not I'm interested in that project. The non-fiction book may be about law (excellent--I'm in) or the history of eggplant (no thanks) or nuclear biology (wouldn't be qualified if I wanted to take it on).

Though I am aware of and agree with all of the reasons offered to explain why there is no option to contact the client outside of submitting a proposal, I would very much like to see a button to click to alert the client and/or Upwork that a job posting does not contain sufficient information to allow a freelancer to make an informed bid.

petra_r · ‎07-06-2017

@Tiffany S wrote:
@Preston H wrote:
Not every job is meant for every freelancer.

If a job description seems too vague for you, just ignore it. There are other freelancers who know how to work with clients like that.
Preston, you say this a lot, but it doesn't necessarily apply outside your niche.

It doesn't and at the same time does apply to any niche.

Essentially it means "Some freelancers can apply to such jobs with a request for clarification and explain that their bid at that stage is a placeholder only," but is phrased in such a way that it not so subtly slaps an insult ("Smart freelancers like me can apply, dumbos like you should leave it be") between the lines.

tlsanders · ‎07-06-2017

@Petra R wrote:

It doesn't and at the same time does apply to any niche.

Essentially it means "Some freelancers can apply to such jobs with a request for clarification and explain that their bid at that stage is a placeholder only," but is phrased in such a way that it not so subtly slaps an insult ("Smart freelancers like me can apply, dumbos like you should leave it be") between the lines.

I'm not sure I think it's that simple. For example, I imagine that if the job description says only "design a logo," a designer knows whether or not that's a project he/she can do and might be interested in. The exact parameters and the pricing may vary, requiring a placeholder bid, but the freelancer has a general idea that this is a job in his/her wheelhouse.

Similarly, "Translate document from French to German," provides enough information for a freelancer to know whether he/she has the right skill set (barring something particularly technical, perhaps), though not enough to place an accurate bid.

On the other hand, "translate document" is a task that most translators will not be qualified to perform--but, freelanders will have no way of knowing whether or not it's a job they can do, since languages are not included.

reinierb · ‎07-06-2017

@Tiffany S wrote:
@Petra R wrote:

It doesn't and at the same time does apply to any niche.

Essentially it means "Some freelancers can apply to such jobs with a request for clarification and explain that their bid at that stage is a placeholder only," but is phrased in such a way that it not so subtly slaps an insult ("Smart freelancers like me can apply, dumbos like you should leave it be") between the lines.
I'm not sure I think it's that simple. For example, I imagine that if the job description says only "design a logo," a designer knows whether or not that's a project he/she can do and might be interested in. The exact parameters and the pricing may vary, requiring a placeholder bid, but the freelancer has a general idea that this is a job in his/her wheelhouse.

Similarly, "Translate document from French to German," provides enough information for a freelancer to know whether he/she has the right skill set (barring something particularly technical, perhaps), though not enough to place an accurate bid.

On the other hand, "translate document" is a task that most translators will not be qualified to perform--but, freelanders will have no way of knowing whether or not it's a job they can do, since languages are not included.

The same thing applies to the automotive niche. Many job posts call for articles in the automotive niche, without stating specifics. For instance, I do not do reviews or comparisons of vehicles or accessories, but nine times out of ten, this is what the job poster wants, as experience (and two connects everytime) has taught me.

petra_r · ‎07-06-2017

Indeed, Tiffany and Reinier.

In those cases *EVERY* applicant has the same situation - and it is not the case that some "super-freelancers" can look into their virtual crystal ball and understand if they want to waste their connects on it or not.

vladag · ‎07-06-2017

Hi Craig,

I'll confirm freelancers can only contact clients through their proposals.

~ Vladimir

prestonhunter · ‎07-06-2017

It really is not my intention to imply that freelancers are dumb if they don't think they can successfully work with clients who write vague job descriptions.

It is simply a different type of job and a different type of client.

Most of the time, it is probably "dumb" to apply to these vaguely described jobs.

I think it is always risky. Certain freelancers may, with the right approach, be the right people to work with some of these clients.

No freelancer is dumb or somehow less worthy if she isn't interested in dealing with these types of clients.

prestonhunter · ‎07-06-2017

I really do believe that some clients are really bad at writing job descriptions, but are sincere in their desire to get help and pay for that help. I have worked for clients such as these.

But I am certain that most job descriptions which are very vague are a waste of time for anybody to apply to.

petra_r · ‎07-07-2017

Preston H wrote:.

But I am certain that most job descriptions which are very vague are a waste of time for anybody to apply to.

Right. So how does that fit in with this?

craig1401 · ‎07-07-2017

Hi all.

Thanks for all of your replies, I will continue how I have done and see how I get on. Thanks again!

a5f9ac02 · ‎06-24-2022

Hi Craig .... I have the same problem and thank you Vladimir for your definitive answer . perhaps Upwork can look at this, so freelancers don't commit and waste their connects?