Is Upwork trying to bury itself???

[#1]

What's up with the latest changes? 19 connects to submit a proposal to a project I'm invited to??? Not even a lower amount considering the fact that you received an invite?!?!?! but a whole 19 connects to submit a proposal? This is getting borderline brain-damaged... 

Add the fact that they're also removing the feedback removal perk which was kinda useful in some rare cases.

It's getting dumber by the year on Upwork. Is it on purpose to run the platform into the ground or what? Who the heck is taking these idiotic decisions?

[#2]

I'm new to Upwork. I just joined the platform at the beginning of last month. I haven't received an invitation since the change, so I haven't been charged yet for a proposal for an invited project. I would hope for a discounted number of connects required for invited proposals, but that doesn't seem to be the case. 

It would be interesting to see data regarding the average number of proposals per project now that the connects cost has increased. Is this policy cutting down on the number of proposals the average project is receiving? Are there so many new freelancers that, even with the costs associated with submissions, we're still competing against more and more freelancers for any given job? I'm sure the type of work needed plays a role as well. 

I'm hoping I won't need to worry about the feedback removal feature before it's removed, but I know things can happen. I think this could be especially important for newer freelancers such as myself, who would be impacted the most by a low feedback rating. My plan is to continue to do my best to over-deliver on any project to give myself the best odds at positive feedback.

I'm trying not to worry about feedback policies or anything else out of my control. It just doesn't help me advance as a freelancer. But I do admit that sometimes I wonder if the odds for success are low, and I'm fooling myself by putting in all the effort. 

Upwork is simply trying to make a profit. That's what companies must do to stay in business. I just hope they aren't destroying their own platform by making it too expensive for freelancers to search for work. 

[#3]

I just hope they aren't destroying their own platform by making it too expensive for freelancers to search for work. 

I think they have an enormous member base that they can play with, they can take time with experiments, before even a slight risk of complete destruction.

Idiotic

So far their 'experiments' have only brought profit. Think again, don't be gamed.

[#4]

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Paul H. wrote:

Are there so many new freelancers that, even with the costs associated with submissions, we're still competing against more and more freelancers for any given job?

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Yes.

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Paul H. wrote:

But I do admit that sometimes I wonder if the odds for success are low, and I'm fooling myself by putting in all the effort. 

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The odds of success for new freelancers have always been low, but you have a much better chance than most because you're in the U.S. with exclusive access to most of the best/highest budget jobs, you have an education, skills and experience, and you charge enough money to easily absorb the various fees. Whether it's worth all the effort depends on whether you really want to run your own business/be your own boss; if not, then there are certainly much easier ways to earn money.

[#5]

I understand what you're saying. I think my comments were born out of frustration. It's easy to get discouraged as a new freelancer on this platform because you can put in a lot of effort with little to no return. The key is to stay motivated even when it seems like your efforts are futile.