Looking for advice on shortlisting projects and optimizing connects usage

[c9855600]

Hello Upwork Community,

I don't know if others also noticed, but, Upwork is getting expensive day by day in terms of the connects required to bid on projects.

In such scenarios, I'm looking for advice from experts here, to better guide us, how one can effectively hunt good clients and projects here on Upwork and optimize his connects usage while still maintaining a good win ratio. 

I also wonder if I should be applying to clients who's payment method are not verified.
Sometime, a lot of good projects show up worth less connects, however, most of these client never show up and end up hiring anyone. The success rate is quite low actually.

Excited to hear back and eagerly waiting. 🤔