Oct 11, 2021 10:48:52 AM by David M
Hi Folks,
Is there away to contact a Project owner without responding to a proposal? I am coming acorss proposals from Startups for help with Invesntor Pitches and I want to direct them to free resource including meetings at Silicon Valley Angel forums.
Any suggesiton or guidance would be appreciated.
Oct 11, 2021 11:37:39 AM by Martina P
David M wrote:Hi Folks,
Is there away to contact a Project owner without responding to a proposal? I am coming acorss proposals from Startups for help with Invesntor Pitches and I want to direct them to free resource including meetings at Silicon Valley Angel forums.
Any suggesiton or guidance would be appreciated.
Why do you want to provide free work?
Oct 11, 2021 12:18:25 PM by David M
Oct 11, 2021 12:28:30 PM Edited Oct 11, 2021 12:29:32 PM by Preston H
It doesn't really matter.
This is a good idea. Or this is not a good idea.
This is free work or this is not free work.
It does not matter. Because the user interface has no such functionality.
You need to first talk to Upwork and get them to add a new user interface element for freelancers to contact job posters or project owners without using connects.
Oct 11, 2021 03:58:23 PM by Christine A
Preston H wrote:You need to first talk to Upwork and get them to add a new user interface element for freelancers to contact job posters or project owners without using connects.
No, nobody needs to contact Upwork and ask for this.
Oct 11, 2021 04:42:50 PM by David M
I already write to the Upwork Support to explore this as a feature.
Oct 12, 2021 05:18:48 AM by Jamie F
Preston H wrote:
You need to first talk to Upwork and get them to add a new user interface element for freelancers to contact job posters or project owners without using connects.
That's a mahoosive no from me.
Oct 12, 2021 06:13:44 AM Edited Oct 12, 2021 06:15:23 AM by Petra R
Jamie F wrote:
Preston H wrote:You need to first talk to Upwork and get them to add a new user interface element for freelancers to contact job posters or project owners without using connects.
That's a mahoosive no from me.
It'll obviously never happen, so telling him to contact support is just encouraging complete waste of Support's time. Preston knows that there is no chance of this ever happening for several reasons.
Oct 11, 2021 03:07:35 PM by Jennifer M
So spend 10 cents (or whatever it costs for a connect) and send them the super helpful totally free materials that you totally have no vested interest in and just want to help them because you care so much about startups.
Oct 11, 2021 03:53:26 PM by Christine A
Oct 11, 2021 04:38:29 PM Edited Oct 12, 2021 08:00:11 AM by Valeria K
You thought my message was a spam?! FYI, my reponse to the project owner was indeed well recieved and he's now connected to a well-respected Angel Forum in Silicon Valley where he will be able to get additional help by watching CEO's pitch!
I am looking for more efficnet way to help Startup CEOs without the added burden of repsonding to a posted Project! **Edited for community guidelines**
Oct 11, 2021 05:19:02 PM by Christopher B
Somehow your free help turned into watching a CEO's pitch.
Oct 11, 2021 05:40:16 PM Edited Oct 12, 2021 08:00:25 AM by Valeria K
David M wrote:
You thought my message was a spam?! FYI, my reponse to the project owner was indeed well recieved and he's now connected to a well-respected Angel Forum in Silicon Valley where he will be able to get additional help by watching CEO's pitch!
I am looking for more efficnet way to help Startup CEOs without the added burden of repsonding to a posted Project! **Edited for community guidelines**
No, but if freelancers have the option to contact clients without using connects for a proposal, they start spamming them begging for work.
You should just spend 1 connect and send the information you want to share in a proposal. If the clients replies you get 10 connects.
Try not to find them outside Upwork and message them directly since that would be a ToS violation.
Oct 11, 2021 05:51:45 PM Edited Oct 12, 2021 08:00:58 AM by Valeria K
David M wrote:
You thought my message was a spam?! FYI, my reponse to the project owner was indeed well recieved and he's now connected to a well-respected Angel Forum in Silicon Valley where he will be able to get additional help by watching CEO's pitch!
I am looking for more efficnet way to help Startup CEOs without the added burden of repsonding to a posted Project! **Edited for community guidelines**
I work with a lot of startups. Startup CEOs generally come to Upwork when they need additionaly help. They are not unaware of free resources, but those resources are usually how-tos or tutorials for them to do it themselvs. They come to Upwork when they want to hire an expert to help them. They are not incompetent. They are aware of free resources. But they want to hire an expert.
When I'm a client the last thing I need is freelancers spamming me free resources to do the job myself. I know I can figure it out myself, but I'd rather pay an expert and save my time for where I'm an expert. Now, if the client invites me to a job and I think they can do it themselves with a little help, I offer to do the job or if they'd like to coach them instead, which costs less. Sometimes they want that, sometimes they just want/need someone to get it done for them. But most don't want spam, which is what a lot of messages from freelancers asking questions or making suggestions is.
You're not thinking about the implications beyond what you yourself want to do. That's the error most make when suggesting "improvements."
Oct 11, 2021 04:29:11 PM by David M
That's good advice. I am new to the Freelance section of Upwork and wasn't aware that's what "Connects" are intended for! I also wrote to the Support folks about a Radio Button on the project to offer options for freelancser to Volunteer.
Oct 12, 2021 04:44:44 AM by Tonya P
David M wrote:That's good advice. I am new to the Freelance section of Upwork and wasn't aware that's what "Connects" are intended for! I also wrote to the Support folks about a Radio Button on the project to offer options for freelancser to Volunteer.
Building your brand by being useful is an appropriate device for lead generation. However, that device should be used on you own website, third-party publishing sites, social media, forums and in other similar settings. It is in appropriate to use Upwork as a top-of-funnel lead generation tool.
Upwork does not earn income if you "volunteer" nor if you redirect clients off-platform to receive free advice. In fact, Upwork prohibits you from providing prospective clients with any information that may enable them to find you off-platform. Additionally, Upwork has historically prioritized protected clients from unwanted messages sent by freelancers. A "radio" feature would run counter to nearly all of Upwork's goals and interests.
In effect, you are asking Upwork to add features that would enable you to poach its customer base.
Oct 12, 2021 08:51:34 AM by Martina P
David M wrote:That's good advice. I am new to the Freelance section of Upwork and wasn't aware that's what "Connects" are intended for! I also wrote to the Support folks about a Radio Button on the project to offer options for freelancser to Volunteer.
No volunteering, no free advice, nothing of that sort. You want to earn money, as everybody else. That should be your goal.
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