Sharp decline in invitations and responses

[#1]

Hello everyone,

As many of you will have experienced (judging by the numerous posts on this topic), in recent months I too have experienced a sharp drop in the invitations and responses to the job posts I applied for: in this 2023, the total of both things is 0! And I honestly can't explain it: I'm top rated plus, profile 100% completed, categories updated, jss 100% and only have 5 star ratings, yet nothing at all.

Now, I don't know if it's because of some Upwork policy, but I think so, considering that this decline has started since the introduction of the bidding thing.

Does anyone have any more info on this issue to share?

Thanks for your attention.

Antonio

[#2]

Hello,

I am also facing the same issue since this bidding system is been started. Can anyone tell us what are the real reasons?

Thank you!

Jai

[#3]

I also tried to search for my profile, but I noticed that it doesn't appear among the freelancers. I hope a moderator can explain what's going on.

[#4]

Was the bidding system made around late 2022? I think it may have something to do with the start of the year 2023, I too has almost nothing invitations but only one while in the last two months of 2022 I have numbers if not lot of invitations and I respond to them. I also encountered this kind of problem last year not to mention almost zero views but getting back on track before February ends and I hope this is the case.

[#5]

Ronald,

The bidding system has nothing to do with Invites and the total number of sales made on Upwork. This is a zero sum game. If one freelancer gets the job in your category, then another freelancer losses the same job.

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Antonio,

Upwork has changed their algorithm in 2023 and it's necessary to update your strategies accordingly especially if you want Invites and new clients. For example, I have received 151 Invitations in 2023 by adjusting.

PROFILE: Always complete your Upwork Profile before applying for Jobs. Create a synergized Title, Summary, and Skills to apply for Jobs to match what Clients are searching for. Use one or two of the Skill keywords in the Title to emphasize what you bring to the table for the Client. Create 4 short paragraphs in the Summary. If the Summary is too long, most Clients will not read the rest of the Summary; too short then there isn't enough information for a Client to hire. The first two sentences of the Summary are the most important because they are visible to the client as they search for a freelancer. Use all 15 Skills IF they apply. The Skills are used to assist a Client in locating your Profile via search. Add your Portfolio and always use a colorful image. Consider adding a Project Catalog if it applies. Use a short sentence description for each Employment entry. Have a great day!

[#7]

Yes. Sharp drop in 2023. Unexplainable by any changes in me, and considering how much more I'm applying than I used to, it's unnerving.

Personally, I don't bid. Paying to apply to listings is as far as I'm willing to go. But bidding started a long while before the drop in responses seemed to surface for me, so I don't connect the two.

[#8]

Well, I don't know if Upwork is actively trying to ward off its base of top rated freelancers, but I guess we'll find it out. For now, I'm going to try and follow the tips William gave to me here, then we'll see.